Reviewed by Shannon Winings for Readers' Favorite

Oh no! Jack is sick with the measles and home from school. Of course, the best part of missing school is staying at home, watching TV, and playing games but his mom won't let him. He could read but books are just boring. So, he's stuck at home with nothing to do. Luckily, it's a beautiful day outside his window with luscious, puffy clouds that seem to change by the minute. All he has to do is look outside and his imagination goes crazy. From knights to white rabbits to dinosaurs, there's so much to see.

Jack by Norman Whaler is a wonderful children's book for kids aged five to seven. I think it can also be read to slightly younger readers as a storytime or bedtime book. The pages are filled with colors and interesting illustrations, an easy-to-read font, and rhymes. It is sure to catch any young reader's attention. I loved at the end that the author has added counting questions for kids to interact with the story. It keeps the fun going as kids are sure to go back through the book to find the answers. I also quite enjoyed that the author stressed just how much fun reading can be. The author shows kids how reading can stay with you and your imagination can take you to new places. If readers enjoy this book, and I'm sure many will, the author has included the covers of his other books that appear to be just as colorful as this one. I am excited to see what else he has done and what might come next.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Another creative take on children’s picture books is Secret Garden: The Amazing Life of Caterpillars by Fei Fei Chiam. Simple yet engaging, it poetically narrates the life cycle of butterflies in short bursts of verses per page. While the grownups among us are well aware of a butterfly’s cycle from egg to adult, Chiam adds a little element of fantasy in the middle of the process by involving fairies as instrumental elements in the creation of butterflies. While picture books are traditionally illustrated, Chiam highlights her tale with photography of young girls on stage in a ballet performance, depicting through dance the lepidopteran coming of age. She dedicates this short read to all children, that they may become curious about the things around them.

Sublimity resides in the simplicity of this tale. Mostly young girls would find this story charming with its visual metaphor of young ballerinas as flowers, caterpillars, fairies, and butterflies. The photography is arresting. As readers are invited to explore a butterfly’s development, the ages of ballerinas also change--performers designated as flowers and caterpillars are grade schoolers, while butterflies are young adults. Secret Garden was originally a ballet performance and this book allows us to take part as an audience. As both author and photographer, Fei Fei Chiam succeeds not only in telling a story but also in inspiring children to aspire for greater things. Meticulous parents of early readers will find this book a delight. It is a feel-good, inspirational picture book that will not disappoint.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Shadow of the Volcano: Shadows From the Past, Book Five is an historical adventure novel for children and preteens written by Wendy Leighton-Porter. It had already been a busy summer as the twins, Max, and their friend, Charlie, continued to search for the twins' parents who were lost in time. They had already been to Atlantis, ancient Crete, Troy, and ancient Egypt, but each time they found that their parents had been there, but had left some time before. Now they were ready for another adventure, and they consulted the strange book that kept sending them out to find their parents. This time, they ended up in Pompeii in August of AD 79. The eleven-year-olds arrived and found themselves in a line of people on a dock. Before they knew it, they were sold as slaves, fortunately as a group and to a kind master. Still, adapting to the concept of being a slave is challenging, and convincing the friends they make during their stay and their kindly master to flee before Vesuvius erupts is even more difficult. Will they be able to escape Pompeii themselves before it's too late?

Wendy Leighton-Porter's historical adventure novel for children and preteens, The Shadow of the Volcano: Shadows From the Past, Book Five, finds the time-travelers in Pompeii, and seeing the doomed city and its inhabitants just days before the eruption is poignant and moving. While this is book five in Leighton-Porter's Shadows From the Past historical series, each of these books is complete and can be read as a stand-alone novel. I was fascinated by the historical aspect of this work as I was not all that familiar with Pompeii, aside from the tragic images taken after the town was rediscovered. The author breathes life anew into Pompeii, showing the likely culture one would have found there at that time in history. She also addresses the issue of slavery in an upfront and personal way by having her characters experience it first-hand. The Shadow of the Volcano: Shadows From the Past, Book Five is a thrilling and exciting read, and it's most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Sweet Neighbors Come in All Colors is a children’s educational picture book written and illustrated by Lisa Blecker, and based upon a song by Dick Grover. Fruits and vegetables come in an astounding array of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures, but they’re all quite good for you. A trip to a farmers’ market can be an amazing experience for a young child who’s only been to supermarkets with mom and dad. There are new fruits and vegetables that look so strange and different than the grocery store produce, but they’re all still “lovable stuff.” One of the best things about farmers’ markets is that most stands offer samples of their fruits and vegetables in bite-sized portions so kids and their adult companions can discover just how delicious they really are.

