Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Tale of Tito's Tail by Wendy Butler is the cute little story of Tito, the Italian mafioso mouse. He lives in a small community in Genoa, Italy. Their family is well known in the community and Tito shares his shoe box with his best friend and cousin, Ricardo. They have a band, Boom Rockers, which is famous in their community. As the story progresses, readers see Tito growing up and becoming mature, and taking up the job assigned to him by Uncle Guido. He trains to lead his village and provide for his fellow mice family. He handles his responsibilities well with the support of his friends, and also meets a lot of new people. The story conveys a good message where readers understand that every incident in life teaches something and can be converted to a good learning experience, depending on how one looks at it.

The message is uplifting and through Tito's story children will learn to look at the ups and downs in life with a different perspective. All the characters in the story are delightful and the colorful illustrations help to convey the concept nicely to readers. The pictures are eye-catching and will definitely appeal to children. The author's fluidity in writing and detailed narration not only gives the tale good pace and movement, but also makes the scenes come alive. The story starts with Tito and his easy going life and builds up slowly to where Tito becomes a responsible adult and handles his job with maturity and responsibility. A delightful story with a good message.

Reviewed by Patricia Reding for Readers' Favorite

In The Eldridge Conspiracy, Book Four of Sir Kaye the Boy Knight Series, author Don M. Winn offers middle-grade readers an adventure they are sure to enjoy, as three boys, roughly 12 years of age, journey together while facing some of life’s greatest physical difficulties and emotional traumas. Their leader, Kaye, son of the famous knight, Sir Henry, is saddled with the undeserved reputation of being clumsy and accident-prone. He is, thus, pained to have earned a nickname he has come to loathe: Sir Don-Kaye (Sir Donkey). Even so, upon discovering a plot against the king, Kaye takes off to set things right, only to be followed in short order by his friends, Beau and Reggie. Shortly, two thugs, Birket and Fulkes, chase the three lads to and then from an abbey, to the city of Kingsbridge (where the boys save a man and his family held captive by threat), and finally, to the city of Rombauer Castle on the Day of Remembrance. But will they make it in time to save the king?

The three adventurers, Kaye, Beau, and Reggie, lack nothing in the way of resolve and creativity as they uncover the nefarious Baron Thomas’s plot, yet they do so in the face of serious odds. Kaye, who seeks to be a great knight like his father, suffers from feelings of inadequacy. No matter what he does, he feels he doesn’t measure up. Meanwhile, Reggie, the self-proclaimed Royal Chronicler of the group, has difficulties with reading and writing, in addition to which, he is prone to getting lost. It is these touches that Don M. Winn has added to The Eldridge Conspiracy (which he dedicates to all dyslexic and struggling readers), with which every young person will be able to identify at just that time in life when they are beginning to discover their own true selves and their own life missions. Books of adventure and challenge that still offer an emotional component are hard to come by for middle grade readers—and even more so for middle grade boys—yet Don M. Winn hits the mark dead center with The Eldridge Conspiracy.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure is an adventure picture book for children written by John Arvai III and illustrated by Eminence System. Most people think that Christmas ornaments are just there for decoration purposes, but they're really much more than just decorations. Those heroes on hooks actually make sure the tree lights are working properly, guard the cookies and milk from the family dog, and keep the fireplace in good shape so Santa can visit your house. Then there's the star that goes on top of the tree. This is an especially important ornament as it guides Santa to your house by sending out a golden glow that Santa can see from his sleigh. But what would happen if that star wasn't on top of your tree? What if your cat knocked it off the tree, and it tumbled out of reach? Something very much like that happened at the Thompson house when they were hosting their Christmas party. No one noticed that the star had ended up in a gift bag, and no one saw Aunt Connie leaving with it. Or did they?

John Arvai's adventure picture book for children, Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure, follows the front and back side ornaments of the Thompson family's Christmas tree as they try to save Christmas for their family. This is an exciting story complete with conflicts, impossible situations, and a deadline that looms ever closer. Arvai's ornament characters are marvelous! He endows each one of them with a personality and his/her own role in this action-packed holiday tale. The illustrations provided by Eminence System are brilliantly colored and add depth and dimension to the plot. I found myself getting lost in each panel as I delightedly found every detail and action described in the story. Children of all ages, including those adults who volunteer for story time rather than have to sit and chat with the grownups, will thrill to this most unusual Christmas tale that actually gets better with each successive reading. Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Lucinda Weeks for Readers' Favorite

The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba: A New Life Begins! is created by Roe De Pinto. An adorable baby seal pup named Zealy is born. Zealy is a beautiful baby, covered with white fur. Zealy opens her eyes for the first time to discover her adoring parents. Her parents could not stop smiling when they saw Zealy. They spoiled their beautiful new daughter with lots of hugs and kisses. Like new babies do, she cuddled with her mother, drank her fill of warm milk, and drifted off into a deep slumber. Zealy awakens and discovers a new friend, Whubba. Whubba is a baby orca whale. Whubba is a good friend who watches over Zealy and protects her.

