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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie's Grotto)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nessie and the Celtic Maze is Book Three in the Nessie’s Grotto series. This delightful children’s chapter book continues the adventures of siblings Craig and Linda, and Nessie, The Loch Ness Monster. Craig and Linda’s parents have taken them to Canada so they can be far away from Nessie. However, when the children learn that Nessie’s daughter, Princess Sheona is in trouble, they know they must find a way to save her. Luckily, there is a secret underwater passage that goes from Canada to Loch Ness. On the other side, in Scotland, is a young lad named Angus who is also trying to help Princess Sheona. Encouraged and supported by his mom, Angus learns to be brave. A cute story with whimsy, magic, mystery, adventure, and fun. A great addition to this series.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My family and I have read several picture books by this author, so we were extremely excited to see her branch out into chapter books. I was a little hesitant as picture books are quite different, but pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this even more! My kids are 8 and 12, and I’m obviously a tad older, but we all gathered around and read this book in one day. I loved the cover immediately, and once I read the synopsis, I knew we were going on an adventure! The flow of the story is marvelous and seamless. I never felt jolted out by an oddly placed fact or chapter. This was such a fun and mysterious adventure where you’ll have a lot of questions that will absolutely get answered. I highly recommend picking this up for the younger ones in your life whether that’s in your family or in a classroom!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Alison Risher

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Return to the land beneath the lake, or in this case, lakes. An underwater maze connects a lake in Scotland to a lake in Canada.
The legend of the Loch Ness monster is featured in this tale. Children are chosen to be special helpers of a magical, mysterious underwater creature. Actually , in this story, more than one magical, mysterious creature.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Deb Robinson

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My grandson and I loved this book. The message was right on point and sparked a conversation on asking for help when we need it. Even adults need this message as well. My grandson loved all the animals and how they worked together. The illustrations are so bright and vivid. Really grabs young readers to check out every page and talk about each one. Excellent book. We will be reading more from this author.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Felicia Bates

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home may be my favorite adventure of Cray yet. I loved the illustrations and the change in environment with woodland friends! As always, the book read smoothly and my seven year old loved reading it to me. I love that there is a lesson woven within the pages, in this case, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Another great read in a wonderful children’s series.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Alison Risher

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Readers learn about Chinese New Year. Specifically, the author shares how Lunar New Year is celebrated in New York City by an Asian-American family. Witness the bond between two generations of sisters. Learn how an Asian-American community views extended family, as well as close family friends. View family discipline through a cultural lens.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Reluctant Spy is a children’s chapter book full of mystery, suspense, excitement, a mad scientist, a rat trainer, and mysterious earthquakes. The story centers around Timmy, his grandma, and their pet rat named Hildegarde who is smarter than the average rat. Timmy and his grandma set out to uncover what is causing mysterious earthquakes in their small town. The adventure sees Timmy setting Hildegarde off to the mad scientist’s house outfitted with special spy gear. Hildegarde might be the only one who is able to find out the truth. The story is fun, entertaining and enjoyable with a mix of quirky characters added throughout. Timmy and Hildegarde have a special bond even though he was uncertain about having a rat in the house in the first place. Grandma is quite an interesting character with her sense of humor and witty attitude. An enjoyable read.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes. This is such a great story for younger kids. This whole series is wonderful and my nephew and I have loved them. We’ve read them all together. In this addition Hay the Fox and Cray the Crab are headed to Hay’s mom’s birthday party. On their way they run into a few obstacles but figure out ways to overcome. On the journey they learn that it is ok to not know everything and its ok to ask others for help. Making new friends along the way and finally arriving at the party they have the best time. The lessons taught in this addition are its ok to ask for help, its ok to need help and new things are fun. These books make wonderful gifts for families with small children and teachers for their classrooms. I have loved every one of them and my nephew has too!

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu reviewed by Phylis Carpenter March 2024

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always looking for books that my grandchildren may like and I think this is one of them. It was well written and it shows that sometimes accidents may happen but they can and sometimes do work out.

I would like to get them to love reading as much as I do.

Lorie and her sister, Weina are excited about Lunar New Year and the money that they can get in those envelopes. The more envelopes they collect could result in getting the gift they would like to buy.

Check out the story and get if for your children or even the grandchildren.

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, #2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The latest installment of the Detective Dylan series has Dylan, Emilie and their dog searching for the bases to their baseball field. This is a cute story that has children using their creative skills to figure out where they can be. The birthday party? The toddler pirates? Who might the culprit be? My grandson and I giggled through this story. He enjoyed the mystery. I enjoy the fact that he is able to work on his language and reading skills as we read the story together. In searching for clues, kids will also be able to learn some basic math. It’s really a fun story that has some educational value that they don’t realize because the story is so entertaining. Our favorite part was the toddlers asleep on the equipment. We will be eagerly awaiting the next book.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this chapter book from Lois Wickstrom, its such a different read from her. In this book we meet Timmy and Grandma as they train their pet rat Hildegarde to discover the cause of the earthquakes. I really enjoyed this book I would recommend it for older children aged 8-12 years.

