Children's books are an inexhaustible source of wonder because they offer memorable lessons that help young readers better understand life and essential values. Rarely, though, have I come across as many valuable lessons as in Tyler Zen's book, Lulu the Moon Catcher. Lulu is a...

Ida and the Unfinished City by Carolyn Cohagan is the second book in the Lost Children series. Ever since a curse fell upon her, Ida has been stuck at the age of twelve and longs to be her actual age of sixteen. All she wants...

Secret of the Starflower: Rainbow of Spectra is a work of children's fiction by author Jessica Kopecky. Sandy wasn’t like the rest of the seahorsicorns that she knew growing up in Spectra. While everyone at school had pretty colors and could vanish as a way...

Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover, written by David Horn and illustrated by Talitha Shipman, is a supersonically exciting sci-fi adventure for early readers, set in outer space on the AstroLiner Athena. Especially geared toward elementary school readers who are addicted to dreaming...

Dregz by Suzanne Hession is an intriguing fantasy story about kings and destiny. King Halvar needs an heir to take over his throne, finding possibilities in two youngsters in the village orphanage who have been best friends their whole lives. The requirements include strength, fortitude,...

Isle of Tatsu: Sometimes Danger Follows You Home by Susan Foust is written for kids with an adventurous spirit. The story follows brothers Sam and Matt Sawyer. Matt, aged ten, and Sam, fourteen, were excited to take their family's 40-foot sailboat on an unsupervised week-long...

The Prison for the Magically Cursed is a work of fantasy fiction by author Brett Perkins. Excitement and adventure begin with the very first line as "Green flames twisted around Tallon’s fingers as he raced through the forest." The tension builds considerably as Tallon tries...

Shadow’s a dog; Foxy and Sparkles are squirrels. It doesn’t matter that they’re different; they’re still best friends. Shadow once saved a lost baby squirrel, Little Whitey, and that’s what cemented the friendship. There are other wild animals (and not so wild, too) who have...

The Antidote by Susan McCormick blends elements of urban fantasy, YA science fiction, and the paranormal to create an engrossing tale filled with lessons for young readers. Alexander Asclepius Revelstoke is a twelve-year-old kid in Seattle with a unique gift: the uncanny ability to detect...