Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Spooner the Bear is a children’s animal/picture book written by Jake Willers and illustrated by Lainie Bazzoni. Spooner is a young bear who lives quite close to a small town. The other local bears have gotten used to the idea of getting their food from the trash cans sitting outside the houses every night, and they make a terrible mess as they overturn the cans in their search for treats. Spooner and his friend, Fitzgerald the squirrel, travel to all the nearby towns looking for the messes the marauding bears leave and cleaning them up. At one point, they meet up with a giant bear named Rex, whose stomach is full of garbage from the cans he’s raided. Spooner tells Rex that he’s doing it all wrong. Bears should eat berries and greens, not garbage. Spooner also has a message for the humans he helps each night. If they use bear-proof containers, the bears would leave their garbage alone, and he and Fitzgerald could enjoy themselves at the lake instead of always having to clean up.

Jake Willers’ children’s animal/picture book, Spooner the Bear, is an entertaining and informative book about ways to make co-existence between people and bears work. Bears can’t resist the smells and tastes that exude from those garbage cans, and the resulting mess and unwanted interaction between species can easily be prevented. Lainie Bazzoni’s illustrations are superb! I love the colors and images of the natural places that she portrays, especially those featuring the lake and hillsides. Each panel is brightly and boldly colored, and the bears are a treat to look at, especially Spooner and the giant Rex. This book teaches kids and their parents about bears and how human food and trash is a big lure for them. Spooner the Bear is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

What do you know about orangutans? Did you know that there are only about 50,000 orangutans left in the rainforests? Do you even know where they live? I have to admit that I didn’t know very much about orangutans until I read this book. Orangutans are tree-dwelling apes. They build their nests high in the trees to keep safe from predators. Even the name, orangutan, identifies them as ‘person of the forest.’ Orangutans depend on the rainforest for both food and shelter. They are primarily frugivors, preferring to eat mostly fruits, but they also eat insects, small animals, and leaves or bark. The orangutan father doesn’t live with the family as there usually isn’t enough food, but he does come to visit and he makes sure everyone hears him when he comes, marking his territory.

Author Rita Goldner is obviously concerned about the diminishing number of orangutans. The dedication for her picture book, Orangutan: A Day in the Rainforest Canopy, reads: “For young readers who might some day make a difference for wild orangutans.” The quickly disappearing rainforests are taking away the natural habitat of orangutans. They don’t repopulate quickly, as each mother only has one baby once every eight years or so.

This is a very interesting and informative picture book story. I learned a lot and I know young readers will too. Each page is colorfully illustrated to suit the text and there is usually a footnote at the bottom of the page to add an interesting tidbit, such as a relatively unknown fact about orangutans. Although this book is educational, there is also a story that takes the young reader through a day in the life of a young orangutan. Very well thought out and beautifully presented, this is a much-needed resource on what could potentially become an endangered species. Well done.

Reviewed by Deborah Stone for Readers' Favorite

Don't Say Goodbye, Just Say See You by Patricia Ann Brill is a useful book with charming artwork that will enable parents to help a child better understand the loss of a loved one or a beloved pet. Patricia Ann Brill tells the story of two best friends, who happen to be dogs, and how one copes when his friend dies. Don't Say Goodbye, Just Say See You will help children to grasp the concept that death is not final, it is only a temporary separation. Patricia Ann Brill also shows us that sometimes death frees the one we love from suffering. This sweet story of friendship, loss, and grief is designed for children, but parents/adults will be touched by it as well as they read with their child.

Patricia Ann Brill's Don't Say Goodbye, Just Say See You is well written and the illustrations are sweet and well done. The story of losing someone, family or pet, and how to deal with that, before and after, is shown in this touching story. Patricia Ann Brill has captured the sentiments of loss and grief in a way that is tender and not overwhelming for a child. Instead, it allows the child to understand that death is nothing to fear and grief is normal. We might be afraid or we might even be angry, and all of those normal emotions are okay. Patricia Ann Brill demonstrates that love lives on, even when we lose someone that we love, and reassures us with the knowledge that we will see our loved ones again.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

Turbo and Boxster are the very best of friends and they play regularly together. When Boxster goes over to Turbo’s house to invite his buddy out to play, he’s taken aback when Turbo declines, having no energy. Boxster urges him to go to the doctor and Turbo reluctantly agrees. After running some tests and examining Turbo, the doctor tells him that he has some moles on his legs and stomach that are cancerous and that he’ll require surgery to remove them. Understandably, Turbo is upset over the news and asks Boxster if he got cancer because he was a bad dog. Boxster tells him that bad dogs get time outs, not cancer. Boxster appears to be a very well informed dog when it comes to cancer, thanks to discussions with his next door neighbor dog, Carrera, who had also battled cancer. Boxster informs Turbo that cancer is not contagious and they talk about different treatments – chemo and radiation – as well as remission. Boxster reassures Turbo that he’ll be there to support Turbo throughout his battle.

