Genre: Chapter Book

Yasmin The Superhero

Yasmin loves superheroes and wants to be like them. She’s got the cape. She’s got the mask. Now, she just needs a villain to defeat! While she’s looking for one, she meets lots of people who need her help, but no villains.

Instead of fighting villains, Yasmin helps a neighbor pick up groceries, helps a girl get a ball off of a roof, and helps someone solve a math problem. When at the end of the day Yasmin is upset that she didn’t meet any villains, Baba tells her, “Evil villains are only in storybooks. In real life, superheroes are the ones that go out of their way to be kind and helpful.” Yasmin discovers that she might not need a villain to use her superpowers after all!

The story has three short chapters. Each page has large illustrations that will help readers understand the plot. The full-color illustrations use cheerful colors. Yasmin is Pakistani and her mother wears a hijab. The people in Yasmin’s neighborhood are a diverse group. Yasmin’s mother also uses Urdu words, which are defined in a glossary that appears at the back of the book.

Yasmin The Superhero will help emerging readers feel confident with their reading. Each page has 1 to 4 short sentences which are printed with oversized text. At the end of the book, there are questions that will help students connect to the text, some fun facts about Pakistani, and directions to make a paper bag superhero.

Yasmin The Superhero is a super cute story that encourages readers to be kind and helpful. Every superhero fan will relate to Yasmin’s desire to catch a villain and save someone. Nani and Nana help Yasmin create a brightly colored superhero costume, which includes a mask. In addition, both of Yasmin’s parents are supportive of her superhero activities. Yasmin The Superhero is a cute story that will encourage readers to make a cape and help someone in need.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Stolen Slipper

Prince Patrick’s only clue to finding the love of his life is the glass slipper she left behind. But the special shoe has been stolen! Without it, the prince will never see his true love again. Kara and Zed will have to help the prince find the glass slipper—and the woman it belongs to—before it’s too late.

Kara and her best friend Zed join together to solve the mystery of the missing shoe. Even though the story revolves around Cinderella, the majority of the story focuses on Kara and Zed solving the mystery. Kara and Zed are likable characters and Zed’s love of food and animals adds some humor to the story. Even though Kara helps her parents in the shoe shop, she still has enough time for sleuthing. Kara is kind, curious, and capable of using her powers of observation to solve the crime.

The Stolen Slipper is part of Scholastic Branches’ early chapter books, which have easy-to-read text and illustrations on every page. Readers will laugh at Zed’s hungry goat and the prince’s puppy. The book uses short descriptions and dialogue to keep the story moving at a fast pace. Black and white illustrations appear on every page and help break the text into manageable sections. The engaging pictures will help readers follow the plot. Even though The Stolen Slipper is part of a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone.

Fairy tale fans will enjoy the interplay between Kara and Zed as they try to solve the mystery. Even though the prince’s advisor, Barth, is a predictable villain, his niece doesn’t want to get in the way of the prince and his true love. The cute conclusion shows Cinderella and the prince together and also includes some cute animal scenes that will put a simile on readers’ faces. The fast-paced story includes a page of comprehension and critical thinking questions. Readers who are transitioning to chapter books will enjoy the fun adventure. Readers who want to meet another spunky female character should add the Princess Pulverizer Series by Nancy Krulik to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

 

Supernatural

  • Zed delivers messages; he has a magical bag that scrolls appear in.

Spiritual Content

  • None

Rainbow Swirl

Candy Fair is one of the biggest candy events in Sugar Valley. Raina the Gummy Fairy is serious about winning first prize. She follows all the rules to make the perfect new candy. Raina wants her friends to be excited about entering the contest as well. But Berry is more interested in making jewelry and Dash is busy making a new sled for the Marshmallow Slopes.

When a terrible storm blows through Gummy Forest, all of Raina’s dreams are washed away. Despite this, she gathers her friends and helps clean the forest so animals can find their homes. After Raina takes care of the animals, she goes back to check on her candy berries. She thinks they are ruined because all of the colors and flavors have blended together. Her friends still encourage her to enter her candy into the contest, but is there anyway her imperfect candy can win the contest?

Many readers will relate to Raina, who isn’t afraid to show that she is smart. Raina loves research and knows the entire Fairy Code Book by heart, but sometimes her “fairy friends made fun of her for following the rules so closely.” However, in the story, all of Raina’s friends are supportive even though they have different interests.

Rainbow Swirl doesn’t have a villain because the conflict comes from Raina’s conflicting emotions about her friends not wanting to make candy for the Berry Fair. Readers will relate to Raina’s conflict and understand her fears. In the end, the friendship between the fairies will keep readers engaged.

Even though Raina’s friends don’t want to participate in the Berry Fair, they still support Raina’s efforts. Raina’s friends help her because they gave her “the courage to see that something not perfect might be better than planned.” Raina doesn’t win the contest, but she is recognized for her acts of kindness.

Rainbow Swirl begins with a map of the Candy Kingdom. The Peppermint Grove and other elements will remind readers of the game Candy Land. The book is crammed full of candy references such as “sure as sugar” and “whoever heard of such a gummy thing.” Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 3 pages and show the fairies wearing pretty dresses. Although most of the fairies look similar, one fairy is African American.

Rainbow Swirl is a sweet, engaging story that proficient readers will enjoy. The story focuses on friendship and teaches important lessons. For example, Raina learns that “sometimes the greatest surprises come from the most unlikely places.” In a world where perfection is often glorified, parents will appreciate Rainbow Swirl’s message that something doesn’t have to be perfect in order to be great.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

The fairies say exclamations such as “chocolate sprinkles,” “holy peppermint,” and “sour sticks”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Star Wolf

Emma lives in a forest full of magical creatures, including star wolves! The wolves’ special song makes the stars appear in the sky every night. When Emma rescues a baby star wolf from a trap, she knows she must return the pup to his family. Will she be brave enough to go on a nighttime adventure and help keep the stars shining?

The Star Wolf brings back Lord Hector, who is determined to silence the star wolves’ song. This time, Lord Hector’s servants make failed attempts to catch Teo, the baby star wolf. The servants add non-scary suspense to the story.

Unlike previous books, Sophy plays a large role in the story. Sophy and Emma work together to defeat Lord Hector’s schemes. Both girls are sweet, helpful, and kind to others. Despite being frightened, the girls help Teo find his wolf family. The girls also put others’ needs before their own. For example, when the star wolves invite the girls to listen to their magical song, Emma says, “Lord Hector’s still out there. And his servants still have that little bottle of potion. We’d love to stay and listen to the Sky Song, but there’s one more thing we have to do.”

