Semicolon

Rain Makes Applesauce

Reviewed by Sherry Early
It only takes a few pages for kids and grown-ups to get the idea of this ridiculously nonsensical picture book poem. Take a modicum of rhythm, maybe a rhyme or some alliteration, and add the refrain “rain makes applesauce,” and you can play this word game all day long. Read the full review

Rajpur: Last of the Bengal Tigers

Reviewed by Sherry Early
The hallmarks of a “living book” are its narrative power and its full use of language to engage and delight the reader. Mr. McClung, in all of his books, uses both story and descriptive language to make his readers care about animals, the Bengal tiger, in this particular book, and to pull them into the story of one special tiger, Rajpur. Read the full review

The Real McCoy: The Life of an African-American Inventor

Reviewed by Sherry Early
McCoy’s life story is certainly an inspiring testimony to excellence and successful invention. Elijah McCoy was born in Canada, the son of former slaves who escaped from Kentucky and came to Canada via the Underground Railroad. He eventually studied engineering in Scotland and then came to live in the United States just after the end of the Civil War. Unfortunately, he could not find any work as an engineer because of his skin color, so he became a fireman/oilman for the railroad. Or was it providence? Read the full review