Do Bad Dogs Get Cancer? by Patricia A. Brill, with illustrations by Curt Walstead, is a charming picture book for children where the two protagonists are dogs. Using well-crafted and colorful illustrations, the book deals with a very difficult subject matter: cancer. Brill has chosen her words carefully; they get the message across, yet in such a way that a young child will understand without feeling threatened. Most children relate to animals, especially dogs, and choosing dogs to be her protagonists was perfect. Pets are considered to be a part of the family and children should be able to relate to illness in pets.

Walstead’s illustrations are large, colorful, contain just the right amount of detail to keep young children engaged, and serve to complement the author’s text perfectly. What is especially poignant about the story is when Turbo asks whether he got cancer because he was a bad dog and Boxster replies that bad dogs get time outs, not cancer. That is about as perfect a response as one could make. Serious subject matter well-handled with simplistic yet colorful illustrations make Do Bad Dogs Get Cancer? the perfect go-to book for teaching a very important life lesson.

Reviewed by Jessyca Garcia for Readers' Favorite

The Fox Forest Band by Lisa E Lindman is a cute story about friends working together to stop an evil wizard from ruining their home. When fog starts to descend on the forest, the animals have to come up with a plan to stop it. By working together, can they come up with a solution?

I like that Lindman wrote The Fox Forest Band in order to help put a stop to bullying. It is an important lesson for children to learn. I also like to think that this book has more than just one meaning. When I first read it, I considered the fog that was taking over to be sadness and the music is what kept it away. My 4-year-old child really liked all the different animals in the story. Her favorite character was the mouse. She was even able to read most of the book by herself. The book itself is bright and colorful. The illustrations by Chandra Wheeler look as if they are painted in watercolors. I especially liked the cute spider that was included in every picture. This is a book that every child should read.

I wish that there were more books like The Fox Forest Band to teach children how to stand up to bullying. This book also teaches that there is power in numbers and you do not actually have to fight in order to get things to change. To teach children this through a colorful book is a great idea. I recommend teachers having Lindman’s book in their classrooms,

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Selah's Sweet Dream by Susan Count is an exciting story for all animal lovers. Selah always dreams of life with a horse and she wants to become an equestrian superstar. Her grandfather does not want her to have anything to do with horses. She also happens to see a video of her grandmother on a horse and their chemistry reminds her of ballroom dancers. One day she sees buzzards stalking a trapped horse and Selah realizes that she has to save the horse. The horse is wild and defiant, but Selah knows deep in her heart that the horse is meant for her. She takes the horse home but her hopes are dashed when the horse goes berserk at the trainer's place. Will Selah be able to fulfill her dreams?

The book conveys a good message about having faith in oneself and God. It is also very motivational as it shows a girl's determination and perseverance to achieve what she wants in life. Selah never gives up in the story and she pursues her dreams relentlessly. The characters in the story are tangible and readers can connect with them and their lives. Selah is adorable and relatable. The author's style of writing is neat and elegant and there is never a dull moment in the plot. The story has its small twists and turns as it progresses and keeps readers entertained. Selah's determination, perseverance and persistence, and her training sessions are all inspirational.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Gift of Sunderland: An Australian Fantasy Adventure is an epic fantasy for children and preteens written by J.E. Rogers. This book is a sequel to The Sword of Demelza, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel. Waylond Ayers is a Numbat who lives in the forests of Sunderland with his father, Roland, and his brother, Morland. Waylond has been chosen by Verdigris, the former Guardian of the Forest, to be the next Guardian, but he's not sure whether he is capable enough to assume the role his father had held before him; he's content with being a blacksmith. His brother Morland is furious at being passed over for the honor and is determined to claim the role of Guardian for himself. To do that, he must find the green crystal that fits within the hilt of the Guardian's sword.