Lisa Blecker’s children’s picture book opens with the score of Dick Grover’s song along with the full set of lyrics Blecker composed for it. The pages that follow demonstrate beautifully the message behind those lyrics. I love how well this fable speaks to more than fruit or vegetables. It’s an eloquent and profound statement about kids and parents as well. Some are large; others are small and wiry. There are people of all nationalities, races, and creeds out there, and kids instinctively seem to know that they are all “lovable stuff.” Blecker’s book simply and elegantly expands kids’ world of experience about produce while it confirms their innate acceptance of all different kinds of people. Her illustrations are upbeat and happy, and, yes, quite lovable. This is one of those books which will have adults and kids alike smiling along with those sweet neighbors as they read the story and even have a sing-along or two. Sweet Neighbors Come in All Colors is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Written by Carole P. Roman, an award-winning author, If You Were Me and Lived in… Poland is a delightful book that highlights Poland’s culture from its wonderful cuisine to its history. It is volume eighteen in the series, If You Were Me and Lived in…, an educational sequence of children’s books that seek to inform and build curiosity in a child and encourage them to learn about different cultures of the world. Carole P. Roman writes about Poland from a young person’s perspective, providing a fun way for children to learn what their lives would be like if they lived in Poland. It is written in an interesting and elaborate way, aided by the inclusions of appropriate illustrations. Kelsea Wierenga, the illustrator of If You Were Me and Lived in… Poland, does a wonderful job.

One particular thing that stands out in this book for me, like all others written by Carole P. Roman, is her ability to engage the young reader and captivate their imagination. As I read the book, I began imagining what it would have been like growing up in Poland and the different fun activities I would have loved to try out. As cultural tensions mount around the world, books like If You Were Me and Lived in… Poland serve as a great source of inspiration for children. The child learns how to appreciate diversity, which persuades them to open up to new opportunities presented by societal variations. The book is highly educational and consequently most recommended.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

It’s fascinating to find a book that serves two very different purposes. Regina and Renita Tackle Nasty Nate's Nasty Ways! is a beautifully illustrated book for children in Grades K-5 that deals with the all-important issue of bullying. But it is also a very clever marketing tool for the authors, Renita and Regina Deloatch, who are co-hosts of the popular Youth Sports TV show, TwinSports TV.

Regina and Renita, the primary characters in this well-presented children’s book, are twins. So are the authors, and if you haven’t already guessed it, Regina and Renita Tackle Nasty Nate's Nasty Ways! is based on their own childhood experiences, in this case with bullying. The twins are identical except that Renita has a scar on one side of her face. At school, Nasty Nate picks on Renita constantly and in very hurtful ways. He needs to be taught a lesson, but who will teach him? Will it be Regina springing to her sister’s defence? Or will it be Renita’s classmates who think enough is enough? Or will it be the twins’ parents and/or teachers? Finding out who tackles nasty Nate’s nasty ways, and how, is one of the most refreshing aspects of this children’s book: you see, the authors leave it up to readers to decide by offering them three possible endings. What a great way to generate classroom discussion on a social issue so relevant to so many students.

Regina and Renita Tackle Nasty Nate's Nasty Ways! is told through poetry, a popular approach in children’s books. As poetry, sometimes it flows nicely; at other times the rhythm is broken for the sake of rhyme by longer sentences. Fortunately, children will possibly be more caught up in the illustrations and the story itself to notice. At the end of Regina and Renita Tackle Nasty Nate's Nasty Ways! the authors have included some coloring and connect the dots exercises which, along with letting readers decide the endings, the illustrations, the topic and the poetry, makes this book one to get for your child or your school. And do make sure you visit Renita and Regina’s awesome website at www.twinsportstv.com.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

Can you imagine growing up during The Great Migration era or The Wagon Trail of 1843, as it was mainly called? If You Were Me and Lived in… the American West: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time is a children’s educational book by Carole P. Roman. Farms were destroyed by floods in the mid-west, causing farmers to relocate in search of better farmlands. Their conastogas (covered wagons) were mostly packed with surplus supplies for the five-month trip. A trail guide took them on the long, unfamiliar and challenging Oregon Trail. There were often illnesses and wagons got stuck in the mud. Children viewed the journey as an adventure, despite having chores like fetching water and collecting smelly buffalo chips for fires.

