Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

The childhood rhyme, "Give me give me never gets; don't you know your manners yet," rattles through my mind as I read this charming story, Treasures in the Winter Vault by Debbie Bertram and Lisa Detanna. It's a lesson that children and adults alike need to learn and re-learn over and over again. Bobby wants a tablet. He wants it more than anything else in the world. His parents won't buy him a tablet and Bobby is very upset. All of his friends at school have their own tablets. Why can't he? Grandma and Grandpa come for a visit and set about explaining to Bobby the importance of working for what you want in life. When asked if he had saved any of his own money to buy a tablet, Bobby confesses to having spent his allowance on candy. Grandma tells him a story that her mother once told her - a story about a dancing elephant and the busy squirrels, and how the dancing elephant had to learn the importance of saving, not just playing and having fun. Bobby brightens at the idea of saving his allowance until he has enough to buy his own tablet. He appears to have learned a valuable lesson. As his grandparents leave his room, they drop some coins in his piggy bank to get him started.

Debbie Bertram and Lisa Detanna have created a charming picture book story in Treasures in the Winter Vault. The illustrations are colorful and complement the story with action scenes of Bobby, of the squirrels saving their nuts for winter, and the elephant who only wants to dance. Through this clever little story, the author and illustrator have provided parents, caregivers, and teachers with a valuable teaching tool. There is an excellent lesson for young children to be learned in this story, a lesson about being greedy and demanding too many 'give-me's.'

Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

The Crystal Navigator: A Perilous Journey Through Time by Nancy Kunhardt Lodge is a children's fantasy book in the same tradition as The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. Within the pages we find young Lucy Nightingale, a girl who can make things happen with her thoughts. The trouble for her comes when during an oral report she draws a blank and loses her confidence. When a new teacher assigns a project about paintings, Lucy knows the best way to make this assignment an A is to talk to the painters, and so she finds someone to help her time travel to finish her assignment.

On a mission to find more books my nephew can enjoy, I decided to read The Crystal Navigator. This book made me smile and laugh and truly feel like a kid again while I was reading it. It is the perfect book to get kids engaged and enjoying a story. Whether you have a kid who likes to read already or one you are hoping will start to read more, Nancy Kunhardt Lodge really knows what she is doing. Lucy is an engaging little girl who could easily be any child today. Her imagination is wonderful and the adventure she has in seeking to speak with the painters is amazing and truly fantastic. I am making sure that my nephew reads this one and would highly recommend any parent who wants to encourage their child to read to take a look at it too.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

There is a watermark on the cover of The Moth and the Sun. If you look closely, you can see the outstretched wings of a moth. We tend to take moths for granted. In fact, many of us don't really like them. But they are creatures of mystery, always searching for the light, always looking beyond, moving beyond what is here and now. This is a charming story about a moth flying around Paris, France. It sees all kinds of things: tall buildings, a mounted knight, but best of all, it sees the sun. The moth loves the light shining from the sun and it wants to fly all the way to the sun to meet the source of this great light. Even the blades of grass are captured by the moth's enthusiasm and they want to go too. Alas, the moth cannot take the grass, but it suggests that perhaps the wind will take the grass to meet the sun. This story is a fable, a fantasy, but it's also a learning tool, not only about moths and even a little bit about Paris, it's a learning tool about language because this book is trilingual. In other words, it's written in three languages: French, English and Spanish.

The author, Gary Bernard, tells a story in his introduction to this book. It is a story about this book, which he claims has magical powers as it was discovered buried away and forgotten. His introductory story also tells the reader about a man in Paris who wrote stories and drew pictures about nature. This man was known as Papy de nuit (Grandfather of the night). We are told that Papy de nuit actually wrote this book. Gary Bernard is merely sharing it with us. The magical treasure in this book is not just the sharing of the moth's story and the lovely illustrations, it is the sharing of the reader's stories, as there is a section at the end of the book where the reader may add his/her own story about the moth. The magical treasure is the treasure of sharing. Well done!

Reviewed by Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite

The Little Seahorse, written by Sheri Fink and illustrated by Mary Erikson Washam, is the story of a little seahorse who finds a shining orb on the sea floor and wants to take it as a present for his mother. The problem is how to move it, as he is so little. He makes friends with two pipefish and asks for their help. He is very nervous about asking for help because he is quite shy. However, the pipefish think it is a lovely idea to give the orb as a gift to his mother, and they agree to help. As they devise a way to take the gift to the home of Little Seahorse, other creatures of the sea gather around to watch and some offer help as well. When they finally arrive home with the gift, his mother is delighted.

