Reviewed by Amy Louise Hill for Readers' Favorite

Let's Learn About Chemistry by Stephanie Ryan is an educational book for children and it's not just about chemistry, it has fun games too! The book starts with a young boy who addresses the reader by saying hello and inviting them to play along with the game he and his friends are playing, called "Which of these is not like the other" This is the way author Stephanie Ryan gets the reader's attention, by getting them used to the main teaching technique of playing the game so that they learn more easily when it comes to the educational part. This book is interactive, meaning both the reader and the child have a role to play. This book will surely be popular with any youngster so grab a copy of Let's Learn About Chemistry, and let the fun begin!

Stephanie Ryan has designed a perfect educational book for young children who are learning about chemistry. This book has everything you could wish for in terms of keeping your little one entertained whilst learning in the process. I love how the book includes introductions of the characters Stephanie has created; it allows the young reader to feel involved in the book, making it more appealing to them. The illustrations by Christine Cagara are adorable and fun. I highly recommend Let's Learn About Chemistry to any child, even if they aren't currently learning about the subject, because either way, they will certainly enjoy the book. I hope Stephanie Ryan comes up with more excellent books like this one, and I wish her all the best in her goal of educating young children.

Reviewed by Kristine Zimmerman for Readers' Favorite

Kindergarten Kapers: The Sabrina Series, written by Sabrina Runyon, is an autobiographical story. The author’s note details that she grew up poor in West Virginia and had to move five times before second grade. Sabrina is excited to start Kindergarten and on her first day makes a best friend. She spends a good portion of her first Kindergarten year at Logan Grade School but then in April must move to a new school and start over. There is no best friend at this school, but there are a lot of books which she loves. Sabrina also includes a bit about her home life, the birth of her sister, and sharing their home with extended family. She succeeds in Kindergarten and is promoted to the first grade.

Sabrina Runyon has shared a slice of her young life in an engaging kid-friendly story. Her life might be an eye-opener for some children but might be very recognizable to other children. Children’s books need to expand horizons but also reflect children’s lives and it is not often that we read a matter-of-fact story about growing up in poverty. Sabrina is a very spunky and self-assured little girl, which is reflected in the charming black and white illustrations by Ashley Teets. Kindergarten Kapers: The Sabrina Series will be one to recommend for readers who like Katie Woo and the Junie B. Jones books. Kindergarten Kapers: The Sabrina Series excels at sharing with kids that even though we may come from different circumstances, we have much in common.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Finding Family in a Far-Away Land: An Adoption Story is a children’s book written and illustrated by Amanda Wall. Spending their childhood on the streets of India, two sisters (Priya and Ari) are adopted by a family that lives far away in a different land. The girls are shocked at first to see people who looked nothing like them, with fair skin, light-colored hair, and blue/green eyes. Although cautious, Priya and Ari board a plane with their new parents and new brother, ready to embrace the uncertainty and incredible new future ahead. Initially, they are cautious of the many differences in lifestyle, education, language, people, and animals in their new lives but soon are very excited to have become a big part of their adoptive, multicultural family, while retaining important customs of their own culture.

I very much enjoyed Amanda Wall’s delightful tale of the entwining of two completely different cultures. Having been raised in Indigenous Australia only to find myself emerged in Finland’s culture, foods, and new ways of doing things, the changes can be very hard to take in, yet so very rewarding. Reading of their initial anxiety towards new foods and new animals actually made me smile. When life suddenly springs you into something adventurous and so far from the home life you once knew, it is understandable to be cautious, yet also very exciting. Learning to become part of a family which you had never before known not only brings hope, but also a unique experience in learning new languages, new skills, and seeing a whole world that you never knew existed.

Finding Family in a Far-Away Land: An Adoption Story touches on every single aspect of my own cultural experiences and I applaud Amanda Wall’s writing and illustration skills which convey the message that new does not mean scary, and different does not mean evil. Embracing everything that life brings your way is the most wonderful outlook in every step you take. I suspect that adoption brings a whole new sense in the feeling of being loved while taking steps to achieve something amazing and wonderful each and every day. I wholeheartedly recommend Finding Family in a Far-Away Land to readers so that families can consider giving a new life and bright future to children who need it, regardless of where they live.

Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite

In Dream It and Do It by Holly Sharp, we are introduced to a large selection of fun careers and how one would go about making a hobby and a dream a reality. With a wide range of jobs, you will read about a person who has a career in that particular field. Some names are well known, as is their work, and then there are others that we don’t know but can appreciate what they do to make a difference and effect change in the world.

Holly Sharp has done a wonderful job with this book. You can tell that she had done her homework and research about these people and their careers and it shows. I liked how it didn’t just have the generic list of jobs like doctors, lawyers, and teachers. As important as those jobs are, not every kid wants to be those things, and books about careers always seemed to be lacking. Now this book has such a wide variety of careers that a child would like. I also like how each one had a person researched or interviewed about their job and how they got to be where they are now. I think that’s also very important and vital for a younger audience to know.

There were names of people I knew like Bill Nye, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Mindy Kaling. It was interesting diving deeper into what exactly their jobs are. Then others were behind things that I knew and remembered. A perfect example being the Sherman brothers who wrote many Disney songs that I grew up learning. Dream It and Do It by Holly Sharp is a perfect book for young kids who want to find their place in this world and what they’d like to be when they are older. It’s a book I would recommend to friends.

Reviewed by Joanie Chevalier for Readers' Favorite

Why We Wear A Mask: How a squirrel family is helping to stop the spread of Covid-19 by Lieve Snellings is a delightful book for kids explaining why we should wear a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic. This story feels like it is just the right length, and Lieve Snellings tells it in a friendly tone so children understand that wearing a mask protects their family members who are vulnerable, like their grandparents or a parent with an underlying illness. Lieve Snellings is a talented nature photographer as well. I have had the pleasure of reading several other books by Lieve Snellings, including Margot the Groundhog and her North American Squirrel Family series, and Why We Wear a Mask does not disappoint. It has the beautiful nature photographs that Lieve Snellings is known for.

After reading Why We Wear A Mask, children will be more than happy to do so because the story is told in such an appealing and believable way. Plus, the little critters in her book are absolutely adorable! The most important message in the book is “We have to work together!” Why We Wear A Mask is lovingly written and showcases Lieve Snellings’ amazing talent as a nature photographer. I recommend this book by Lieve Snellings should be in every school and household.

Reviewed by Rebecca S Winner for Readers' Favorite

Fascinating Facts for the Whole Family: Trivia about Human Body and Cute Animals by Nayden Kostov is a non-fiction trivia book for all ages. This book begins with some interesting facts about some of our favorite animals that happen to all be mammals: cats, dogs, pandas, horses, and pigs. The rest of the book tells interesting facts about the human body. That portion is divided into numerous sections, mostly concentrating on different organs: the brain, blood and blood vessels, heart, skin, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, bones, muscles, lungs, stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, and kidneys. The illustrations are hand-drawn by the author's son. At the end of the book is a list of sources used by the author.

Fascinating Facts for the Whole Family by Nayden Kostov is a great book for people of all ages. I like the way the facts are organized with numbers beside them. I was impressed with the picture of the tiger. I was so amazed by some of the facts that I had to check them out to prove it to myself. The human body was well covered with the topics on the list. I liked that the topics were arranged in a sensible order, with the senses together, heart by blood vessels, stomach by intestines, etc. This book has some pretty involved wording, so not for small children who look for bright colored pictures. I loved that the book stated that the heart begins beating in an unborn baby at 20 days.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Kids Say the Darndest Things to Santa Claus by Don Kennedy is a charming and delightful collection of various moments he has experienced volunteering as Santa Claus. After a friend got sick and he filled in as Santa Claus for a Christmas party, Kennedy found an unexpected passion that would stay with him through the next several years. Kennedy has gathered together several memorable moments from kids that are funny and heartwarming while at times being heartbreaking and eye-opening, taken from his time volunteering for organizations such as fire shelters, hospitals, military bases, and women’s shelters.

On the surface, the book is a simple read that shares quick moments with kids that have made an impact on Don Kennedy when he was Santa, but this also serves as a great eye-opener and reminder about the Christmas spirit and hope that is inspired through these children. Each moment that Kennedy shares is a great example of the role Santa plays in the lives of children. Several moments included are funny while others are touching and will tug at the heart. The humor is delightful in an innocent way such as trying to pay their way off the naughty list, siblings telling on each other, or a boy calling his sister a pain. Kennedy perfectly captures how blunt and innocent kids are through the wonderful and special way they see the world around them.

