Reviews written by C.J. Redwine

This fun, energetic counting book will delight and educate early readers. Not only will readers practice counting, they'll learn interesting facts about various animals (like the nine-banded armadillo or the camel). Readers will love counting the items on each page (and there are plenty to count!). The emphasis on Dog's...

Soft illustrations and gentle prose make this a soothing book for young readers. Children will enjoy learning about baby animals. For added value, there's a glossary of additional animal facts for each featured baby animal so that parents can help their children discover more about the sweet little animals they've...

This new take on the classic Cinderella fairy tale features an elephant as Cinderella. Readers will recognize a few pieces from the well known tale, though much of it has been changed or skimmed over (such as the stepmother, the godmother etc) in favor of a more humorous approach. The...

There's a lot to love about Animation Studio, a boxed treasure trove of goodies designed to help beginners learn how to make stop-motion movies. The stages and character parts are vivid and varied. The handbook is detailed and covers a wide range of topics, including various style of animation, all...

The latest addition to the Beginner Books series fits in well with the type of books we've come to expect. With the exception of a few rhymes whose rhythm threw me off just a bit, the prose is a nice, steady cadence that encourages early readers to move quickly through...

This bright, colorful board book plays an engaging game of hide n seek with young readers. Large, vivid pictures of friendly Halloween staples (Jack o Lanterns, witches hats, brooms, and candles) will draw readers in, while the hint of Boo's tail on each page will keep them delighted in the...

What I Loved: From the first page, Kadrey creates a dark, eerie atmospheric tension that permeates the entire novel. Fans of the creepy and the strange will love the way the world within the novel becomes increasingly surreal and off-balance. The world building is detailed and fascinating,...

What I Loved: There's so much to love about this book. The world building is superb--as a girl who grew up in the 80's, I recognized myself and my music. Every detail, from the clothing to the hair styles to the sensory descriptions of the setting, painted...

What I Loved: The premise is unique--a girl who plays football and gets voted as the team captain instead of her star quarterback boyfriend? Sign me up! I'm also a sucker for a bad boy who really isn't a bad boy at heart. Add in some nuanced...

What I Loved: Can I just say "everything" and get away with it? Because really, I loved this book to pieces. This is the first time I've ever met a heroine who reminded me so much of myself. Cath is a distinctive heroine who will either resonate...

MY BLUE IS HAPPY is a fresh, engaging story that encourages young readers to celebrate seeing the world through their own unique lens. Colors and what they mean are explored through the eyes of the narrator, who comments on how someone else sees a color (Her brother thinks that red...

Perfect for very young children, this board book is a colorful, engaging introduction to the biblical story of Noah's ark. Each page has a single word and a bright, colorful illustration, allowing the parent to explain the picture in terms the young child will grasp. The last page of the...

Perfect for very young children, this board book is a colorful, engaging introduction to the biblical story of Daniel in the lion's den. Each page has a single word and a bright, colorful illustration, allowing the parent to explain the picture in terms the young child will grasp. The last...

What I Loved: What a sequel! I really enjoyed HEMLOCK, book one in this series, and was hoping to be just as enthralled with THORNHILL. I'm happy to report that THORNHILL captures one of the best parts of HEMLOCK: the fast-paced, suspenseful action that grabs the reader...

What I Loved: Spare, evocative prose quickly draws the reader into a harsh world where survival is the number one priority and human relationships are a distant second. There are no flowery, romanticized descriptions here, and that works to make the writing as starkly atmospheric as the...