Reviewed by Lois J Wickstrom for Readers' Favorite

Punny Jokes to Tell Your Peeps by Lisa Ayotte is a collection of clean jokes illustrated with cute photographs picturing the puns. Lisa didn’t just write down the jokes; she built miniature sets for each one, and put colorful peeps into each set. I’m not going to give away the puns. There are food puns, sports puns, school puns – just about any topic that parents want their children to joke about. But, I do think it’s fair that I describe some of the photographs. Lisa has built a miniature playground, a picnic set, a stereo cabinet, a gingerbread house, a beach, a dentist’s office, a kitchen, a bunk bed, a kitchen, an apartment building, and a school.

Puns work because words that sound the same can have very different meanings. Puns help children expand their vocabularies and their social skills. Punny Jokes to Tell Your Peeps, written and photographed by Lisa Ayotte, will please children who like joke books and their parents who like clean jokes. Parents will also be pleased that they won’t be asked to explain the jokes. Lisa Ayotte has built sets and populated them with miniature props to make the meanings of the puns easy to understand. All the jokes take place in familiar surroundings and use familiar props. The photographed settings may encourage children to build their own sets for their own stories. I recommend this book to pun lovers of all ages. It will fit in at libraries and homes.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

A mouse family lived in an animal refuge park at the end of a friendly forest. Mr. and Mrs. Mouse had seven children and they never had enough food to feed their big family. A tiger lived on the other side of the wall and the mouse children would watch Mr. Tiger being well looked after by the keepers who loved animals. In the Mouse house, the youngest mouse was so small that he was named Tiny by his two sisters and four brothers. Though Mama Mouse told everyone while eating to take their portions, Tiny was always left with crumbs. Tiny was always hungry because he never got enough to eat. He felt hungry looking at the food Mr. Tiger got to eat. His brothers and sisters dared him to go into Mr. Tiger's cage and have some of his food but Tiny's parents told him not to.

Tiny Makes a Friend by Eva Schmidler is a beautiful story of friendship, kindness, compassion, sharing, caring, respect, courage, and dealing with life. The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter focuses on a different thing. The last chapter is all about family, reunion, and separation, and the unique friendship of Toby Tiger and Tiny Mouse conveys important life lessons to readers. The story is heartwarming and the friendship between Toby and Tiny will remain in the hearts of readers for a long time. The author conveys good messages through these two characters, knitting them into the story seamlessly, giving a good pace and fluidity to the action. The book is perfect for tutors and parents to teach children important messages and how to tackle life in its various stages. The character portrayals of Tiny and Toby are real, relatable, memorable, and children of ages will enjoy reading about their unusual friendship. The questions at the end of the book are useful and will help readers reflect on their lives, situations, and circumstances.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

I’ll Lend You My Daddy is tailor-made for children of fathers in the military, but it could also be used for children of military mothers. Additionally, it would be wonderful for young nieces and nephews, or friends and classmates of children whose parents are serving our country. This story is told in the voices of children who are experiencing the sacrifice of a father serving our country. They point out how much they miss their fathers, but they focus on activities such as soccer and school plays. They also show how they stay in touch with internet communication, sending drawings and even a piece of birthday cake. In the children’s book, I’ll Lend You My Daddy, written by Becky King and illustrated by Valerie Valdivia, a realistic and poignant portrayal of the sacrifices made by military families is depicted.

A great feature of this book is the inclusion of every branch of the armed forces as well as different races and cultures present in the military. The detailed illustrations are beautiful; these drawings will fascinate young children for hours. This book will be a useful tool for parents to discuss the challenges of being a military family, and it will help children to cope with not having a parent at home for long periods of time. Author Becky King has crafted an exceptional children’s book that will be a great addition to many children’s libraries in I’ll Lend You My Daddy. A perfect gift for youngsters in special families!

Reviewed by Laura Sumpter for Readers' Favorite

Brave For My Family by Davidson Whetstone is a compassionate and loving story of a young boy and his father. As a soldier, his father spends time on duty for his country and away from his family. His experiences, although far away, deeply affect the family and require life changes for each of them in his absence and upon his return. The story shows the importance of God in the family during these times of difficulty and the faith it takes for families as they endure the unknown. It also shows the importance of extended family as soldiers are gone and those left behind must lean on relatives and friends for support. This story exemplifies the true nature of a soldier's life and the experiences they must endure.

