Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory: The Willy and Tommy Adventures, Book 1 is a young adult and pre-teen paranormal fantasy novel written by Whitney Dineen. Wilhelmina Snodgrass is most definitely not impressed by her parents’ decision to move from their home in Mason, Illinois, to Monteith in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The eleven-year-old Willy was looking forward to beginning the new school year as a seventh-grader and being part of the swim team. She misses her friends who are probably back home practicing for the swim team tryouts. It’s different for her eight-year-old brother, Wendell, who’s already running around the street with brand new friends, but boys are not all that discriminating about who they play with anyway. Willy’s mom is sympathetic to her daughter’s woes. It’s not easy being in that tween state between kid and teen. She figures a shopping trip might be the answer to lifting her daughter’s blues, and it works a treat. In the first cool clothing store they find, Willy meets Charlene, a salesgirl who loves Willy’s red hair and just happens to have a sister who is Willy’s age. To make things even better, they’re practically neighbors.

Whitney Dineen’s young adult and pre-teen paranormal fantasy, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory, is a fresh and original story about a young girl’s move to a new town and the friends she makes when she gets there. The outspoken Tommy is a marvelous counterpart for the somewhat diffident Willy, but I’d find it hard to point out any character in this enjoyable, haunting and haunted tale who wasn’t expertly crafted and quite believable. I loved the supernatural aspect of the plot and enjoyed seeing how Tommy and Willy interacted with Mrs. Carbunckle’s dead relatives. Monteith, Oregon is an inspired historical setting for this story, and the efforts the girls and their friends make to reopen the wig factory makes for an exciting and entertaining tale. Dineen leaves a few clues scattered throughout the story about the continued adventures of Willy and Tommy, and I’m looking forward to the subsequent volumes in this series. Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Gus belongs to a big family - a really big family. There are nine children in his family and another one on the way. His parents named the children alphabetically, which puts Gus somewhere in the middle of the family ages. He's seven and he had to share his seventh birthday with his twin sisters, Helen and Irene. Their birthday is a day before Gus' and, being twins, there was extra cake and gifts. So, when Gus' birthday arrived the next day, no one wanted any more cake. Gus' brothers, Ben, Donnie and Ewan, love to tease Gus. Sometimes their teasing is downright mean. But Gus takes it all in his stride. Only this time the teasing has gone too far. On a family camping trip, the brothers push Gus into a huge mud puddle and leave him stranded in the woods.

As this is Gus' story, it is instantly clear that Gus is feeling a little bit sorry for himself. So much so, that he starts to wish that things could be different. He has some lessons to learn and, in learning these lessons, he has a spirit guide in the form of a little girl to take him through the learning process. 'Be careful what you wish for' is the key theme and Gus must learn that what he has in life really isn't all that bad.

Author Rachel McGrath has written a charming story for young readers in Mud on Your Face. Life always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but this story is a great learning tool for young readers to appreciate that perhaps the 'other side' isn't that much better after all. A wonderful, colorfully illustrated story about appreciating what you have and to be careful what you wish for. Beautiful and poignant, a must-read for young and old alike.

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

The Mystery In The Window by Angie Wilson is the second book in the Gracie's Mysteries--Super Spy Series and I think this book is even better than the first one, if that is possible! Ten-and-a-half-year-old Gracie loves nothing more than a good mystery to solve. When she learns that Duchess, the cat who lives at her school, Brentwood Elementary, has been missing for two days, Gracie and her best friend Kenzie decide that they will figure out where she is. It doesn't take long for the pair to start watching the creepy old abandoned house across the street from the school. Soon, though, they get more than they bargained for when they notice a few strange things going on at the house. It appears that someone is trying to discourage their investigation, but who? It seems that there is more than one mystery for Gracie the Super Spy to solve! Will she find Duchess and can she figure out what's going on in the old abandoned house?

The Mystery In The Window by Angie Wilson is a very well written story that young and not so young readers will appreciate. Gracie is a fantastic character that young readers will easily relate to. She goes to school and doesn't like to take tests, she doesn't back down when she knows she is right, and she is a loyal best friend to Kenzie. She is very observant and inquisitive and that's what makes her so good at solving mysteries. She comes from a single parent home, but it is obvious that she has a wonderful relationship with her mother. Her mother has recently started dating and Gracie is okay with that. I love that there are several positive messages woven into the story, and the fact that Gracie attends church fits perfectly for the character! Ms. Wilson provides a realistic story with a couple of mysteries and enough plot twists to keep it interesting. The illustrations are perfectly paired with the story line; they really allowed me to envision Gracie, and they even put a smile on my face a couple of times.

This is a story where the characters are engaging and the plot is well written. It's the perfect book for young readers and, while the main character is a girl, I think the aspects of the mystery might just appeal to boys as well. I only hope that Ms. Wilson intends to continue the Gracie Mysteries--Super Spy Series because I feel that this character has plenty more adventures and mysteries to solve. I highly recommend this series!

