Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is a fantasy for children, grades K-3, written by Terry John Barto and illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. Nickerbacher was a young dragon who didn’t feel that his job of guarding Princess Gwendolyn in her tower was what he should be doing with his life. He really liked to tell jokes, which he did all of the time, and he wanted to be a stand-up comedian. Gwendolyn liked his jokes and thought he should follow his dreams and become a comic, but Nickerbacher was worried about what his father would think. His father believed that all dragons should guard princesses, and he placed Gwendolyn under Nickerbacher’s care. When a young prince rode up to see the princess, Nickerbacher knew he was supposed to scare him away, but Nickerbacher really only wanted to tell him jokes.

Terry John Barto’s children’s fantasy picture book, Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon, features a very unusual dragon who sees humor and wit as his weapons, and who wants to do stand-up comedy. He has to find the courage to first tell his very frightening father what he wants to do with his life, and then to appear before an audience as a stand-up comic for the first time. The positive and inspiring message of this story is driven home in a hilarious way through the young dragon’s inability to do anything else but make jokes. Kim Sponaugle’s pen and ink drawings have gloriously colorful washes that make this story larger than life, a fitting thing indeed for a tale about dragons. The characters’ expressions are fabulous, especially Nickerbacher, whose bushy eyebrows are exceptional. Adults will have a marvelous time reading this story and sharing the pictures during storytelling sessions, but it’s also a great book for young readers. Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is most highly recommended.

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 Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Along Came a Wolf: The Yellow Hoods #1 is a young adult fantasy novel written by Adam Dreece. Tee and her two fellow Yellow Hoods, her best friends, Elly and Richy, have been having a marvelous time in their mountainside tree house, which mysteriously seems to get the most useful upgrades, such as a system of pulleys, ropes and weights for easy access to and from the small village of Minette. Their adventures and explorations take a more serious turn when Andre LeLoup, a sinister stranger claiming to be on official business and carrying an urgent message, comes upon the Cochan brothers and Tee in the woods. He's looking for Tee's grandfather, Nikolas Klaus, a renowned and reclusive inventor, who's adored by his granddaughter. LeLoup is nothing but trouble Nikolas fears and, indeed, he's been sent by Klaus' rival, the equally sinister Simon St. Malo. If LeLoup doesn't find what he's come for, there will be trouble.

In his young adult fantasy, Along Came a Wolf, Adam Dreece adroitly weaves fragments of classic fairy tales into his original and exciting steampunk fantasy story. Tee and her fellow Yellow Hoods are marvelous characters and I enjoyed seeing how the three of them work together to evade the clutches of the dastardly LeLoup. Dreece's nod to steampunk is fantastic and filled with odd and exciting devices that delighted this reader as much as they do Tee and her friends. I definitely want a sail-cart and wouldn't mind having a few shock-sticks around in case of emergencies. In Along Came a Wolf, Nikolas' imaginative and clever devices reminded me just how much I love the steampunk genre. Along Came a Wolf is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Bruce and the Road to Courage - (The Adventures of Bruce and Friends) (Volume 1) by Gale Leach is the story of Bruce who does not want to become a butterfly. Bruce is the butt of jokes among other caterpillars because of his fear of heights and his reluctance to become a butterfly. Unable to take it anymore, he runs away from his home. Along the way, he meets other creatures and makes friends with them. The young moth caterpillar whom he befriends is captured by a bat. Bruce is determined to rescue her. He asks the help of a few friends: a mockingbird, a spider, and an aging firefly. They are captured by the bats' cruel leader, Stang, when they try to enter the cave and all hopes of escaping seem to be impossible. But Bruce rises above everything and decides to save all the captives in that cave. Will Bruce's plans work out? Will everyone inside the cave join him in fighting the evil leader, Stang?

The story is an exciting and lighthearted adventure that is very cheerful and endearing. It exposes a child to not only their surroundings, but also encourages them to deal with unexpected situations and problems in their lives. Bullying, true friendships, and doing the right thing even during times of adversity are highlighted. The book is exciting because of the many subtle and positive messages it gives to young readers. It is a beautiful classic story, rich in language and with some wonderful imagery. The story, the language, the imagery, and the concept are all perfect for children.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Welcome to Monstrovia (Tales of Monstrovia, Volume 1) by Mark H. Newhouse centers on young Brodie Adkins, who is sent to spend a vacation with an uncle he has never met. He thinks he is going to Key West, Florida, but he arrives in Monstrovia instead, where his uncle is a hero and a defense lawyer for the inhabitants of the fantasy land. He has big case he needs to work on and makes Brodie his legal assistant. Can young Brodie handle Monstrovia’s oddball citizens?

The cover art is eye-catching, and the concept and plot are solid. However, I’m ambivalent about the pacing. It’s a tad too fast for my liking. On the other hand, as this book is targeted at middle graders, my nephew (who read the book on his own) and my niece (who read it with me) had no complaints about the pace of the story – as an adult reader, I can’t argue with their views.

It is undeniable, however, that the story is highly imaginative and I couldn’t find a single dull moment. Welcome to Monstrovia is action packed and full of surprises. It also serves as an early means for kids to understand court proceedings, or perhaps influence them to consider being a lawyer as a profession in the future. All in all, in the words of my young relatives, Welcome to Monstrovia is ‘fast, funny and entertaining.’

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Lucy’s step-father didn’t like her. In fact, he called her Nuisance. Never Lucy, just Nuisance. He even locked her in her bedroom, not allowing her outside. It was like a prison. So when her step-father took her deep into the woods and left her there, Lucy felt like she had just been set free. Just like the trees and the meadow full of wildflowers, even the fresh running brook – Lucy was now free. She was no longer afraid because she knew that the woods would take care of her. And it did, as did Will, a boy just little older than Lucy, who befriended her and brought her much needed supplies of food.

All was well in Lucy’s world until others discovered that she was living alone in the woods. The police came and took her away. They tried to convince her that it was for her own good. The woods was not a safe place, or so they said. But Lucy knew better. And so did Will. When Lucy was trapped in an orphanage, Will found her and helped her realize that she, Lucy, the Wild Child as he called her, needed the woods as much as the woods needed her.

This story is absolutely beautifully written, tender and compassionate. I haven’t read such a touching story since my mother gave me a copy of Gene Stratton-Porter’s A Girl of the Limberlost. Christina M. Pagès’ Lucy in Her Secret Wood is a real classic, a story that gently opens the reader’s eyes to the powerful connection between humans and nature, as well as the power of music that is like a delicate web that intertwines between all of life. Powerful and unforgettable.

Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite

Nelson Telson: The Story of a True Blue Blood by Heidi Mayo is a charming, perceptive story for children. Eleven-year-old Mariah is dreading starting yet another new school (her father’s work means they move every year), fearing she won’t fit in or know anyone. She takes solace in the beauty and peace of nature and the beach, and finds an ancient spearhead which appears to have magical powers. When she holds it she is able to communicate with the different sea and shore-line creatures she comes across – especially a horseshoe crab called Nelson. As she struggles to cope with a new, and at first horror of a teacher, her painful shyness, her unkind cousin who comes to stay, and her father’s illness diagnosis, Mariah retreats into different “nows,” both past and future, where she finds friends in the creatures who believe in her, and learns much about herself and others.

I loved the way this gentle and insightful story unfolds as it explores the inner world and struggles of Mariah. Readers will empathize with her feelings of loneliness and anxiety, and lack of control over what happens to her. Heidi Mayo shows great insight into her character’s emotional states. The world that Mariah is able to enter is where she feels safe and has a sense of relief and comfort, and this is where she develops her own resilience and wisdom that helps her when she returns to her everyday life. The message of the story is that we have more inner strength than we might at first know, and that facing what we fear and changing the way we view situations can lead to change and growth. The plot has a gentle pace that seems to grow in step with Mariah’s own personal growth – with plenty of intrigue and magic along the way.

I loved the information about the different sea creatures and references to ancient and historical ways of life that weave themselves so naturally into the story too. Nelson Telson is a well-written and wise story that looks beneath our views of the everyday and finds a perceptive truth and beauty about life and relationships. And there is something very special about a book that can convey that to children at the same time as telling a good and entertaining story. Recommended.

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.