What an exciting way to learn history! Carole P. Roman takes us back in time to an important era that changed lives forever. If You Were Me and Lived in… the American West: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time, Volume 10 is a remarkable book that educates children in a fun way. The illustrations are convincing and knowing what was eaten on the trail is interesting. You’ll learn about Indian tribes, and there is a nice glossary explaining uncommon words and their pronunciations. The Famous People of the West section includes photos of Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, and Red Cloud. Maybe kids have ancestors who were part of The Wagon Trail, and their families still live on the Oregon farms that were eventually established. This novella is part of an award-winning series that’s highly recommended.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

History improves the mind and expands our knowledge of the past. Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon (Volume 7) by Barbara Ann Mojica is a beautiful, colorful children’s book about the journey of the past, our history. This book is a part of the Little Miss History series and takes us on a historical passage to Mount Vernon, where you will learn everything about this place. Do you know anything about Mount Vernon? Do you know where Mount Vernon is located? Mount Vernon is located in Virginia. As Little Miss History walks us through Mount Vernon, we are introduced to the life of President George Washington, his plantation, and the Mansion House. The Mansion House is one of the prominent features of George Washington’s possessions. Reading Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon (Volume 7) by Barbara Ann Mojica, you will be educated about the tools that were used on the plantation, slavery, and life during those times.

For me, reading Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon (Volume 7) by Barbara Ann Mojica took me back in time, going back to basics such as embracing a healthy quality of life with offerings from the farm such as table meats, goods and produce. Washington was passionate about gardening and trees, and he ate healthily. By experiencing and learning about the past, you are able to create a future. If you like historical books, get a copy of Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon (Volume 7) by Barbara Ann Mojica with illustrations by Victor Ramon Mojica.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom is a nonfiction educational book for children written by Diane Mae Robinson. Robinson is the author of The Pen Pieyu Adventures, a children’s adventure series starring Sir Princess Petra. She’s also a writing instructor who still finds it necessary, from time to time, to double-check those grammar rules. In this book, Robinson presents basic grammar rules in an accessible manner that is geared for young readers, and she does so using the characters and story line of her Pen Pieyu series. She begins with a glossary of grammar terms, and then proceeds to demystify confusing and often misused words and phrases, such as affect/effect and between/among and the deadliest of them all -- lie/lay. She then tackles verb agreement, punctuation and other aspects of syntax and sentence structure, employing examples that are filled with dragons, castles and, of course, Sir Princess Petra herself. Robinson includes spot quizzes at the ends of many chapters, and she also provides two levels of Dragon Grammar Skill Tests with answers at the end of the book.

I love dragons and grammar! So my eyes lit up when I saw Diane Mae Robinson’s nonfiction educational book for children, The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom. I’m also a big fan of Sir Princess Petra, whose adventures have admirably shown kids that it’s cool to be both a princess and a knight or a prince who likes to cook. And while I’ve read any number of dry, tolerable and even enjoyable books on grammar, I’ve rarely come across as well presented and entertaining an approach to what can be an intimidating subject, particularly for a young audience or for adults learning English as a second language. Robinson gets to the heart of the really puzzling aspects of grammar and offers them up in a format designed to make learning grammar more fun. The chapter quizzes are enjoyable ways to make sure you’ve gotten all the rules down, and the Skill Tests are also quite useful for spotlighting areas that need more review. And unlike many of the classic grammar texts, her grammar recommendations are oriented toward pragmatic, real-world usage. The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom is a great resource for kids, their teachers and anyone else who’d like to know a bit more about language and how to use it. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Follow Max, Jemima, Joe, and Charlie on another adventure of a lifetime in The Shadow of the Pyramid by Wendy Leighton-Porter. Max, their Tonkinese cat, is terrified when the children announce that they will be traveling back to Ancient Egypt. What with the horrifying mummy nightmares he's been having, poor Max is reluctant to join his mistress Jemima on another trip back in time. Only he doesn't have a choice. Before he can explain his misgivings, Max is dragged back in time on a mission to help save a young Pharaoh that is in danger. When they arrive, Max and the children are thrown into the midst of an evil plot. Even worse, the victims are unaware that they are the targets. Being in ancient Egypt, Max wonders if his nightmares will come true? Can Max and the children protect the young Pharaoh before it's too late? Or will they be discovered before they can help the royal couple?

I was again impressed with the fascinating story that the author wove. Shadow of The Pyramid is the fourth book in the Shadows From The Past Series. I feel it is just as good as the other books in the series that I have had the pleasure of reading. I loved the rich descriptions of ancient Egypt and how the author explained the way the hieroglyphs were read. The book was filled with history, interesting characters, and humorous incidents that kept me laughing. I also am ashamed to admit that I cried when they cried. I felt so connected to the characters; I felt their triumphs and their losses. I love that the author takes the time to tell her readers what parts of her book are fiction and what parts are fact. This is another awesome read from Wendy Leighton-Porter. I would suggest these books for children ages 7-10, but anyone who enjoys a historical novel might enjoy the Shadows From The Past series.