Reviews written by C.J. Redwine

I absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are colorful and full of life. The relationship between the brother and sister is warm and authentic. And the slices of ordinary life shaped into stories will definitely hit home with young readers. As a mother of teen boys and a much younger...

What I Loved: The story begins like any average kid's story but then takes a sharp left turn into a whirlwind of imaginative play. I found myself smiling the entire time I was reading. The author perfectly captures the make-believe world kids see as they play ordinary...

What I Loved: Lovely watercolors and whimsical illustrations truly bring this story to life. Children will recognize themselves in Snippet's adventures as he plays with his sister and his parents, is warned not to ruin his dinner, and then wakes far before the rest of his family...

What I Loved: This series is an excellent way to introduce young readers to graphic novels or comic books. Simple text and illustrations make it easy for early readers to follow along and eventually take ownership of reading the book. The subject matter (playing tricks on friends...

What I Loved: This graphic novel is perfectly accessible for younger readers (ages 4-8). Simple illustrations and concise text make this an easy "first book" for many readers to manage on their own. The themes of young children problem solving and learning how to navigate a friendship...

What I Loved: As a lover of classic volumes of fairy tales, I appreciated that TOWERING reads like a classic fairy tale in both tone and pacing. The story is given to us through the perspectives of both Rachel and Wyatt. The author does an excellent job...

What I Loved: The premise is fascinating. I love the idea of a long-lost twin trying to sabotage and eventually take over her sister's identity. There were plenty of creepy, suspenseful things in the story--like finding things slightly out of place in the heroine's bedroom or getting...

What I Loved: What a thrill ride this book is! Perfect for those who love dystopians, thrillers, high stakes adventures, or romance, this book hits all the right notes for male and female readers alike. With a fascinating premise, constant action, and a heroine unlike any other,...

What I Loved: In this compelling sequel to last year's IMMORTAL RULES, Ms. Kagawa delivers yet another fast-paced, gritty story that is as much about defeating the villain as it is about holding on to what makes us human. The world building is...

What I Loved: The relationships between the characters shine in this book. Every character feels fully realized, even the character who dies in the beginning. The strained love between mother and daughter will ring true to readers. The "are we friends or should we be...

LEAP WRITE IN is a comprehensive tour of a writer's inner thoughts, emotions, and memories while also providing opportunities to flex one's creative muscles by trying new styles of writing. There are prompts for poetry, stream of consciousness, memoir writing, and sensory descriptions, among other things. Emerging writers will find...

This story reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books. The chapters are very episodic, and the main focus of the book is to show the reader pieces of the Amish lifestyle through the life experiences of Lily Lapp. The Amish culture, schooling, and farming lifestyle are depicted...

What I Loved: There's no shortage of adventure in MONEY RUN. The plot twists and turns with every chapter. Readers who love books that give you very little down time will enjoy this story. There are spies, assassins, thieves, billionaires, rare cars, cops, gadgets, improvisation, chase scenes,...

In this beautifully illustrated book, Zach the bear has a loose tooth and worries that the tooth fairy is human and either won't visit him because he's a bear or will be dangerous to him when she does visit. The story sets up the potential to teach a valuable lesson...

Beautiful illustrations and a strong plot line make this an interesting book for young readers. The excellent financial lessons (living within a budget, approaching money needs with an entrepreneurial spirit, and factoring in the cost of supplies when figuring out profit) are made easily accessible to kids. ...