Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Shy Ways by Susan Griner tells the story of Sarah, who is half American, half Japanese. Her unique looks - freckles, slanted eyes - make her an ideal target for her school mates. They call her names, confuse her with other Asian nationalities, and don't take the time to really get to know her. Her mother, the Japanese part of the family, is one day invited to visit Sarah's little sister's class to tell them about Japan. Suddenly an alarm goes off from the nearby plant where Sarah's dad works and from that day, Sarah's mom is not the same any longer. The alarm reminded her of what had happened back in Japan, in Nagasaki, when the city was the target of an atom bomb. The event shows Sarah that her mother also has an inner strength, different from her husband's. Sarah learns to come to peace with her Japanese heritage, but how will it help her to deal with bullies?

I picked up Shy Ways by Susan Griner because I love Japan and it sounded like the story of a half Japanese kid with problems at school would be a nice book to get lost in for a while. I wasn't wrong. Of course, if you know a bit about Japan, nothing in the book will be new to you, but if you wanted to improve your knowledge, you'd go for non-fiction anyway. I found the setting and the characters ideal to relax with, to dive into the story, to be part of Sarah's life, and also to learn about the resilience of the human soul. Sarah is a great character, her little sister is adorable, and all the characters have a role to play - nobody is superfluous. I would recommend this nicely written book to readers of all ages, but especially to children and teenagers as it is set in a world they will be able to identify with.

Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite

Little Miss History Travels to La Brea Tar Pits and Museum by Barbara Ann Mojica is part of a collection of history books for children. The illustrations by Victor Ramon Mojica are beautiful and fun: they are a mix of actual photographs and drawings. It is, first and foremost, an educational book, but it represents much more than that. It is also a very enjoyable and entertaining story which will be successful with all children while teaching them about the history of their country, and will make them feel like visiting this wonderful museum.

Little Miss History Travels to La Brea Tar Pits and Museum by Barbara Ann Mojica is not just an educational book about La Brea Tar Pits and its museum, but is an adventure, the story of a little girl and her love for history. “Often I’d ask about the past driving everyone crazy fast!” It is about her never-ending questions to her parents, her curiosity, and in this book she directly addresses her future readers in order to engage them and teach them about their common history: “Read this book and I’ll take you somewhere!” The explanations are always easy to follow and are well explained such as: “This part of Los Angeles sits about one thousand feet above an oil field. The pressure in the rocks below pushes oil up through cracks.” The glossary at the end of the book will prove very useful to children. It includes words such as asphalt, geologist, and paleontologist. I wholeheartedly recommend this lovely book!

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Laurie is a very active little girl. She loves school, but she has to keep busy all the time or she starts to fidget. She loves playing soccer and she’s even the captain of her soccer team. So when Laurie suddenly lacks energy and her cheeks lose their rosy glow, her parents are understandably worried. They take her to see the family doctor and he runs a bunch of tests. The results are not happy news. Laurie has leukemia. She has to be hospitalized immediately and the only visitors allowed are her parents and they have to be thoroughly sanitized and gowned before they can visit her. Laurie becomes very despondent and sad. When her class sends her a big card with lots of messages and a special Sami Bear to keep her company, things start to improve and, with Sami Bear’s help, Laurie is determined to fight her battle with leukemia.

It is difficult for children being sick; it is also difficult for children watching other children who are sick. Any child who has had a friend fighting a life-threatening disease like leukemia knows just how difficult it is. Children aren’t supposed to get sick; they’re not supposed to die. But it does happen, sadly. Murielle Bourdon’s picture book story, Sami the Magic Bear: A Trip to the Hospital!, book 3 in the Sami the Magic Bear series, is an informative and helpful story for both children who are very sick and their friends who wait for them to get healthy again. The story is told simply, but with compassion and just enough information for a child to understand the seriousness of an illness like leukemia. Sami the Magic Bear is off on another very important mission and his presence and importance in the lives of the children he touches is significant. Well done!