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Daniel the Draw-er by S.J. Henderson is a magical children’s tale about Daniel and his magic pencil. Daniel is your average nine-year-old boy and he loves to draw. His mom is concerned about him and wants him to go out and find more friends. “Daniel, Annie is a nice girl, but it’s not healthy to have only one friend.” Daniel likes Annie and he considers her his best friend. With Annie, Daniel feels that he does not need any other friends because of the adventures they share. One day Daniel does find other friends by the stroke of his magical pencil. Come along with Daniel in Daniel the Draw-er by S.J. Henderson and meet Whiskers, Pi-zzabot, Macaroni and a cast of other magical characters.

Daniel the Draw-er by S.J. Henderson is an ideal book for children. It is full of adventure as seen through the eyes of a child. S.J. Henderson takes the reader on a journey of imagination and fantasy with not only Daniel but Annie as he begins to share his magical pencil with her. Who could have imagined that with a pencil, eraser and paper a whole world opens up for a child? Daniel the Draw-er by S.J. Henderson shows us how vivid the imagination is of a child. If you are looking for a fun, adventurous and magical book to read to your child, consider Daniel the Draw-er by S.J. Henderson.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Time Hunters is a fantasy by Carl Ashmore. Becky Mellor isn’t excited about spending the holidays with Uncle Percy, an eccentric inventor who lives at Bowen Hall estate. However, she soon reconsiders when she and Joe, her brother, see a saber tooth tiger, a triceratops and Will Scarlett living on the estate. Uncle Percy journeys into the past to find the Golden Fleece and takes Becky and Joe along in his time machine. While they are gone, Otto Kruger ransacks the kids’ bedrooms at Bowen Hall, which puzzles everyone. The family takes another trip into the Minoan era and King Minos arrests them. If they can escape the feared Minotaur of the Labyrinth, they will have their freedom. Becky worries about Uncle Percy’s odd behaviour, and wonders why she sees the same mysterious looking stranger everywhere they go.

My son was happy that I had The Time Hunters to review, because he didn’t get the chance to finish the school library’s copy. He had a positive reaction to this book by Carl Ashmore. I was also pleased reading the story, which took me on an adventure with its mythical and prehistoric creatures. Carl Ashmore has written an entertaining book that children will love, while learning about the past in an interesting way. Readers will get good visuals from his descriptive, imaginative writing. The story has a very intriguing beginning and the author ensured that the rest was too. There are three more adventure books in The Time Hunters Saga.

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

The Mystery at Darcy's Discount Store (Gracie's Mysteries--Super Spy Series Book 1) introduces readers to ten-year-old Graceanne Faith (Gracie). She is a ten-year-old girl who loves to solve mysteries, even going so far as to investigate around her apartment complex every Saturday. While she has been called the nosiest kid in the building, she's really just inquisitive. She is looking forward to summer vacation, but when one of her investigations causes her to wind up with a sprained ankle, it seems she will be spending her summer going to work with her mother at Darcy's Discount Store. When merchandise starts missing from the store, it doesn't take Gracie long to wind up right smack dab in the middle of a mystery. Can she solve the mystery, but more than that, can she convince everyone that she knows who the guilty culprit is? Perhaps a sprained ankle just might lead to the most adventurous summer that Gracie has ever had!

The Mystery at Darcy's Discount Store by Angie Wilson is the first book in the Gracie's Mysteries-Super Spy Series and is truly a delightful read. I really enjoyed the cast of well written characters. Gracie seems like a very down to earth, grounded ten-year-old that loves and respects her mother. Gracie is sometimes funny, very observant, and at times seems very mature for her age. She comes from a single parent home and there are glimpses of financial worries, but we also see that her mother intends to further her education in order to provide a better life for Gracie. There are so many positive messages woven into The Mystery at Darcy's Discount Store, but it is Gracie's faith in God that certainly made this story a winner in my book! The illustrations are darling, and certainly allowed me to get a clear picture of Gracie which enhanced the story for me. A smoothly written story where Ms. Wilson provides a bit of a plot twist that will hold the attention of readers as they follow along with Gracie while she tries to solve the mystery. While the author wraps up the story nicely, she also provides the promise of a brand new adventure for Gracie. Young and old alike will enjoy reading about Gracie solving the mystery at Darcy's Discount Store.

To say that I loved this story is an understatement! The pairing of illustrations with the written word allowed me to envision Gracie and her mannerisms. The faith based theme of the story was very well done and the author captured the feeling of what it might be like to be raised in a single parent home, but also how the single mother might feel. This truly is a solid five star read!

Reviewed by Sarah Scheele for Readers' Favorite

Lost in Boston by Jane R. Wood was an enjoyable read, deftly disguising educational facts in a fictional format to interest young readers. Book 5 of the Johnson family series, it takes the likable brothers Joey and Bobby and their little sister on a tour of Boston. Their enthusiastic mother Jennifer guides them through numerous important landmarks of Boston, blending in a light romantic subplot involving Joey and a Boston girl, as well as a brief crime episode to keep the history from taking over. A visit to relatives in Boston, culminating in a wedding, grounded the trip realistically in the daily lives of children. Jane Wood's writing showed comfort both with children and with the topics the book covered. Joey, Bobby, and Katy had cute little personalities and were respectful of and attentive to their mother.

