(2) K-3 Kheiriyeh bases her entertaining, heartfelt story on memories of family outings to the beach. Narrator Rashin compares the (sex-segregated) beach in her birthplace of Iran to her new beach in Brooklyn; she especially misses her best friend and saffron ice cream. A sensory text evokes the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes experienced along the journey from each home to the beach. The textured oil and acrylic illustrations are bright and colorful, with context-setting touches.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(2) PS In this inviting exploration of colors and emotions, youngsters are introduced to Color Monster, who "woke up feeling confused, and he doesn't know why." A little girl helps him sort out his emotions by first identifying and untangling them and then associating them with colors. Llenas's mixed-media illustrations mimic a child's drawings with their combination of energetic and calming colors, patterns, and textures; they perfectly complement the book's theme.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Gonzales pens a loving exhortation to his daughter to embrace her cultural identity. In simple, lyrical verse, Gonzales tells his daughter that not everyone will like who she is. He advises her to identify herself by her faith, ethnicity, and language, as well as reminding her--and us all--that the Islamic faith spans many nationalities and cultures. Rich, color-saturated illustrations incorporate vibrant patterns and motifs.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(2) K-3 Growing up in Baghdad, Zaha Hadid's (1950–2016) love for math allowed her to see the world through a unique lens; her creative thoughts inspired her to become an architect, and she went on to design extraordinary and unusual structures. Winter's rich-hued, multilayered illustrations visually unite readers with the spirit of Hadid's creations. Back matter includes a pictorial list of Hadid's structures and a brief author's note. Bib.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kerascoët. As a girl, education activist Malala Yousafzai enjoyed watching a TV show about a magic pencil. In child-friendly text, she describes how she would use a magic pencil to change the world. Facing reality, Malala began to focus on what she loved most--school and speaking out against oppression. The ink and watercolor illustrations use pastel shades and earth tones to show details of young Malala's culture.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) YA Poetry Rocks! series. This series explores American, British, and world poetry, focusing on cultural traditions and major poets of the times. A biography of each poet, some of his or her notable pieces, and explanations of the poems' significance are offered. Clear, easily understandable analysis of the works continues to be an excellent feature of the series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Rocks! titles: Modern British Poetry, World Poetry, and Contemporary American Poetry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Beech. Twenty poems describe a boy's weekend activities, including chores, haircuts, and road trips to Grandma's house. The collection meanders from the central theme, and rhyme and rhythm aren't always consistent. Still, young readers will likely relate to the narrator's antics. Lighthearted illustrations in watercolor and pen-and-ink depict the situations reflected in the verse.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Poetry Rocks! series. This series explores American, British, and world poetry, focusing on cultural traditions and major poets of the times. A biography of each poet, some of his or her notable pieces, and explanations of the poems' significance are offered. Clear, easily understandable analysis of the works continues to be an excellent feature of the series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Rocks! titles: Modern British Poetry, World Poetry, and Contemporary American Poetry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Illustrated by Julie Morstad. "The truth may be simple / But its impact is complicated." Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always moving, the forty-eight quatrain poems in this collection explore the insecurities, misunderstandings, and joys of first love. Lawson uses sophisticated wordplay and syncopated rhythms as he alternates between male and female perspectives. Morstad's simple pen-and-ink sketches keep the focus on the characters and their shifting emotions.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Poetry Rocks! series. This series explores American, British, and world poetry, focusing on cultural traditions and major poets of the times. A biography of each poet, some of his or her notable pieces, and explanations of the poems' significance are offered. Clear, easily understandable analysis of the works continues to be an excellent feature of the series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Rocks! titles: Modern British Poetry, World Poetry, and Contemporary American Poetry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA This anthology celebrates the creative work of noteworthy high school writers. Originally published in Hanging Loose magazine, the one-hundred-thirty-plus poems and stories provide a forum for young adults to discover their voices and share their perspectives on various issues relevant to adolescents. A few teachers also discuss how they approach working with high-school-aged writers.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) 4-6 Poetry Basics series. These books describe the title poetry form's history, characteristics, and variations. Many examples are provided as well as ideas for how children can write their own pieces. The information is accessible, and the writing is sufficiently lively to engage readers. The well-designed pages feature a variety of art reproductions from different literary eras and some photographs. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Basics titles: Concrete Poetry, Haiku, Limericks, and Nursery Rhymes.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) 4-6 Poetry Basics series. These books describe the title poetry form's history, characteristics, and variations. Many examples are provided as well as ideas for how children can write their own pieces. The information is accessible, and the writing is sufficiently lively to engage readers. The well-designed pages feature a variety of art reproductions from different literary eras and some photographs. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Basics titles: Concrete Poetry, Haiku, Limericks, and Nursery Rhymes.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) 4-6 Poetry Basics series. These books describe the title poetry form's history, characteristics, and variations. Many examples are provided as well as ideas for how children can write their own pieces. The information is accessible, and the writing is sufficiently lively to engage readers. The well-designed pages feature a variety of art reproductions from different literary eras and some photographs. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Basics titles: Concrete Poetry, Haiku, Limericks, and Nursery Rhymes.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) 4-6 Poetry Basics series. These books describe the title poetry form's history, characteristics, and variations. Many examples are provided as well as ideas for how children can write their own pieces. The information is accessible, and the writing is sufficiently lively to engage readers. The well-designed pages feature a variety of art reproductions from different literary eras and some photographs. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Basics titles: Concrete Poetry, Haiku, Limericks, and Nursery Rhymes.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Poetry Rocks! series. This series explores American and British poetry of different periods, focusing on major poets of the times. Short biographical sketches (including some photographs), notable works, and the significance of the poets' writings are explored. The texts are clear and informative. Analysis is particularly engaging, making the books useful for drawing high school students into the study of poetry. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Rocks! titles: Early American Poetry, Early British Poetry, and Modern American Poetry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Illustrated by Nicole Wong. This poignant verse novel is narrated by almost-fifteen-year-old Ann whose mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. The text chronicles the disease's progression as well as its effect on Ann's own life. Feeling worried and lonely, she uses ballet and pottery-making to help her cope. Wong's small-scale black-and-white spot illustrations bring the reality of the family's situation to life without overwhelming the poems.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Poetry Rocks! series. This series explores American and British poetry of different periods, focusing on major poets of the times. Short biographical sketches (including some photographs), notable works, and the significance of the poets' writings are explored. The texts are clear and informative. Analysis is particularly engaging, making the books useful for drawing high school students into the study of poetry. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Rocks! titles: Early American Poetry, Early British Poetry, and Modern American Poetry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) YA Poetry Rocks! series. This series explores American and British poetry of different periods, focusing on major poets of the times. Short biographical sketches (including some photographs), notable works, and the significance of the poets' writings are explored. The texts are clear and informative. Analysis is particularly engaging, making the books useful for drawing high school students into the study of poetry. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Poetry Rocks! titles: Early American Poetry, Early British Poetry, and Modern American Poetry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. This collection features fifty-four classic and contemporary poems about different American-fought wars, focusing on the emotional impact of armed conflict. Each section opens with a quote by a notable figure and includes a brief description of the conflict. Dramatic watercolor illustrations capture the pain--and the hope--expressed in the poetry without dwelling excessively on the horror of violence. Ind.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir