Oppenheim, Joanne 1934–

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OPPENHEIM, Joanne 1934–

(Jane Fleischer, Kate Jassem)

PERSONAL:

Born May 11, 1934, in Middletown, NY; daughter of Abe P. (an electrical engineer) and Helen Fleischer; married Stephen Oppenheim (a lawyer), June 27, 1954; children: James, Anthony, Stephanie. Education: Attended University of Miami, 1951-52; Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., 1960; Bank Street College of Education, M.S., 1980. Hobbies and other interests: Community theater.

ADDRESSES:

Home—New York, NY. Office—Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, 40 E. 9th St., No. 14M, New York, NY 10003. E-mail—toyport2@aol.com.

CAREER:

Educator, writer, and consumer advocate. Elementary school teacher in Monticello, NY, 1960-80; Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY, member of Writer's Laboratory, 1962—, senior editor in publications department, 1980-92; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (consumer organization), New York, NY, president and cofounder, 1989—. Monthly contributor to Today Show (television program), 2000—. Member of board of directors, U.S.A. Toy Library, 1993—.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Outstanding Teachers of America Award, 1973; Children's Choice citation, International Reading Association, 1980, for Mrs. Peloki's Snake, and 1981, for Mrs. Peloki's Class Play; Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award, Ontario Arts Council, 1987, Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award, 1987, and Outstanding Science Book citation, all for Have You Seen Birds?; Outstanding Science Book citation, 1994, for Oceanarium; YALSA Best Books for Young Adults award nomination, 2007, for Dear Miss Breed.

WRITINGS:

for children

Have You Seen Trees?, illustrated by Irwin Rosenhouse, Young Scott Books (New York, NY), 1967, illustrated by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

Have You Seen Birds?, illustrated by Julio de Diego, Young Scott Books (New York, NY), 1968, illustrated by Barbara Reid, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1986.

Have You Seen Roads?, illustrated by G. Nook, Young Scott Books (New York, NY), 1969.

Have You Seen Boats?, Young Scott Books (New York, NY), 1971.

On the Other Side of the River, illustrated by Aliki, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1972.

Have You Seen Houses?, Young Scott Books (New York, NY), 1973.

Sequoyah, Cherokee Hero, illustrated by Bert Dodson, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

Osceola, Seminole Warrior, illustrated by Bill Ternay, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

Black Hawk, Frontier Warrior, illustrated by Hal Frenck, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Jane Fleischer) Tecumseh, Shawnee War Chief, illustrated by Hal Frenck, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Jane Fleischer) Sitting Bull, Warrior of the Sioux, illustrated by Bert Dodson, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Jane Fleischer) Pontiac, Chief of the Ottawas, illustrated by Robert Baxter, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Kate Jassem) Chief Joseph, Leader of Destiny, illustrated by Robert Baxter, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Kate Jassem) Pocahontas, Girl of Jamestown, illustrated by Allan Eitzen, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Kate Jassem) Sacajawea, Wilderness Guide, illustrated by Jan Palmer, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

(Under pseudonym Kate Jassem) Squanto, the Pilgrim Adventure, illustrated by Robert Baxter, Troll Associates (Mahwah, NJ), 1979.

Mrs. Peloki's Snake, illustrated by Joyce Audy dos Santos, Dodd (New York, NY), 1980.

James Will Never Die, illustrated by True Kelly, Dodd (New York, NY), 1982.

Mrs. Peloki's Class Play, illustrated by Joyce Audy dos Santos, Dodd (New York, NY), 1984.

Barron's Bunny Activity Books, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 1985.

You Can't Catch Me!, illustrated by Andrew Shachat, Houghton (Boston, MA), 1986.

(With Betty Boegehold and William H. Hooks) Read-a-Rebus: Tales and Rhymes in Words and Pictures, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, Random House (New York, NY), 1986.