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Treasure Hunt (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Treasure HuntTreasure Hunt by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fantastic book from Lois, Carrie is enjoying going through the boxes in grandmas closet, learning new words and meanings. In this book we learn the word DOWSE and the multiple meanings, will she get DOWSED in water or find something special?

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Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay)Beach Ball Blunder by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This fantastic book from G Pa Rhymes teaches children about being honest when you make a mistake. The book is really easy for parent and child to read together. I loved the illustrations and beautiful easy to read prose.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Gabrielle

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a sweet and fun read. I enjoyed meeting sisters Lorie and Weina as they celebrate the Lunar New Year. It was interesting to see what they did as a family to celebrate and the great relationship that everyone in the family has. The sisters work together to figure out what happened to their red envelopes.  As an Asian myself it is nice to see a book that shows more of the Asian culture with readers.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Hannah Porter

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Here I am again enjoying yet another great read from the author Lois Wickstrom. I have read multiple books from this brilliant Author but mostly the picture books. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw she had written a chapter book. It’s awesome because I got to read it with my older nephew who usually enjoys the other books also. We both found it to be a very Unique and interesting book. We read it in about 2 days, reading before bed. As always I love how the author always adds in some learning aspects.i look forward to reading more from her both picture and chapter books 🥰🥰

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always a fan of the author’s picture books, so when I had a chance to read her youth chapter book, I was so excited and she definitely did not disappoint. I thought she did a wonderful job of weaving together a delightful and amusing tale that children of all ages will enjoy. I do miss the illustrations from her picture books, but the author did an amazing job of creating a well written and vivid story. I absolutely loved all of the zany and fun characters she blended together. The interactions between Timmy and Hildegarde absolutely cracked me up and I found his Grandma a really fun and interesting character. I absolutely enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone looking to read a cute and engaging story with fun messages for kids woven within.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Nichole Chrisman

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book for early chapter book readers. It follows two sisters celebrating Chinese New Year and trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Weina’s red envelopes. This book helps readers learn about how a different culture celebrates New Year, their traditions, and explore a mystery at the same time! This was very engaging and a quicker read if you are reading it to someone. Very cute!

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Jenni Bishop

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, #2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dylan and his gang are back with their detective hats on when they find the plates missing when wanting to play baseball. Unravelling the mystery and piecing together the puzzle is what they do. But what happens when those pesky pirates get involved?
This is a children’s chapter book with an easy-to-read format. It is not only interesting, but it is educational as well. Children will delight in this adventure and helping solve the mystery of the missing plates.
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate is a short and sweet read, and full of adventure, for children, around the ages of 5 to 10. It is a book in the Youth Sleuths series and this story is lots of fun.
Let the adventure begin.

 

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Emily H

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie's Grotto)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hair raising adventure for young children. I like the folklore of this story and the adventures the children take. Beautiful illustrations only help add to the fantastical world Craig and Linda are in. I think this is a great series to help peak interest in other countries. Has a little bit of everything you would look for in an adventure book.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes is the fourth book in The Adventures of Cray series. In this book, Cray goes with his friend Fox Hay to her mother’s birthday party. Along the way, they run into situations that test their bravery. This is a great story that shows how friends will be there for you if you just ask and how to be brave in scary situations. The different scenes make it easy for kids to understand how to be brave even when they are afraid. It also shows how to advocate for themselves by asking for help and how to help those who ask. All great lessons for kids to learn early. The illustrations are beautiful as usual.

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6591435-nessie-and-the-celtic-maze” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348004429l/6591435._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6591435-nessie-and-the-celtic-maze”>Nessie and the Celtic Maze</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2948111.Lois_June_Wickstrom”>Lois June Wickstrom</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6311039340″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Craig and Linda are on vacation again. Yaayy!! When Jacques has the kids coming with him on the fishing boat, Craig and Linda’s parents worry after their last adventure. They don’t want the kids seeing or talking about any monsters. Well this time Nessie needs there help to rescue Princess Sheona. She got trapped in the maze by a bunch of boulders. Craig and Linda do what they know best. Help Nessie!<br />This book was really good and a super fun little adventure.
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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Jennifer Crain

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As they search for clues, Dylan’s detective skills are put to the test. With the help of Emily’s keen eye and Theodore’s impressive sniffing abilities, they follow each lead, unraveling the mystery one step at a time. Along the way, they meet a colorful cast of characters, each with their own motives and secrets.

MJ Murray’s writing is engaging and fast-paced, keeping young readers on the edge of their seats as Dylan and his team race against the clock to find the missing bases. The story is filled with clever twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

The characters, particularly Dylan, Emily, and Theodore, are endearing and relatable. Readers will root for this dynamic trio as they work together to solve the case. The bond between Dylan and his sister is heartwarming, showing that teamwork and perseverance can conquer any challenge.

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Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jayme Raffauf

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Reluctant Spy is a really cute book that is a quick read and would be great for elementary readers (ages 7-12). The short chapters allow the book to move at a fast pace and the story immediately gets your attention relating to our unexpected character of Hildegarde. The tie in to science was interesting and possible aliens! I am so glad that I had a chance to read this and I look forward to passing it along to my sons for them to read. I mean, who doesn’t love a spy story with a really smart rat and the thought of aliens?!

