Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Riley the Brave is a children’s picture book written by Jess Sinarski and illustrated by Zachary Kline. Riley’s a pretty happy-go-lucky bear cub who enjoys having fun with his friends. He races on his scooter with his buddy, Travis; indulges his artistic side by painting with Ernie; and shares his love of honey with Sophie. Sometimes, however, he doesn’t feel so happy-go-lucky. Riley gets caught up in memories from his past, things that he holds secret and can’t share; he feels angry and confused and all mixed up at those times. When he was younger, he had to be like a porcupine so big bears couldn’t hurt him; hoarding food so he wouldn’t go hungry; acting angry and aggressive to discourage others from coming near, and, worst of all, sometimes he could only survive by hiding deep within a turtle-hard shell. Riley is brave, though, and he’s learning it’s cool to be a cub. He’s beginning to see that he can talk to his safe big-critters about the things that scare him. He knows what safe critters do and don’t do. Riley doesn’t have to hide any more.

Jess Sinarski’s picture book for children, Riley the Brave, comes with an afterword for grownups that discusses brain functioning and the long-lasting effects of trauma on young children, even when they are in safe, loving and stable environments. The author discusses ways in which kids will act out or don porcupine quills, and she demonstrates how to “embrace that porcupine,” even if it’s just hooking pinkies or sharing a smile. She shows how a caregiver’s non-reactive approach can help kids regain access to their upstairs brain. Sinarski recommends reading Riley’s story using different voices for each character and taking a traumatized child slowly through Riley’s process of becoming brave. Some kids can only go through a few pages at a time.

Riley the Brave addresses issues of importance to everyone, especially those kids who don’t have traumatic pasts, but may have friends who do. Sinarski’s book teaches kids to have empathy for kids like Riley, and her lesson on what Safe Critters do and don’t do is also crucially important for all kids to understand. While the book addresses serious subjects, Zachary Kline’s upbeat, humorous and colorful illustrations make the book work so very well, especially in providing contrasts between Riley’s difficult past and his present. That image of Riley curled up in the turtle’s shell will resonate with many kids, I’m afraid, but knowing others have felt the same way goes such a long way towards healing. Riley the Brave is a remarkable book that gets trauma and the pain kids feel, and helps caregivers become partners and safe critters. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

The Fabulous Life of Minnie the Sassy Chick: Minnie's Sassy Birthday (Volume 2) by Cindy L. Shirley is a captivating read that features Minnie, a beautiful, stylish and sassy hen. She lives with Carly and Riley who constantly fuss over her. The two sisters have made it their mission to provide Minnie with everything and include her in all they do. They create moments with her and consider her to be their best friend. From dancing to rock music to playing beauty shop, Carly and Riley have the best time with Minnie, who seems to be enthusiastic and happy around the two girls. On top of what the girls do with their unusual friend, they organize a birthday party for her which becomes the culmination of all their excitement and enthralling, fun-filled activities.

The Fabulous Life of Minnie the Sassy Chick: Minnie's Sassy Birthday (Volume 2) by Cindy L. Shirley is a story coupled with fun and humor. The activities the girls engage in with Minnie will leave any reader laughing. Best of all is the love that the three friends share. Carly and Riley go out of their way to make Minnie a part of them and organize the best birthday ever. Their fun-loving and enthusiastic personalities are also a great addition to the story and will definitely resonate with many readers. The idea of using a hen for the main character was a great idea which added a comical and interesting twist to the story. This was also enhanced by Cleoward Sy’s illustrations. I definitely recommend Cindy L. Shirley’s book to young readers who love a fun and captivating tale.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom is a nonfiction educational book for children written by Diane Mae Robinson. Robinson is the author of The Pen Pieyu Adventures, a children’s adventure series starring Sir Princess Petra. She’s also a writing instructor who still finds it necessary, from time to time, to double-check those grammar rules. In this book, Robinson presents basic grammar rules in an accessible manner that is geared for young readers, and she does so using the characters and story line of her Pen Pieyu series. She begins with a glossary of grammar terms, and then proceeds to demystify confusing and often misused words and phrases, such as affect/effect and between/among and the deadliest of them all -- lie/lay. She then tackles verb agreement, punctuation and other aspects of syntax and sentence structure, employing examples that are filled with dragons, castles and, of course, Sir Princess Petra herself. Robinson includes spot quizzes at the ends of many chapters, and she also provides two levels of Dragon Grammar Skill Tests with answers at the end of the book.

