Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

JB Michaels' sequel, The Tannenbaum Tailors and the Brethren of the Saints, builds upon the previous story, taking the characters to a new level of adventure. Relishing the victory of saving Santa’s magical Snowball, Captain Brendan’s Tannenbaum Tailors crew enjoys Christmas Day with Jack. Yet, Brendan is uneasy, something feels wrong. As the team watches Jack play with his miniature bullet train, unwelcome guests fly from the train - termites! Yikes! While conducting an investigation of the train, Brendan suddenly vanishes. The team searches for answers – what is the connection between the termites and Brendan’s disappearance? Among the branches of Jack’s tree the Spiritless lurk, setting traps for the crew. This is just the beginning of a race against time. The crew repeatedly finds themselves facing desperate and impossible situations. Seeds of doubt are planted, their hope is challenged – could the Spiritless really be hiding among them? The Spiritless are relentless. They have a plan, a wicked strategy to invade and conquer the North Pole. Led by a mysterious black-bearded man, they will not stop until they have destroyed Christmas forever.

Mysterious and magical, JB Michaels tailors his narrative with the same meticulousness the Tailors use to care for their trees. Each word is thoughtfully chosen, each chapter builds upon the other, creating a glimmering story of adventure. “Year Zero” provides an enticing narrative hook. It is a mystifying and auspicious beginning that propels a lasting promise of hope later revealed in the story’s plot. Michaels is beyond imaginative; he takes the reader into a realm of marvel and wonder. The story is spunky, witty, humorous and filled with endless action. There is never a dull moment. It contains surprising, precisely timed turns of events which heighten the suspense. Furthermore, inspiring truths are woven into the fabric of the plot; forgiveness, the power of love to conquer evil, the resolve to fight when all seems lost, the true meaning of family and the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifice of others. As a firm believer of keeping Christ in Christmas, I admired the referencing of the biblical message and the depiction of prayer by the characters. The explosion of light piercing the darkness and releasing healing leaves an unforgettable and lingering impression. Miracles do happen. After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Topaz and the Green Fairies by Pat Frayne is a whimsical story that takes readers into the world of fairies, magic, and adventure. A storm is threatening to destroy Cottersdamp Island and the green fairies living there, and it is Bozel the green fairy’s job now to save his species. As the book progresses, readers get to see Bozel’s journey to save the green fairies before the island is completely consumed by the Slewnecky River. He wants to go to a place where they will be welcome and where there were no great rivers like the Slewnecky River. Sezel, the old fisherman, suggests the Land of Knownotten, but he knows that now they have a new ruler. Will Bozel and his friends be able to save the green fairies before Cottersdamp Island is completely ravaged by the waters of the Slewnecky River?

The book is filled with adventure, fantasy, and whimsical characters that will captivate young readers and keep them glued to the story, eager to learn where Bozel goes and the interesting characters he meets on his way. The author’s narration is detailed and vivid, bringing the scenes and characters alive for readers. The black and white sketches in the book add to the charm of the story and, apart from the sense of adventure, the story also captures the friendship between the characters effectively. The story also introduces readers to some interesting characters and animals like Topaz, the cat with magical powers. The underlying message of helping each other, facing dangers and overcoming them has been woven deftly into the plot. The author’s depth of imagination is evident in the characters she has created, and the adventure and fantasy make it entertaining and enthralling for young readers. For all those who love magic, whimsy, adventure, and fantasy, this book is a must-read!

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

JB Michaels captures the spirit of Christmas in The Tannenbaum Tailors and the Secret Snowball. Ever wonder what is happening inside your Christmas tree? What is nestled within the pine branches? What wonders are hiding behind the ornaments and lights? Hidden tiny elves, known as the Tannenbaum Tailors, that’s what! These little, but powerful creatures are hard at work checking the spirit levels of each home. Tailoring and keeping safe every tree. However, the Christmas of 1987 is one the Tannenbaum Tailors will never forget. During that fateful season, Christmas was almost destroyed forever. Captain Brendan and his faithful Tailor Team fight to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. They must protect the Snowball at all costs! They must save Christmas!

JB Michaels’ love for children and family is reflected in his writing. The Tannenbaum Tailors and the Secret Snowball depicts childhood lessons regarding the consequence of actions and self sacrifice. It also portrays the importance of family, responsibility, and challenges experienced when coming of age. The narrative is imaginative and magical, and filled with tons of adventurous action. The short, yet captivating chapters are perfect for young readers. The story includes Christmas theme gadgets: glimmer goggles, gift box cars, Icicle ships, magical snowballs, and a small fantastical civilization within the known real world. These extraordinary tidbits create a whimsical setting that releases the imagination. As the classic conflict of good versus evil heightens, it is sure to keep the hearts of young readers pounding with anticipation. The ending holds true to the spirit of Christmas; peace on earth, goodwill towards men. Yet, you sense a deeper resolve in the characters, and you are well aware that more adventures are out there waiting for the Tannenbaum Tailors.

