Reviewed by Joshua Soule for Readers' Favorite

Two young princesses, Rosalie and Scarlet, are awakened one night when a thief breaks in and steals the King’s scepter! These two girls find their courage when they see a clue pointing them in the direction the thief may have gone. Genies and mermaids, wizards, and unicorns are just a few of the helpful beings that Rosalie and Scarlet encounter on their quest. Despite the mystical beings offering help to the two young princesses, they always seem to be one step behind the thief. Will princesses Rosalie and Scarlet be able to get the scepter back to its rightful owner? The Search for the Scepter by Julie Dinges is an enchanting tale that will bring a bit of magic into your home.

As a frequent reader of children’s literature, I am always pleased to see rhyme so excellently executed. Author Julie Dinges has created a beautiful story about two young princesses, Rosalie and Scarlet, who set out to do the right thing, even though it’s a little scary. Children’s books often incorporate elements of magic and wonder, but few do so as beautifully as The Search for the Scepter. Rosalie and Scarlet encounter many mystical beings during their search for the elusive thief, all of which are wonderfully designed and uniquely imaginative. The illustrations, done by Nazar Horokhivskyi, colorfully bring the story to life. Julie Dinges has created a one of a kind work in The Search for the Scepter, and I look forward to seeing if Rosalie and Scarlet find themselves in more adventures in future books. Well done!

Reviewed by Daniel D Staats for Readers' Favorite

Joseph is busy watching TV with his dog Gretchen. While he is having fun, his mother interrupts and says it is bedtime. Joseph reacts as many children do with pitching a tantrum. Nan Arkwright in her book Mission: Control! shares how Joseph learns to control his anger and his emotions in general. Joseph’s mother responds to Joseph’s anger in a positive and helpful manner. Her calmness in the storm is contagious and helps lead to calmness in Joseph. Sit down with your child, snuggle up close, and read this wonderful little book to your child. Joe Bauman does a fantastic job of illustrating each page of this book.

Mission: Control! A Big Feelings Adventure gives insights on how to teach your child to control their feelings (control, not bury them). As a parent, you will see a wonderful way to handle conflict. You can use this book as a tool to open communication with your child that leads to peace in the home. Nan Arkwright has written a treasure in Mission: Control! As a pediatric occupational therapist, she has years of helping children learn to control their emotions with the help of their parents. Children will love hearing and reading about Joseph’s adventure as he learns to control his anger. They will love the wonderful artistic work by Joe Bauman. Nan knows how to deal with children in a loving and kind way, to teach them about emotions and how to deal with them. This book opens a myriad of possibilities for the parent to explore feelings with their child(ren).

Reviewed by Jose Cornelio for Readers' Favorite

The Secret of the Magic eyePad by Marsha Tufft is a beautifully written story for fourth to sixth graders, featuring an interesting female protagonist: Putney Hicks. She is an imaginative twelve-year-old girl with a magic eyePad, an aspiring artist who is worried sick over her move to an experimental STEM school. Apart from other worries, there is Sue Wexford, the girl who taunts her, and this time around, she might end up in a far worse situation with her. But can Sam, her magic mentor, be of any help? There is a lot of fun in this book. The fact that the protagonist has to move to a new town is already a huge challenge for a youngster like Putney. This means she has to make new friends and start again all over, and there are things to get scared about with the unfamiliar terrain.

Marsha Tufft does an incredible job of writing about science, curiosity, and self-discovery. Creating Sam, the friend and mentor who appears as a hologram, brings some magic into the story and expands the world of the protagonist. I loved the way they get to know each other. There is something magical in this book and readers will enjoy that part of the story. But the part about product design is written in a fun way and packed with information and insight that will fuel the problem-solving skills of young readers and ignite their imaginations. The Secret of the Magic eyePad is written in the first-person narrative and it is a humorous voice that reflects the thoughts and feelings of a young character. It is filled with fun activities, interesting characters, and lessons on solving problems. It is as realistic as it is magical.

Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite

The Cat Detectives in Russia: The Case of the Missing Faberge Egg is designed for upper elementary children and all animal lovers. R.F. Kristi blends two of her favorite topics - cats and mystery - to create an adorable, yet inquisitive Siberian kitty detective, Inca. When her human mom traveled to Russia to display her famous cheeses, Inca was excited to visit her mother country. Inca and her detective agency are intrigued by the mystery surrounding a very expensive Faberge egg that goes missing with no clues left behind. Inca must solve this mystery quickly to clear the name of someone dear to her, but could one of her new friends be involved in the theft?
 
R.F. Kristi has found her niche writing about felines and suspense. The Cat Detectives in Russia: The Case of the Missing Faberge Egg is the ninth in her Inca Cat Detective series. Charming friends and mysterious places will draw young people in with Inca as she takes on a new case that could implicate a royal cousin or her new robotic friend. The plot involves the characters traveling to famous historical buildings in Russia, allowing children to learn about the rich culture of the Russian people. The animals are fitting for their breed while adding personality to their individual characters. Overall, this book will feed a child’s imagination while educating them about different cultures, how to make new friends, and entertain them with the mystery surrounding a theft. This is an author that parents can point their children towards, knowing they can trust her to enrich their lives through books. I would like to mention the illustrations which complement the book beautifully.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Eye of Ra by Ben Gartner takes you back to ancient Egypt for an exciting adventure. John and Sarah Tidewell are two siblings with different opinions about leaving Colorado behind to move to Maryland. Sarah is looking forward to the adventure and is thrilled at the idea of seeing what else is out there while John doesn't want to leave the familiarity of his favorite hiking trails and his friends behind. When taking one last hike before they leave for good, the siblings stumble upon a mysterious cave and make the most shocking discovery: ancient Egypt lies on the other side. John wants nothing more than to return home before the door closes, leaving them trapped in Egypt forever, but Sarah longs to see what the world of the past has in store. Now they're in for a whole new adventure where they meet new friends, encounter dangerous cobras, solve the mystery of a tomb robbery, and fight to find their way back home, all while solving an even grander mystery that neither saw coming.

Ben Gartner delivers a story that brings a history lesson to life through an action-packed mystery and adventure that teaches kids about ancient Egypt. The mystery they uncover revolves around the culture during the time, specifically centering around the tombs. The historical details bring the setting to life by being subtly woven into the daily lives of the characters and through lessons taught to John and Sarah as the story progresses. The story teaches about the beliefs during the time and even their equivalent of a board game. The two siblings have vastly different personalities. Their difference of opinion creates a minor conflict between them which is worked out throughout the adventure as they're pushed to work as a team to solve a mystery, help their new friends, and find a way to return home.

The tone is whimsical and lighthearted, serving up an equal amount of discovery as it does adventure while subtly educating children about ancient Egypt in a way that never feels like a lesson. The story is a great read for all ages as it's enjoyable with action-packed moments and a mystery with several exciting twists and turns. Gartner captures key details of Egypt that help create a stunning visual for children. The Eye of Ra is a delightful tale of adventure and mystery that will make children fall in love with history and discover ancient Egypt while delivering action-packed moments, surprising moments, and relatable characters.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Meet Brandon, a smart and adventurous boy in the story Brandon Goes To Beijing by Eugenia Chu. Brandon was very excited that he was going to visit Grandpa and Grandma in Beijing. This was his first trip to China and he was happy that his cousins from California - Sean, Kayla, and Connor - were going to be there. The flight to Beijing was long and Brandon couldn't contain his excitement. He kept himself amused by reading and watching movies on his iPad. Brandon and his cousins went sightseeing, savored Chinese cuisine, learned many interesting facts about China, and enjoyed time with their grandparents. While running and chasing his cousins on the Great Wall, Brandon saw a black and white animal but no one else had seen it. Brandon saw it again when they visited one of the alleys in the mini-village and he learned it was a panda. It was a bit strange that only he saw the panda and no one else did. He kept seeing it wherever he went. Did Brandon actually see the panda? Would he be able to solve the mystery before he flew back to Florida?

The story is educational and informative and captures the places of interest and the sights and sounds of China beautifully. The story is all about family love and bonding. Children also learn some Chinese words. The author adds some mystery and adventure to the plot, making readers curious and excited to learn more about the disappearing panda. It is a happy story and will encourage young readers to explore faraway destinations. Eliza Hsu Chen's black and white sketches make the story tangible and the glossary is helpful for understanding Chinese words. The author brings China to life through the eyes of Brandon and that makes the story more magical and exciting. It is a good storybook for tutors and parents to introduce children to the culture and facts about China in a fun and interesting way.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Realabilities: Omnibus is a collection of educational comic books created by Nava R. Silton, Ph.D., and illustrated by Christopher Gomez. Most kids dread when the coach tells the team captains to start choosing their players. Who will be last, and how will they get past the humiliation and pain of rejection? In the first book in this series, The Real Goal, Ezra has been appointed one of the two soccer captains, and he learns an inspiring lesson when he chooses the least likely players to be on his team. Ezra is offended by the other captain Greg’s cruel comments, and his new teammates are more than ready to show Ezra that they have the right stuff. Uno’s math skills come in handy at a crucial moment, Melody’s enhanced hearing allows her to sense where the ball is, and Seymour’s ability to visualize likely events before they happen means their team is unstoppable.