De Pinto has created a very beautiful story that readers are bound to fall in love with. This story is filled with vibrant and colorful pictures. The characters are an adorable seal family with mom, dad and new pup Zealy, who are joined by the baby orca whale. Young children and parents alike are certain to be fascinated by these characters. This heartwarming story is one that all new parents can identify with. As a mother of three, I was reminded how joyous it was to welcome my new babies into the world. I would have liked to see more depth to this story, which is why I am eagerly awaiting the next title in this series. I am looking forward to seeing how this series unfolds. I recommend The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba: A New Life Begins! as an entertaining story to be shared with all young children.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Counting Sea Life with the Little Seahorse is an educational and delightfully illustrated children’s book, written by Sheri Fink and Derek Taylor Kent, and illustrated by Lynx Animation Studios. Immediately engaging the reader, the Little Seahorse takes children through a marvelous underwater world of magic and mystery, utilizing aquatic friends in showing how easy and fun it is to count. Whether it be whales, turtles or hungry sharks waiting in the midst, your child will ride the waves of happiness in learning the joy of counting with these enchanting underwater creatures in brilliant color.

Taking a child through the learning process of counting numbers 1 through to 20, Sheri Fink and Derek Taylor Kent have provided a magical and colorful world which will entice, excite and encourage any child to learn their numbers. Although I am well past the age of learning these things, I still found myself wearing a broad smile as I turned each page and entered a new world of color and entertainment. Some of the sea creatures were new to me, and their extraordinary fantasy-like activities piqued my interest through to the very end. Never before had I seen an underwater version of Romeo and Juliet until today, but I am sure it will be entering my dreams when I sleep tonight. Counting Sea Life with the Little Seahorse would definitely be an ideal book to add to your home library, having your child counting a vast array of marine life on their way to dreamland each night. I thoroughly enjoyed this educational journey, and recommend it to be read to children prior to entering kindergarten, resulting in some good counting habits.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Author Carole P Roman is back again with an engrossing book for young readers - If You Were Me and Lived In... the Mayan Empire: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time (If You Were Me and Lived In...Historical). This is a beautiful children’s book depicting the Mayan culture, from the foods they ate to their passage into adulthood at the age of fifteen. Carole P Roman offers children everything that they would need to become knowledgeable about life in the year 572. Children will be in awe as they discover that the Mayan people lived within the Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala areas, and this informative children's book offers a tremendous geographical and historical view of the world back then. If You Were Me and Lived In... the Mayan Empire also describes how the Mayan people and cultures settled in specific areas and survived.

I truly enjoyed the history lesson, and viewing the images and photos while learning the various words and terms associated with the Mayan culture by reading If You Were Me and Lived In... the Mayan Empire by Carole P Roman. As in other cultures, women had no power, marriages were prearranged, and extended families were the norm. For me, Carole P Roman has taken a simple idea and has translated it into a historical wonder for young readers by giving us a brief lesson of how life would be if…

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Follow Max, Jemima, Joe, and Charlie on another adventure of a lifetime in The Shadow of the Pyramid by Wendy Leighton-Porter. Max, their Tonkinese cat, is terrified when the children announce that they will be traveling back to Ancient Egypt. What with the horrifying mummy nightmares he's been having, poor Max is reluctant to join his mistress Jemima on another trip back in time. Only he doesn't have a choice. Before he can explain his misgivings, Max is dragged back in time on a mission to help save a young Pharaoh that is in danger. When they arrive, Max and the children are thrown into the midst of an evil plot. Even worse, the victims are unaware that they are the targets. Being in ancient Egypt, Max wonders if his nightmares will come true? Can Max and the children protect the young Pharaoh before it's too late? Or will they be discovered before they can help the royal couple?

I was again impressed with the fascinating story that the author wove. Shadow of The Pyramid is the fourth book in the Shadows From The Past Series. I feel it is just as good as the other books in the series that I have had the pleasure of reading. I loved the rich descriptions of ancient Egypt and how the author explained the way the hieroglyphs were read. The book was filled with history, interesting characters, and humorous incidents that kept me laughing. I also am ashamed to admit that I cried when they cried. I felt so connected to the characters; I felt their triumphs and their losses. I love that the author takes the time to tell her readers what parts of her book are fiction and what parts are fact. This is another awesome read from Wendy Leighton-Porter. I would suggest these books for children ages 7-10, but anyone who enjoys a historical novel might enjoy the Shadows From The Past series.

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

The Grumpface by B.C.R. Fegan is a fun, rhyming children's book about a man who has been cursed to live as a Grumpface, and a young inventor, Dan, who is in love with a girl named Bella. One day, Dan goes into the Forest of Ho, looking for a rose for Bella. The forest, however, is in the domain of the Grumpface, and Dan soon gets stuck in one of the Grumpface's many traps. The Grumpface tells him that he can go free if he can complete one of three challenges. He has to either catch a glowing bird, walk across a tiny bridge, or walk through a cave full of dangers. Dan believes he has an invention for each of the challenges. Will he complete a challenge? Or will he never get to see Bella again?

I really enjoyed reading The Grumpface by B.C.R. Fegan. The book is very well written and the rhyming is very well done. The rhyming gives the book a fun rhythm that children will enjoy. The book has many funny parts and is full of action and suspense. The characters are very likeable, especially Dan, because he's kindhearted, and very silly. The book shows that anyone can change. The pictures by D. Frongia are very well drawn and clearly depict each scene. Children will really enjoy reading this story and will want to read it again and again. The story is well developed and well thought out. I would definitely recommend this to all children.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

The Frog Prince: A Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella is a children’s fable of years gone by written by Mike Klaassen. As Prince Gerit of Krickenheim goes to a pond in order to satisfy his craving for frogs’ legs for dinner, his feet become stuck in the mud. An old crone, Wibke, frees him from a watery death in exchange for lavish rewards. Once freed, however, the prince reneges on their agreement. As punishment, Wibke turns Gerit into a frog. The only way to break the spell is for Gerit to be kissed three times. Gerit narrowly avoids death from predators, and makes his way to the nearest township, ruled by King Torsten, Queen Ingeborg, and their very spoiled daughter, Princess Anneliese. Knowing that the princess is his only hope of being transformed back into a prince, he does all he can to win her heart, but with Fluffy, the royal cat, eyeing his every move, Gerit soon resigns himself to remaining a frog for the rest of his days ... until he is faced with losing Anneliese forever.

While I have never read the original Brothers Grimm tale of The Frog Prince, I found Mike Klaassen’s adaptation to be rather extraordinary. Initially, the tale shows Prince Gerit (in his human form) to be deceptive, dishonest, spoiled, and showing complete disregard for other creatures. His hard lesson, being transformed into a frog, teaches the prince how difficult life can be for others, as he is surrounded by predators both in and out of the water. The Frog Prince, as written by Mike Klaassen, is both captivating and enchanting, teaching readers that your word is the most important thing you can give, aside from your own heart when you are in love. It also teaches the importance of disciplining your children and teaching them proper values, rather than giving in to their every whim until they become spoiled, unruly and unmanageable. Princess Anneliese found comfort in having frog-Gerit as a companion, regardless of whether to simply read to or play with, and it forged an unbreakable friendship between the two. I wholeheartedly enjoyed The Frog Prince: A Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella, and am excited to read my next Mike Klaassen tale in the future.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Great Sugar War is an adventure fantasy novel for children and preteens written by Benjamin Ellefson and illustrated by Kevin Cannon. Brandon wasn't crazy about school; he was able to do his assignments and get good grades without too much effort, but he'd much rather be outside playing with his friends. Today was no exception; he had been preoccupied watching a squirrel running through the grass outside the classroom window when Miss Carter called his name. As it was time for their history lesson, Miss Carter asked the class if anyone could tell her the cause of the Great Grayness. Those two words galvanized Brandon right out of his lethargy. His Grandpa Alvin had been instrumental in overcoming the snakes that ran the Color Factory, which had been the root cause of the situation. Miss Carter angrily interrupted him. She was tired of his fanciful imagination. Everyone knew that the goblins from beyond the Crimson Mountains caused the Great Grayness. When Brandon countered that the story of the triumph of the Crimson Guards over the goblin king was a lie told by the king, he got in big trouble. After all, you could go to prison for calling the king a liar, Miss Carter retorted. She sent him off to see the principal and said his parents would be notified to pick him up there. Brandon hated being sent to see the principal. He was a terrifying man who blustered and bullied. Brandon suddenly had an idea -- he'd go to Grandpa Alvin's house and get him to speak to Miss Carter. Surely she'd believe Grandpa Alvin. But when he got to his grandfather's house, no one answered the door.

What is truth? Why do kings and other leaders lie, and how is a child raised to tell the truth to comprehend the inconsistency between official pronouncements and reality? The Great Sugar War raises some troubling questions about politics, ethics and even the treatment of children in today's schools. I was aghast when the truant officer binds Brandon's wrists and ankles with nylon restraints, criminalizing, in effect, a child for truancy, but I've also seen accounts of far more egregious treatment of children in schools by the police officers who are now a common sight in some school systems. As to Brandon's confusion over the willing disbelief of his teacher and fellow students of the truth, the account of Colonel Droww to Brandon’s ancestor, Otto, exposes it rather clearly, if not entirely satisfactorily. Later on, when the great war between the Kingdom of Shapes and the Kingdom of Colors is revealed for the sham it truly was, Droww continues: “During a war, people are consumed by their own fear and anger. They follow anything their leaders tell them. War is not about defeating an enemy. War is about controlling your own people.” Heady stuff for a children's book, but sadly relevant in today's world.

Ethics aside, The Great Sugar War is a rousing action and adventure story that features Brandon's Great-Great-Grandfather Otto and the role he plays as Colonel Droww's assistant during The Great Sugar War. This is the second in Ellefson's original and compelling fantasy series, following his novel, The Land Without Color. The author gives enough background for the new reader to enjoy this book on its own, but I strongly recommend reading the first one as well. Both books are thoughtful, exciting and a lot of fun to read -- and they most eloquently warn against the dangers of eating sugar and junk food. The Great Sugar War is most highly recommended for children, preteens and those adults who still hunger for a bit of thought-provoking fantasy.