J.E. Rogers' epic fantasy for preteens and children, The Gift of Sunderland: An Australian Fantasy Adventure, is exciting and fast-paced. Waylond is a marvelous character, and I could easily see why the Forest chose him to be the next Guardian. The illustrations that are placed throughout the text are intricate and beautifully rendered pencil drawings that give the characters personality and bring them to life. Rogers also includes a glossary filled with pictures and drawings of Australian locations for this story, as well as information on the bilbies, wombats, dibblers, and the other species that appear in this book. I was fascinated by the diversity of the wildlife of this country, and saddened by the statistics of the many endangered animals. The Gift of Sunderland: An Australian Fantasy Adventure is epic fantasy at its finest, and it's most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Clive the Clever Crow by Sandra Novello is a charming and adorable story for kids. Clive the crow lives near a school. Clive likes all the food that is left out for him to eat. He finds it delicious and yummy. He flies around to see if there are any open lunch boxes around when the school session is going on. And he is really happy that he does not have to dig for worms or search for ants anymore. Clive knows that even if they see him on trees and branches, they will never be able to catch him. As you read along each page, the reader needs to search and find out where Clive the crow is hiding.

The story is really cute and I loved Clive the crow. He will have to go digging for his worms again once the kids finish reading this story because it will remind them to close their lunch boxes. It an ideal book to introduce to kids when they start to read. Grandparents and parents will enjoy reading it out to their grandkids and kids. The book is good for read aloud sessions too in classrooms and children's libraries. The illustrations are beautifully done and they complement the story well. They breathe life into the characters and give pace and movement to the scenes. The letter written by Clive the crow is very clever. The story is simple and clear, making it easy for young readers to comprehend.

Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers' Favorite

The Clark siblings are twins and they have a beautiful golden retriever named Pistachio as their family pet. Although they love to see their dog do tricks and respond to them when they bribe her with treats, they don't like the responsibilities that come with caring for a dog such as walking, feeding, and watering. When their parents have to walk their dog in the rain, they decide they have had enough and tell the twins they must sell their dog. Mr. and Mrs. Clark make a "Dog for Sale" sign, place it in the yard, and proceed on their daily errands to the grocery store. Not happy with this decision to sell their beloved pet, the twins replace the sign with "Parents for Sale". Can the twins sell their parents and keep their beloved pet dog Pistachio?

Parents for Sale by Dr. Nicole Audet is a charming and amusing children's story offering a unique type of life lesson learning, and enticing the imagination of its young reading audience. Dr. Nicole Audet has created a tale containing a lesson within, but with a twist in the plot only a youthful mind could fully understand and appreciate. The imagination of a child is a powerful and unique attribute. The mind of a child is often unpredictable and excited by the unseen or magical elements that make thinking, creating, and learning fun. The author adjusts her writing to depict what the mind of a child would imagine. For example, as an adult reads and starts to comprehend the story and its plot, the adult mind would assume the story and its message would end with that life lesson being played out in a learning experience, such as a punishment or something of the like, but in fact it does just the opposite. The story leans towards a happier ending in the way a child would imagine it. This is exactly why the story is brilliant and perfect for young readers; they can absolutely relate its concepts, emotions, and imaginative text.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Lars the Monkey Flies a WACO Airplane by Meaghan Fisher is a cute little story of Lars the monkey. Lars enjoyed his ride in the WACO airplane at WACO Field in Troy, Ohio. His dream is now to fly one of these WACO airplanes all by himself. He loved flying in loops. One Saturday,the pilot does not not turn up to give rides. All the passengers are disappointed that they cannot go on the airplane ride. Lars shouts that he can fly the airplane. But is he able to do it and bring joy to the faces of the waiting passengers?

An endearing story of courage and passion. Lars is someone whom all the readers will love and many of them will be able to identify with his passion for flying. The author has written a story incorporating animals, flying, and the historical WACO club. Children are exposed to many new things at the same time which makes the story more appealing to them. The illustrations are lively and colorful, just like the enthusiasm Lars shows in the story. It is a book that children will enjoy because it has animals and an airplane and the theme is flying.

The book is short and delightful and is a good book to introduce children to reading. It makes a good story for read-aloud sessions in the library and classrooms, and can be read out as a bedtime story, too. Lars, the monkey, will remain in your hearts for a long time with his delightful character.