Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Life can be wonderful and inspiring, but it can also be frightening. How do we deal with things that frighten us? Like the fiery dragon in our fairy tale imaginings? Or the music concert where we have to stand on a stage in front of an audience? These are all difficult and sometimes frightening occurrences, and fear doesn’t leave us when we grow up. A little girl has her guardian angel with her at all times when she’s growing up. And the secret shared by this angel is the most empowering words one can share: “You got this. The courage you need … is in you.” So true, but not always easy to remember, as the little girl realizes once she’s grown up and living away from home. All it takes is a quick visit home, to the special garden she shared with her angel during the growing-up years.

Wanda Carter Roush’s picture book story, You Got This: A Tale of Courage, is a sweet and gentle story about learning to overcome one’s fears. Like the title says, it’s a tale of courage. The story is told in simple language to appeal to the young reader and the repetitive, “You got this” phrase will be instantly recognized and remembered as young readers learn to implement positive steps toward their own courage. The illustrations are spectacular and certainly make this story extra special. Lovingly told with compassion, this story is a great way to empower young readers with the courage to reach their fullest potential in spite of their fears.

Reviewed By Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

In a sidenote intended to properly describe her apparent children’s book, Life of a Firefly (illustrated exquisitely by Suzanne Groat), Sandra Brown-Lindstedt says simply and ingenuously that it is “particularly suited for ages 8–12.” I’m afraid that’s like saying To Kill A Mockingbird is at heart a children’s book just because it’s narrated by a child. So is Life of a Firefly. But the child, a young girl named Sandy Forte, is every bit the storyteller and every bit as literate as Scout. This book is every whit as powerful, as emotive, and as profoundly evocative and compelling as its more-famous classic cousin. If Life of a Firefly is just a children’s book, then I must confess to one more guilty pleasure - reading classic literature disarmingly disguised as something meant for kids.

Sandy Forte is one of the most appealing characters ever to appear in contemporary fiction and Life of a Firefly, as told by Sandra Brown-Lindstedt, is her autobiographic retelling of a childhood observed and then recalled with the scientific precision of a chemist and the wonder-saturated perspective of a sylph. The counterpoint of living with her grandmother, then her mother, then her grandmother again, provides a harsh, hard-edged reality always at the radius of her vision, filtering through to reflect upon the adult reader’s own shared, hard-won understandings. But Sandy’s sweet, pure heart (cloaked perhaps by her admittedly untamed nature) occupies the center of such privileged sharing, while she speaks to us with wit and love and a heartfelt invitation to let our own fireflies breathe and soar. A children’s book? Only if children are sages in disguise.

Reviewed By Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Ella McBella in the Dark, written by Laura Pells and illustrated by Peter Trimarco, is a children's book that follows the titular character as she faces her biggest fear. Ella is a happy, active child who enjoys the outdoors. She rides her bike to the park after school where she plays and immerses herself in the surrounding nature. As it comes close to the time when Ella needs to return home, she begins to feel anxiety, knowing that the setting sun is a precursor to her having to go to bed. She immediately fears the shadows that start to form as she races home, distracted momentarily by a wonderful dinner. When the lights are out, Ella is confronted by the sights and sounds that give rise to her fear of the dark, which ultimately leads to her seeing what it all really is and creating a safe space for herself to make each new bedtime less scary.

There are so many reasons why I love Ella McBella in the Dark, even as an adult. Laura Pells taps into an intense fear I suffered from myself as a child, which was so great that before even reaching the first grade I wore a sleeping mask to avoid “seeing” whatever was or was not there. Like Ella, I had to take steps to overcome this on my own, which is where this book really stands out in the crowded field of children's literature. We know that Ella obviously does not live by herself, as her mom snuggles her while reading Ella a bedtime story. But after the lights are out, there are no parents who swoop in and assure Ella it's all fine. There's no soothing. There's just Ella, her teddy bears, and her fear. Ella endeavors to find other things to divert her attention. She turns on lights and finds comfort in an environment she crafts on her own. The lyrical, rhythmic narrative is fun and engaging, and Peter Trimarco brings it all to life with sublime, full-color hand-drawn artistry. All of these brilliant elements come together perfectly to turn Ella, her fear, and her small acts of courage into a fantastic read. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Jackie Wins Them All is a children’s coming-of-age picture book written by Fabian Ferguson and illustrated by Alisa Aryutova. Jackie J. Spade is a gifted sixth grader. She’s won every contest she's ever entered. Whether it’s academics or athletics, Jackie seems to have inexhaustible talent, skills, and strengths. She’s won science fairs and spelling bees, and is a top contender at just about every sport she’s ever tried. But can she win this race? Everybody in her middle school is excited and talking about the race. It has to be Jackie’s, right? After all, she wins everything.