This is a charming story which encompasses so many elements. The idea of finding something special as a gift for his mother; overcoming shyness to ask for help; making new friends; and never giving up to do something special for someone else. It’s a great lesson in giving. The author, Sheri Fink, has created an interesting story with a gentle message that any child will enjoy. The illustrations are beautiful and colourful and really enhance the story. This would be an ideal book for a parent to read to a child where they can discuss some of the elements of the story that might be appropriate, for example, if a child finds difficulty in making friends. The little seahorse overcame his shyness because he was thinking of others rather than himself. This would also be a lovely addition to a kindergarten class.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

The Underground Princess (The Balderdash Saga, Book 1 of Lower Grade Adventure) by J.W. Zulauf is a story about Princess Scarlet who lives in the underground kingdom, Balderdash, under Ashcroft village’s graveyard. Scarlet dreams of falling in love and living happily ever after, but her father, King Hurlock, find her wish nonsensical as they are not humans anymore but resurrected corpses. He worries about her safety a lot, especially when his enemy Maleer constantly tries to dethrone him. However, it seems that Scarlet might get her wish. A prince has died in a hunting accident and will be buried in the Ashcroft graveyard. King Hurlock sees this as an answer to Scarlet’s yearning, where the prince can possibly be her one true love. Unfortunately, Maleer initiates his evil plan and Scarlet has to act quickly to save the kingdom.

The ensemble cast is quirky and compelling, a fantastical depiction of what the existence between life and death would likely be. With a touch of the macabre, The Underground Princess is entertaining and fast-paced; it’s perfect for bedtime reading. It’s also a great book and series to entice reluctant young readers. The cover art and illustrations by Luke Spooner are simply grand. They really complement the story well. While this series may be aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds, it’s no stretch to imagine older readers getting a kick out of the story as well. The Balderdash Saga is unique and stands out from the rest. Simply put, this is an excellent work from Zulauf.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Rise of Agnil is Book 1 in the Agnil’s World series, written by Susan Navas. Aggie, who is also called Agnil, is excited because her father is finally allowing her to go fishing alone. She falls into the water and is dragged away by a change-forming elf named Garallil. Aggie is shocked when Garallil tells her that her mother, Estil, isn’t dead and is a princess from the kingdom of Aberrian, where they are going. Aggie meets the king and queen, who are her grandparents. She is even more surprised to discover that she’s half mortal, so is the only one who can rescue Estil from the evil wizard Vedron. The bracelet Aggie’s mother left her has magical powers which will help defeat Vedron. Aggie is coached on how to accomplish this feat, but she must remember to follow all the instructions to succeed. If she fails, Vedron will destroy Aberrian and the elves who live there.

Susan Navas has written a very creative story which includes elves, wizards and magic. It also has a realistic side as it shows how Aggie copes being raised by her father, before discovering her mother is actually alive. This brings lots of mixed emotions and I understand why. The plot is very interesting and the writing is very descriptive, allowing me to watch the events in my mind's eye. The Rise of Agnil, Book 1 is an enchanting fantasy that will have preteens, especially girls, yearning to read more books from the Agnil’s World series.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Tommy Topper and the Pixie Princess by Joe Corso is the story of a young boy called Tommy Topper who is no ordinary boy. When he turns 14, his parents tell him that they are wizards. They had escaped from an evil emperor called Ling Cam. They come from the land of Kranta, but they had to leave that place to save their lives. He will soon come of age; this means that he will experience changes that (sometimes) cannot be explained. To become a wizard, he would have to be trained.

He needs to overthrow Ling Cam’s rule and bring back King Andrew to the throne. With the help of Verlan, a great wizard, he will have to attain the five magical objects that were stolen by Ling Cam. He will be joined by Princess Ryanna of Pixie Land to not only save Kranta, but Pixie Land as well. Only these five items can bring back the peace of their land. Once they are separated, there will be nothing but discord and conflict. Can he become the hero his people want him to be? Or will Tommy crumble under the pressure and fail?

There are very few children’s books that are truly appropriate for children. When writers use teenage heroes in their stories, the language and the content of the novel become adult. Tommy Topper and the Pixie Princess is not like that. It is purely satisfying. The story is engaging and actually teaches some very valuable lessons. I recommend it to any child who likes to read about a good adventure, some amazing magic, lots of action, and a hero worthy of being called a hero.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Sorrow of a Crescent Moon by J. Wagoner is a thought-provoking story about an eight-year-old boy, Jamie, and his trip with his family to New Orleans. The story takes an unexpected turn when Jamie is gifted with a unique worry stone. The stone has instruction to be kept under his pillow when he sleeps. With that, Jamie goes on an exciting journey and helps him discover New Orleans in an unusual manner, soaking up the essence of the place which is not that tangible to normal visitors. It's a story that teaches Jamie many lessons in life; that of fear, depression, anxiety, regret and emotional pain.

The book is deep and profound. Jamie meets the shadow version of everyone and he learns that each shadow has its own issues, troubles and emotional problems. As he gets into the emotional space of others, he also learns about his own issues. The book has many light and dark moments and I recommend this book for adults too. Jamie finds himself in different challenging situations every day, but realizes that whatever the problem and situation, there is always hope. The black and white sketches complement the story well. The author's depiction of New Orleans is interesting. The story, though written for kids, delves into deeper concepts like depression, pain and anxiety. The creepy hotel and the mysterious woman give a spooky vibe to the plot. The book ends on a positive note, in spite of all the challenges Jamie encounters.

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 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.