I love dragons and grammar! So my eyes lit up when I saw Diane Mae Robinson’s nonfiction educational book for children, The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom. I’m also a big fan of Sir Princess Petra, whose adventures have admirably shown kids that it’s cool to be both a princess and a knight or a prince who likes to cook. And while I’ve read any number of dry, tolerable and even enjoyable books on grammar, I’ve rarely come across as well presented and entertaining an approach to what can be an intimidating subject, particularly for a young audience or for adults learning English as a second language. Robinson gets to the heart of the really puzzling aspects of grammar and offers them up in a format designed to make learning grammar more fun. The chapter quizzes are enjoyable ways to make sure you’ve gotten all the rules down, and the Skill Tests are also quite useful for spotlighting areas that need more review. And unlike many of the classic grammar texts, her grammar recommendations are oriented toward pragmatic, real-world usage. The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom is a great resource for kids, their teachers and anyone else who’d like to know a bit more about language and how to use it. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

Can you imagine growing up during The Great Migration era or The Wagon Trail of 1843, as it was mainly called? If You Were Me and Lived in… the American West: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time is a children’s educational book by Carole P. Roman. Farms were destroyed by floods in the mid-west, causing farmers to relocate in search of better farmlands. Their conastogas (covered wagons) were mostly packed with surplus supplies for the five-month trip. A trail guide took them on the long, unfamiliar and challenging Oregon Trail. There were often illnesses and wagons got stuck in the mud. Children viewed the journey as an adventure, despite having chores like fetching water and collecting smelly buffalo chips for fires.

What an exciting way to learn history! Carole P. Roman takes us back in time to an important era that changed lives forever. If You Were Me and Lived in… the American West: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time, Volume 10 is a remarkable book that educates children in a fun way. The illustrations are convincing and knowing what was eaten on the trail is interesting. You’ll learn about Indian tribes, and there is a nice glossary explaining uncommon words and their pronunciations. The Famous People of the West section includes photos of Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, and Red Cloud. Maybe kids have ancestors who were part of The Wagon Trail, and their families still live on the Oregon farms that were eventually established. This novella is part of an award-winning series that’s highly recommended.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Junah is a very special black and white cat. He was brought to life by three sisters: Sister Sara who was the planner who played the guitar, Sister Laka who watered the plants and sang, and Sister Duma who didn’t say very much, but when she did her voice boomed with resonance and purpose. The three sisters lived in a little house with a well-maintained garden. When they first brought Junah home, they explained to him that he had to explore the garden and find the secret of the garden. They didn’t give him any clues. Over time, Junah met and made many friends in the garden, including the plants. And he learned valuable lessons from each new friend and each new experience. Life is all about learning and absorbing all that knowledge so that it allows us to grow. Each new lesson was a purr for Junah.

