Posted on September 26th, 2017 by pajamapress
“Lauren, a girl on the autism spectrum, takes readers through a week full of ups and downs in this sensitively told story….Bender’s pencil drawings readily reflect characters’ frustrations and other emotions—feelings that Lauren acknowledges she has trouble recognizing. Leach’s empathetic novel should both open eyes and encourage greater patience and understanding.”
Read the full review on page 106 of the September 25, 2017 issue of Publishers Weekly.
Posted in Slug Days | Tagged Autism-Spectrum-Disorder, book-review, canlit, diverse-books, early-readers, illustrated-chapter-books, kidlit, mg-lit, middle-grade-books, Rebecca Bender, Sara Leach, strong-heroines
Posted on September 19th, 2017 by pajamapress
Posted in Dragonfly Song | Tagged book-giveaway, giveaway, Wendy Orr
Posted on September 18th, 2017 by pajamapress
“…Karen Bass knows how to seamlessly weave a bit of the unexpected into her fiction, as she did in her suspenseful The Hill (Pajama Press, 2016), and as she does in Two Times a Traitor which blends a contemporary setting with Canada’s past in Louisbourg 1745 through the use of time slip….
While taking the reader into both sides of the 1745 siege of Louisbourg, Karen Bass makes sure that Two Times a Traitor is about Laz recognizing what home is to him….Readers will adore the action adventure story of Two Times a Traitor but its story of historical events is extraordinary and not to be relegated to second place. Karen Bass does comprehensive research, providing astounding detail to setting and characters, plunging readers into the fray that was war. By allowing Laz to be part of both sides and emphasizing his confusion about which side to favour, Karen Bass allows readers to see the conflict from different perspectives and takes history away from the one-sidedness of most textbooks. Moreover, she allows us to see that conflict, whether personal or historical, always has two sides that need to be seen. Resolution may be amicable or there may be victors and those defeated, but how it plays out is all about point of view.”
Click here to read the full review
Posted in Two Times a Traitor | Tagged book-review, canlit, Historical Fiction, karen bass, mg-books, mg-lit, sci-fi, time-travel
Posted on September 16th, 2017 by pajamapress
“This heartwarming story unfolds a beautiful bond between the elder ‘rainbow goddess’ and the younger ‘seeker of comfort’….The book is written beautifully in free verse and the characters are well developed….I highly recommend this book. The author’s previous book, Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles is worthy of checking out also. Storywraps Rating… 5 +++ HUGS!!!!!”
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Posted in Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess | Tagged book-review, deafness, diverse-books, diverse-middle-grade-books, free-verse-novel, mg-lit, shari-green, stepfamilies, strong-heroines
Posted on September 13th, 2017 by pajamapress


“Timo’s Garden and Timo’s Party are wonderful options for young readers who are transitioning into chapter books. Each chapter is accompanied by colorful and detailed illustrations helping readers follow character and plot. Both of these titles provide just the right amount of excitement and suspense to keep readers engaged. Timo and his friends are sure to become favorites!”
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Posted in Timo's Garden, Timo's Party | Tagged book-review, Dean Griffiths, early-chapter-books, early-readers, Victoria Allenby
Posted on September 12th, 2017 by pajamapress
Posted in Dragonfly Song, Uncategorized | Tagged book-giveaway, mg-books, Wendy Orr
Posted on September 11th, 2017 by pajamapress
“The middle-grade novel follows the ups and downs of Lauren – a young girl around seven or eight, who has autism spectrum disorder….In creating a nuanced, formidable character, Leach tackles a challenging topic with skill and even some lightness.”
—Helen Kubiw
Read the full review on page 26 in the September 2017 issue of Quill & Quire
Posted in Slug Days | Tagged Autism-Spectrum-Disorder, book-review, canlit, contemporary-fiction, diverse-books, diverse-middle-grade, early-readers, kidlit, middle-grade-books, Rebecca Bender, Sara Leach, strong-heroines
Posted on September 11th, 2017 by pajamapress
“The little boy’s expressive face fills many spreads, looking content while licking sugar from his fingers, or inquisitive while big sister creams butter in a bowl. This pleasant book makes baking look like so much fun that kiddos are likely to be inspired to try to help out in the kitchen.”
—Sarah Hunter
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Posted in Baby Cakes | Tagged baby-books, book-review, canlit, first-readers, kidlit, padded-cover-books, Renne Benoit, theo-heras
Posted on September 7th, 2017 by pajamapress
“We rated this book: [4.5/5]…
I like this book because the dog ends up playing Sleeping Beauty, and that’s funny. I also like it when Dog is performing a show for dogs and it says ‘Poodles faint’ because he’s so handsome….This book is good for little kids, but they might need other people to read it to them because it has some big words. It is a short chapter book with four chapters. If you like dogs and shows, you’ll like this book!”
—Clementine – Age 6
Click here to read the full review
Posted in Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent | Tagged book-review, contemporary-fiction, early-chapter-books, early-readers, Marie-Louise Gay, raising-readers, strong-heroines
Posted on September 7th, 2017 by pajamapress
“There is humor peppered throughout the story as Lauren learns to deal with her slobbery baby sister and tries not to ‘flip her lid.’ There is conflict, as her teacher and classmates learn to accept Lauren’s differences. The frequent illustrations will assist readers in understanding Lauren’s feelings. VERDICT A necessary addition to elementary school libraries and a potential spark for a discussion about autism, Asperger’s, or simply embracing differences.”
—Morgan O’Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY
Read the full review in the September 2017 issue of School Library Journal
Posted in Slug Days | Tagged ASD, Autism-Spectrum-Disorder, book-review, contemporary-fiction, diverse-books, early-readers, illustrated-chapter-books, mg-lit, Rebecca Bender, Sara Leach, strong-heroines