A diamond owl named Kellan adds another wonderful element to the story. This skeptical, magical owl helps Sophy and Emma. Despite being reluctant to help the girls, he discovers that “silly humans” can be brave. Keelan also adds some humor when he scares Lord Hector’s servants.

The Star Wolf will entertain readers with a fast-paced plot and non-scary suspense. The adorable animals and sweet characters will appeal to both readers and parents. Both girls are polite, helpful, and brave. When Emma makes desserts for her family’s booth, she doesn’t complain. Instead, she happily helps and cleans up the kitchen when she is finished.

The first book in the series, The Sky Unicorn, introduces Sophy and the magical stones. Even though Sophy makes an appearance in all of the books, readers do not need to read the stories in order. Each book focuses on a new main character, which adds interest to the series. The story uses easy vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and black and white illustrations to make The Star Wolf accessible to readers. Illustrations appear every 2-4 pages and help readers understand the plot.

The Star Wolf is an engaging story that shows the importance of kindness and bravery. Readers who enjoy magical animals should check out The Enchanted Pony Academy series by Lisa Ann Scott.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A star wolf gets stuck in a trap, but Emma saves the animal.
  • A man and a woman chase Emma while trying to get the star wolf. A huge dragon appears. “Landing with a thump that shook the ground, the leathery-skinned creature swung to face the trappers. . . The woman shrieked and ran away. The man bolted after her.”
  • A man “darted forward, grabbed hold of Teo [the star wolf], and stuffed him under her arm. The wolf pup gave a terrified whimper.”
  • As Emma tries to find the star wolf, “there was a snap as her foot hit the ground and something closed around her ankle. She lost her balance and fell over.” Someone helps Emma out of the trap.
  • A man and a woman accidentally start a fire in the forest. “The candle flame spread, burning the twigs and dead leaves on the ground. A tiny fire began to grow.” Sophy and Emma are able to put the fire out.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • Lord Hector has a potion that will take away the sky wolves’ voices. Emma accidentally spills a drop into the juice that Lord Hector and his servants are drinking. When they lose their voices, “Lord Hector turned bright red. Shaking his fist, he chased his servants out of the clearing.”

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • The sky wolves’ music “brought out the evening stars. Without them the night sky would be dark with no starlight at all.”
  • Sophy gives Emma a speaking stone. “Slowly, the rock grew warmer. Emma’s hand tingled as the stone changed from dull gray to bright orange, like a flame springing to life. . . The stone split in half.” The stone gives Emma the ability to talk to animals.
  • A diamond owl helps find the missing star wolf. The owl has “magical eyes that can see right through things—branches, tree trunks, anything! We also have the speed of the wind!”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Dragons vs. Unicorns

Kate the Chemist is a ten-year-old science problem solver. There’s no problem Kate can’t fix. When her best friend, Birdie, is cast as the lead unicorn in their school’s musical, Dragons vs. Unicorns, and Kate is chosen to be the assistant director, they agree this is going to be the best musical EVER! Kate is a natural assistant director; like all good scientists, she’s smart and organized, but she also comes up with great ideas. But when everything starts going wrong with the musical and Kate realizes someone is sabotaging the show, will her special science sleuthing skills help save the day—and the show?

Dragons vs. Unicorns blends chemistry with a drama production. The story is told from Kate’s point of view, which allows readers to understand Kate’s emotions as well as her love of chemistry. While Kate has interests besides chemistry, she compares everything to science, which may frustrate readers who don’t love science.

Readers who were expecting a book about dragons and unicorns will be disappointed because the mythological creatures never appear in the book. Instead, some of the characters will be dragons or unicorns in the school play. However, the play allows Kate to use science to make it appear as if the dragons are breathing fire. The story focuses on science and also incorporates life lessons about getting along with others and the importance of listening. At one point, Kate’s best friend is honest with her and tells her, “you do get stuck in your own head and don’t pay attention to what’s going on around you.”

The short chapters all begin with definitions of science words such as thermal shocks, vapor, and protocol. Simple black and white illustrations appear every 1 to 3 pages. While the illustrations help break up the text, they will not help readers understand the plot or visualize the characters. The book ends with instructions on how to make unicorn glue. Even though the book includes some other experiments, Biberdorf warns readers not to perform them without adult supervision.

Readers who love all things science will enjoy Dragons vs. Unicorns. However, readers who are not interested in science might find the focus on science a little overwhelming. Dragons vs. Unicorns highlights the importance of trying new things and listening to others. However, the only character that is developed is Kate. The story would have benefited from having Kate interact with her peers more.  Dragons vs. Unicorns is an entertaining book that will get readers thinking about how science is used in their daily lives. Readers who would like to mix a little fantasy and science will also enjoy the Zoey and Sassafras Series by Asia Citro.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • “Holy jeans” is used as an exclamation one time.

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Skunked!

When softhearted Travis discovers an abandoned baby skunk, he can’t help but bring it home and take care of it. Stinky, as Travis names him, settles in pretty well. But when Travis discovers Stinky’s littermate, Winky, who is in need of some help, things get complicated around the Tate house. One skunk might skate by under the radar, but two is just asking for trouble. Will Travis and Callie be able to keep the critters away from their mother’s careful eyes and nose?

Travis has a kind heart and wants to help animals, and Callie just can’t say no to her younger brother. As the two siblings take care of two orphaned skunks, they have to deceive their parents, who wouldn’t approve of caring for skunks because they are a pest. Callie seeks out help from the local veterinarian who tells her how to nurse a “kitten” back to health. Having a hidden skunk causes some silly scenes. Since Skunked! is set in 1901, it has an old-fashioned feel in both the language and the illustrations.

Skunked! has black and white illustrations that show the siblings and many farm animals. The large illustrations appear every 1 to 4 pages and will help readers understand the story’s plot. The surprising conclusion will leave readers with a smile and a lesson on why skunks should not be treated as pets.

Skunked! is told from Callie’s point of view. Callie’s scientific mind, curiosity, and caring nature make her an extremely likable character. Even though she is not completely honest, her deception is to help her brother care for the two skunks. Because of the advanced vocabulary, younger readers will need help. However, the large text and short chapters make Skunked! a good book to read aloud to younger readers. Proficient readers will enjoy the animal action, the sibling relationship, and the surprising conclusion.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Several times Callie thinks her brother Travis is an idiot. Callie thinks, “If Travis was an idiot to adopt two skunks, I, being one year older and so much wiser, was an even bigger idiot for going along with him, right?”
  • Drat is used once.
  • At one point, Callie wonders if her brother is insane.

