Reviewed By Jackie Ferrell for Readers' Favorite

A little boy and a folding circus tent is the focus of The Travelling Circus – a new children’s book by Mark Watson. As the little boy begins to have fun folding and unfolding his perfect gift of a circus tent, an imaginative story begins to take shape. The vibrant red and white circus tent visually grabs and holds the attention of young readers as Mark Watson uses his creative genius of rhyme and prose to create a new and magical book. From the description of the circus animals to the aromatic imagery of food, we are taken back in time to the circuses of old. With fairies in flight, to a beautifully detailed carousel horse and, finally, to the image of a curious, unusual and somewhat scary ringmaster, there is an energy that propels us through this story while we listen to the clever words of the ringmaster describing to the little boy what awaits him. As the ringmaster gently guides the little boy to the front of the circus tent, there is a curiosity and mystery about what just might come next.

With bold, delightful and spellbinding images by Drew Geraci, The Travelling Circus by Mark Watson brings to children a brand new story just perfect for bedtime reading. I wondered, as I read this adorable book, if this story actually took place in a small child's decorated bedroom, or was it the incredible imagination of a little boy’s dream brought to life by the perfect gift of a folding circus tent. I think children will be incredibly engaged and captivated by The Travelling Circus while parents discover that this latest children’s book by Mark Watson is a perfect, one-of-a-kind bedtime read.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Great Sugar War is an adventure fantasy novel for children and preteens written by Benjamin Ellefson and illustrated by Kevin Cannon. Brandon wasn't crazy about school; he was able to do his assignments and get good grades without too much effort, but he'd much rather be outside playing with his friends. Today was no exception; he had been preoccupied watching a squirrel running through the grass outside the classroom window when Miss Carter called his name. As it was time for their history lesson, Miss Carter asked the class if anyone could tell her the cause of the Great Grayness. Those two words galvanized Brandon right out of his lethargy. His Grandpa Alvin had been instrumental in overcoming the snakes that ran the Color Factory, which had been the root cause of the situation. Miss Carter angrily interrupted him. She was tired of his fanciful imagination. Everyone knew that the goblins from beyond the Crimson Mountains caused the Great Grayness. When Brandon countered that the story of the triumph of the Crimson Guards over the goblin king was a lie told by the king, he got in big trouble. After all, you could go to prison for calling the king a liar, Miss Carter retorted. She sent him off to see the principal and said his parents would be notified to pick him up there. Brandon hated being sent to see the principal. He was a terrifying man who blustered and bullied. Brandon suddenly had an idea -- he'd go to Grandpa Alvin's house and get him to speak to Miss Carter. Surely she'd believe Grandpa Alvin. But when he got to his grandfather's house, no one answered the door.

What is truth? Why do kings and other leaders lie, and how is a child raised to tell the truth to comprehend the inconsistency between official pronouncements and reality? The Great Sugar War raises some troubling questions about politics, ethics and even the treatment of children in today's schools. I was aghast when the truant officer binds Brandon's wrists and ankles with nylon restraints, criminalizing, in effect, a child for truancy, but I've also seen accounts of far more egregious treatment of children in schools by the police officers who are now a common sight in some school systems. As to Brandon's confusion over the willing disbelief of his teacher and fellow students of the truth, the account of Colonel Droww to Brandon’s ancestor, Otto, exposes it rather clearly, if not entirely satisfactorily. Later on, when the great war between the Kingdom of Shapes and the Kingdom of Colors is revealed for the sham it truly was, Droww continues: “During a war, people are consumed by their own fear and anger. They follow anything their leaders tell them. War is not about defeating an enemy. War is about controlling your own people.” Heady stuff for a children's book, but sadly relevant in today's world.

Ethics aside, The Great Sugar War is a rousing action and adventure story that features Brandon's Great-Great-Grandfather Otto and the role he plays as Colonel Droww's assistant during The Great Sugar War. This is the second in Ellefson's original and compelling fantasy series, following his novel, The Land Without Color. The author gives enough background for the new reader to enjoy this book on its own, but I strongly recommend reading the first one as well. Both books are thoughtful, exciting and a lot of fun to read -- and they most eloquently warn against the dangers of eating sugar and junk food. The Great Sugar War is most highly recommended for children, preteens and those adults who still hunger for a bit of thought-provoking fantasy.

Reviewed By Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

The Frog Prince: A Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella is a children’s fable of years gone by written by Mike Klaassen. As Prince Gerit of Krickenheim goes to a pond in order to satisfy his craving for frogs’ legs for dinner, his feet become stuck in the mud. An old crone, Wibke, frees him from a watery death in exchange for lavish rewards. Once freed, however, the prince reneges on their agreement. As punishment, Wibke turns Gerit into a frog. The only way to break the spell is for Gerit to be kissed three times. Gerit narrowly avoids death from predators, and makes his way to the nearest township, ruled by King Torsten, Queen Ingeborg, and their very spoiled daughter, Princess Anneliese. Knowing that the princess is his only hope of being transformed back into a prince, he does all he can to win her heart, but with Fluffy, the royal cat, eyeing his every move, Gerit soon resigns himself to remaining a frog for the rest of his days ... until he is faced with losing Anneliese forever.

