Reviews written by CJ Redwine, Site and Staff Manager

What I Loved: The world of TWINMAKER effortlessly swallows the reader. Even though so much of it is futuristic and different (d-mat booths used for travel, fabbers used to create anything from food to guns etc), the reader is instantly grounded in the culture and lifestyle of...

What I Loved: I've been a fan of Katie McGarry since her debut novel PUSHING THE LIMITS hit the shelves. McGarry's strength lies in her ability to perfectly capture each character's unique voice, make her readers feel connected to those characters, and then play out their stories...

This book is chock full of trivia guaranteed to keep any child interested for hours on end. From typical bathroom humor to information about weird and wonderful anomalies in nature, this book has something for everyone. My seventh grader was immediately engrossed and kept saying the things he was reading...

This warm, captivating tale will capture the hearts of young readers. My preschooler was fully engaged in the story, though some of the words and phrasing were difficult for her to understand. I explained the things she didn't know, and enjoyed using this book to broaden her vocabulary. The story...

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...