(2) K-3 Illustrated by Holly Meade. This picture-book biography of the country's first female steamboat captain portrays the river-loving Blanche first as a child and then as a young woman whose husband, a steamboat captain, teaches her the mysterious, unpredictable ways of the Mississippi. Exuberantly colored cut-paper art effectively realizes the three central characters of the story: Blanche, the river, and the romantic steamboat itself.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2000

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mary Grandpre. Ishaq, who longs to be a scholar, travels the world searching for books to add to the collection of the House of Wisdom, a giant library and learning institution in Baghdad in the 800s. The story, based on the life of one of the greatest translators of Aristotle, describes the rich and scholarly culture of the Islamic Empire and is enhanced by vivid pastel illustrations. A pronunciation guide is included. Bib.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cathryn Falwell. Interesting perspectives on time are explored in this collection designed for children who are beginning to understand the concept. Some poems are just right for this age group, while others seem more suited for an older audience. For example, "Wasting Time" describes a child who "excels in the art of inaction." Falwell's whimsical mixed-media collage illustrations enhance the lighthearted tone of the book.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir