​The Girl with the Magic Ponytails
Written by Karen J Young
Illustrated by Yoko Matsuako
Age/Grade Level: Not available
My guess – PS – 3.
 
Here’s my review and a Baby Stella doll from Amazon . . . My review – it was #1!

​I saw this book online and instantly loved the cover. It ​reminds me of my granddaughter. She had tiny ponytails at ​

​six months old.  I needed a birthday gift so I looked up the book on Amazon. I loved what I saw so I ordered the book along with a Baby Stella doll who looks like my granddaughter.
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I read the book and knew I had to review it. It’s wonderful! One of the illustrations even looks like my grandgirl. The story is as cute as the illustrations. Riley has perfect ponytails. They’re not too high or too low. They’re just right! Whenever Riley hits a problem, she can count on her magic ponytails to help her out. What I love most about this book is that it helps little girls realize that they’re just-right the way they are. That’s empowering!

Chicken in School
Written by Adam Lehrhaupt
Illustrated by Shahar Kober
Age Level: 4 - 8                                                          
​Grade Level: P – 3

​What can Zoey the chicken do when her best friend Sam the pig wants to go to school? She starts one in the barn. I love the way Zoe thinks! Books build imagination. Crayons lead to adventure. She even comes up with a yummy idea when Cow’s upset. She wanted math, not recess. Zoe’s solution –  food story problems. This is a great book to help young children discover school.

B is for Buckeye
Written by Marcia Schonberg
Illustrated by Bruce Langton
Age Level: 6 - 9                                                 
​Grade Level: 1 – 3
 
OMG – I have the top review on Amazon, and here it is!
 
I was looking for a Buckeye ABC book for my granddaughter. She’s one so this wasn’t a perfect fit, but she can grow into it. Each spread has a rhyming couplet that match the illustrations, but she’ll need to grow into the sidebars. They have small print and details that are perfect for an older child. 

King Arthur’s Very Great Grandson
Written & Illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel
Age Level: 5 - 8                                                          
​Grade Level: K – 3

​I read this book back in 2012,  and I liked it a lot! Meet Henry – he’s the 7 times great grandson of King Arthur. Henry sets out with his helmet and sword to find knightly adventure. He meets five monsters, but they won’t fight. Henry discovers something better. I loved this book until I reached the ending. That’s where I wished for just a little more fun. 

Bad Guy
Written by Hannah Barnaby
Illustrated by Mike Yamada
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 3

​I absolutely loved this story! It’s sibling rivalry at its best. Parents, be careful! You don’t want the kids teaming up against you.
 
The story - The bad guy does mean things, especially to his sister who runs away whenever she sees him coming. It doesn’t work. He still ties her up or dumps spaghetti on her . . .  Till sister manages to trap him, and then, things get really interesting. Kids will love this book!

Time Out For Sophie
Written & Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Age Level: 2 - 5                                                              
​Grade Level: PS – K

​Poor Sophie! She wants to be good, but it’s hard. She can only do it for so long before she does something naughty and winds up in time-out. First it’s her mom. Then her dad, but when Sophie tangles with grandma, there’s a twist on her time-out trouble. Sophie is such a great character that Rosemary Wells wrote 3 more books about her.  

Nightsong
Written by Ari Berk
Illustrated by Loren Long
Age Level: 4 - 8                                                         
​Grade Level: PS – 3

​Looking for a sweet story about a child trying his wings for the first time? This is it! Chiro wants to go to the pond by himself. His mom Ari pushes her fears aside and lets him go . . . with only this advice . . .  sing your own song. You’ll find a brand new world, and then, you can find your way home again. It’s great advice, for you. And me too!

​ Emily’s Perfect Christmas Tree
Written by Catherine Christensen
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Age Level: 4 - 8                                                          
​Grade Level: PS – 2

​Emily has trouble finding the perfect Christmas tree. She looks and looks, but there’s something wrong with each one. Emily winds up with the last tree, the worst one of all. Can she find enough Christmas spirit to be happy anyway? Read this cute story, and find out!

Aria Jones & The Guardian’s Wedia
Written by Malayna Jones
Age Level: 9 - 12                                                                                                  
Grade Level: 4 – 7
 
If you read the first Jagger Jones book like I did, you couldn’t wait to get your hands on this one. It didn’t disappoint! Little sister Aria gets to be the main character. It starts with a field trip to an Egyptian museum where a pair of statues pass her some bracelets. They’re really tickets to the past. Aria hurries home to pack her bag, grab Jagger, and answer a call for help. Tatia is Pharaoh now, after the death of her father, mother, and step-brother, and she’s dying too. The Gods have stopped talking to the royal family, but they sent Aria and Jagger to help Tatia. Can the siblings figure out how to save them in time? You’ll have to read to find out, but be prepared – you won’t want to put this book down.

PS – Book 3 is in the works, and I can’t wait to read it!
PPS – If you haven’t read Book 1, here’s the link to my review:
Rinda Beach - Beach Reads - Rinda Beach

Lily To the Rescue
Written by W. Bruce Cameron
Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer
Age Level: 7 - 10                                                                   
​Grade Level: 2 – 3

​I loved this story! I didn’t know I needed a mentor book for a dog story I’m working on, but this is perfect. The dog is telling the story from her point of view, from how she views her kids. I loved how he used words like ‘school’ or ‘playing ball’ to help you understand Lily. This book is SO WELL DONE!
 
The story – Lily was once a rescue dog who was adopted by the vet who ran the animal shelter. Lily comes in and ‘works’ with the other cats and dogs in the shelter. She plays with them, but that teaches them the social skills they need to be adopted. This adventure begins when Lily meets a crow with a broken wing. The best part – the author’s note that tells you about the real crow facts that the author wove into the story.
 
If you don’t recognize W. Bruce Cameron, maybe you recognize one of  his titles – A Dog’s Purpose. It’s so good that it made me laugh and cry. That’s incredible writing! He also writes chapter books for kids. He has 9 puppy books, and Lily was one of them. Now he also has 8 books in the Lily series. I can see why – this book is full of great characters!