Review of the Day: Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong
Anxious children, kids that feel deeply for animals, and young people who are worried about some big change in their lives will all be able to particularly relate to what Goodbye, Koi is telling them: sometimes, you have to give up what's familiar for a chance to glimpse the sky.
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Book Reviews
Review of the Day: Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong
Anxious children, kids that feel deeply for animals, and young people who are worried about some big change in their lives will all be able to particularly relate to what Goodbye, Koi is telling them: sometimes, you have to give up what's familiar for a chance to glimpse the sky.
Review of the Day: The Shadow Stream by Kirk Lombard, ill. Parker Thornton
A rather magnificent book and a rarity besides. Defies expectations. How does it do it? Dunno. Come for the writing. Stay for the opossum funeral.
Review of the Day: Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. Bagram Ibatoulline
Extraordinarily beautiful and more than a little wise, now you can convert your verse loving science haters and convert your science hating poetry-lovers, all in one fell swoop.
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Review of the Day: The Shadow Stream by Kirk Lombard, ill. Parker Thornton
A rather magnificent book and a rarity besides. Defies expectations. How does it do it? Dunno. Come for the writing. Stay for the opossum funeral.
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Review of the Day: Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. Bagram Ibatoulline
Extraordinarily beautiful and more than a little wise, now you can convert your verse loving science haters and convert your science hating poetry-lovers, all in one fell swoop.
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Sep 4, 2026
Lorraine McCown on Review of the Day: Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong
"Fuzzy pasts and imaginings contrasted against the clarity of present life - what a beautiful combination of illustration ..."
Aug 24, 2026
Carol Hinz on Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Bedhead by Margie Palatini, ill. Jack E. Davis
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Aug 20, 2026
Katy on Review of the Day: Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. Bagram Ibatoulline
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Betsy Bird on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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Aug 16, 2026
Susan Wroble on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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Aug 13, 2026
Karen Ruelle on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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Aug 13, 2026
KatyD on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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Aug 13, 2026
Deb Lund on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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Sondy Eklund on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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Betsy Bird on Cover Reveal: Terrible, Terrible Birds! by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (2/27)
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