Books and Reviews
Truth and Salsa Peachtree Publishers, Ltd. HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER > "The writing is engaging. Linda Lowery creates an affectionate portrait of Mexico and its people in this warm, humorous story of a spirited young girl who must travel far from home to find herself." -- School Library Journal
Linda Lowery
Mexico is a long way from Kalamazoo -- and not just in terms of miles. No one knows that better than almost-thirteen-year-old Hayley Flynn whose introduction to San Miguel de Allende includes fiestas, butterflies, ghosts, fireworks and even a glamorous role as a movie extra. But there are also difficult lessons to be learned when her friend Lili's father is stranded north of the border without pay.
♦ 2007 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year; Honor Book, 2006 Society of School Librarians International Book Awards; 2007 Kansas State Reading Circle; Nominee, 2007-8 Kentucky Bluegrass Awards
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Linda Lowery and Richard Keep (Adapters) Illustrations by Janice Lee Porter Carolrhoda Books HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER Can you imagine a world without chocolate? The Chocolate Tree is an adaptation of an ancient Mesoamerican folktale about how chocolate came to all of us on Earth. Set in Chichén Itzá, the story brings to light the struggle between Mayan god brothers Kukulkan and Night Jaguar over bringing “the food of the gods” to mere Earth-dwellers.
The Chocolate Tree
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The Tale of La Llorona
Linda Lowery & Richard Keep (Adapters)
Janice Lee Porter (Illustrator)
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER
A fresh, culture-rich adaptation of the classic tale of Mexico’s famous weeping ghost.
Beware the moonlit river path, the wispy fog along the trail.
You may see a woman there, all dressed in white and ghostly pale.
AY-EEEE! she weeps. My Children! You will hear her lonely moan.
AY-EEEE! AY-EEEE! She hunts you, haunts you, wants you for her very own!
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Day of the Dead
Linda Lowery
Illustrated by Barbara Knutson
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER
Available in English and in Spanish
Combining woodblock-style illustrations and a text addressed to 'you,' this easy-to-read title introduces various aspects of the Dia de los Muertos celebrations common to Mexican and many Mexican-American communities.
Cinco de Mayo Linda Lowery Illustrated by Barbara Knutson Carolrhoda Books HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER Available in English and in Spanish It’s fiesta time! Cinco de Mayo is a fiesta day in Mexico and the United States. It’s celebrated on the fifth of May. This colorful holiday honors Mexico’s victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. People march in parades, dance, and set off fireworks. Families enjoy traditional Mexican food and drink. Then they watch people act out the famous battle. Find out more about this joyful celebration of Mexican culture.
> “Noting roots in both Aztec and Catholic traditions, Lowery shows how the cycle of the growing season is tied to the cycle of human birth, life, and death and explains how the memorialization of the dead during this period of festivity is a time for joy rather than sorrow. Non-Latino youngsters will enjoy the links between Halloween and the Day of the Dead traditions and will shiver with pleasure at the decorations and treats-prominently featuring bones and skeletons-that may seem slightly ghoulish to those unfamiliar with the holiday." -- School Library Journal
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Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration
Written and Illustrated by Richard Keep
Peachtree Publishers
HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER
A rhythmic, rollicking celebration of the Day of the Dead – a Mexican holiday that celebrates death with both noisy fun and quiet respect. In this colorful, joyous picture book, a family sets out fiesta offerings in hopes that the spirits of their ancestors will return for that one special day of the year, El Día de los Muertos. The playful skeletons rise from their graves and party with gusto – singing, dancing, dining, telling stories, and playing games. As morning approaches, the skeletons give thanks for their night of gifts and fun. Then they tidy up after themselves, leaving no trace behind of their “clatter bash,” and return to their coffins until the next early November, when the Day of the Dead will be celebrated once again.