Supernatural

  • Callie sees a heron and she “froze in place and prayed that Travis would stay still.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Lily to the Rescue #1

Lily lives with her girl, Maggie Rose. Once a stray, Lily was rescued by the kind people at the animal shelter run by Maggie Rose’s mom. Now she has a very important purpose: to rescue other animals.

Lily helps other animals in the shelter and even helps a kitten who is stuck in a tree. When Lily meets a crow with a broken wing, she and Maggie Rose take the crow home to Mom. But when the crow, named Casey, starts to become too tame, some unexpected problems arise. Soon, Maggie is surrounded by crows who want to exchange pieces of shiny metal for peanuts!

Lily to the Rescue is told from Lily’s point of view, which allows the reader to see the world from a dog’s perspective. However, the story has some long paragraphs that focus on Lily’s thought process. While this may appeal to some readers, others may find Lily’s musing to be a bit boring. Lily’s thoughts are occasionally funny, but they always focus on being kind to other animals. This first installment of the series revolves around Casey, an injured crow, who learns how to open his cage, ride on Lily’s back, and bring trinkets in exchange for peanuts.

Readers also get a peek inside Maggie Rose’s home life, which shows a healthy family unit. Like most siblings, she doesn’t always agree with her brothers and they occasionally bicker. However, when Maggie Rose’s brother calls her a “runt,” he is appropriately punished and reminded of the importance of being kind.

Animal lovers ready for chapter books will enjoy Lily to the Rescue. Realistic black and white illustrations that have splashes of blue appear every 1 to 3 pages. The short chapters and illustrations of the animals will appeal to a wide range of readers. The story has many crow facts throughout and the end of the book has more interesting information about crows

Lily is admirable because of her kind nature and willingness to help other animals. There are several tender moments between Lily and other animals that will warm readers’ hearts. Another positive attribute of the story is that it teaches the importance of not feeding wild animals. Lily to the Rescue doesn’t have action, adventure, or magic, but Lily’s story has enough interesting events to entertain readers.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A murder of crows attacks a hawk. “They were swooping down and trying to grab the hawk with their beaks. . . The hawk swooped and dove and changed directions, but there were so many crows pestering it, it finally gave up and flew away!”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Maggie’s brothers call her a “runt” a few times.

Supernatural

  • “A group of crows is called a murder of crows. No one’s sure why. Maybe because they’ll surround a dead animal to eat it. But there are people who think that crows are evil and bring death.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Messy Meerkat

Zoe loves living at her uncle’s rescue zoo because there’s always something exciting going on. And Zoe also has an amazing secret…she can actually TALK to the animals!

Max the meerkat loves to dig tunnels and go exploring, and so do his baby brothers and sisters. With the big treasure hunt coming up, can Zoe find a way to keep the messy meerkat family out of trouble?

The story focuses on Zoe and her family’s zoo. Zoe is a likable character who isn’t afraid of hard work. When Zoe takes Max the meerkat to her house, Max rips up her mother’s flowerbed. Instead of complaining, Zoe and her friend replant the flowers and clean up Max’s mess. As Zoe gets to know Max, she also learns interesting facts about meerkats.

Cute black and white illustrations show Zoe’s adventures. The large illustrations appear every 2 to 4 pages and show many of the animals in the zoo. The illustrated picture book uses some difficult vocabulary that will be hard for emerging readers. However, the story would be a fun choice to read aloud to a child.

Even though Max is a meerkat, readers will relate to his desire to have fun instead of watching his younger siblings. In the end, Max learns the importance of being more responsible. With a cheerful protagonist and funny meerkat mischief, The Messy Meerkat will delight animal lovers. And parents will appreciate a book that has a positive protagonist who works hard without complaining. With 20 books in the series, Zoe’s Rescue Zoo will keep readers entertained for a long time. However, animal-loving readers may also want to check out The Rescue Princesses Series by Paula Harrison and The Critter Club Series by Callie Barkley.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

 

Spiritual Content

  • None

Arctic Freeze

Dev knows his dad wanted him to spend his summer at science camp. His dad’s disappointment hampers Dev’s enjoyment of competing in The Wild Life. But on the third leg of the competition, Dev can’t let his team down. The red team must work together as they race through Alaska’s wilderness. Both the animals and nature are dangerous and the red team needs to focus if they are going to win. After all, they are now in second place!

Artic Freeze uses the same format as the first two books in the series. While the story is fast-paced, the plot and characters are underdeveloped. Dev and his team easily find the required artic animals; however, much of the action takes place from an airplane. In addition, the red team is able to solve the clues and get pictures of the animals without much effort. Even though the story lacks suspense, readers will learn interesting animal facts.

The story focuses on Dev’s conflict with his father, who wanted Dev to spend his summer at science camp. During the race, Dev wants to hide the fact that he’s knowledgeable about science. “His whole goal for the summer—his goal for the race—was to be normal, to be someone other than the nerdy science kid.” This conflict doesn’t add much to the story, especially because his teammates are all exceptionally smart in different areas.

The story begins with Dev’s dream about dogsledding and his father. As the team completes their task, Dev uses the dream to make decisions. While several of the events match his dream, in the end “no part of Dev’s dream made sense to him anymore.” Since the story spends so much time on the dream, the ending seems rushed and incomplete. While Dev doesn’t understand the significance of his dream, he does learn the value of science. The team’s adult supervisor tells Dev, “Races prompt hasty decisions. That’s their nature. But the quick thinking you did here was far more essential. You have an engineer’s mind and it saved this dog.”

The Race the Wild Series would interest younger readers who are interested in animals. However, readers may struggle with the advanced vocabulary. More advanced readers will realize that many of the events are unrealistic, such as when the team dogsleds a glacier even though they had no previous experiences. Unfortunately, the third installment in the Race the Wild Series is disappointing. Despite this, Arctic Freeze teaches about animals and highlights the importance of respecting and protecting the wild world.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A sled dog falls into a crack in the glacier. “Just ahead of the sled, the ground had opened up. Dev crawled on hands and knees to look over the edge of the ice. There, dangling from his harness, was the gray and white husky. When the dog saw him, he whimpered.” Dev is able to save the husky.
  • Dev read a book about “early science expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. When the dogs had been sick or injured, the explorers had to shoot them.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Maggie and the Flying Horse

Eight-year-old Maggie isn’t like other girls who live in the Enchanted Forest. She notices magical animals around her that no one else does—like unicorns, griffins, and even talking horses.

One day, Maggie stumbles upon a tiny, injured flying horse. The only way to help the horse is to take it to a kindly stableman her grandmother once told her about. But in order to do so, Maggie must journey through the forest, which is full of dangerous trolls and goblins. Will Maggie reach the stable in time to save her new friend?