Jackie Wins Them All addresses a difficult issue -- how children cope with disappointment at losing a contest or competition. It can be especially hard for a child like Jackie, who has always excelled at everything she attempts and is a consistent first-place winner. And while she gives her all to the race, this time she comes in second. Ferguson’s Jackie knows, however, how to deal with her own disappointment, and she congratulates the winner. The story goes a long way in showing kids how to cope with their own disappointments and show sportsmanship in dealing with situations like Jackie’s. Alisa Aryutova’s illustrations are dynamic and eloquent. She shows Jackie at her best, winning scores of trophies, and during her biggest challenge -- how she handles losing the race. I love the positive and affirming message the author and illustrator convey so well and consider this story a grand selection for storytime with a discussion afterward on the theme of sportsmanship. Jackie Wins Them All is most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Do you frequently get distracted and end up doing something other than what you should be doing? Then you forget what you were supposed to do? And you end up on another tangent and the day just keeps on getting more and more complicated and disorganized? That’s Riley’s problem. She’s a very energetic, creative young lady and wants to be busy at all times, only her busy-ness is what leads her away from the tasks she should be doing. So, on her first day of school, when she should be organized with her clothes ready and everything where it should be, she becomes distracted yet again and ends up wearing one shoe, one boot, mismatched socks, and an ugly top. Her friends comment on her wardrobe and she’s feeling rather uncomfortable about her choice of clothes. So, when her new teacher hands all the students a list of things they must do and check off the things as they’ve done them, Riley at first ignores the list and wanders around the classroom, looking at books, drawing a picture, anything and everything except what she should be doing. At some point, she addresses the list and is amazed at how organizational methods help her get her jobs done when they should be done and she feels good about herself and her accomplishments. This list-thing is a new superpower, one that she is going to put to good use.

June Akers's early chapter book, Riley Madison Discovers the Superpower of a List, is a clever way to introduce young readers to a better way to organize their time. Being super organized doesn’t come easily for everyone; it certainly isn’t easy for Riley. But the teacher’s insistence on following a list and reaching a goal, which is the best reward, teaches Riley a valuable lesson in how to organize one’s time and still have fun. The plot develops with a lot of humor as Riley does some amazingly silly things. Her brain is obviously over-active; she’s definitely a high achiever. Only, she doesn’t know where to draw the line and she wants desperately to do everything all at once. Enter the teacher’s solution: the list. And, quite remarkably, Riley has a new superpower. This is a fun way to help overactive, high achievers organize their lives. After all, no one wants to be embarrassed by something as simple as a mismatched wardrobe like Riley wore on her first day to school.

Reviewed By Joshua Soule for Readers' Favorite

When You Lived in My Belly, by Jodi Meltzer Darter, is a creative children’s story about what goes on inside the womb. As her baby grows bigger, develops, and becomes more active, each moment becomes more special for this happy mother. The book flows seamlessly and builds excitement and joy as a special bond is shared. Fingers and toes grow, hiccups happen, and all of those special developmental stages are well discussed and illustrated in a way that is exciting for children. Both educational and entertaining, Darter weaves a poetic description of what it was like when her son lived in her belly with a rhyming pattern comparable to that of Dr. Seuss.

I found When You Lived in My Belly to be incredibly beautiful, accurate, and sentimental--something that moms can share with their kids forever. The rhythmic, almost lyrical writing style is fun to read, and fun to listen to. A sure-fire way to entertain your children, and share a special moment as you discuss the unique bond between mothers and their kids. The illustrations, done by Caryn King and Jody King Camarra, are gorgeous, colorful, and informative to look at. I rated When You Lived in My Belly five stars because I could not give it ten. A true masterpiece in children’s literature by author Jodi Meltzer Darter, and a book that focuses on that special relationship; well done!

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Grace's Ghosts is a paranormal coming of age novel for young adults and preteens written by Stephenie Wilson Peterson. Grace was relieved that she had almost gotten through her last day of sixth grade. The blissfully long eight weeks of summer promised her peace and freedom from the kids who delighted in tormenting her, particularly Tara and her mean-girl squad. In a town as small as Tansy, Grace couldn’t help but stand out. You see, she knew something no one else there knew -- there were thousands of ghosts sharing that small town with only 204 living residents -- and Grace knew them all. They had been her companions and many had become her close and only friends since she was a toddler. Her kitty cat, Midnight, was a ghost as well. That actually worked out pretty well for Grace and Midnight since he was able to keep her company everywhere she went, even to classes.