♦ IRA Children's Choice of 2005
♦Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2005 - CBC and NCSS 2005
♦School Library Journal, February 2005 starred review: ...The minimal text, a rhyming mix of greetings, Spanish words, and onomatopoetic sounds, is printed along the bottom of the pages, functioning almost like subtitles. The joy on the characters' skeletal faces and in their excited movements is apparent as is their love of the lives they had. Small skeletons remind readers that even children are among the dead, and the beautiful details of the various aspects of the celebration reflect its Mexican roots. An afterword explains the holiday and its customs. This will be a popular title in Mexican-American communities and an eye-opener for others. - Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX Linda Lowery Illustrated by John Eric Karpinski Carolrhoda Books SOFTCOVER In this subtle soliloquy, Laurie, 11, examines her feelings about herself and her father, who is molesting her. Without graphic descriptions, she evokes the doubts, denials, fears, and sadness of a child who is being abused by a trusted adult. Adding to her dilemma is her failed attempt to get help from her mother, who does not believe her. Laurie examines the adults in her life and finally decides to confide in her Aunt Jen. The concluding scene, in which Laurie "tells," is true to the reactions of both victim and supporter. The girl's hesitancy, self-blame, and relief are delicately portrayed, as are Jen's shock, concern, and determination to help. > "Excellent portrayal of feelings experienced by a child who has been sexually abused by her own father. I have used this book for sexual abuse prevention programs conducted for fifth-graders, and they were very engaged by the narrative. I wish this book were in all middle school libraries, so that children experiencing this same loneliness and pain would be empowered to reach out for help. Written in a sensitive, non-graphic manner, the message in this book is encouraging and hopeful. Special bonuses are the almost poetic voice and imagery and the outstanding illustrations. Highly recommended!" -- Amazon.com Reader Review > "This little gem of a book will be a treasured friend for children who face troubled home lives, and all readers will come away from it with a deepened understanding of the difficult journey that abused children face." --Carolyn Polese -- School Library Journal >"Poignant, authentic-sounding, first-person narrative that both makes its point (abuse must be revealed) and packs an emotional wallop." -- Stephanie Zvirin -- Booklist Trick or Treat, It's Halloween! Written and Illustrated by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep Random House SOFTCOVER > "Lowery and her husband teamed up to create an amusing picture book with a hidden opportunity for learning: the first letter of each page spells the alphabet. Lowery (and Keep's) meter and rhyme are 'flawless,' a reviewer wrote in the Tampa Tribune, and because of this, another reviewer noted in Publisher's Weekly, 'the A - Z progression seems effortless.' " --Something About the Author > "This is the kind of book that would come out every Halloween at my house to share with my children. The simple rhyming one-line text is placed in a waving motion throughout the illustrations on each page. It has a continuous flow that catches the reader's attention. The illustrations consist of a menagerie of monsters and spooks haunting every page. The colors are bright and cheerful. It is a fun book that any youngster would enjoy." -- Children's Literature Merry Christmas, Everyone! Written and Illustrated by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep Random House SOFTCOVER
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Laurie Tells
♦ Fassler Award Winner -- Association for the Care of Children's Health
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A Thump From Upstairs Starring Mr. Boo and Max
Written and illustrated by Richard Keep
Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
HARDCOVER
After dinner, mild-mannered Mr. Boo and his wise cat, Max, settle down together in a big comfy chair to watch a scary movie. Suddenly they hear a loud THUMP! from upstairs. Mr. Boo b-bravely sets out alone to investigate the mystery. Meanwhile, Max is up to something downstairs in the kitchen…and Mr. Boo is in for a surprise!
> "Dazzling computer graphic imagery. The bright colors sparkle and almost leap off the page...You could sit in the easy chair until bedtime every night and find things you misses each time you opened the book. - Carroll Wilson, Wichita Falls Times Recorder
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Apples dunked in caramel goo, Bats out playing peekaboo, Cats come creeping, black and lean. Trick or treat--it's Halloween! This unique rhyming Pictureback® takes young kids through the celebrated routine of trick-or-treating--alphabetically! The striking collage-style art in bold colors is sure to be a hit with little trick-or-treaters everywhere.
♦ New York Times Best-Selling Paperback
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Sleigh bells jingle, church bells chime. Ho, Ho, Ho! It's Christmas time!
> “Stunning cut-paper art and a humorous text about the joys of Christmas from the bestselling author-and illustrator team of Trick or Treat, It’s Halloween!"
-- from the Publisher.
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Who Wants A Valentine?
Written and Illustrated by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep
Random House
SOFTCOVER
Tea for two?/ I decline./ I don't want a valentine!
From the author-illustrator team that brought you the New York Times bestseller Trick or Treat, It’s Halloween! comes this delightful story about a little boy who is not interested in getting a valentine, at first! Featuring the same playful rhyme and cut-paper style of their last book, this holiday book is sure to be a crowd pleaser!
