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.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Power of Two by Lori J. Sawicki is a beautiful story of family, friendship and bullying. Jamie Corman is a sixth grader who gets kicked out of Sadie's Too Cool Club. She finds herself being ignored and bullied by Sadie and her friends. She meets Pru Wheeler, another sixth grader, who manages to read Jamie very well. She realizes the power Sadie has over her is because of Jamie's busy parents and self-centered sister. Pru and Jamie start a lacrosse team that includes all those who are ignored by the Too Cool Club. But the game sees Jamie coming face to face with Sadie and the unexpected ending makes it an engrossing read.

It is a story of family, friendship, love, loss, courage, hope and strength. The story has a powerful message for children and the portrayal of characters is unique and refreshing. They reflect the kind of society we live in and highlight the deeper meaning of friendship. The issues of bullying and death have been handled with a lot of compassion and expertise and will evoke heartfelt emotions in readers. It is a powerfully moving story that is a recommended read for all children. It teaches the importance of standing up for each other and being in each other's lives. The roller coaster ride of emotions will leave readers excited and exhilarated. It is a fast paced, poignant story and it is a must-read. An absolutely stunning book with an excellent plot and beautiful message.

Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

Talent School? Why on earth should a princess knight have to go to talent school? In Sir Princess Petra’s Talent by Diane Mae Robinson, Princess Petra is commanded by the Royal Rule Book to attend Talent School and complete a certification of a proper princess talent before the age of ten. In the event that she did not complete talent school by age ten, then the royal magician would turn her into a frog and she would live in the bogs for five years. Having hushed the howling dragon in the Forest of Doom, Princess Petra is not happy about pursuing a proper princess talent, telling her father that it is sissy princess stuff. The tale that unfolds as Princess Petra, accompanied by Prince Duce Crablips, starts on her journey to Talent School and the discovery of her proper princess talent brings the reader to a surprise ending. What is Princess Petra’s talent?

The second book in the Pen Pieyu Adventures, Sir Princess Petra’s Talent continues a series of tales in the kingdom of Pen Pieyu that is peppered with the unique humor of Diane Mae Robinson. This is a fun book that sends a reluctant Sir Princess Petra on a quest to seek her proper princess talent. The reluctance is soon forgotten, as is often the case with 9-year-olds, and the hilarious adventure leads to a wonderful lesson about discovering our special skills and talents. Humorous, adventurous and revealing, Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is a delightful and meaningful continuation of an already wonderfully imaginative series.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

Big Honey Dog Mysteries: A Secret in Time by H.Y. Hanna is the second full-length novel in this enjoyable series featuring Great Dane sleuth, Honey, and her multifarious gang of dog friends. A Secret in Time takes place at the Royal Dog Show, returning to the Showgrounds after a tragic fire killed the “Best in Show” and “Reserve Best in Show” 10 years prior. Honey’s human, Olivia, has been retained as the show’s official photographer, and Honey has accompanied her. But curious things begin to happen, and rumors run rampant that the Showgrounds are haunted by the two dogs killed in the mysterious fire. The lights in the building go out several times, ushering in an eerie ghostly howling, followed by some sort of injury or illness striking down the latest interim winner. Honey begins to investigate after she sees the “ghost dog” purportedly responsible for the setbacks.

Big Honey Dog Mysteries: A Secret in Time is a skillfully composed tale suitable for readers from 12 to 112. In a wild adventure that has the dogs sneaking away at night to follow various leads, Honey is joined by her friends Ruffster, Suka, and Biscuit as she endeavors to solve the mystery of the ghost dog and the suspicious injuries. This light-hearted mystery, told from the dog’s perspective, is great fun, while still retaining an air of mystery to the very end. Hanna’s A Secret in Time features no psychotic killers or vengeful victims, but instead showcases a decidedly entertaining mystery with some appealing surprises. The humor woven into this tale is refreshing and welcome. Hanna has found and admirably filled a niche in the Mystery genre sure to captivate young and old alike. You won’t want to miss any of the Big Honey Dog Mysteries tales.