Nava R. Silton’s Realabilities: Omnibus introduces young readers to differently-abled kids as well as those with mental health disorders, and she does so in a collection of stories that are fun, illuminating, and inspiring. Far from seeing kids who are different as less than, these stories display the superhuman possibilities in every kid. The Real Abilities team that forms as a result of that first soccer game sets the stage for the following stories. Each of the six personalities is skillfully drawn and authentic, and watching as they work together is grand fun indeed. Christopher Gomez’s artwork does a masterful job of helping to make these comics enlightening and entertaining. Who says learning can’t be fun? They should check out this comic book series. Realabilities: Omnibus is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Gail Kamer for Readers' Favorite

In AJ Vanderhorst’s The Mostly Invisible Boy: Casey Grimes Book 1, an eleven-year-old boy struggles with the real fact that he can’t be seen all the time. Why? How to fix this? Casey doesn’t know. He just knows every day there are times when he is invisible. While out exploring one day, he climbs an enormous old oak tree, and his life changes forever. In the branches, Casey discovers he lives on the edge of his regular world and that of a fierce outlying region of another. One that involves monster control, witches, and Trickery School. He’s no longer sort of invisible, he’s fully visible to everyone, but his presence is not accepted by some. He adopts a new identity but that too leads to serious consequences for him, his young sister, and others in his new world. How will Casey handle his identity crisis? Like a true trooper!

AJ Vanderhorst’s The Mostly Invisible Boy shares the ever sensitive worry of young people—fitting in with others and the struggle with their own identity. The theme is shared through the eyes of an eleven-year-old Casey who really is invisible sometimes in his regular world but wishes to be seen. Vanderhorst connects to the deep feelings many middle school children deal with day in and day out. The Mostly Invisible Boy would make a great book for counseling classes in school settings as well as a shared reading with children and parents. If you are searching for a way to broach this subject with a troubled young one, this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Oink and Gobble and the Men in Black is a children’s picture book written by Norman Whaler and illustrated by Mohammad Shayan. Oink the pig and Gobble the turkey are the best of friends on the farm at Little Bottom. When strange men (both dressed as Men in Black) arrive after an unusual event had taken place, the animals investigate the event. During this investigation (unbeknownst to the Men in Black), Oink and Gobble speculate what the unusual event may have been, as well as look into what the Men in Black are up to. After looking too suspicious, Oink and Gobble return to the farm after which a shocking and hilarious truth finally reveals itself.

I very much enjoyed the humor in this delightfully entertaining tale. The ironic ending had me both laughing and in shock, which does not happen very often. I believe it is the talented Norman Whaler’s writing style which kept me immersed in the story from beginning to end, with each turn of the page leaving me wondering which exciting details were about to be discovered next. Oink and Gobble definitely make such an unlikely pairing of best friends, but their detective skills are quite hilarious, as is their ability to blend in with the background. Readers will find themselves turning each page with a smile and laughter as Oink and Gobble get themselves into deeper and deeper trouble with the farm’s visiting duo. I highly recommend Oink and Gobble and the Men in Black for younger audiences aged from 5-12, not only as a book to be read to them, but it would also be ideal as a book for beginners to practice fun reading skills on their own.

Reviewed by Lois J Wickstrom for Readers' Favorite

Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese by Regan W. H. Macaulay is a story about an imaginative brown Burmese cat. Everything she sees becomes something even more amazing. For example, a black and orange butterfly becomes a parrot and her meadow becomes an emerald-colored jungle. Her imagination takes her all over the world and lets her see many wonderful creatures. But sometimes her imagination gets her into trouble. Beverlee’s imagination takes a form that Beverlee can see and touch.

Author Regan W. H. Macaulay was in the sixth-grade when author Emily Hearn visited as a guest instructor and guided Macaulay’s class through an assignment where they each created picture storybooks by hand. Macaulay's story has changed quite a bit since then, but that was the beginning of Beverlee’s adventures. Thanks to Alex Zgud’s drawings, the young reader can see what Beverlee sees. If it’s real for Beverlee, it’s real on the pages. This probably isn’t a bed-time story because after seeing Beverlee Beaz’s imagination at work, children will want to talk about the fun they have with their own imaginations.

In this tale, Beverlee’s imagination gets her into trouble in the real world. The coolest thing is that the cat, Beverlee Beaz, doesn’t seem to figure out where the world stops and her imagination begins. The combination of real-world and imaginary animals leads to a dramatic rescue at the end, which wouldn’t have been possible without Beverlee Beaz’s imagination. After making sure this adventurous cat is safe, the animals discuss the fun of imagination, too.