Fans of fairytales will fall in love with Maggie and the magical animals that live in the Enchanted Forest. Similar to Cinderella, Maggie has a mean stepmother who makes her do all of the work. She also has a mean stepbrother, who blames her for everything. Despite this, Maggie is always cheerful and kind to others. In addition, she is willing to help the injured horse even though she knows it will displease her stepmother.

Maggie and the creatures who live in the Enchanted Forest appear in black and white illustrations. The cute illustrations appear every 2 to 7 pages. Even though the trolls and the goblins are dangerous, they look cartoonish instead of frighteningly scary. One of the characters shares his journal with Maggie. The illustrated journal gives information about the magical animals and their habits. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, large text, and a simple plot, Maggie and the Flying Horse is accessible to readers ready for chapter books.

Maggie and the Flying Horse is the first in the Magic Animal Rescue Series and sets up the background for many adventures to come. With plenty of suspense, magical animals, and a hungry troll, Maggie and the Flying Horse will keep young readers entertained until the very end. Parents will appreciate Maggie, who is a kind protagonist and doesn’t complain despite her stepmother’s harsh treatment. The story is perfect for readers who love animals and fairytales. Readers will be eager to read the next book in the series, Maggie and the Wish Fish.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A griffin tries to peck Maggie. “Maggie picked up a small stone and threw it. . . The next stone grazed its wing. Startled, the griffin flew back into the forest.”
  • Maggie is hiding from goblins when a flying horse lands on her. “Soon, an entire herd of little horses landed on Maggie. Some nipped her with their tiny teeth. Others kicked her with their tiny hooves.” When a horsefly begins tickling her, Maggie “moved her hand just enough to brush it off. The tiny horse fell to the ground and looked up at her with terrified eyes.” Maggie takes the horse to someone who can fix its wing.
  • A troll chases Maggie in the hopes of eating her. Maggie climbs up a tree and the troll follows. “And then he was there, drooling as he stretched his arm toward her.” When sunlight touches the troll, he turns to stone.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Maggie lives near an enchanted forest that has magical creatures. One day she talks to a frog, who tells her, “I’m a human prince. A wicked witch turned me into a frog, and I need a human princess to kiss me so I can become my old self again.”
  • Maggie sees a cabbit. Maggie’s friend says, “A witch combined a cat and a rabbit. She thought they’d be extra cuddly. She was right.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Great Reef Games

Round two of the race takes the teams to the Great Barrier Reef. In order to answer the clues, the teams must become underwater explorers. Sage is determined for her team to stay in first place. The team will meet dangerous sea creatures—scorpion fish, a blue-ringed octopus, and other sea dangers. As Sage bosses her team around, she becomes pushy and argumentative.

The second installment of the Race to the Wild Series focuses on Sage. The story continues to hint that Sage has a secret that motivates her to win and to be protective of Mari. Throughout the adventure, Mari is ill, which reminds Sage of her sister’s accident. When Mari helps Sage, Sage gets defensive and says, “You don’t look out for me. That’s not your job. I can take care of myself.” The conclusion never explains why Mari was sluggist, and Sage’s big secret is anticlimactic. However, Sage does realize that it isn’t her job to always look after everyone. Instead, each team member has their own special talent and all of them need to have each other’s backs.

The Great Reef Games is crammed full of facts about the Great Barrier Reef and the animals that live there. In one scene, Mari finds a sea turtle that is wrapped in a net. Mari and her team stay with the turtle until someone from the animal rescue center comes to help. While most of the story focuses on the kids and the race, they still rely on adults when they need additional help.

In Rain Forest Relay, Russell discovers that his friends are cheating, but he doesn’t turn them in. The second book of the series doesn’t address this issue. Even though Race the Wild is a competition, the red team has no interaction with other teams. Despite this, readers will enjoy the fast-paced story that highlights the importance of teamwork. One positive aspect of the story is that several of the characters are “unusually intelligent,” which is a huge advantage for the team. However, as the red team learns more about each other, the boys team up and are often snarky.

Great Reef Games is very similar to the television show The Amazing Race. Because the characters are in a competition, the characters spend very little time in the same place. While the race is interesting, a lot of animal information is thrown at the reader. Occasionally, the story seems more like a textbook than an adventure story. Great Reef Games incorporates Sage’s secret into the story, but this part of the story seems forced. Despite this, readers will enjoy trying to solve the race’s clues as well as learning about sea life. With nine short chapters, black and white illustrations every 3-6 pages, and interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef, proficient readers will enjoy the underwater adventure. Older readers who love sea life should add Dragged from Under: The Bull Shark by Joseph Monninger to their must-read list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Tooth Fairy’s Night

The Tooth Fairy wakes up and prepares for a night collecting teeth and leaving money under pillows. First, she enters a little girl’s room and gets the tooth but she has a hard time wiggling it free from under the pillow. Then, she flies to a little boy’s room, where she has to use fairy dust to put the dog to sleep. The Tooth Fairy takes a break for a cup of tea and some cake.

The Tooth Fairy goes to another house, where a cat takes a swipe at her. It’s a good thing that the fairy can fly so fast. At the last house, the Tooth Fairy has to squeeze between a zoo of stuffed animals. When the job is done, the Tooth Fairy flies home, brushes her teeth, and goes to bed.

Tooth Fairy’s Night is intended for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. With large text, easy words, and full-page pictures on every page, Tooth Fairy’s Night is a quick story to read. Each page has 2 to 7 words and many of the sentences only have one word.

Younger readers will enjoy both the story and the cute illustrations that fill every page. While the Tooth Fairy is magical, she is also very similar to every child—she packs a lunch, feeds her pet, and brushes her teeth before bed. Conflict is built when the fairy has to struggle to open a window, watch out for a pet, and stay out of a cat’s paws. The fairy is adorably cute, dances through her work, and when she takes her wings off, she looks just like other little girls.

The story is perfect for preschool and kindergarten readers who are ready to learn to read. Parents will enjoy reading the story aloud, especially because it’s such a quick read. Readers will enjoy looking at the pictures that are packed with fun details such as a child’s drawings hanging on the wall and the pretty flowers outside of the window. After reading Tooth Fairy’s Night, younger readers just might want to put on their own wings and pretend to fly around the house.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • When the tooth fairy enters a house with a dog, she uses “sleep dust” and soon the dog is “out like a log.”

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Chocolate Dreams

Life in Sugar Valley is deliciously fun! Cocoa the chocolate fairy is so excited. The fairy princess picked her to watch over the special chocolate eggs for the spring Egg Parade. But right before the parade, the eggs are missing from the nest!

Cocoa and her friends discover that the troll under the bridge ordered the Chuchies to bring the eggs to him. With the help of her friends, Cocoa finds the courage to tell Princess Lolli that the eggs are missing. Princess Lolli and Cocoa devise a trick to get the chocolate eggs back.

Chocolate Dreams is a super sweet story that has many candy references that readers will find cute. For example, one fairy has a “huge chocolate mess” and the troll who lives under a bridge is “a salty old troll” who lives in the Black Licorice Swamp. Readers will wish that they could visit Sugar Valley and enjoy some of the sugary snacks.

When the chocolate eggs disappear, Cocoa’s desire to find the eggs provides enough suspense to keep readers entertained. The predictable villain and his minions aren’t scary. His minions are “Chuchies” who are “sneaky creatures” who live in the swamp. Chuchies have “pom-pom bodies” and “short, thin legs.”

Chocolate Dreams begins with a map of the Candy Kingdom. The Peppermint Grove and other elements will remind readers of the game Candy Land. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 3 pages and show the fairies wearing pretty dresses. Although most of the fairies look similar, one fairy is African American. The story is best suited for proficient readers who are ready for chapter books.

The fairies’ friendship is super sweet and they emulate positive traits. For example, when the chocolate eggs are stolen, Cocoa’s friends encourage her to tell the truth. In addition, when Cocoa is in trouble her friends “dropped everything” to help her. Chocolate Dreams takes readers into an imaginative world that will engage readers as it teaches important lessons about honesty and friendship.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • The fairies say exclamations such as “peppermint sticks,” “Holy peppermint” and “bittersweet chocolate.”

Supernatural

  • The fairies have magic. “Chocolate Fairies had chocolate magic. They could create chocolate candy with a simple touch.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Valentine’s Day Disaster

Geronimo Stilton was excited to have all of his friends over for a Valentine’s Day party. He sent valentines to all of his friends and family members. But when he opened his mailbox on February 14th, it was empty! Have his friends forgotten about him? Is he destined to spend the year alone in his mouse hole, sobbing into a box of chocolate cheesy chews?

Even though Geronimo didn’t receive any valentine cards, he prepares for his party. But the clumsy mouse has a string of bad luck. Thankfully, he meets Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout, a rodeo gal, who has a solution to every problem. Geronimo’s new friend reminds him that, “Life is beautiful, the world is marvelous, and I love everyone!” Can Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout help save the Valentine’s Day party?

As Geronimo prepares for his party, he has accident after accident. While Geronimo’s bad luck is funny, Valentine’s Day Disaster doesn’t have the adventure of the other books in the series. However, readers will still enjoy seeing Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout save the day over and over. In the end, Geronimo realizes that “friendship really is a treasure.”

Valentine’s Day Disaster’s layout will draw the reader in with large, full-color illustrations that appear on every page. In addition to the often humorous illustrations, the large text has a graphic element that makes the words look fun. Some of the keywords are printed in a larger, colored print. For readers who still struggle with reading, Valentine’s Day Disaster would make a great book to read aloud while letting the child read the words that are in the colored print.

Whether you are a Geronimo Stilton fan or a first-time reader, Valentine’s Day Disaster is a fun book. The beginning of the book has a two-page, illustrated list of Geronimo’s friends and the back of the book has a map of Mouse Island. There is also a short introduction of Geronimo’s enemy, Sally Ratmousen, and Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout. While some of the characters appear in different books in the series, the series does not need to be read in order.

Mixed into the story are short passages about the history behind Valentine’s Day and how pizza was invented. There is also information about cupid and instructions on how to line dance. Readers who want to host a Valentine’s Day party can use Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout’s How to Organize a Valentine’s Day Party Guide. You can make your guests laugh by telling the jokes that appear at the end of the book.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Caterflies and Ice

Zoey is excited when an unexpected spring snowstorm covers the ground in snow. Then Zoey learns that the snow is causing trouble for some of the magical creatures of the forest. Zoey and Sassafras come to their rescue. But their first attempt to save trapped caterflies eggs results in a big mistake. Can they figure out a way to fix things before the baby caterflies hatch?

Like the previous book in the series, Zoey uses science to solve problems. Her mom gives a demonstration showing what salt does to plants. This demonstration would be easy for readers to recreate. When Zoey tries, and accidentally hurts the plants that the caterflies babies will need to eat, Zoey’s mother doesn’t scold her. Instead, she says, “We all make mistakes.” Then her mother helps Zoey find a workable solution. Zoey documents her experiences in her science journal, and when Zoey writes in the journal, the font changes to large, kid-like font. Instead of telling Zoey what to do, her mom asks Zoey questions in order to guide her to a workable solution.

Younger readers will love the cute caterflies that look similar to kittens with wings and will love when Sassafras jumps in and helps keep the caterflies safe and warm. As Zoey helps the caterflies, the reader will learn about plants, caterpillars, and how they change into butterflies. Zoey’s adventure is shown through large black and white illustrations that appear on almost every page. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, plenty of dialogue, and a simple plot, Dragons and Marshmallows is accessible to most readers.

Caterflies and Ice will appeal to younger readers as well as parents. With her mom’s help, Zoey is able to come up with creative solutions to problems. For example, when Sassafras doesn’t like the wet snow, Zoey makes protective feet covers. In addition, Zoey is a relatable character who loves exploring, bugs, and using science to solve problems. Her cat Sassafras adds some humor to the story. In addition, her parents are portrayed in a positive manner and encourage Zoey to continue trying new things, even when she makes a mistake.

Zoey and Sassafras show the fun of science and the importance of taking care of the environment. The story ends with a glossary. Even though Zoey and Sassafras is a series, the books do not need to be read in order. Caterflies and Ice is an entertaining story that has a little bit of magic and a whole lot of important lessons. Readers who love science should also add The Data Set Series by Ada Hopper to their must-read list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Zoey and her mom are the only people that can see and talk to the magical creatures that live in the forest.
  • When Zoey takes a picture of a magical creature, “every photo saves a bit of magic with it.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Baby Firebird

Talia lives in a tropical rain forest that is home to a flock of magical firebirds. She meets a baby firebird, Riki. The firebird is curious about the human world. As Riki explores Talia’s house, Lord Fortescue appears. He’s determined to imprison all of the firebirds. When Lord Fortescue finds out about the Cave of Wonders, he’s convinced he can capture the birds and find treasure. Riki, Talia, and her friend Lucas go into the rainforest so they can warn the firebirds to hide.

The firebirds are able to hide from Lord Fortescue, but the evil man and his soldiers put huge boulders in front of the Cave of Wonders. Without the heat from the magical waters, the firebirds become weak. The stones are too large for Talia and Lucas to move. Even though it may be dangerous, the two friends go to wake up a sleeping dragon, who reluctantly agrees to help the firebirds.

The Baby Firebird quickly draws readers into the story and keeps them in suspense until the very end. Even though Lord Fortescue and his soldiers are dangerous, the kids only have one interaction with them. For the rest of the story, they are either spying on Lord Fortescue or hiding from him. However, the evil man adds a non-fighting villain to the plot.

Talia and Lucas are likable, brave characters. Even though humans are not allowed into the forest, Talia and Lucas break the rule because it was the only way to warn the firebirds about Lord Fortescue. Later, the dragon agrees to help the firebirds, but only if Talia gives him her sparkly rock. Even though the Speaking Stone is special, Talia puts the firebirds’ needs first and gives the stone to the dragon. In the end, Talia recognizes that Lord Fortescue and his soldiers, “wanted to find gold, but they missed the real treasure that’s already here—the animals!”

The first book in the series, The Sky Unicorn, introduced Sophy and the magical stones. Even though Sophy makes an appearance in all of the books, readers do not need to read the stories in order. Each book focuses on a new main character, which adds interest to the series. The story uses easy vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and black and white illustrations to make The Baby Firebird accessible to readers. Illustrations appear every 2-4 pages and help readers understand the plot.

The Baby Firebird is a fast-paced, suspenseful chapter book that has wide appeal. Young readers will admire Talia for her kindness, bravery, and selflessness. Talia’s behavior shows the importance of protecting animals, including staying out of animals’ habitats. Readers who enjoy animal stories should also add Rainbow Magic Series by Daisy Meadows and the Enchanted Pony Academy Series by Lisa Ann Scot to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Talia meets a baby firebird. “Talia knew the flames must be magical, as they never scorched the flowers or leaves.”
  • Firebirds get their magic from the Cave of Wonders, which is a “magical fire pool.” Talia “touched the golden surface with her fingers and drew back her hand immediately, surprised by the tickly feeling in her fingers.”
  • Talia is given a magical Speaking Stone that allows her to talk to magical creatures.

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Valentine’s Day Secret

It’s Valentine’s Day, but things are not all hearts and flowers for Nancy! While she and her best friends, Bess and George, are making their own stuffed animals at Farmer Fan’s Barnyard Buddies, someone slips a mean valentine into Bess’s animal’s pocket. What’s worse than a mean valentine? Even worse, Bess thinks it came from George! Now the two are in the worst fight ever—and Nancy’s caught in the middle! How can she sew Bess and George’s friendship—not to mention the Clue Crew—back together?

Pink hot chocolate, dressed-up stuffed animals, and sharing cards all combine to make an interesting mystery. The friendship drama is integrated into the mystery, and the two topics combine to highlight the importance of forgiveness. While looking for clues, Nancy’s dog chews Colette’s new cow slippers. Nancy offers to save her allowance to buy Colette another pair. Even though Colette is upset, she forgives Nancy and says, “Dogs will be dogs. That’s why I like cows.” The story concludes when the culprit is discovered, and the three friends quickly forgive the valentine writer and each other.

Valentine’s Day Secret has many positive aspects that parents will appreciate. Like all children, Nancy and her two best friends squabble but eventually resolve their problems and remain best friends. In addition to using the powers of observation, the three friends are polite, ask permission before they jump into action, and show kindness to others.

Young mystery fans will not only enjoy the mystery but also the wordplay that appears in Valentine’s Day Secret. Readers will relate to Nancy, who is caught in the middle of her friends’ fight. Even though the three main characters are friends, they are unique individuals who have different interests. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 5 pages, which break up the text and help readers visualize the events in the plot. The last page of the book gives directions for making a charming Valentine pencil. This modern version of Nancy Drew will entertain today’s readers who will want to analyze the clues to see if they can determine who wrote the mean valentine.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A girl grabs George’s stuffed cow and runs off with it.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Peril in the Palace

Beth and her cousin Patrick go to China in 1271 where they have to find the golden tablet of Kublai Khan. Once in China, the cousins are kidnapped by Mongol warriors, who think they are evil. Only the friendship of fellow traveler Marco Polo saves them from harm.

At the Shangdu palace, Kublai Khan dislikes Beth’s and Patrick’s gifts and the message about Christianity. Next, the Mongol magicians challenge the cousins to a spiritual power showdown. The cousins are again locked up. But then they meet Genghis Khan’s great-great-granddaughter. However, Beth and Patrick are not safe, so they escape from the palace.

Before the cousins are able to make it safely away from the palace, two giant birds swoop down and grab them. The birds take them to their nest where hungry chicks wait for a meal. A mysterious knight appears and helps the kids make it back to the Imagination Station.

Peril in the Palace is the third book in the Imagination Station Series. Each book’s plot builds on the previous book so the stories must be read in order. Like the previous books in the series, history is incorporated into the story. However, Peril in the Palace’s plot is not as well developed and the conclusion has several events that are unrealistic.

Despite this, readers will appreciate the fast-paced plot which shows the importance of sharing the Christian faith. When the Mongol shamans use “magic,” Beth is able to show how the shamans are really using magnets to perform the magic. While the religious message is not as strong as the previous books, the story of Jesus is incorporated into the story.

The large text and illustrations make the story accessible to readers ready for chapter books. Black and white illustrations of varying sizes are scattered throughout the book. Parents who are looking for a wholesome book that incorporates the Bible into the story will find the Imagination Station Series a good choice. Readers who want more time traveling fun should check out the Time Jumpers Series by Wendy Mass.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Beth and Patrick are kidnapped. “A horse came alongside them. The rider leaned sideways and grabbed Beth under the arms. He pulled her up onto the saddle.” The cousins are saved by Marco Polo.
  • A wounded warrior comes to report to Kublai Khan. “Koke’s tunic was soaked in blood. An arrow had been shot through the man’s shoulder.”
  • Giant eagles called rocs pick up Beth and Patrick and take them to their hungry chicks. “One of the beaks grabbed Beth. . . The bird caught the edge of her dress.” Beth’s leg is injured. A Knight appears. “Suddenly a silver sword slashed the air above them. The sword hit the bird’s claws, and the bird cried out.”
  • The adult rocs swoop down and try to swallow the kids. “The knight turned just in time. He swung the sword with both hands. Bam! The sword hit the roc’s beak—and bounced off. The kids are able to escape.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • Kublai Khan asks a group of foreigners, “Why doesn’t your God help the Christians? Why doesn’t the Christian God smash your enemies?” Patrick explains, “Jesus Christ destroyed death. He rose from the grave! Those who believe in Him will live forever.”
  • Kublai Khan believes that he will “go to the afterlife as a warrior. The Mongols will bury him with arrows and horses.”
  • Beth gives a young girl a Bible.

Alien Scout

Harris is the only person who knows Zeke’s secret—Zeke is an alien. When Harris decides to go on a Beaver Scout wilderness trip, he wants Zeke to go with him. Zeke is confused about all of the fun activities that will happen at camp, but he is excited to spend time with Harris and learn more about humans. The only problem is that Zeke is a little careless with his powers. When one of the other scouts becomes suspicious of Zeke, Harris isn’t sure how to keep Zeke’s identity a secret from the other scouts.

Zeke and Harris go on a fun adventure where Zeke learns all about scout camp. During most of the activities, Zeke isn’t shy about using his alien powers. For example, he floats to the top bunk, and he rows a canoe with his mind. Despite knowing the importance of hiding his true identity, Zeke continues to use his powers, especially to help others. When one of the scouts falls into a raging river, Zeke jumps in and saves him. The only suspense in the story comes from one camper who is suspicious and thinks that Zeke is different.

Even though the plot lacks suspense, seeing human activity from an alien’s point of view is entertaining, especially when Zeke gets confused by human speech. For example, when a camp counselor says, “Time to hit the hay,” Zeke wonders, “Why would I want to hit hay?” While Alien Scout isn’t as entertaining as the previous books in the series, readers will enjoy the relationship between Zeke and Harris.

Besides the fun topic, Alien Scout has a variety of other elements that are perfect for readers who are transitioning to chapter books. Each page contains a large black and white illustration that helps break up the text. The illustrations will help readers understand the wide range of emotions each character feels. The large font, simple vocabulary, short chapters, and dialogue make Alien Scout a fun book to add to a beginning reader’s book list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • At camp, someone tells a scary story about a witch. Two kids find her at their house and the witch says, “So you’ve decided to have dinner at home. Excellent. In fact, I just finished eating my appetizers, though you knew them as Mom and Dad.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Zeke is an alien. He can float, heat objects, and project what he sees in his head onto screens.
  • When the camp bus gets a flat tire, Zeke fixes it. “I’m redirecting energy from the Earth’s sun through my hands to heat the rubber enough so it’ll melt and seal the hole in the tire.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Pony Problems

A new petting zoo has opened in River Heights. Nancy, George, and Bess can’t wait to check it out — especially since the zoo has the cutest Shetland pony named Buttons. And it looks like the Clue Crew won’t have to wait very long to get a glimpse of Buttons — he keeps escaping from his pen and showing up all over town!

Buttons is getting pretty famous for eating the flowers in everyone’s front lawns. As much as Nancy secretly wishes Buttons would turn up on her lawn, she knows it’s important to make sure he stays put. The only trouble is, no one knows how he’s getting out. Sounds like it’s time for the Clue Crew to saddle up and settle this pony problem.

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew are determined to find out how Buttons keep escaping and they plan on using their powers of observation to solve the mystery. As they investigate, their friend tells them interesting facts about Shetland ponies. The Clue Crew uses these facts and other clues to solve the mystery.

During their investigation, the Clue Crew also meets Amanda, who lives on the farm. At first, when Nancy tries to talk to Amanda, Amanda completely ignores her. This doesn’t deter Nancy and her friends. Finally, Amanda is honest and tells the girls that she misses her old home. Luckily, Amanda’s father agrees to take Amanda to visit her old friends. In the end, the Clue Crew become Amanda’s new friends and Amanda’s conflict is solved in a hopeful manner.

The Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Series has main characters that young readers can emulate. The girls are obedient, friendly, and nice. For instance, when Mr. Drew tells the girls not to pet Buttons, “the girls are careful to keep their distance as Mr. Drew asked.” In addition, the girls are given a five-block range that they can roam, and they stay within their parent’s set perimeter.

Pony Problems has many elements that will entertain readers, including black and white illustrations that appear every 2 to 5 pages. The pictures break up the text and help readers visualize the events in the plot. The last page of the book gives directions for making a craft pony as well.

Buttons’ behavior will make readers laugh and readers will enjoy solving the mystery. While readers will be drawn into the story because of the pony, parents will approve of the characters’ good behavior. Pony Problems is a wholesome story that will entertain both mystery fans and horse lovers.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Nancy tells George, “Your brother is a nut.”
  • George says, “My brother can be such a spaz sometimes.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Roscoe and the Pony Parade

The spring festival is in town! Happy Go Lucky and his friends from Big Apple can’t wait to see what it’s all about. There will be games, decorations, and the ponies will even march in the big parade!

But then Rosco goes missing at the festival. A trip to town could be dangerous for a tiny barn mouse! Can Happy find his big-eared buddy—or will Roscoe be lost forever?

Roscoe, a curious mouse, can’t wait to explore everything at the festival! While at the fair, Roscoe doesn’t intend to get trapped in a bag of cotton candy or go swimming in one of the games, but he seems to find trouble around every corner. Readers will laugh at Roscoe’s antics and wonder what the little mouse will do next.

With a simple plot, the book is easy to read and will capture the attention of horse fans. Roscoe and the Pony Parade will have readers giggling as it reinforces the importance of staying together and not wandering away from a group. When Roscoe gets lost, Happy and the other horses worry about his safety. Roscoe’s friends don’t want the mouse to get left behind when everyone heads back to Big Apple Barn. The message is clear: “One of the rules is that we have to stick together.”

Readers will be drawn into the story because of the beautiful horses, the wise barn cat, and the little mouse, Roscoe. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 4 pages and help break up the text in order to keep readers engaged. The text is easy to read, with short sentences and colorful dialogue that gives the horses personality. The last page of the book explains how a horse sees. Roscoe and the Pony Parade’s action and adventure will please all readers who love animals.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Roscoe is chased by a group of people. “Everyone was darting in different directions. Happy thought he could make out the vendor, the booth owner, and the cheesemaker zigzagging across the square, their arms stretched out in front of them.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Merhorses and Bubbles

Zoey and Sassafras go to a stream to look for bugs, but they discover that there are no bugs! Things get even more urgent when they learn that the magical creatures living in the stream are in danger because the bugs that the merhorses eat to survive have all disappeared. Zoey and her mom must solve the mystery of the stream. Can Sassafras, Zoey, and her mom find where all the bugs went? Will they be able to save the merhorses?

In Merhorses and Bubbles, Zoey uses everyday objects to create an underwater viewer. When Zoey goes to the stream, she teaches her cat, Sassafras, about her favorite stream bugs. Sassafras loves bugs and loves to chase and eat them. However, when Zoey and Sassafras can’t find any bugs, her mom helps test the water and they discover that the water is polluted. The remainder of the story focuses on investigating how the stream is being polluted and finding a way to fix the problem.

Readers will relate to the adventurous Zoey and her desire to help the merhorses. Zoey uses her “thinking goggles” and data to conclude that the stream is polluted. She relies on her parents’ help and eventually meets the magical frog named Pip. Zoey’s father cannot see the magical creatures and this creates some humorous situations that will have readers giggling. With the help of her parents, a magical frog, and Sassafras, Zoey is able to use the scientific method to save the stream.

Even though the merhorses do not play a major role in the story, readers will still enjoy the mystery of the polluted stream. Throughout the story, many lessons are taught about the environment, including how pollution affects pond creatures, how pollution gets into streams, and how something like soap can be harmful. Zoey and her parents finally discover that the pollution is caused by a group of teens who are raising money by having a car wash. Instead of taking over, Zoey’s parents allow Zoey to educate the teens, and then her parents help the teens come up with an alternative fundraiser.

Zoey’s adventure is shown through large black and white illustrations that appear on almost every page. When Zoey writes in her science journal, the font changes to large, kid-like font. While Sassafras plays a tiny role in the story, the cat appears in many of the pictures. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, plenty of dialogue, and a simple plot, Merhorses and Bubbles is accessible to most readers. Even though Zoey and Sassafras is a series, the books do not need to be read in order.

Zoey is a strong girl who uses science to solve problems. Through her experiences, readers will be encouraged to positively change their world for the better. Even though Zoey is a child, she still finds a way to help keep pollution out of streams. Zoey’s parents are portrayed in a positive manner and they exhibit healthy communication skills. Merhorses and Bubbles teaches valuable lessons about nature by using a fun story and a relatable character. The end of the book has a glossary that explains unfamiliar terms.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Zoey calls Sassafras a goofball.

Supernatural

  • Zoey and her mom are the only people that can see and talk to the magical creatures that live in the forest.

Spiritual Content

  • None

Rain Forest Relay

Russell was the one that convinced his friends to try out for the race around the world. That’s why he’s so surprised that all four of his friends are in the same group, but he’s in a group with strangers. Running the race will be extra difficult for a team that knows nothing about each other. Despite this, Russell and his team are eager to begin the first leg of the course.

As they race through the lush Amazon rain forest, Russell and his team see amazing animals, raging rapids, and toxic venom. But the animals aren’t the only danger in the race. In order to win, Russell’s friends aren’t afraid to be sneaky and cheat. Russell isn’t sure what he should do. He knows what his friends are doing is wrong, but he doesn’t want them kicked out of the race. Can the red team learn to work as a team? Is there any way Russell and the red team can finish the race ahead of the sneaky green team?

Rain Forest Relay is a fast-paced story that takes the readers on a race through the Amazon. Although the story has plenty of adventure, it also hits on the topic of cheating in order to win. Throughout their journey, they continue to struggle with the green team’s ability to show up unexpectedly. Russell explores his conflict with his friends’ behavior and his desire to keep his friends’ activity a secret. By the end of the book, Russell has not answered these questions, but he knows that his team can win if they use teamwork.

With nine short chapters, each chapter packs a lot of adventure into it. While the race is interesting, a lot of animal information is thrown at the reader. Occasionally, the story seems more like a textbook than an adventure story. The four main characters are featured on the cover and are diverse—one is African American, one is Indian, one is Hispanic, and one is Caucasian. However, the characters’ races are never discussed and the characters are generic. While the characters are likable and competent, they are not alone on their journey. Instead, each group has an adult that keeps an eye on the contestants and makes sure they are safe.

Black and white illustrations appear every 3-6 pages, and the beginning of each chapter has interesting facts about the rainforest and the animals who make the Amazon their home. Fluent readers will enjoy trying to solve the race’s clues and learning about the Amazon. Rain Forest Relay is an engaging story that will entertain any reader who loves animals and adventure.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Lost in the Snow

Fluff, a barn cat, is desperate to find a home of her own. Sadly, no one seems to want her. Then a little girl named Ella comes to the farm where Fluff lives. Ella begs her mother to let her take the kitten home, but her mother says, “No.” What happens to kittens that nobody wants?

Lost in the Snow alternates between Fluff’s and Ella’s points of view. While most people think Fluff is scrawny and ugly, Ella sees the beauty of Fluff and she is devastated because her parents won’t let her bring Fluff home. Soon Ella’s parents give in, but when they return to the farm, they discover that Fluff has run away.

Fluff becomes lost as she decides to look for Ella. While Fluff has always been shy and skittish, she soon learns to stick up for herself. While the conclusion is predictable, readers will love the happy ending because Fluff and Ella finally find each other.

Animal lovers will enjoy Lost in the Snow with its simple plot and realistic conflicts. Cute black and white illustrations appear every one to four pages, which helps break up the text. Younger readers will need help reading Lost in the Snow because of the advanced vocabulary and sentence structure. While all of the Pet Rescue Adventures are similar, each book has different characters and enough plot changes to keep the stories interesting. Holly Webb has written 40+ animal stories, which will keep readers busy for many, many hours. However, animal lovers may also want to check out The Rescue Princesses Series by Paula Harrison for more animal rescue adventures.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • When the adults aren’t looking, a boy “held Fluff out at arm’s length and made a disgusting face at her. . . He grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and poked her angrily. . . He made a growling noise.”
  • When a boy is mean to Fluff, her “fur stood up on end. She hissed angrily at Nathan, then sank a mouthful of sharp little teeth into the finger that he was poking her with. He yelped and dropped her.” Fluff runs away.
  • Fluff is standing on a wall when a tomcat “made a low growling noise as he inched toward her. Then, in one quick movement, he lifted one of his enormous paws and cuffed Fluff around the head, sending her flying. Dazed, Fluff landed badly on pavement below.” Fluff is scared but uninjured.
  • Fluff sneaks into a store and begins eating dog food. Then a dog “chased Fluff out onto the pavement, his teeth only inches from her tail. . . [Fluff] stood nose to nose with the little dog and snarled, her tail twitching. Then as he started to bark again, she shot out a paw and raked her tiny claws down his muzzle.” The dog’s owner throws a newspaper at Fluff and she runs away.
  • A fox “grinned at Fluff, showing his enormous teeth. Fluff was trapped, but she wasn’t giving up. . . She fluffed up her fur and hissed defiantly, as much to make herself feel brave as anything else. . . Fluff batted at it angrily with one tiny paw. It was like hitting a rock.” Fluff and the fox end up becoming friends.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • A boy calls Fluffy a “ratty little thing.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None
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