M.R. Neer has written a charming children’s fantasy story in Secret of the Garden. This story would appeal to young readers and it provides valuable lessons on life and living, things like “Life is more than we can see” and “Outer depends on inner.” The stories follow the learning curve of one very smart cat, Junah, who makes friends everywhere he goes, even with a mouse. Each chapter has a new adventure, a new friend, a new lesson to learn and some valuable advice. Each chapter concludes with Junah’s purr, the lesson learned. There are pen-and-ink drawings to accompany each chapter, providing a visual of the adventure to follow. This is an excellent tool to teach young people the power of life, learning and growing, all through understanding the principles of Outer and Inner science.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Collapsing Kingdom: The Land Without Color, Book 3 is a fantasy/adventure novel for children and preteens written by Benjamin Ellefson and illustrated by Kevin Cannon. Something awful was happening in Brandon’s home town, and it seemed that there was no one in charge who could do anything about it. The exact degree of awfulness hit home to Brandon as he surveyed the deep abyss that had just swallowed up Grandpa Alvin. Was he still alive? Brandon considered going down after him, but figured he’d drop something down first to assess the depth of the impenetrable darkness. The can of peppers flashed briefly as it fell, but Brandon never heard the answering impact. He realized that he had to leave his grandfather’s house -- and quickly -- when he saw that a dull gray color was spreading out over everything he saw, all the normal colors one takes for granted turning gray and getting closer and closer to his feet. As he dashed up the basement stairs and out of the house, he looked back and saw that the whole house and yard had turned gray. Then, he watched horror-struck as the house and yard collapsed and fell into the pit. He and Grandpa Alvin knew who was responsible for this and, with Grandpa gone, Brandon realized that he had a lot of work to do and not much time in which to do it.

Benjamin Ellefson’s fantasy/adventure novel, The Collapsing Kingdom: The Land Without Color, Book 3, is a fast-paced and exciting romp as Brandon races against time to halt the destruction of his town and the surrounding countryside. This is the third book in Ellefson’s Land Without Color series, and it can be read on its own, but I’d strongly recommend that you read the books in order to get the full impact of this imaginative and compelling story -- which also gives young readers some rather novel ideas on why fruits and vegetables are much better for eating and growing as crops than, say, ice cream or chocolate. While I’m fully on board with the importance of a healthy diet, I still couldn’t resist a sigh as I beheld the mint ice cream plants -- surely they could be considered of some value as a treat after the salad? The real highlight of this series for me is watching as Brandon comes of age, which he really does in this third book. He’s resourceful, fast-thinking and courageous as he navigates the obstacles, which seem never-ending, in his quest to bring color back to the kingdom and its citizens. Kevin Cannon’s illustrations work perfectly with the story and add dimension and impact. The Collapsing Kingdom: The Land Without Color, Book 3 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Koolura and the Mayans by Michael Thal is the third book in the Koolura series, an exciting story that will take readers on a historic ride back into the old Maya civilization. Koolura and her friend, Leila, are just two young teens visiting Mexico. They stumble on a device that allows them to travel back in time. They are thrust into an early Maya civilization, whose people are enslaved by the Aquari. The people hope for a goddess who could set them free. Could Koolura be this goddess?

Although Koolura and the Mayans is written for a pre-teen audience, it was fun to read as an adult. Michael Thal’s characters are awesome and I enjoyed Koolura and Leila, two girls who are smart and very ingenious. They make a great team. Readers will enjoy watching them evolve through the story. The author seems to create a whole new culture around the Maya and the story feels so real, reading about the people and the challenges they face. At the level of style, this book is beautifully accomplished. First off, the reader will notice the gorgeous accessible writing, composed of short and easy-to-understand sentences. The writing also features great descriptions of characters and setting. The descriptive prose creates powerful images in the minds of readers. I enjoyed the well-crafted dialogues which make the characters come to life. Readers will love the adventure, the drama, the conflict, and the entertaining nature of this story. I enjoyed it!

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid begins as thousands of children disappear with only one child ever having returned. Will Cleary returned with a falcon and a wolf to watch over him, but his twin sister remained behind in Echoland, another world filled with reflections of us called Echoes. All Will's parents have done since he came back is to plot ways to find his sister, often barely acknowledging his existence. When his faithful protectors reveal a shocking truth, Will is pulled back into the world he doesn't remember on a journey to find his sister. Along the way, he turns to new allies for help as he's swept into the discovery of the missing children, into solving a murder, and into helping the rightful heir onto the throne.

