Author Archives: stephanielowden

The Gold Leaf by Kirsten Hall, illustrations by Matthew Forsythe. Enchanted Lion Books, Brooklyn New York, 2017. Breathtaking. That was my first response when I came across this beautifully illustrated book. My granddaughter received it for her birthday and with … Continue reading →

Mari’s Hope by Sandy Brehl. Crickhollow Books/Crispin Books, Milwaukee, WI 2017. “Suddenly the door to the main house flew open. Two soldiers burst out, tumbling off the steps and shouting at each other. She crouched beside the hedge, shivering as … Continue reading →

Summer of Lost and Found by Rebecca Behrens. Aladdin, Simon and Schuster, New York, NY 2016 “You don’t expect your life to change because of a toothbrush. But that’s really how my summer of lost and found started, with one … Continue reading →

The Haunted House Project, by Tricia Clasen. Sky Pony Press, New York, NY, 2016 “I stop outside my dad’s bedroom door. Sometimes I think I can still smell her here. Right now, I’d love even a hint of the stuff … Continue reading →

Grandma is a Slowpoke by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Michele Coxon. Star Bright Books, Cambridge Massachusetts, 2015. Being four-years-old apparently means inventing “games,” in which my granddaughter and I have different names and parts to play. Many times these games … Continue reading →

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, this month I’m reviewing two books that articulate the importance of non-violent direct action to the civil rights movement. These books are not just for young people. Everyone interested in the civil rights … Continue reading →

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord. Scholastic Press, New York, NY, 2015. When Lucky, Lily’s blind dog, races across a blueberry barren, a young girl catches him by offering him her peanut butter sandwich. When Lily meets Salma Santiago, … Continue reading →