While I have never read the original Brothers Grimm tale of The Frog Prince, I found Mike Klaassen’s adaptation to be rather extraordinary. Initially, the tale shows Prince Gerit (in his human form) to be deceptive, dishonest, spoiled, and showing complete disregard for other creatures. His hard lesson, being transformed into a frog, teaches the prince how difficult life can be for others, as he is surrounded by predators both in and out of the water. The Frog Prince, as written by Mike Klaassen, is both captivating and enchanting, teaching readers that your word is the most important thing you can give, aside from your own heart when you are in love. It also teaches the importance of disciplining your children and teaching them proper values, rather than giving in to their every whim until they become spoiled, unruly and unmanageable. Princess Anneliese found comfort in having frog-Gerit as a companion, regardless of whether to simply read to or play with, and it forged an unbreakable friendship between the two. I wholeheartedly enjoyed The Frog Prince: A Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella, and am excited to read my next Mike Klaassen tale in the future.

Reviewed By Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite

The Grumpface by B.C.R. Fegan is a fun, rhyming children's book about a man who has been cursed to live as a Grumpface, and a young inventor, Dan, who is in love with a girl named Bella. One day, Dan goes into the Forest of Ho, looking for a rose for Bella. The forest, however, is in the domain of the Grumpface, and Dan soon gets stuck in one of the Grumpface's many traps. The Grumpface tells him that he can go free if he can complete one of three challenges. He has to either catch a glowing bird, walk across a tiny bridge, or walk through a cave full of dangers. Dan believes he has an invention for each of the challenges. Will he complete a challenge? Or will he never get to see Bella again?

I really enjoyed reading The Grumpface by B.C.R. Fegan. The book is very well written and the rhyming is very well done. The rhyming gives the book a fun rhythm that children will enjoy. The book has many funny parts and is full of action and suspense. The characters are very likeable, especially Dan, because he's kindhearted, and very silly. The book shows that anyone can change. The pictures by D. Frongia are very well drawn and clearly depict each scene. Children will really enjoy reading this story and will want to read it again and again. The story is well developed and well thought out. I would definitely recommend this to all children.

Reviewed By Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite

In a fun, funny and adventurous new story targeting children in later elementary grades, The Land Without Color is the first book in a new series by the same name written by author Benjamin Ellefson. This book will engage its readers from the very beginning and will keep them reading all the way through until the very end. Follow the story of protagonist 12-year-old Alvin, a boy who finds himself in quite a predicament. After floating through the air with the aid of a huge gum bubble, he lands in a world unlike any other he's seen before, a land without color. Everything there is gray, and no one is quite sure why. Alvin meets some new friends that are set on helping him, as well as solving the mystery of the colorless landscape that surrounds them. Will they succeed, and will Alvin find his way home? You'll have to read the book to find out!

I loved The Land Without Color. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it's definitely how I felt about this lovely book for older children. Author Benjamin Ellefson has done a wonderful job in creating a story line that will entertain its readers and please their parents with its message and tone. This book contains elements of fantasy, fairy tale, action and adventure, is fast paced, and is simply a fun read! Any child, but especially those between fourth and sixth grades, would enjoy this book, and their parents should absolutely buy it for them. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to seeing more in this promising series by author Benjamin Ellefson, hopefully in the very near future!

Reviewed By Ryan Jordan for Readers' Favorite

Tales For Your Monkey's Mind by Steve Michael Reedy is a collection of short stories for children about growing up and having to face real life. The running theme through the novel is that simply growing up and acting like everybody else isn't a great way to live. The first story shows a child who loves to play with toys, but when he turns thirteen he is supposed to grow up and work in the toy factory. When he visits the factory the day before he turns thirteen he learns a terrible secret. Many of the stories have themes about growing up, and all of them are punctuated by excellent drawings scattered throughout.

These are the highlight of the work. The stories themselves are well-written, although a little heavy-handed, but the artwork is spot on for bringing these stories to life. There is a clever end to each story that presents the next character and adds continuity. My favorite story was the one where everyone grows up and dresses like a clown because it has a very positive message for little girls, especially that they are beautiful exactly as they are and don't need to look like a 'clown' just to fit in. Tales For Your Monkey's Mind by Steve Michael Reedy is a true win that parents can enjoy with their children and one that will help spread positive messages. Really excellent book! I enjoyed reading it.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Olga is a children’s and preteen adventure fantasy novel written by Ted Kelsey and illustrated by Dillon Samuelson. Nothing ever happened in Chilton. It was a pretty boring place for a kid to grow up in, so much so, as Sally liked to tell her cousin who lived in New York City, that Sally’s backyard actually borders a beet farm. Still, on late summer afternoons as twilight closes in, there are plenty of kids around to play Ghosts in the Graveyard, which is somewhat like hide-’n-seek only backwards. This time around Sally’s friend, Jack, is it, and it’s getting close to the last few minutes before parents start getting angry about missed dinners. Jack’s never been quite the same as the other kids, however; he likes to cut up and doesn’t seem to have to follow as many rules as Sally and the other kids do. No one can find Jack in this last game of the day, but Sally gets the feeling he’s hiding on the grounds of the Terror House, a wrecked and decaying house that might be haunted and is on the forbidden-to-enter list of every kid. When Sally enters the grounds to find Jack, she’s transfixed by an odd sight in the field that has obviously caught Jack’s eye. It’s a shambling, dancing thing with a big head and short stubby legs, and Jack is determined to figure out just what it is.