Dew Pellucid blends together an exciting fantasy adventure with a murder mystery in a journey of growing up. Echoland is a unique and ghost-like mirror world with transparent trees and people. Everything is described in ghostly detail, but often reflects our own world with a mix of absurd and ominous twists. Every little detail of this world matters in the larger picture of the story. It's a wondrous and yet dangerous place that pulls you along for the journey. The stakes are high with Will's life constantly at risk, but his journey through this world teaches him bravery and true friendship. Will's friendships are the strongest connections he has as both of his parents seem to shrug him off whenever he's around, too occupied with trying to find his sister to really see him. Dea and Damian are more than just his pets, they're his protectors, the ones watching over him since he returned home, and the ones that lead him back to Echoland. His life at the beginning is only briefly touched upon, but it's clear he's alone except for his pets so, when he makes friends in Echoland, it further illustrates how important that bond is for him.

His new friends liven the story up while also giving a sense of heart to the tale and providing him with people he wants to protect. Peter is his first real friend in this world. He's a magician who starts off a bit suspicious, but quickly turns into Will's strongest supporter. He has a mischievous side to him, but he's also loyal and compassionate. Animals play a large role throughout the story as Will's pets are the catalyst for his return to Echoland, but it's the Echo Wolf he bonds with later that fills a certain void. Peter has a strong attachment to his dog Poudini, who has an emotional place in the story. Fun nods to common things in our world maintain a lot of the humor throughout as Echoland has Crystalmas instead of Christmas and Poudini is a fun play on the famous magician. The illustrations are stunning and capture important moments throughout with an array of blue hues that capture the lucent essence of the world. The Crystilleries of Echoland is a hero's journey in a story of strength and courage with a dazzling array of illustrations.

Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

The Bridge in the Fog by Marc Remus is Book 3 in the Magora series, but works excellently as a stand alone. An amazing gate painting made by Holly's late grandfather, Nikolas, was in fact a portal to the magical world of Magora. When staring into Ms Findley's crystal ball, Holly bears witness to her death, but that is not all it has to reveal. It shows a haunting image of her grandfather imprisoned, something that should be impossible if he were indeed dead. There is a chance this apparition could be her grandfather's double, but one way or another she needs to know. If that alone wasn't enough, rumours have been circulating about Cuspidor having a daughter, and Holly has a sinking feeling she knows just who that daughter could be. Little did she know this quest would unleash something beyond even her imagination.
  
The chapters are a perfect length for the target audience, each written with a style and flair that kept me turning the pages. At first I was concerned about picking up the third book in a series, but Marc Remus does a brilliant job of filling in any necessary information to create a self contained story. This is a really well written book with a good balance of characters, development, and plot. It contains the correct mix of descriptive setting and dialogue to engage the reader and ensure they are quickly drawn into and invested in the plot. It is filled with imagination and creativity and the creatures within the book are charming and imaginative. I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't be swept up in the magic and fantasy of this book, and the world created. I'm certainly considering heading back to book one to see how this adventure began.
 

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Fribbet the Frog has a problem. He is not okay and he is scared. In Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles: A Captain No Beard Story: Volume 8 by Carole P. Roman, Fribbet tells Captain No Beard that monsters, snakes, or loud noises don't scare him, but things are changing in his home and that is worrying him. The crew encourages him to talk so that he can get over it. He tells them there were all these eggs on his lily pad, on the leaves, and in the water. Now the eggs have hatched and his house is full of things that look like fish and they all eventually lost their tails. Captain No Beard and the other crew members tell Fribbet that his family is growing larger and he has brothers and sisters.

It is a story of friendship and introduces smaller children to the life cycle of the frog. There are lessons about family too when Captain No Beard explains to Fribbet about family and how Cayla and he are brother and sister, and how having her as a sister is worth it. Children learn about family and the changes that can happen in a family with the passage of time. The illustrations are, as always, bright, lively, and they make the story vivid and the characters come to life. As with the other stories in the series, this is good for bedtime storytelling and can be used for interactive sessions in classrooms. When science and story are woven together, children will find learning new things fascinating, just like in this story. A new character is introduced into the story. Who is it? I find him cute and adorable. Let us know if you like him!