What strikes one most deeply while reading I Miss My Best Friend - a condensed tale of love, friendship, and loss – is Penelope Lagos’s decision, decisively well executed, of telling a most personal family story. This is not a generic rendition of “our family...

In the Dog House by J.R. Poulter is a rambunctious tale for young readers about an odd family, but in fact, as one reads on, it’s not such an odd family at all. There’s Uncle Murgatroyd, Pop, his Aussie nephew, Ma and young BC (Bang...

Nap Time With Harry is a wonderfully picturesque children’s adventure, written by Claressa Swensen and illustrated by Yogesh Mahajan. As young twins Tony and Tina watch cars drive by on the street below, a bright red car flies up to their apartment window. Driverless, the...

It’s only natural to become attached to a teacher, one that sees you every day and knows your good points and your bad. When that rhythm of regularity is interrupted, though, and the regular teacher is replaced by a substitute teacher, everything is different. There...

Rude Rutherford Robin by Sally Lee Baker is a fun read which emphasizes the letter ‘r’. Riley Rat finds Rutherford Robin rude and tells that to Rachel Rattlesnake. Rutherford Robin calls Riley Rat a rodent and Rachel Rattlesnake a reptile, and they both are angry....

Little Rocky is a Norway Spruce tree. He’s not as big as the other trees in the forest. Nor is he as strong, and his branches are bent the wrong way and his needles are seldom green. All Rocky wanted was to be chosen as...

On her first day at Delwick High, sophomore Faith Ticknor is experiencing a mixture of anticipation, fear, and excitement. Being the “new girl” is not fun, but at least she could hope for the best. She had friends in Brownsville and was confident she would...

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the good in others, especially when the others look bigger and stronger. Differences can be frightening, but they don’t have to be. Muffy was a small dog. Injured by another dog, a bigger dog, Muffy decided that all big dogs...

Giggle a Little Giggle by V.A. Trafton is a fun read with a good message that will take young readers into the world of a little girl who giggles at everything. It is a beautiful day and, as she watches skateboarders and roller skaters whiz...

Zesta and Friendship by Patricia Johnson is about a little boy, Henry Mandras, whose family relocates to Cialtro, Italy. Henry was a bit sad because he’d miss all his friends he’d be leaving behind. However, Zesta, the horse of many colours, was there to guide...