Ted Kelsey’s adventure fantasy for children and preteens, Olga, is a wildly imaginative and thought-provoking variant of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. Jack and Sally are consummate adventurers who’ve even designed a code of light flash messaging to communicate to each other in case of emergencies. The two of them are marvelous characters, filled with pluck, determination and loyalty, and I’m hoping to see them again in future works by this author. Kelsey’s giants are a hoot! They are alternately horrible, humorous and just plain ridiculous, and Dillon Samuelson’s inspired illustrations bring every nasty feature they possess out in riotous detail. Olga is a fast-paced story that blends the preteen fantasy and coming of age genres as Jack, Sally and Olga confront life-changing challenges and discoveries. Olga is highly recommended.

Reviewed By Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Ice Dream's Wish by Nasrin Mottahedeh tells a tale of the snowman known as Ice Dream. When Ice Dream was created, he was given special gifts which consisted of two sparkly marbles for eyes, a red rose bud for a heart, and a big yellow apple for a brain. With these special gifts, Ice Dream came to life and loved to play with the children, but he was easily bored when they were at school because he did not have legs and could not move from where he stood outside. Ice Dream is visited by Angel Cloud, an angel who grants him his wish to be able to move. Ice Dream questions how the angel had known his strongest wish and is told that angels live inside your heart and know what you wish for. Angel Cloud warns Ice Dream that he must use his special gifts – his eyes, heart, and brain – if he is given the power to move. During Ice Dream’s first journey, he feels so inspired to help others that he gives up his nose, his gloves, his scarf, and the beads on his front which look like the buttons of a jacket. Unrecognizable to his creators, they are amazed to find their special gifts in the snow at the school yard, looking absolutely radiant as they had been touched by love.

I found this tale to be absolutely extraordinary. Ice Dream’s Wish is a book that teaches so many lessons in life – lessons about kindness, friendship, helping others, being unselfish, and daring to dream. Due to Ice Dream’s kindness to strangers, human and animal alike, he made their awful day turn around and shine. Many people could learn from this delightful children’s tale of love and of thinking about others’ needs before their own. Nasrin Mottahedeh’s story makes me smile, giving hope for a better future. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Atalanta - Early Myths: Greek Myths for Children by Simon Spence is an engaging book that will introduce children to Greek mythology. In this book they learn the story of Atalanta whose father wanted her to grow up as a perfect princess, but Atalanta wanted to have adventures and fun. She learned to use a bow and even beat the boys in her skill with it. Her father was scared, wondering if he would be able to find a suitable prince for his daughter if she was always roaming in the fields and the forests. He sent her to the forest, asking her to return only when she changes. In the forest, Atalanta grows up to become strong and fast, and becomes the greatest huntress in the land. Will she finally be able to make her father's dreams come true and will any man marry her?

The story is fascinating, like any other story in Greek mythology. The characters are larger than life and Atalanta's strength and courage will motivate and inspire any young reader. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and they also breathe life into the scenes and characters and give clarity to the author's words. The book can be used for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries and is also a good bedtime storybook.

These kinds of storybooks are good for children to teach them about legendary and mythological characters in a simple manner. The book is informative, educational, and also teaches readers a lot of new things, vocabulary, and happenings related to Greek mythology. A good book for children about the story of a character from Greek mythology.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Magic Tree is an inspirational children's book written by Michal Y. Noah, Ph.D. and illustrated by Chrissy Fanslau. Magic is a young tree who's smaller than his dad and not as leafy as his mom, but he's quite happy with who he is. He's got lots of friends who keep him company: birds, squirrels, butterflies and other living things. They all enjoy the sun's warmth and the joys of spring and summer. When fall comes around, Magic wonders why he can't run or fly away with his friends, and his parents explain how everyone is different and special. Magic, they explain, is extremely special and is perfect just as he is. When the winter cold blows in, Magic is unhappy and misses his friends, but then some winter pals come around and things don't seem so bad. And then it's spring again.

Michal Y. Noah's inspirational children's book, The Magic Tree, is beautifully written and Chrissy Fanslau's illustrations make this magical and positive book glow. The book is filled with bright and colorful pictures of Magic, his parents and his friends. Noah's message comes through on every page, and it's the best possible message both for the children it's written for, and for anyone else fortunate enough to come across this book. Magic's parents share their positive and loving outlook on life with their son and help him to understand how perfect he is right at each particular moment, and how his joy and love for others will resonate back to him. This is a perfect primer for a young reader and a marvelous read-aloud story for bedtime. The Magic Tree is highly recommended.