Reviewed by Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite

In a wonderful new work in the genre of adventurous fiction for children, Things on a Tree by author D.L. Finn is a book that will pull readers in from the very first page. Following the story of our protagonist, Aimee, readers will be taken on a journey all over the world and into the very depths of their imaginations. Aimee's Christmas Eve starts out very badly. She's sick on the couch and grieving the loss of her father, who died in an accident a year ago. But when she hears tapping on her window, and realizes that the sound she hears is coming from a tree, the adventure really begins! Aimee finds that someone is out to kill her, and ends up on a journey through the world of magic where she experiences the power of wonder and of greed. When she is promised the return of her father, she's ready to do almost anything. But are things truly the way they appear? You'll need to read the book to find out!

I so enjoyed Things on a Tree. Author D.L. Finn has done a beautiful job in creating characters that her readers will connect with, relate to, and continue to think about long after the last words are read. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. Her world creation skills are second to none, and the settings that her characters inhabit are beautiful, magical, and somehow also realistic. Any child who loves reading and loves a fun, adventurous and beautiful story should definitely read Things on a Tree. I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from the very talented author, D.L. Finn, as soon as I possibly can!

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

It's only two days before Christmas and Patty desperately needs to see Santa Claus at the mall. In fact, she's brought along her resume to apply for a job. Her resume isn't much because Patty's not even twelve yet, but she feels this strong urge to seek employment with Santa Claus. She's brought along her younger brother, Sean, who's not being very cooperative. Both siblings are still struggling from the recent and tragic death of their mother. That's made Sean very rebellious and he no longer believes in Santa Claus. In fact, he tells everyone that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Patty still believes, even though she's sad without her mother. And Patty's birthmark is starting to really bother her. It's growing, moving and very itchy. Her mother was going to explain to her about the birthmark, but she never had the chance. There were many other things that Patty's mother didn't have the opportunity to tell her daughter, like there was a strong connection between the women in Patty's family and the North Pole.

The visit to the mall turns into a disaster. Sean causes all kinds of disruptions and the lineups are impossibly long. The two return home frustrated, Patty with a massive headache that sends her straight to bed. The next morning, she discovers that her brother had stolen some precious letters from Santa Claus's mailbox, letters from hopeful children asking for that special gift. Returning to the mall, Patty thinks that she is just returning the letters to Santa Claus before it's too late. What awaits her is an adventure that she never expected, one that will set the forces of good and evil in a battle to end the power of Santa Claus and his jolly elves. It's the jolly that keeps them going and apparently Patty has a lot of jolly.

Ellwyn Autumn's fantasy novel, Chris Kringle's Cops: The First Mission, is a powerful story full of strong characters and good lessons. This is more than just a story about Santa Claus and the North Pole. It's a story full of compassion, dedication and the importance of being good and, of course, being jolly. This is an outstanding story for young readers. The forces of good against evil and the legend of Santa Claus and the North Pole make for a dynamic mix of fun and adventure.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

The Uninvited Visitors (Starfoot and Brown Books) (Volume 2) by Rhoda Canter is a children’s book full of fantasy, fun, and laughter because the animals talk and come to life. Chihuahuas Sergeant Starfoot and Chief Inspector Brown work together to solve the mystery about the two uninvited visitors on Bald Head Island. One day Isabel Hamidi’s father, Reza, a noted nuclear physicist visiting professor at the university, told her that he must return to Tehran because he may be forced to continue the nuclear program. He believes that the only thing that can force his hand is his daughter, so he told her that she must disappear completely and tell no one, not even him of her whereabouts. The plan is for Reza to send a text message with one word “boson”: this will be the code to vanish. Jordy Jordan is an interesting boy that went on a field trip one day to Bald Head Island. He was left on the island because he began to wander off, communicating and being fascinated with the mockingbirds, dogs, and other animals roaming around. As luck would have it, Isabel heads to Bald Head Island to complete her disappearing act when she encounters Jordy and the animals - and then the adventure begins.

The Uninvited Visitors by Rhoda Canter is an interesting story that puts you in mind of Dr. Doolittle because of the wonderful mixture of animals throughout the book. To witness the intriguing character of Jordy and his interactions with and mimicking the sounds of some of the animals, particularly the mockingbirds, will make you wish that you were there. Children of all ages will definitely love becoming enthralled in this story because of the fantasy, excitement, and amusement that it brings.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Meet Jet, a scrappy groundhog that must work with humans and forecast lightning strikes to save his home from an eco super villain planning to pulp entire national forests with giant, robotic milling snakes. Jet lost his father and hero, Ray, during his first garden raid, shot by their human neighbor, Mr. Trapper. Jet also lost his hearing in one ear and escapes alone over the electric fence, which scars his paws but gives him the unique ability to forecast lightning, in addition to supercharging his other weather-forecasting abilities.

Groundhogs: The Supercharged Forecaster by Jared Lillis is one big fun adventure from start to finish. The clever and funny terms such as ‘Sniff-N-Gnaw Snake Pit’ and ‘Warning Whistle Climb’, coupled with the engaging prose and eye catching illustrations (a must if you want to attract young readers), meant that even I as an adult found the story highly entertaining. I also like the way the environmental message is presented through the plot, making it easy to understand as well as making kids think about taking care of nature while having fun with Jet’s adventure. Young readers will definitely root for this brave groundhog in his quest to save his home.