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

My Fox Ate My Homework by David Blaze is a thrilling fantasy for young readers. Jonah — and he prefers being called Joe — is just eleven when they move. In his new school, he feels out of place. He can’t sing well and is easily embarrassed. Apart from having to deal with the usual problems a kid his age faces in a new environment, he is bullied not only by one, but by two nasty kids. Joe is surely going to have a very difficult year and he is aware of this. But things change when he finds a talking fox at his new home. A unique friendship develops and with it a whole new world. Now, Jonah is on an adventure that will open his eyes to the beauty of friendship and allow him to see his worth.

David Blaze has done a marvelous job in capturing sentiments and problems that kids face as they grow up. Bullying is one of the themes that is so masterfully developed and it’s a common reality in modern schools. But friendship is a world where kids can learn to name themselves and to see the worth of others, the beauty of their uniqueness, and the importance of creating spaces for others. The characters are compelling and memorable. The narrative voice is absorbing. I read this book with my seven-year-old son and he developed a lot of sympathy for Joe. I was thrilled when he asked questions, just the way he does whenever I read The Little Prince by Antoine de St-Exupéry to him. My Fox Ate My Homework is an entertaining and educative read for kids; a grand success.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

We all need help and at times we all experience that overwhelming feeling. Susannah Logan felt exactly this way in Oh Susannah: It's in the Bag by Carole P Roman. Oh Susannah is a children’s chapter book about how what may seem to be hopeless can be accomplished by taking it one step at a time. Susannah Logan is a little girl who felt so overwhelmed that she couldn't make a decision about anything, so she decided to bury it all in her backpack. With her unfinished homework; the folders; the sleepover invitation from her friend, Lola; the math pop quiz that she failed which must be signed off by her parents; the exercise pamphlet that must be read with her parents because she forgot her sneakers for gym; the two books she chose about dogs, one of which she must decide on for her book report, and a rotten banana ... all stuffed into her backpack so that it eventually burst. Susannah just felt hopeless. Children will learn how to navigate through these challenges and discover what it takes to overcome indecision.

I enjoyed Oh Susannah because children need to learn early on not only about making decisions, but about what it means to take a breath, exhale and tackle life one step at a time. Carole P Roman displayed this cleverly in Oh Susannah. Time management is a task that can take on a character all of its own if it's not handled properly. This is a part of child development and what turns us into accountable, responsibility and productive adults. With help, Susannah was able to learn how to effectively tackle this challenge and come out of it victorious.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

The peace of Oldenglen is threatened once again and the power of the Gladestone may not be enough to save the wood folk this time in Rogue Wolf: The Oldenglen Chronicles Volume 3 by Robin Mason. Jackson Wolfe, well named because of the wolf genes he carries as a result of a bite his father had received when he was younger, begins to feel the pull of the wolf part of his being as a new pack invades the quiet glen. Along with his friend, Sarah, Jax works with the Elder, Pondlefoot Badger and the other woodland animals to try to convince Rogue and his pack to leave the glen. Rogue is determined to stay, though, and desperate measures are needed to save the limited population of Oldenglen from ravaging wolves. Poachers are also a problem and take a young eagle, Windlord, that Jax and Sarah must also try to rescue. With the rogue pack of wolves attacking livestock, the authorities become involved and things really heat up when the bullets start to fly. Will the Green Glade ever be safe again or will the presence of so many people destroy what is special about Oldenglen?

Exciting action and extreme danger are just two parts of what makes Rogue Wolf such a wonderful book. These elements hold your attention, but the fantastic descriptions of the woods and all the types of animals and birds that live there paint a clear picture of the setting, helping you feel as though you are part of the story. Great characterizations of the different animals and a strong message that is subtle, not preachy. Jax and Sarah are great friends who dedicate themselves to the safety of the glen and its inhabitants and are quite resourceful. It doesn’t hurt that Jax has many traits of the wolf that are growing stronger within him! I love the intensity of Jax and Sarah and the theme of cooperation among all species. This is an excellent stand-alone story as much as it is a terrific addition to The Oldenglen Chronicles series by Robin Mason. I strongly recommend this book for its action, emotion and heart.

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 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 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 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.