> In Who Wants a Valentine? by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep, a resolute boy turns bashful when a cute girl comes on the scene. Humorous cut paper collage depicts a diverse cast of characters." -- Publisher's Weekly
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Twist With A Burger, Jitter With A Bug Illustrations by Pat Dypold Houghton Mifflin HARDCOVER Boogie in the bathtub, hula-hula dance, rumba if you wanna, in your underpants! "Bold, brash cut-paper collages in bright neon colors illustrate an exuberant rhyme about music and dance--all kinds of dance, from polka and mambo to jitterbug, waltz, and ballet. The pages bounce with play and movement, and kids will enjoy clapping and acting out the rhythmic beat." - Booklist Readers can snap! rap! and tap! to the mambo, polka, twist, jitterbug, jive, boogie, hula, rumba, and waltz in this exuberant picture book that celebrates dance. "Lowery folds a drumbeat into her book about all kinds of high-stepping. . . . This particular treatment is modern and original." - Kirkus Reviews ALA Notable Book > ``Dance a mambo/ snap to a rap/ put on your cleats and tap, tap, tap,' exhorts Lowery in this blithe boogie through different dance styles." - Diane Roback -- Publisher's Weekly > "What a terrific introduction to the rhythms of all kinds of dance! Reading this book aloud could make everybody want to dance." - Judy Silverman -- Children's Literature 
Linda Lowery
♦ ALA Notable Book
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One More Valley, One More Hill: The Story of Aunt Clara Brown Linda Lowery Random House - Landmark Book HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER ♦ Starred Review, School Library Journal > How many remarkable true stories have we let slide under the carpet of history? Thankfully, there is one less overlooked story now, with this fascinating biography of Aunt Clara Brown...Aunt Clara's amazing true-life story resonates through the years...Short articles interspersed throughout the narrative give interesting background into the Dred Scott case, the Underground Railroad, the Colorado gold rush, and much more. - Christopher Moning -- Children's Literature > This book goes beyond a mere listing of dates and occurrences to show readers how Brown touched people and, because of who she was, changed where she lived.... This book is so much more than the biography of a rare and determined woman. Lowery has not only told Aunt Clara Brown's compelling story; in this book, she has also told part of the American story. - Jane Halsall -- School Library Journal > Lively, well written, and full of historical detail. A fine work for biography fans and a necessity for American history collections. - Kirkus Reviews 
Who was Aunt Clara Brown? She was a pioneer, crossing the country on foot to join the frontier communities of 1850s Colorado. She was an entrepreneur, becoming one of the wealthiest women in the West. She was a philanthropist, donating money wherever there were people in need. She was a mother, tirelessly searching throughout her life for her lost daughter. And she was a slave, buying her freedom, and beginning her quest when she was fifty-six years old.
Linda Lowery Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter Carolrhoda Books HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER Available in English and in Spanish ♦Finalist, Colorado Book Award ♦Starred Reviews - School Library Journal, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books >"This amazing story, simply told, recounts the accomplishments of a black woman in a time when only white men were considered important. Her achievements will inspire young readers and give a new face to the pioneer movement of the 1800s." - The Gazette, Colorado Springs >"Aunt Clara's story teaches children about tenacity, caring for others, and strength of character...well suited to beginning readers, with large print, short sentences and illustrations on almost every page." - School Library Journal >"Simply and beautifully told, effortlessly weaving history and personal narrative into an engrossing and inspiring tale of strength and determination." -- ABA "This Weeks Kids' Pick of the Lists >"A carefully researched book, Aunt Clara Brown is an inspiration for all." -- The Tennessean 
Aunt Clara Brown: Official Pioneer
A freed slave, traveled west where she helped others build new lives and tirelessly searched for her daughter, who was sold as a child. Powerful primitive paintings in earth tones illustrate this triumphant, easy-to-read biography.