The structure is organized based on the different locations that Kennedy has volunteered at. Each chapter explores various needs the children have from humorous concerns about the naughty list to more heartwarming needs such as wanting their soldier dad to come home. These heartful moments are deeply emotional with kids showing their wit and their heart which include charming moments such as asking Santa to dance with their mom because she’s been sad, wanting to visit a man in the hospital who doesn’t get visitors, and wanting to send a letter to heaven. Kennedy also shares a few personal stories during his time as Santa such as being pulled over by a cop, being puked on, getting diet advice, and the touching moments he’s been part of.

Kennedy’s stories are perfect for the holiday season and though it focuses primarily on the Christmas season, Kids Say the Darndest Things to Santa Claus is perfect for any time of year. Each moment spent with the children provides hope and the need to have something special to believe in to get through tough times like deployment, illness, and other difficult situations. The humorous and heartwarming moments will make you smile and warm your heart.

Reviewed by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite

Most people have heard of the Disney Corporation, but not everyone knows the story behind it. Meet the Disney Brothers by Aaron H. Goldberg tells the story of the men behind the animation studio: Walt Disney and his older brother Roy. The book begins when the two are children growing up on a farm, and finishes with Walt’s death in 1966 and Roy's in 1971 and tells of all the events in between, like the first time Walt was paid to draw something, his job as a news butcher on a railroad, his role in World War I, the first cartoons Walt made, the loss of Oswald the lucky rabbit, the making of Snow White, and the opening of Disneyland.

I really enjoyed reading Meet the Disney Brothers. I learned a lot from reading it and found it very educational. The book is well written in chronological order of the events the Disney brothers faced. I loved that the book included fun facts about Disneyland and Walt Disney World, which are all very interesting. The book is very informative and well researched. It also includes pictures on some pages, which are all very cute and well-drawn and the chapter titles in the iconic Disneyland font adds a nice touch. Walt Disney’s story is a very inspiring one about never giving up, and I'm really glad that the author chose to tell it. This is an absolute must-read for all Disney fans, and I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Mama sea turtles always lay eggs on land and not in water. She goes in search of a proper spot, always at night so that there is no distraction. Mama turtle builds her nest at the foot of a dune and she buries her eggs in the hole she has dug deep. She has to keep her babies safe and once she covers the nest with sand she goes back into the water. The babies live inside the eggs for sixty days and they are born with an egg tooth, which helps them break the shell when they have outgrown it. Their nests are protected from predators that are a threat to their existence. The process when the babies break out of their shells is known as pipping and they rest for a day to stretch their necks and legs. The moonlight guides them to the ocean. They swim fast in the ocean and search for seagrass pastures where they can feed. Once they grow large they will be safe and strong.

Sea Turtles Circle by Patricia Gleichauf is an informative book about sea turtles and educates young readers about the life cycle of a sea turtle in a wonderful and entertaining way. Karen Staszko's bright and colorful illustrations give clarity to the author's words and make it easy for child readers to understand the life cycle of a sea turtle easily. Patricia Gleichauf also introduces readers to the seven types of sea turtles and makes learning the details about them engaging and interesting. Sea Turtles Circle by Patricia Gleichauf is excellent for storytelling and read-aloud sessions in classrooms and at home for children to learn about the sea turtles circle in a fun and interactive way.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Everybody Poops! is an educational picture book for children written by Justine Avery and illustrated by Olga Zhuravlova. Toddlers, who are wrestling with potty training, invariably have issues with poop. Heck, even their older brothers and sisters, teens and grownups giggle at poop jokes. Avery’s book displays in humorous fashion the fact that everybody poops. She travels across the world and shows kids that no matter how different people, animals, and insects may be, they all do poop. Every day, every moment, someone or something is pooping. They could be indoors or in the great outdoors, up in the sky, on the water or deep down in the earth. It’s a simple fact that every creature on this planet poops.

Everybody Poops! addresses what is often an embarrassing or awkward fact of life and eloquently brings home the fact that it’s really just a normal bodily function. Olga Zhuravlova’s illustrations work brilliantly with the tone of the book, giving young readers endless opportunities to see animals, birds and even grandmas pooping. This book is pretty amazing in that after seeing all those pictures of poop and pooping, one actually begins to be a bit desensitized -- and that, I’m guessing, is the point of the story. What a wonderful way to get kids to be chill with the idea of having to use the bathroom! It’s only natural, after all. Everybody Poops! is most highly recommended.