Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

"Kitty Claus" is a Christmas fable about a terrifying cat and the starving mouse family that share its home. Kitty Claus has done a great job keeping the mice from getting any food, and the plate of cookies waiting on the mantel for Santa on Christmas Eve is incredibly tempting. The mice must find a way to get to those cookies without waking Kitty. Matt, the father mouse, and his son Luke set out and climb the tree, jump over to the mantel and are almost at the cookies, when a stray spark sets Kitty's tail afire and a surprising thing happens.

Author T. L. Needham and illustrator Lizzy Dodig have put together a funny holiday fable that kept me smiling as I read. The artwork is first-rate, especially the expressions on the faces of the cat and the mouse family, and works well with the rhyming words. The story line is also entertaining and this tale should be a welcome addition to the Christmas stories in any family's collection. The mouse family, with father Matt, mother Matilda and the children, is beautifully drawn, and they become real personalities. Their reactions to Kitty Claus's plight are realistic, and what they finally decide to do is in keeping with the holiday season. The illustrations throughout the book are outstanding. There is the fine attention to detail and expression that makes the surroundings and the characters seem to come alive. "Kitty Claus" is great and has a good heart. I enjoyed it and think children of all ages will as well.

Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite

Young Penny is on a field trip with her class when she sees something from the corner of her eye. She goes to the water to explore and sees something that looks like a bowling ball and yet, it isn't. Upon further inspection, Penny sees that she has come upon a penguin. In "Penny and the Penguin", Kirin Daugharty explores the puzzle of why penguins have wings and yet, they do not appear to fly. Penny does her best to explain to the penguin that its wings are not being appropriately used. She even tries modeling for the penguin and yet, the penguin does not seem to respond. Penny becomes motivated to teach the penguin to fly and she tries various methods until finally giving up in frustration. And then, she sees the penguin jump in the water and she has the surprise of her life!

This book will appeal to young children because of its subject matter and because it is appealingly presented. The questions posed and their potential solutions are those that most young readers would think about. The book incorporates both thought and emotion and as such, is the perfect story to get children involved. There are beautiful illustrations which complement the story and they facilitate the learning of the child reader. I particularly liked the 'Penguin Fun Facts' at the end of the book. When a child has just enjoyed a story of fun and imagination, it is the perfect time to encourage a bit of education as well.