♦ABA Pick of the List
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Linda Lowery
Illustrated by Hetty Mitchell
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER / SOFTCOVER / Audio CD
>This small book covers a lot of ground, by providing an overview of the history of how the holiday came to be and suggestions on how to celebrate it. More importantly, it sheds life on the man behind the holiday; a brief overview of King's life. Children will read about King's childhood, education, his exposure to Ghandi, his participation in the Civil Rights Movement, his assassination and much more. While the illustrations are not particularly elaborate, they mesh well with the story and add to the overall experience of the book. Reading this book as a family on Martin Luther King Day could be a fantastic new tradition and will help children learn that the holiday is more than a day off from school. -- Stacey Seay -- The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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Georgia O'Keeffe Linda Lowery Illustrated by Rochelle Draper Carolrhoda Books HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER
"An interesting look at a complex woman. The book concentrates on her beginnings as an artist, and discusses how she decided to work in her own style, and not in imitation of any other painter. Overall, a good, easy-to-read biography." - Melissa Hudak -- School Library Journal
> "It is not easy to write simply well, but Lowery makes this a literary experience as well as a learning one." - Kirkus Reviews
Pablo Picasso
Linda Lowery
Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER
"Both accurate and accessible to upper elementary school students, particularly less than proficient readers, this book's text and painterly, full color illustrations provide a detailed account of Pablo Picasso's life and art. A brief timeline is a helpful feature whether reading for
entertainment or research for a book report." -- Parents' Choice
♦2000 Parents' Choice® Approved winner
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Wilma Mankiller
Linda Lowery
Illustrated by Janice Lee Porter
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER
> "A competent, easy-to-read biography of the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation. Events in Mankiller's life are briefly recounted--her childhood, her family's relocation to San Francisco, her return to Oklahoma as an adult, and her work to improve living conditions for the Cherokee people as deputy chief, then chief. Her feelings of alienation, loneliness, determination, and faith shine through the simple text. Intense colors paint faces and scenes with broad, abstract strokes, filling the pages with driving movement." -- School Library Journal
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Earth Day
Linda Lowery
Forward by Gaylord Nelson
Illustrated by Mary Bergher
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER - (Book/Cassette)
> "Lowery addresses the concerns that eventually brought about Earth Day and the laws and programs that have come about due to its establishment in 1970. Written in easy-reader style, the book has large type and soft pastel illustrations to inform readers of the vital importance of ecological concerns. A variety of ethnic/cultural groups and ages, as well as both genders, are represented in them. The most helpful part of the book is its last three pages. There, realistic activities that can make every day an Earth Day are cleverly presented in a bulletin-board format. Also useful is a list of addresses to write for more information. This book not only raises the level of concern for a serious problem facing all of us, but, more importantly, also gives good, clear strategies for everyone to do today."--Eowana Bradley Jordan -- School Library Journal today.
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Earthwise Ecology Series
Linda Lowery & Marybeth Lorbiecki
David Mataya (Illustrator)
Carolrhoda Books
Complete with Teacher's Guide
HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER
Emphasizing positive attitudes and actions, these books encourage readers to become environmentally aware in all aspects of their lives. Activism, including writing letters, using their consumer power, and contributing toward the purchase of special habitats are a few of the many ways the authors encourage their audiences to begin to take charge of their Earth. Facts, tips, and suggestions range from a local level to a global perspective. The actions of children from a variety of nations and social spheres are discussed. In Home , tips for recycling, reusing, and preserving are given broad coverage. School offers suggestions for projects, research, and experiments as well as many places to write for information. Play concentrates on endangered speciesand habitats.
> The illustrations combine small but clear photographs with sketches and drawings, all in full color. A wide variety of ethnic and racial groups as well as the disabled are depicted. This is a most welcome and valuable set and will be an excellent addition to library collections.
--Eva Elisabeth Von Ancken, Trinity Pawling School, NY
Earthwise At Home Earthwise At School Earthwise At Play
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Somebody Somewhere Knows My Name
Linda Lowery
Illustrated by John Eric Karpinski
Carolrhoda Books
HARDCOVER/SOFTCOVER
Grace and her little brother, Willy, don’t know what to do but sit down and wait. They write M-O-M in the dirt with their fingers, hoping that magic will bring her back to pick them up. When that doesn’t happen, the police bring Grace and Willy to an emergency shelter, where they have to try to accept that their mother may never return. They live in a cold, hard world where no one knows their names. Until someone comes along who understands.
> "I teach remedial kids all day long, and this book captured them. I never showed them the pictures so they could see the characters in their
own minds. They understood how the tail lights of the car looked like mean red eyes as it sped away. Asking the kids if they could fit all of their
possessions in a shopping bag gave many a real cause for pause. It was a real story for kids to relate to...I had the best week of this year because I took a chance and used this book. It is a must for caseworkers and foster parents." --Amazon.com Reader Review
> "Told in the first-person present tense with a spare, understated style, the story makes a powerful impact. Grace is a person for whom readers will feel real compassion. Her love and care for Willy and her stalwart attitude about her situation are subtly but powerfully portrayed. An author's note at the end is written to children in similar situations." -- Connie Parker -- School Library Journal
> "Abandoned by their mother at a gas station, Grace and her eight-year-old brother, Willy, end up at a shelter...The story is clearly intended as bibliotherapy, with Lowery speaking directly to children in her closing. However, there's more symbolism and subtlety here than in many such message-laden books, and Grace is a multilayered character." -- Susan Dove Lempke –Booklist
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