The Story Book Prince, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1987, published as The Prince's Bedtime, illustrated by Miriam Latimer, Barefoot Books (Cambridge, MA), 2006.

Mrs. Peloki's Substitute, illustrated by Joyce Audy Zarins, Dodd (New York, NY), 1987.

Left and Right, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1989.

"Not Now!" Said the Cow, illustrated by Chris Demarest, Bantam (New York, NY), 1989.

Could It Be?, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, Bantam (New York, NY), 1990.

Wake Up, Baby!, illustrated by Lynn Sweat, Bantam (New York, NY), 1990.

Follow That Fish, illustrated by Devis Grebu, Bantam (New York, NY), 1990.

Eency Weency Spider, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, Bantam (New York, NY), 1991.

The Donkey's Tale, illustrated by Chris Demarest, Bantam (New York, NY), 1991.

Rooter Remembers: A Bank Street Book about Values, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, Viking (New York, NY), 1991.

(With Barbara Brenner and William H. Hooks) No Way, Slippery Slick!: A Child's First Book about Drugs, illustrated by Joan Auclair, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1991.

Show-and-Tell Frog, illustrated by Kate Duke, Bantam (New York, NY), 1992.

(With William H. Hooks and Barbara Brenner) How Do You Make a Bubble?, illustrated by Doug Cushman, Bantam (New York, NY), 1992.

(Adaptor) One Gift Deserves Another (based on the story by the Brothers Grimm), illustrated by Bo Zaunders, Dutton (New York, NY), 1992.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

Do You Like Cats?, illustrated by Carol Newsom, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

(Reteller) The Christmas Witch: An Italian Legend, illustrated by Annie Mitra, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

"Uh-Oh!" Said the Crow, illustrated by Chris Demarest, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

Oceanarium, illustrated by Alan Gutierrez, Bantam (New York, NY), 1994.

Floratorium, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, Bantam (New York, NY), 1994.

Money, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1995.

Have You Seen Bugs?, illustrated by Ron Broda, North Winds Press (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada), 1996, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Painting with Air, illustrated by Stephanie Carr, Little Simon (New York, NY), 1999.

Big Bug Fun: A Book of Facts and Riddles, illustrated by Jerry Zimmerman, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

Have You Seen Dogs?, illustrated by Susan Gardos, North Winds Press (Markham, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story, illustrated by Fabian Negrin, Barefoot Books (Cambridge, MA), 2006.

Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference, foreword by Elizabeth Kikuchi Yamada, afterword by Snowden Becker, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006.

The Prince's Bedtime, illustrated by Miriam Latimer, Barefoot Books (Cambridge, MA), 2006.

The Diary of Stanley K. Hayami, Asian-American Curriculum Project (San Mateo, CA), 2007.

Also author of six activity books for children on maps, time, money, communications, and safety. Contributor to "Bank Street Readers" basal series, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1965.

for adults

Kids and Play, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1984.

(With Betty D. Boegehold and Barbara Brenner) Raising a Confident Child: The Bank Street Year-by-Year Guide, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1984.

(With Betty D. Boegehold and Barbara Brenner) Growing up Friendly: The Bank Street Guide to Raising a Sociable Child, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1985.

KidSpeak about Computers, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1985.

(With Betty D. Boegehold and Barbara Brenner) Choosing Books for Kids: Choosing the Right Book for the Right Child at the Right Time, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1986.

Buy Me! Buy Me! The Bank Street Guide to Choosing Toys for Children, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1987.

The Elementary School Handbook: Making the Most of Your Child's Education, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1989.

(With daughter, Stephanie Oppenheim) The Best Toys, Books, and Videos for Kids: The 1994 Guide to 1,000+ Kid-tested, Classic and New Products for Ages 0-10, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1993.

(With daughter, Stephanie Oppenheim) Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Baby and Toddler Play Book, illustrated by Joan Auclair, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (New York, NY), 1999.

Read It! Play It! With Kids Three to Seven, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (New York, NY), 2005.

(With daughter, Stephanie Oppenheim) Read It! Play It! With Babies and Toddlers, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (New York, NY), 2006.

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Annual (New York, NY), 2007.

Contributor to Pleasure of Their Company, Chilton (Radnor, PA), 1980. Contributor of articles to magazines, including Family Circle, Parent and Child, and Working Mother.

Author's works have been translated into Spanish.

SIDELIGHTS:

Joanne Oppenheim is known for works for and about children, and her fans range from preschoolers to young adults. and Her picture books appeal to children due to their pleasing rhymes and sense of humor, while her more recent works, nonfiction, center on the Japanese-American incarceration during World War II. Oppenheim's books for adult readers are directed to parents, teachers, librarians, and caregivers, and center on the importance of play, learning, and literacy. Oppenheim, who spent ten years as an elementary school teacher and another twelve as a senior editor of the Bank Street College of Education's publication department, pens books that are both entertaining and educational. Her realistic stories have also been praised for creating characters and situations with which young readers will identify.

Oppenheim's first books in the "Have You Seen?" series combine fanciful verse with illustrations that employ unusual perspectives to give children new looks at ordinary items such as roads, trees, birds, boats, and houses. In Have You Seen Trees? her "pleasant, read-aloud rhythms" and "touch of humor" distinguish it from other science books, according to New York Times Book Review writer Alice Fleming. Similarly, George A. Woods noted in a New York Times Book Review appraisal that "the rhythm of Joanne Oppenheim's descriptive verse text" in Have You Seen Roads? will "transport" young readers, and a Kirkus Reviews critic wrote that the rhymes in Have You Seen Boats? "titillate, educate, [and] play with the mind's ear." Although the series does not provide information directly, a Junior Bookshelf reviewer observed that the series' aim is "to put … subjects in an environmental context and this is well done in an easy unforced style." "Oppenheim's poetry is magical," stated Susan Perren in a Quill & Quire review of Have You Seen Birds? Praising the author's "use of alliteration and repetition," Perren added: "Her poetry swoops and rolls, pecks and hoots, bringing the birds alive on the page."

Developing the series for over thirty years, Oppenheim has continued to add new titles to her "Have You Seen?" books. She turns to the insect world in Have You Seen Bugs?, a picture book illustrated by Ron Broda that features three-dimensional paper artwork to accompany Oppenheim's text. Told in rhyming verse, Have You Seen Bugs? shares with young readers different characteristics of a wide range of small creatures, including spiders, caterpillars, and dragonflies. How bugs grow, what they eat, and how they move are all covered, as are functions that specific creatures fulfill in the environment. Calling the work "a sensational book in praise of insects," a Publishers Weekly critic claimed that Oppenheim and Broda "cover a lot of ground and … pack in a surprising amount of information." Writing in School Library Journal, Patricia Manning also noted the wealth of information offered in Have You Seen Bugs?, describing the work as "perfect for any youngster."

Canines receive the "Have You Seen?" treatment in Have You Seen Dogs? Here Oppenheim details the wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors in which man's best friend can appear. While not offering information on specific breeds, the author does explain to young readers how dogs differ in their looks and barks. Told in verse, Have You Seen Dogs? also shares the many different responsibilities canines can have, such as helping handicapped people, protecting livestock, and entertaining crowds. Described as a "must for dog lovers," the book is "a good read-aloud … and useful resource when researching certain aspects about dogs," according to Resource Links contributor Judy Cottrell.