Davidson Whetstone has created a delightful picture book in Brave For My Family that touches on a difficult and sensitive topic for young children. His own personal experience makes this an engaging book for children of servicemen and helps kids feel validated in their own emotions during uncertain times. The interactions between the young boy and his dad and mom help students see the value of family and paying respect to those who sacrifice for America. This book brings to light areas that are not often discussed in general classroom settings, but it would be an excellent book for educators to have on hand. This book also is a great read for families as they talk to their children about the difficulties of war.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

This Book Is Alive! is a short work of fiction for children focusing on positivity and interactivity, and was penned by author Justine Avery with illustrations by artist Daria Yudina. Within these forty pages of sepia-toned magic and beautiful text, young readers are introduced to the book in their hands. It speaks directly to them, proclaiming its central message that it is alive. What follows is a celebration of all the wonderful possibilities of being a book, and being alive, and from that young readers receive messages of positivity about all the possibilities ahead for them in their lives too. An overall feeling of joy, empowerment and the importance of reading forms the final takeaway.

Though it isn’t written in a rhyming style, the lyrical flow of the words within This Book Is Alive! still feels poetic. In the hands of author Justine Avery, the book speaks to its readers with light fantastical dialogue, asking direct questions that are thought-provoking and fun, but also revealing many different voices and endless possibilities within its pages. The flow of the work continues really well to build on ideas and make its final, empowering point with great organization and a well-timed reveal of the main concept. The illustrations by artist Daria Yudina give a magical old-time feel to the text, playing with facial expressions and line drawings to make it look as if the personalities are emerging from the pages rather than just being slapped in there. Overall, This Book Is Alive! is a delightful and empowering picture book to cherish.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

If You Were Me and Lived In...Ancient Greece: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time by Carole P. Roman is an educational and informative book for children that is useful when it comes to developing an interest in travel, discovering foreign lands, and learning about different cultures. Greece is one of the ancient civilizations and the book speaks about the beliefs and culture of ancient Greece. It is a fun book for all travelers and those who are interested in reading about new places. Through this book, children will learn that Greece introduced the concept of democracy. The ancient gods, market places, food, and the sights and sounds of Greece are tempting enough for young readers to want to visit Greece.

I am really enjoying the books in this series. If You Were Me and Lived In...Ancient Greece is simple and well narrated and will make traveling an enjoyable experience. The illustrations give clarity to the author’s words and children will find it easy to comprehend what the author is trying to convey. This book is a must-have in school libraries as the contents are informative and educational and they have been expressed in a fun and interactive manner. The manner in which the author speaks about the Greek gods is interesting, and the glossary at the end of the book is helpful. Reading this book will help to increase young readers' knowledge and it is always good to learn about other countries, their culture, food, customs, religion, and beliefs. Carole Roman’s series will make everyone enjoy history and this book can be read by older children too. I recommend this series to all parents to have in their personal collection at home.

Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

In Ellie and Her Emotional Dragons by Joseph Goodrich, Ellie is a young elephant who has just moved into an old house with her mom and dad. It should be exciting, right? But for Ellie, the move is not at all enjoyable. The house is scary, and there are lots of weird creaking sounds. How can Ellie cope? Ellie is a lucky little elephant who is blessed with four adorable dragon friends – Naz, Nali, Tully, and Hani – who come out of Ellie's closet when Ellie feels happy, sad, scared, or mad. The four trusty friends help Ellie understand her emotions, give helpful and practical suggestions as to how to combat negative emotions, such as confronting her fears, and put her back on the right track. In the course of one day Ellie experiences all the emotions and gets help from her little dragon friends.

What an absolutely enchanting story! I fell in love with the artwork from the first page. The illustrations by Traci Van Wagoner are just fantastic, done in a style I have never seen before. The ink spatter style gives sweeping movements and is filled with energy, and I felt myself being carried along by the events. Young readers will be swept up into this tale by becoming visually engaged. There is so much to discover in each brightly colored panel, including subtle references to the colors of the little dragons.