All in all, author Jared Lillis has done a really excellent job here. Groundhogs: The Supercharged Forecaster is imaginative, and a clever way to teach children about the importance of taking care of the environment. I’m interested to read more of Lillis’ work. I highly recommend this book to my fellow readers, especially parents and teachers.

Reviewed by Siobhan Quinlan for Readers' Favorite

Supernatural Hero and the Zombies by Eran Gadot is a fun preteen book, book 3 in a series. We meet Andy again as he is getting ready to spend his summer with Zoe. Andy's 'to do' list involves things like going to the beach with Zoe, spending time with Zoe, and basically being with Zoe. This plan could go really well if zombies were not such a big problem. Andy can also talk to ghosts and his grandpa's ghost takes center stage. Dealing with his grandpa's death, Andy begins seeing his ghost. I found this to be an interesting way of introducing preteens to death, and also the message that those we love never truly leave, even though they do not stay around us as ghosts.

Supernatural Hero and the Zombies by Eran Gadot is a fantastic preteen book. Dealing with a lot of themes from love and death to school and bullies, this is a well rounded book. As a adult, I decided to give this book a try because it sounded interesting and I was not disappointed. Andy deals with problems that most preteens would deal with, and I was able to relate in some ways to him. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the humor within. The art work throughout is amazing. I found myself staring at the illustrations. I loved the way the pictures were pencil drawings and that added so much to the story. I feel that adults, teens, and preteens will be able to enjoy this series.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is the second volume of The Chronicles of the Stone, a children’s and preteen historical adventure series written by Fiona Ingram and illustrated by Lori Bentley. Adam and Justin are South African cousins who played vital roles in discovering the first Stone of Power in Egypt while they were on a trip with their Aunt Isabel and their Gran. James Kinnaird, the archaeologist they helped rescue on that adventure, has sent word that the second Stone of Power has been located, and he’s invited them to his family’s castle in Scotland for their summer vacation to help with researching it. When they meet Aunt Isabel at the airport, Justin’s a bit taken aback by her companion, Kim, Isabel’s 12-year-old protegee, who’ll be spending the vacation with them. While she’s the same age as Adam, and only a year younger than Justin, he feels that he and Adam were a pretty good team in Egypt. Adam’s a bit more open to their new companion’s presence, and, before they know it, they've arrived at Heathrow Airport and are on their way to Oxford.

Fiona Ingram’s children's and preteen adventure novel, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur: The Chronicles of the Stone, Volume II, continues the excitement, danger, history and discoveries of the first book in the series, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. Ingram’s done an impressive amount of historical research into the legend and history of King Arthur, and her carefully depicted setting in an ancient Scottish castle is inspired. While the author gives enough background to enable this book to be read as a standalone novel, I would suggest reading the books in order to get the full impact of the adventures and their effects on the cousins. I loved watching how Adam and Justin began their coming of age in the first volume, and seeing them continue to hone their detection skills and recognize their strengths and fears in The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is a joy. Ingram’s storytelling is masterful; she adroitly weaves historical fact and fantasy in a smooth and fluid style that makes reading this book both an exciting and intellectually satisfying treat. The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is filled with action and adventure, puzzles and ghostly presences, and stalwart companions ready to face any and all perils that come their way. What more could a reader ask for? The Search for the Stone of Excalibur: The Chronicles of the Stone, Volume II is a marvelous historical adventure tale, and it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

What a fun read! I just finished Epic Zero: Tales of a Not-So-Super 6th Grader by author R.L. Ullman, and I have to say, I loved it! The story follows young Elliot Harkness, whose entire family belongs to the Freedom Force, the world’s greatest superhero team. His entire family, that is, except for him. Much to his chagrin, Elliot does not possess any of the eight Meta-powers: energy manipulation, super speed, super strength, magic, flight, super intelligence, morphing, or psychic abilities. In his community of superheroes, that makes him a Meta: 0, or powerless. To himself, that makes him an Epic Zero. But when the mysterious girl, K’ami Solarr, appears one day, and seems to believe that there’s more to Elliot than meets the eye, well, that’s when things start to change.

I knew this was a great children’s/young adult book when my 11-year-old son kept trying to read it over my shoulder. The writing is perfect for kids, the pace is brisk, and storyline is exciting. I immediately drew connections from this book to the wonderful movie, The Incredibles, as the idea of superhero-ing families is the basis of both stories. But Epic Zero: Tales of a Not-So-Super 6th Grader is so much more. I loved Elliot, the main character, and his strong desire to be a hero. I loved the message of the book, that sometimes even those who don’t appear to be special on the surface may have deep talent that just needs to be discovered. I loved the illustrations that start each chapter; I just plain loved this book. This is a delightful read for children and tweens, even for children like my son who don’t always enjoy reading. I am so happy I got a chance to recommend R.L. Ullman’s newest work, and I look forward to reading more from him in the future!