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Dylan, Emily and Theodore the dog are back!!! Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate is Book 2 int he Youth Sleuths series and this story is fun with engaging illustrations with a new mystery to solve. Wonderful chapter book for ages 5-9, this story can be enjoyed by the young and young at heart!

Where did home plate go? Dylan, Emily and Theodore are ready for their first softball practice of the season, but when Coach Farmer notices not only home plate missing but the other bases too, how can the team practice to get ready for the new season without their bases? Detective Dylan is on the case along with Emily and Theodore, they will investigate to where the bases are….with an adventure of meddling pirates and the up to no good Benny Brothers. Will Dylan, Emily and Theodore be able to solve the mystery of the missing bases…

I really enjoyed this adventure and mystery….such a fun read. I am looking forward to more adventures and mysteries to solve with Detective Dylan, Emily and Theodore the dog!

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray

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〰️ 🔎 〰️ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE 〰️ 🔍 〰️
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray
Hosted by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits
Genre – Kids Cozy Mystery
Page Count – 80
Dylan and his little sister, Emily, don’t go anywhere without Dylan’s detective kit. Their trusty dog, Theodore, is always by their sides, ready to lend a helping paw. One sunny Saturday, the trio heads to the ball field for some practice, only to discover a puzzling problem—the bases are missing! Determined to crack the case, Dylan, Emily, and Theodore set off on a mission to locate the missing bases.
For reluctant readers or newly independent readers, books in this series can be read in any order and are packed full of reading-level appropriate text, interesting content, and fast moving plots. This story includes 20+ illustrations to keep readers engaged.

~ AMAZON ~ BARNES & NOBLE ~ KOBO ~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cray was so excited to be going to a birthday party!! It is Fox Hay’s mamma’s birthday high up in the mountains. It would be a long trip, but also an adventure! They saw animals of all kinds, plants high and low, and they even needed help along the way. It can be scary facing new things, but you can still be brave. Asking for help when needed can make adventures less stressful. This book was so cute!! If helps younger kids build courage through out different obstacles they may come across in life. Being scared and facing those fears. I think that this book is wonderful for kids, BUT it is also great for adults to read too. The tips in the back are so helpful and I encourage adults to read this one!!

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Megan Conley

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely love Hildegarde the rat and Grandma…though I do have a soft spot for pet rats 🙂 Wickstrom has done it again with her chapter books…I love reading a chapter or two with my kiddos at night or during our weekly reading time. Wickstrom’s books (picture and chapter) are so engaging and have so many lessons woven throughout them. I love Grandma’s sense of wit throughout the book and I feel that Hildegarde had her own wit as well. Timmy’s first meeting with Hildegarde made both myself and my kids giggle and I love his reluctance to really trust “a rat.” I really miss the illustrations of Wickstrom’s picture books because they are just so well done (I know, I know…it’s a chapter book…but who says you can’t have pictures too!). This is a great read for anyone wanting to spend some quality time with their kiddos. It really does make for a great read aloud.
Reviewed by @meggs1717

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars
The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom

The Reluctant Spy is a fun chapter book aimed for children ages 7-12 but I think children of any age can enjoy this story. This author is one of our favorites so we had to read it This one doesn’t have colorful illustrations to go along with the story but that didn’t stop my son and his imagination. Follow along with Timmy on his adventure of a lifetime when he finds a very special mouse named Hildegarde. What happens when they find themselves on a spy mission? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. We look forward to reading more from this Author.

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto Book #3) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Angela Hayes

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

3.5 Stars

 

Nessie and the Celtic Maze is the third book in the Nessie’s Grotto series by Lois Wickstrom. This continues the ‘Nessie’s Grotto’ adventures in the intriguing chapter storybook series for children aged 7 – 12 years-old.
It is another epic fantasy with adventure, myths & legends, action, family dynamics, drama, emotion, suspense, challenges, tension, a rescue, friendships, and more.
To help bring everything to life, there are some cute illustrations sprinkled throughout the storybook which help to set the scene.
The story is woven around Loch Ness, Nessie – the Loch Ness Monster, a secret passageway, a friend in need, a rescue mission, and the challenges that brings. What happens makes for an intriguing read.
The series:
-Nessie and the Living Stone (Book #1)
-Nessie and the Living Gold (Book #2)
-Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Book #3)
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Lois Wickstrom!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Missing Red Envelopes is a fun and engaging read with wonderful illustrations to go along with the story. This book is more toward ages 7-12 but can truly be enjoyed at any age…not only did my great nieces and great nephew enjoy this story but I learned something about the customs of the Lunar New Year as well.

Lorie and Weina are celebrating the Lunar New Year with family as this is a special holiday to celebrate and this includes the gifting of special red envelopes…but when they go missing…Lorie and Weina need to retrace their steps to find their envelopes as they have special plans with the contents inside.

This is a wonderful story..and I highly recommend.

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