Oppenheim brings her classroom experiences to life in her stories about elementary teacher Mrs. Peloki. In Mrs. Peloki's Snake, the discovery of a reptile in the boys' bathroom prompts a classroom uproar. This "sprightly tale of reptilian high jinks [is] nicely tuned to the first-grade funny bone," Kristi L. Thomas commented in School Library Journal. The trials of staging a production of "Cinderella" are set forth in humorous fashion in Mrs. Peloki's Class Play, which School Library Journal contributor Catherine Wood called "true to life," with "class members' personalities and humor [that] emerge on almost every page." Ilene Cooper likewise praised Oppenheim in a Booklist review, citing the author's "real grasp of second graders and their habits." Another true-to-life episode of classroom escapades is found in Mrs. Peloki's Substitute, according to a Kirkus Reviews writer, who said the book contains "enough humor and verisimilitude to entertain children." In this story, after their cherished teacher leaves class sick, the students try to misdirect her unfortunate replacement, hoping to avoid a spelling test. While some critics faulted the book for potentially inspiring misbehavior, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books writer Zena Sutherland found the tale "nicely appropriate" in length and vocabulary, adding that most young readers "will enjoy a story about a familiar situation."

Another situation familiar to many children—sibling rivalry—is portrayed in James Will Never Die. In this tale, young Tony can never beat his older brother in their imaginary games, for James always manages to turn everything Tony thinks of into a victory. Tony's efforts to best his brother make for a "zippy story of sibling rivalry and affection," a Publishers Weekly critic noted. Barbara McGinn likewise found the brothers' adventures "refreshingly imaginative," adding in a review for School Library Journal that, although though many of these adventures revolve around someone dying, the book is "otherwise fast-moving [and] well-written." Another book about troublesome brothers, Left and Right, finds two cobbler brothers learning that they make better teammates than rivals. "Invitingly told in a rhythmic rhyme," according to Booklist reviewer Beth Herbert, the book explains concepts of left and right as well as cooperation and "entices with its amusing insights on siblings."

A catchy refrain distinguishes You Can't Catch Me!, in which an annoying insect bothers every animal on the farm without fear: "'No matter how hard you try try try you can't catch me!' called the pesky black fly." Oppenheim's rhymes "are deft and simple," remarked a Kirkus Reviews writer, the critic adding that the story "has the rolling accumulative power of an old tale like The Gingerbread Boy. " As Betsy Hearne similarly observed in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "It's rare to find contemporary verse with a true nursery rhyme ring, but this has it." Another rhyming story with an old-time air is The Story Book Prince, in which Oppenheim tells of the efforts of a royal household to get the Prince to sleep. "The couplets frolic along," Susan Powers commented in School Library Journal, making this "a book for those [who] really enjoy clever word romps."

Oppenheim has also turned to familiar songs and fairy tales for material, updating them for new generations of children. Based on a story by the Brothers Grimm, for example, One Gift Deserves Another relates how two brothers are rewarded by their king for the gifts they bring. The poor brother, who unselfishly gives the king the giant turnip from his garden, is given wealth, while his greedy, rich brother, in exchange for a calculated gift of money and jewels, is given the king's most treasured possession: the turnip. Karen K. Radtke praised Oppenheim's retelling, noting in her School Library Journal review that by eliminating several adult elements from the original tale, the author "has distilled the remaining premise into an enjoyable story for children." "Oppenheim's lively retelling … captures its delicious ironies while lining out its tasty moral," a Publishers Weekly critic likewise stated. Kathryn Jennings also had warm words for Oppenheim's "upbeat version," concluding in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books that One Gift Deserves Another "has the humor of a 'Fractured Fairytales' episode and could become a storyhour favorite."

Oppenheim brings the legend of the holiday poinsettia to life in The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story. Juanita, a young girl living in rural Mexico, worries that her impoverished family will not be able to follow tradition and provide a gift for the Christ child on Christmas Eve. As Juanita walks through her village, she encounters a stone angel that directs her to gather some weeds and bring them to midnight mass. When the young girl enters the church that night, the weeds are miraculously transformed into glorious red poinsettias. "Oppenheim enriches the Mexican flavor by sprinkling Spanish words throughout the text," noted a critic in Kirkus Reviews, and Susan Patron, reviewing the work in School Library Journal, observed that "the perspective is consistently and effectively that of the child."

The above-ground world of flora and undersea world of the oceans are featured in two works by Oppenheim, Floratorium and Oceanarium, both which use a make-believe museum to structure their information. In the first work, the author creates a floor plan for her museum that looks like a flower, with each petal branching off to a individual chapter explaining different types of plants, including deciduous, saltwater, and desert ones. At the end of the tour, readers are encouraged to visit the museum store, which, instead of selling souvenirs, offers information about important scientists in the field of botany, as well as the beneficial role plants play in the environment. Oceanarium takes readers on a different type of journey, this time exploring changes in sea life as one travels farther to the bottom of the ocean. Oppenheim covers topics such as life in a coral reef, a shark tank, and in the tidal waters, with each chapter providing material about the types of creatures found in their respective environments. Concluding Oceanarium by explaining the importance of keeping the ocean free from pollutants, the author also shares with readers the dangers of exhausting the limited fish populations that may stabilize the delicate balance of the ocean's ecosystem.

Writing in Science Activities, Albert C. Jensen found the two books "ingenious and intriguing in design," going on to claim that they "represent an impressive melding of accurate text and interesting artwork that actually illustrates what it is intended to illustrate." Also commenting on both volumes, School Library Journal writer Carolyn Angus believed that "these appealing books offer good introductions to their topics," while Booklist critic Janice Del Negro deemed the books "accessible and enjoyable introductions to a wide variety of ecosystems."

Oppenheim's critically acclaimed nonfiction work, Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese-AmericanIncarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference, was the result of four years spent researching and writing. The book concerns Clara Breed, a librarian in San Diego who maintained contact with a number of her Japanese-American students after these children were sent with their families to an internment camp in Arizona during World War II. Oppenheim first learned of Breed's efforts while searching for an Asian-American high-school classmate; her search took her to the Web site of the Japanese-American National Museum. "When the young people were being moved out of San Diego," Oppenheim noted on her home page, "Clara [Breed] went to the train station and gave them all stamped, self addressed postcards. She urged them to write so that she could send them books and anything else they might need. It was online that I began to read some of the 250 letters that they wrote to Clara. Their letters not only chronicle the incarceration, they reflect the sense of loyalty and hope these young Americans held onto despite the treatment they were given by their own country."

After locating her classmate, Oppenheim discovered that, as a child, the woman been incarcerated at the same camp as Breed's young charges. "As a writer, I recognized from the start that this was a story that had to be told and in the words of those who lived it," the author noted on her home page. "I wanted to know what had happened to these young people? Where were they now and how had the incarceration and Clara Breed changed their lives?" Oppenheim managed to contact the surviving correspondents and conducted interviews with them; as she stated, "finding those who could tell the story was like playing detective—an adventure with exciting leads found on microfilm, through conversations, and the letters. I have never met more generous people, who have shared the story so that it will not be forgotten!"

A work that holds a special place in Oppenheim's heart, Dear Miss Breed received positive reviews. The story of the children, "along with that of Miss Breed, is both remarkable and inspiring, and Oppenheim has done a fine job of assembling these poignant eyewitness accounts," remarked School Library Journal contributor Marilyn Taniguchi. "Although the letters (and interviews with their grown-up authors) form the narrative's bedrock, Oppenheim weaves them into a broader account, amplified by photos, archival materials and moving quotations from the later reparation hearings," observed Jennifer Mattson in Booklist. A critic in Kirkus Reviews noted that the author "creates a scathing picture of the living conditions those children and their families were forced to endure," and Margaret A. Bush stated in Horn Book that Oppenheim constructs "a disturbing account of the widespread racism that led rapidly to the labeling of all Japanese-American residents … as enemy aliens." As Oppenheim commented on her home page, Dear Miss Breed "is the story of how one person can make a difference in the lives of so many others. It is also a story of courage and friendship told in the voices of those who lived through one of the darkest times in our country's history."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, September 1, 1984, Ilene Cooper, review of Mrs. Peloki's Class Play, p. 70; November 1, 1989, Beth Herbert, review of Left and Right, p. 556; January 1, 1994, Janice Del Negro, reviews of Floratorium and Oceanarium, p. 823; January 15, 1995, Julie Corsaro, review of Have You Seen Trees?, p. 993; April, 1998, Carolyn Phelan, review of Have You Seen Bugs?, p. 1326; November 1, 2003, Ilene Cooper, review of The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story, p. 499; January 1, 2006, Jennifer Mattson, Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese-American Incarceration during World War II and the Librarian Who Made a Difference, p. 93.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July, 1973, p. 174; November, 1984; September, 1986, Betsy Hearne, review of You Can't Catch Me!, p. 15; June, 1987, Zena Sutherland, review of Mrs. Peloki's Substitute, p. 193; September, 1992, Kathryn Jennings, review of One Gift Deserves Another, p. 11.