Ellie is a character all young readers can relate to. Author Joseph Goodrich has set out to teach kids emotional intelligence, helping them to understand their emotions, how to deal with them in a positive way, and to understand themselves. I think this book will also be useful for parents who may have forgotten how scary it was to move, how sad they felt when a beloved parent had to go to work, and when a play date went awry. I also liked how the author includes politeness, saying sorry, and appreciation of others in Ellie thanking her adorable little friends for all their help. Parents and teachers will find many points to use for discussion. This is a delightful, entertaining story that will charm young readers while helping them to develop emotionally and to understand not only themselves, but others as well as they learn social skills. A real treat for all!

Reviewed by Donna Gielow McFarland for Readers' Favorite

The Sofa Sloths by Miriam Kay tells the story of Sydney and Stanley, two silly sloths who slouch on a sofa, staring at screens. One day something changes and they start by switching spots on the sofa. That leads to sweeping and scrubbing and eventually heading outside where there are lots of stimulating things to do. Sydney and Stanley get so excited, busy swimming and skating and enjoying the seasons, that they rarely want to succumb to surfing the set.

The Sofa Sloths is a shining example of how to deliver a positive message to kids. I suspect that the author had some particular silly sloths in mind when she wrote it, but many parents will enthusiastically embrace the moral of this story. It is not simple to teach in a picture book without sounding preachy, but The Silly Sloths takes on the task with ease. The illustrations are bright and colorful and so sensational that they make this silly story sparkle. It is hard to imagine The Sofa Sloths without them.

The skillful writing is concise without a single word wasted, which is all the more surprising because of the stunning amount of alliteration. I hope Miriam Kay and Jenny Dang create many more books like The Sofa Sloths to delight the ages 4-8 crowd. They show life lessons and values in such an enjoyable way that kids will embrace the message by such silly characters. I enthusiastically recommend this spectacular story!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Nerdi Bunny loved to read and she was not an average bunny. She had been spending her school vacation reading books and daily newspapers, and in the afternoon she read the headlines about how the Honey and Harvest Festival was in jeopardy and the Bee Talk was not successful. Nerdi was an excellent helper and she wondered if she could help in any way. She put her newspaper away and went to the garden to pick tomatoes from the tomato patch. She realized that there were no tomatoes there. She found out that the bees in Cottontail Burrow had stopped working. She decided to find a solution to the problem so that the Honey and Harvest Festival, the most important event in Cottontail Burrow, would take place. Will Nerdi Bunny succeed in her mission? Will the Honey and Harvest Festival happen in Cottontail Burrow?

Nerdi Bunny And the Busy Bee Bully Bear Business by Aisha Toombs is an engaging story for both adults and children. Children learn about bumblebees and honeybees, and how important it is not to hurt the bees. The book will help children realize the role of bees, and they will learn about bully bears, penguins, and other creatures. The black and white sketches are appealing and they make the story palpable to young readers. The story is educational and informative as it tells readers the easy ways to help bees, and by doing so helping to save nature and the environment.

Reviewed by Sarah Scheele for Readers' Favorite

Goodnight, My Love! by Shelley Admont is a lovely picture book that encourages children to go to sleep at night. In it a father helps his small son, Alex. After drinking water and sending his father to get a particular toy, Alex says he isn’t sure what to dream about. Gently the father invents a dream the boy could have when asleep. The boy relaxes by imagining himself as a bird having adventures of flight over the ocean and scenic vistas on land. The father participates by describing himself as an older bird, the small bird’s companion. In the end, Alex is able to fall asleep while both his parents are pleased.

Goodnight, My Love! has a really sweet message and a gentle style. It certainly feels like something that could be read aloud to a kid who is actually in bed and having trouble sleeping. The cute illustrations capture the real home life of this boy, and the serene, uplifting invented world that the father describes for him as well. Shelley Admont does a great job of developing both the adult and the child so their points of view are equally sympathetic—Alex wants more attention and is uncertain about falling asleep, but his dad knows they both need to rest. In the end, these differences result in a great bond between them and a shared memory they’ve created as Alex is helped along on the path of making his own dreams. Positive thinking for kids is incredibly important and is something this book delivers excellently through creating wholesome, pleasant images.