Stephenie Wilson Peterson’s Grace’s Ghosts grabbed me with the opening words and held me enthralled and involved throughout. I read this gem of a book slowly to make sure I caught every nuance, every bit of magic that sparkled among the lines of every page. Grace’s coming of age story will thrill anyone who’s got a heart, imagination and the desire to work with an author to bring their world to life. Peterson makes that task incredibly easy and a delight as well. Fans of Harry Potter and classic fantasy alike will love this tale of the “different” kid who finds their world expands magically and marvelously as they come of age and discover the quest awaiting them. Peterson’s characters are well-defined and authentic, and they quickly began to feel like old friends. Her plot is unpredictable and infinitely intriguing. This well-written and genuinely magical book deserves at least one sequel, and I’m hoping the author has that in mind. Grace’s Ghosts is most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Leiann Lynn Rose Spontaneo for Readers' Favorite

In Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush by Joni Franks, the main character is Sagebrush, a Corgi dog. Sagebrush lives on a ranch. She stays in the house with her parents but the rest of the dogs are with the animals outside. Throughout the book, Sagebrush is called Corky by the other animals. The other dogs tease her because she has no tail. They call her useless. The couple who own the ranch puts the place up for sale. A young woman buys the ranch, but the couple doubts she can handle a ranch on her own. She fell in love with Sagebrush and started to train Sagebrush on how to herd animals just like the outside dogs with tails do. She taught Sagebrush and proved that a female could run a ranch. She also proved that Sagebrush did not need a tail to help run a ranch.

This book has wonderful illustrations to complement the text. The text runs smoothly with many descriptions, making one feel for the main character, Sagebrush, getting teased and being made fun of. The point of the book is very nice. Whatever good things you want to accomplish in life, you can set your mind to it and do it. This book ought to be read to kids from the get-go so they learn not to tease or bully another child. Again, yet another book that could stop a kid from bullying. I recommend this book to all pre-school and elementary schools.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

A little boy knows how to entertain himself while his mother’s busy at work as a nurse or too tired after her shift to do much of anything. This little boy likes to read, draw, talk to his grandmother, tease the cat, and play with his toys. The boy enjoys his action figures, but he also enjoys playing with dolls and playing dress-up in his mother’s clothes. You see, he may look like a little boy on the outside, but inside he is something else. Not uncommon, when you think about it. Some boys are just boys; some girls are just girls. But, then again, some boys are more like girls inside while some girls are like boys outside. What really defines this gender equation? And does it really matter what we are inside and out? What’s important is that we appreciate who we are deep down; that we appreciate and honor being just ‘me’. That’s what the little boy claims: “I’m just me!” He’s lucky, too, as he has a very supportive mother and grandmother to help him accept himself for who he/she is, both inside and out.

Kody Christiansen’s picture book story, I’m Just Me!!, is a wonderful way to introduce gender differences in a way that young people can understand. The plot develops with a list of things the little boy enjoys doing, which he does all by himself since, sadly, he has no siblings and, I guess, no friends. The lack of friends is the real tragedy in this story. But his mother and grandmother make up for what he misses from the outside world. As the plot develops, the person we first see as a little boy evolves into his inner being, a little girl as he/she prepares to dress up for Halloween as a lady nurse, just like his/her mom. The illustrations are effective and the end of the book includes coloring and activities to help young readers define who they are: both inside and out. An intuitive presentation at an appropriate level for young readers.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

What is the meaning of Christmas? And is Father Christmas real? Ten-year-old Annie is about to find out. The middle child of a large family, Annie’s parents assured her that she was old enough to stay up on Christmas Eve to meet Father Christmas when he comes to fill their stockings. She nearly floats through Christmas Eve day as she helps Mama with the baking, the younger siblings and going to the store for some last-minute purchases. The family’s not well off, being a coal mining family during the Depression years, but, as Daddy points out, at least he has a job. And, it’s enough to care for their large family with enough love and compassion to help others, including a hobo who appears on their doorstep Christmas Eve and accepts the invitation to join them for dinner. Annie is proud of her new status, but she’s in for an unexpected surprise when Father Christmas arrives. What she doesn’t expect is to discover the true meaning of Christmas: the joy and the love found within a person and within the family circle.

Rowdy Herrington’s early chapter book story, Father Christmas, is a treasure to warm your heart as we never can learn enough about the true meaning of Christmas. The author carves a compassionate plot around a large coal-mining family, struggling to make ends meet, while at the same time not losing touch with what it really means to love and to care. The characters are well developed; the setting is aptly described (with the assistance of several black-and-white sketches) and the plot develops at a steady pace. The message is clear and the telling is compassionate in a way that will have every reader’s eyes tear up. A powerful story and a great addition to a child’s Christmas library.