Christian Science Monitor, May 1, 1987, p. B7.

Horn Book, March-April, 2006, Margaret A. Bush, review of Dear Miss Breed, pp. 207-208.

Junior Bookshelf, December, 1977, reviews of Have You Seen Roads? and Have You Seen Houses?, p. 339.

Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 1971, review of Have You Seen Boats?, p. 804; September 1, 1980, p. 1159; July 15, 1986, review of You Can't Catch Me!, p. 1121; December 15, 1986, p. 1858; January 15, 1987, review of Mrs. Peloki's Substitute, p. 136; November 1, 2003, review of The Miracle of the First Poinsettia, p. 1319; December 15, 2005, review of Dear Miss Breed, p. 1326.

Library Journal, March, 2006, Marilyn Taniguchi, review of Dear Miss Breed, p. 246.

New York Times Book Review, May 7, 1967, Alice Fleming, "First Steps in Science," p. 49; October 5, 1969, George A. Woods, review of Have You Seen Roads?, p. 34.

Publishers Weekly, October 22, 1982, review of James Will Never Die, p. 56; August 24, 1984, p. 79; October 5, 1992, review of One Gift Deserves Another, p. 69; April 10, 1995, review of Have You Seen Trees?, p. 61; May 4, 1998, review of Have You Seen Bugs?, p. 213; September 22, 2003, review of The Miracle of the First Poinsettia, p. 70; August 28, 2006, review of The Prince's Bedtime, p. 52.

Quill & Quire, December, 1986, Susan Perren, "Picture-Book Plums for Christmas Gift-Giving," p. 16; June, 2001, review of Have You Seen Dogs?, p. 50.

Resource Links, June, 2001, Judy Cottrell, review of Have You Seen Dogs?, p. 20.

School Library Journal, August, 1980, pp. 63-64; October, 1980, Kristi L. Thomas, review of Mrs. Peloki's Snake, p. 138; February, 1983, Barbara McGinn, review of James Will Never Die, p. 70; October, 1984, Catherine Wood, review of Mrs. Peloki's Class Play, p. 150; April, 1987, Susan Powers, review of The Story Book Prince, pp. 87-88; June-July, 1987, p. 88; August, 1987, p. 72; December, 1989, p. 87; June, 1991, p. 87; February, 1993, Karen K. Radtke, review of One Gift Deserves Another, p. 83; April, 1994, Carolyn Angus, review of Floratorium and Oceanarium, p. 142; April, 1995, Wendy Lukehart, review of Have You Seen Trees?, pp. 126, 128; September, 1998, Patricia Manning, review of Have You Seen Bugs?, p. 196; October, 2003, Susan Patron, review of The Miracle of the First Poinsettia, pp. 66-67.

Science Activities, spring, 1995, Albert C. Jensen, review of Oceanarium and Floratorium, p. 44.

Voice of Youth Advocates, February, 2006, Parri Sylvester Spencer, review of Dear Miss Breed.