Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Tips For Magicians is a work of fiction in the fantasy, drama, and adventure subgenres. The work is intended for children from the fourth to sixth grade reading age and was penned by author Celesta Rimington. Our central protagonist is Harrison Boone, a talented singer who loses his voice when his mother passes away unexpectedly. Now no longer able to follow his musical dreams, Harrison decides to focus on mastering the art of illusionary magic instead. But as he endures one life-altering event after another, his new hometown Muse offers an intriguing new mystery. A legendary magical entity is said to reside here who grants wishes but hasn’t been seen in years. What results is a charming, heartfelt adventure about healing, adapting, and finding your passion once more.

It is rare to find a children’s book with such a sophisticated level of emotional realism, but this was a tale that truly moved me at the core from beginning to end. Author Celesta Rimington reveals that the true magic of this charming novel is not in the tricks or legends of the story, but in art itself, and its incredible power to heal us against some very painful odds. As a central protagonist, Harrison is a highly relatable figure to both adults and younger readers and is sensitively portrayed with close, empathetic narration that really lets us feel every moment from his perspective. I also really loved the setting in Muse, a desert town that felt like a character all of its own in a story swimming with atmosphere, personality, and detail. The work that Rimington does with dialogue is especially effective in terms of its characterization too. Overall, I would highly recommend Tips For Magicians to one and all as a resonant work of social issues drama that breathes new life and hope into the genre.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Hyrax Song (Pearls of Wisdom Series Book 2) is a work of fiction in the fantasy and adventure subgenres, and it forms the second installment of the series. This work by Catherine Ann Russell and artist Brooke Connor is intended for children. We follow a series of adorable animal creatures on a quest to find the truest version of themselves in this short tale based on Biblical messages of goodwill to others. Our protagonist, the mouse Princess Journee, must band together with friends old and new to save her father’s kingdom from a dark fate that awaits. In doing so, she will encounter all different kinds of personalities and ideas and learn to embrace others with acceptance and cooperation.

I enjoy children’s works that have a clear moral message but also manage to tell a compelling story without simply turning it into another sermon or lecture on Biblical morals. Catherine Ann Russell achieves this beautifully in this succinct but memorable work that independent readers will certainly enjoy escaping into. To add to the layers of clever storytelling and positive theming, the illustrations by Brooke Connor make the story come to life for those whose imaginations need a little more of a nudge. The combined approach gives a unique personality to Journee and each of her lovable friends, making readers even more invested in the outcome of their adventures. The Hyrax Song will certainly please fans of the first work in the series, and newcomers will adore discovering a new storytelling style from a creative team with an uplifting message to share.

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

Life is hard enough, but it gets worse when your sibling becomes your arch-nemesis. Austin and Derek Davenport are two brothers who attended Cherry Avenue Middle School. Derek was only eleven months older than his brother, and they were in the same grade. While Austin was the academic genius, Derek was the athletic icon. There was an unhealthy rivalry between the brothers, and Derek collaborated with the school principal to make Austin’s life a living hell. The Halloween dance approached, and Austin looked forward to attending with a girl he liked called Sophie. Unfortunately, Derek and the principal would rather ruin the event than see anyone happy. Can Austin thwart their plans in time for the dance? Down With The Dance by C. T. Walsh has the entire story.

Down With The Dance by C. T. Walsh is the first installment in the Middle School Mayhem Series. It was all shades of fantastic, hilarious, and educational. The book contained many pictures/caricatures that made me laugh, especially the butt chin image. However, it also explored social issues like bullying, parental shortcomings, low self-esteem, and more. I asked myself if parents could love their children equally instead of playing favorites. When does it go from keeping the peace between siblings to taking a side and emotionally damaging the other party? At what point does disciplining a student become bullying and making them a target of harassment? There was a lot to unpack in this story. I loved the lighthearted and witty first-person narrative, making the novel perfect for teenagers and middle schoolers. The plot was unique, and the storyline was realistic. I await the next installments.

Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite

Tears and Tulle by Gina Bell is a beautiful children's picture book that tells the story of a girl who was born wearing a skirt made of tulle. The skirt was as colorful as the rainbow and only the girl could see it. The skirt makes her so happy as it connects the girl to her magic, color, and dreams. Yet, as the girl grows, so does the skirt, and unfortunately, life suddenly became hard and chaotic. In life’s darkest moments, the girl needs to remember that the skirt is there for her and that it has the power to make her strong enough to deal with all the uncomfortable situations coming her way. She just needs to fluff her skirt and the power within her will activate.

With adorable illustrations and a powerful message, Tears and Tulle by Gina Bell reminds readers that young girls and grown-up women alike must remember to connect with their magic, joy, and color. This is a gorgeously written story of empowerment that touches your heart and makes you celebrate your inner sparkle. It contains an encouraging tale about a rainbow tulle skirt that comforts and empowers a girl, and also reminds her of the magic and color that exist in her. This wonderful message is uplifting, and an inspiration for women of all ages around the world. It teaches them to embrace their perfectly imperfect lives. It's a great reminder of one's value and a delightful read that I will gift to my nieces and all moms to be that I know.

Reviewed by Trisha Dawn for Readers' Favorite

Katie Petruzziello's Mighty Mila: An Inclusive Children's Book about an Unstoppable Deaf Girl is about a bright and amazing young girl named Mila. Mila is a creative, smart, and hardworking girl. However, she feels frustrated because her parents are not treating her like a big girl. They do not let her do things on her own, even when choosing her clothes. One day, she decides to prove to them that she is a big girl now and she doesn't need them to help her do things! She wants to show them that she can make her own decisions and do many things on her own like a big girl. Unexpectedly, Mila faces a sudden dilemma. Will she be able to face this on her own? Join Mila as she teaches everyone how a big girl acts!

Mighty Mila by Katie Petruzziello was an inspiring, fast-paced, and well-written story. It was filled with valuable lessons about accepting one's flaws. Not only is the story full of important lessons, but it is also filled with helpful details about Mila's cochlear implants, and I was able to learn a lot about the implants that deaf people wear. Reading this wonderful tale, I was immediately attracted to the main character, Mila, who was a ball of sunshine throughout the story. I admired how strong-willed she was when she wanted to prove something to her family. The adorable and colorful illustrations by Nadja Sarell made the story even more joyous. The art is truly praiseworthy and adds more depth and tone to the tale. At the end of Mighty Mila, there are interactive activities for readers to enjoy. Having these activities at the end of the story made learning a lot more fun and worthwhile. It also helped me remember the important things I learned after I read the book. Children will surely enjoy and also learn a lot from Mila's adventures! Great job!

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 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 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 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 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.