(2) 4-6 Cooper traces Roosevelt's path from privileged upbringing to fierce social-justice crusader. The First Lady evolves from a suffragist into a staunch advocate for people of color, supporting anti-lynching legislation, integrating the armed forces, and equal benefits from New Deal programs. Accompanied by historical photos and excerpts from Roosevelt's speeches and letters, this compact biography is a worthwhile introduction to one of America's most prominent activists. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(3) YA This inclusive history of Jerusalem's Temple Mount and the Noble Sanctuary profiles its several incarnations as a holy place of worship for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Beginning almost four thousand years ago, Cooper relates the site's convoluted, volatile history through objective text, black-and-white photographs, maps, and detailed architectural drawings. It's a valuable source for research or general enlightenment. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. This is a thorough, engaging, and well-designed account of women in American politics. Each chapter covers about a decade of U.S. history, giving a snapshot of the status of women during each era. Enhanced with photos and cartoon illustrations, the lively narrative begins with a profile of Jeannette Rankin, the first congresswoman in 1917, and continues through the 2013 delegation. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) YA Bette finds an angel medallion that helps her access the power within herself. The medallion next goes to hardscrabble classmate Joe, then to homebody Vivian; point of view shifts among the characters. Along the way the kids encounter adult guides who inspire their emotional growth. Cooper's story refreshingly focuses less on the angel's religious symbolism than on the spirituality of self.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by David Merrell. Shy Bobby (dog Lucy's owner) agrees to play soccer, even though he'd rather be working on his school comic-strip project. At first Bobby doesn't like soccer--or his strict coach--but things change as Coach helps train Lucy, and Bobby discovers a talent for goal-keeping. There's also an adoption story line in this overstuffed story illustrated with sketchlike black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by David Merrell. In this entertaining if predictable story, Bobby is still shy, even with two new friends and the love of his beagle, Lucy. Upcoming oral reports at school make him nervous, but entering Lucy in a pet contest builds his confidence and gives him something to report. Bobby's shyness is a refreshing change from the usual exuberantly portrayed eight-year-old narrators.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Claudio Muñoz. Thumb-sucker Jake is teased by his kindergarten classmate Cliff--until Jake learns that Cliff keeps a scrap of security blanket in his pocket. Though it's a too-familiar plot twist, Cooper distinguishes her story with lots of up-front characterization. Using soft colors and a few black lines, Muñoz subtly reveals personality traits.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gabi Swiatowska. A boy and his grandfather engage in conversation about the Golden Rule after they see it posted on a billboard. The straightforward but sometimes repetitive text keeps the discussion on a level understandable for children but can't entirely avoid the didacticism inherent in the subject. Evocative paintings (some from startling angles) incorporate imagery from various religious traditions, underscoring the rule's universality.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(2) YA Not your average biographies, these are meaty fare, sure to satisfy readers (even reluctant ones) looking for something more than a hero portrait. Most riveting is Cash; least accessible is Carson. Honest and engaging, all four volumes include forewords explaining what drew each author to the subject, black-and-white photographs, and source notes. Websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these titles: Up Close: Robert F. Kennedy, Up Close: Oprah Winfrey, Up Close: Rachel Carson, and Up Close: Johnny Cash.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2007

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Colin Paine. Tired of being picked on by the class bully, third-grader Tim organizes an "Annoying Team" to get back at Jon. After its initial success, the group gets out of hand: it harasses a substitute teacher, holds up the school lunch line, etc. Illustrated with serviceable line drawings, this simple story has an intriguing premise but is too easily resolved.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Amanda Harvey. Bobby Quinn is too shy to make new friends, but when he receives a lively beagle puppy for his eighth birthday, she helps him overcome his shyness and make friends--with both an elderly neighbor and kids his own age. The author handles the common childhood situation with a deft touch. Brief chapters and black-and-white line drawings add appeal for new chapter-book readers.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(2) 4-6 When Sam's Jewish dad and Christian mom start to rethink how they feel about their respective religions, it puts the kids in the middle of their differences. Twelve-year-old Sam comes to realize (rather didactically) that his household replicates in miniature the fighting that divides people everywhere and (more believably) to appreciate his own hard-won relationship with God.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(2) 4-6 Without idealizing or sensationalizing, Cooper offers a revealing portrait of JFK's youth (ending with his graduation from high school) and the forces that shaped it. A host of domestic details gives a firm sense of everyday life in the Kennedy household. Copious family photos enhance the text's accessible tone. An afterword sketches out Jack's adult life, briefly evaluating his presidency and describing his assassination. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2003

(4) 1-3 Road to Reading series. Illustrated by Colin Paine. Tired of being picked on by the class bully, third-grader Tim organizes an "Annoying Team" to get back at Jon. After its initial success, the group gets out of hand: it harasses a substitute teacher with bird calls, holds up the school lunch line by dropping coins, etc. Illustrated with serviceable line drawings, this simple story has an intriguing premise but is too easily resolved.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elivia Savadier. Cooper's readable text conveys basic information about the Jewish holidays, including Sabbath, Purim, and Yom Kippur, and is spiced with interesting facts, lore, recipes, and art projects. The text is handsomely illustrated with photographs of related religious objects, reproductions from the Jewish Museum in New York, and lively cartoon-style art in pen and ink. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman