Reviews written by C.J. Redwine

This is a fun story destined to be a favorite on many a bookshelf. Fox is determined to try the new toad recipes in his cookbook, and all of them call for young toads. But Mama Toad isn't about to let him eat her children. (And her vast brood are...

This was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery for young readers. I love that themes of strong community and family are prevalent throughout the story. The four young kids who take on the responsibility for solving the mystery of the masked acrobat are careful of others' feelings, excited to help, and take...

I'm a huge fan of the Girl of Fire & Thorns series, and this is another fabulous addition to the canon. It's a really quick read,(A 43 page novella) and I'm amazed at how much Ms. Carson managed to put into the story! We have tension, mystery, political intrigue, action,...

What I Loved: This is a fast-paced page-turner of a book! From the very first page, the reader is thrust into a tense, atmospheric ride that never lets up. I enjoyed the suspense, and I liked that the uncluttered style of writing doesn't get in the way...

What I Loved: This is a well-paced, chills-up-the-spine horror book that kept me turning pages as fast as I could. The suspense is strong (and creepy and scary!), and I was desperately trying to figure out how it would end. (Especially after I got my first real...

I love this book so much. Almigal is spunky, fun, and actively involved with her friends and her family. She uses bubblegum pink hearing aids, but she still misses quite a few of the things she wants to hear. I love that the author was honest about Almigal feeling lonely...

This is a fun book! I loved the storyline--a nice old-fashioned knight-in-shining-armor tale with a twist. This is definitely a book my kids will love. In fact, the storyline, the twists, and the hilarious little asides remind me of the stories my boys like to create. The illustrations also remind...

This book is a one-stop-shop for all of your Japanese monster research needs! Every entry provides essential information (name, pronunciation, alternate names, gender, height, weight, location, weapons, weaknesses and MORE) along with that particular monster's claim to fame. There are descriptions of the monster's attack, tips on how to survive,...

If you have an interest in ghost stories or Japanese culture, this is a must-have book. Every ghost story is told in a casual, sit-by-the-campfire style, but is meticulously researched. We get not only the original ghost story, but also a comprehensive detailing of any strange and unexplained phenomenon associated...

What I Loved: Children will enjoy the storyline of two adventurous kids sneaking into a firetruck and then being accidentally taken to the scene of a fire. The illustrations are fun, especially when the kids are covered in colors and filth. It's short and to the...

I devoured this book in a single day because I couldn't make myself slow down. I had high hopes going into it because I really loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I'm happy to say that Crown of Embers surpassed my expectations. This is a fully realized fantasy...

This is a fun, lively take on the classic Old MacDonald rhyme. Instead of EIEIO, the author uses AEIOU (and sometimes y!) and then each subsequent tongue twister features words with that particular vowel. It's a nice teaching tool for preschoolers, but a few of the rhymes are very difficult...

This is a fabulously thorough book, with colorful, helpful pictures scattered throughout to illustrate each point. It's organized like a textbook (and indeed would be a wonderful tool to use in homeschooling for a garden unit), but I found it more engaging than the usual textbook. ...

I loved everything about this book. The illustrations are wonderful--just childish enough to engage a preschooler's imagination. The story itself brings to mind a young Anne Shirley or perhaps a young Ramona Quimby. It's the perfect tale of a girl's pretend pets and how the strength of her imagination gives...

This is a charming story perfectly highlighting the attachment a child feels to a special blanket. The story is told in simple language, perfect for a young child, and the story feels nicely complete. My only issue is that the illustrations are just as simple as the language, and almost...