Jane R. Wood has an approachable style that keeps the history light enough for the audience while retaining solid details. I personally have never been to Boston and learned a lot about the city from this book. For instance, I had not been aware before that there was a free African-American community in Boston beginning as early as the 1600s. It shows freedom in this city has a long history. The numerous references to foreign immigrants and Italian food gave a good insight into Boston's immense diversity. I want to try cannoli after reading this! Sites visited included the USS Constitution, Paul Revere's home, the Old North Church, a historic graveyard, and of course wonderful Fenway Park. Lost in Boston really did get me lost in the past of this city.

Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite

Christopher has been kidnapped! If that's not bad enough, the nasty Captain Redblade also managed to make off with a beautiful young lady and her father too. It's up to Christopher to find a way out of his predicament and save them from danger. It's high tide and time to set sail on an amazing adventure of a life time. Arrgh! by Stacey R. Campbell is without a doubt my favorite Middle Grade book that I've read this year! I admit, I have a soft spot for all things piratical, but I think I would have loved this story even if it wasn't about my favorite kinds of swashbuckling scallywags.

The illustrations, provided by the talented M.S. Corley, really helped to set the tone for adventure, and although they weren't obvious, I enjoyed the illustrations very much. Maps are always fun for kids because they get a visual sense of what the book is about. Another thing that I appreciated was the glossary of terms. While once common, these terms are far from ordinary to today's youth so if you expect them to know "aft" and "Halyard" you better provide! Campbell did just that, and in doing so improved the seafaring vocabulary of both children and adults (myself included!)

Arggh! is an awesome book. It's going to make kids of all ages long for the salty seas and the adventurous life of piratedom. I will be gifting copies of this to my niece and nephew shortly and recommend it to anyone with kids, or even adults who want to dive into some cute and fun Middle Grade fiction.

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

Young and old alike are going to have a howling good time reading Kibble Talk by Cynthia Port. Tawny is a fifth grader that never backs down from a dare ... so when her best friend Jenny dares her to eat a piece of dog food, well, she can't help but do it. Once she does, she finds that she can converse with dogs. When her dog Dinky, a giant Great Dane, reveals his one big dream of becoming a lap dog, she knows she has her work cut out for her. When the dog show comes to town, she decides to enter Dinky in order to help him achieve his dream. One thing's for certain; Tawny has her work cut out for her. Can Dinky the Great Dane become the inner small dog he has always dreamed of?

I don't think I have ever read a book quite like Kibble Talk! It's a book that quickly appealed to me because of the cover, but after just a few pages I was hooked on the story and characters. Tawny is a funny character; she is just a bit shocked at the gift she has, and her dog Dinky has a way of getting her into trouble on occasion. The problems that crop up between her and Jenny seem very realistic, it even had me thinking back to my best friend in school and the squabbles that we had! I loved the resolution between the pair, and felt there were a few positive life lessons that readers would learn about friendship and how important it is. I also felt that the interactions with Tawny and her family were wonderful. The author captured a typical family who really had things going on beneath the surface, things that Tawney seemed to miss until Dinky pointed it out to her.

Ms. Port is a wonderful storyteller who has the ability to provide a visual feast of funny situations where Dinky was concerned. I found myself laughing out loud at his need for pink; it was really like his inner diva was unleashed. I could just see this huge Great Dane with pink polished nails trying to fit into a kennel that he could only get his head into, and that's just how the entire story went. I was never sure what might happen next, but I knew it would keep me laughing! This book is a perfect read for anyone. With catchy chapter titles and a plot with never a dull moment, it truly is a book that I really couldn't put down. Animal lovers are in for a real treat, but honestly, anyone looking for a page turning, laugh out loud read will be delighted with Kibble Talk as well.

Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

Jackie: The Adventures of a Little Boy Trying to Grow Up by John Tammela shows you how boys had fun in the 1930s and 1940s. Jackie grew up in a Finnish household in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. He was the youngest boy with two older brothers, who constantly found a way to pick on him, and one older sister. It is a true to life story and takes us through the growing up stages, and how to have fun as a child with snow ball fights and more.

I love a coming of age story that is also true and John Tammela gives me what I like to read in the stories. While I am not old enough to have grown up when Jackie did, reading the story brought me back to my own childhood, little snippets and memories that you can enjoy. Jackie himself seems to be such a purely lovely child. I know all children have their moments but that innocence to the world that children have is fantastic, and I wish we didn’t lose it when we got older. This story to me is also a reminder of a simpler time that we have all lost; things were so different for children in the late 1930s than they are today. Some things were better and somethings were not as good, I think. John Tammela has written a beautiful story that is to be enjoyed from cover to cover. I had trouble setting this one down and enjoyed every single word.