The Three Royal Children and the Batty Aunt:The Three Royal Children Book 1: An Adventure Story for Bored Children
Written by Angela Castillo
Three royal siblings are bored with life within the castle walls. Then one day they meet their aunt and her talking bat in an isolated part of the castle. She brings the siblings on a fantasy adventure that upends their boring existence.
This chapter book is part of a series. In this volume, readers learn about the value of friendship, good manners, and cooperating with others. An interesting read for children in grades two through six.
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Grateful Hearts: A Children’s Book about Gratitude, Feelings and Emotions, and Animals
Written and illustrated by Emily Hartmann
This is an adorable picture book filled with soft and beautiful illustrations of animals. It is appropriate for babies and toddlers. Each page spread features an animal family sharing their thanks and wonder for another day. There are only two lines of simple rhyming text.
A charming book to share and celebrate family love with babies and toddlers.
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Unstoppable Girls: 10 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Kindness, and Believing in Yourself (The Unstoppable Series)
Written by Manish Chamoli
Ten short stories for modern-day elementary and middle school girls. The characters in each meet the challenges girls face as they grow up in this generation. These characters learn patience, self-confidence, and resilience. They discover the value of friendship and how to handle bullying. Perhaps the most valuable section of the book is the page of reflective questions that follows each story. It guides the reader to understand the lesson and how to implement it in their own lives.
This book can be read as a series of bedtime stories, read aloud or in a group discussion. It provides readers with strong female role models and practical advice.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fast, funny, manga-inspired graphic novel that blends fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and family appeal. When a cheeky underdog hero is pulled into a world of monsters, doppelgängers, and an army of rats, Zicky must rely on wit, courage, and unlikely friendships to survive. Bursting with kinetic action, playful mischief, and relatable growing pains, Zicky is a perfect gateway to manga for younger readers and a joyful, high-energy adventure for kids, teens, and families alike.
Praise: “Smart, energetic graphic novel blending fantasy and touching real-life emotion. Cape smashes expectations and keeps the pages pleasurably turning, all while grounding the chaotic story in the growing pains of children and the anxieties of the adults raising them.” —Booklife
Shawn Hainsworth is the creator and writer, as Darin S. Cape, of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. The story began as bedtime adventures he invented for his own children, with Shawn playing the role of Zicky, a super-secret ninja who went on adventures while everyone else was asleep. Those family stories eventually grew into the world of Zicky, a graphic novel celebrating imagination, courage, family, and the hero inside every kid. Shawn lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife, two teens, and two hound dogs. He is the publisher of SHP Comics and is currently working on the sequel, Zicky: The Cursed Blade.
Zeno Decrux is an accomplished illustrator and comic artist with over nine years of experience in the international independent comics scene. His work spans a diverse range of comics and manga titles, where he brings a dynamic, expressive style and a strong commitment to quality on every project. Passionate about storytelling through visuals, Zeno continues to push his craft forward with each new collaboration.
Jorge Luis Gabotto, also known as Hiorsh, is an Argentine cartoonist and writer from Mar del Plata. A visual arts teacher, puppeteer, and musician, he brings a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. For him, comics are a fusion of art and literature—a cinematic form that combines movement, atmosphere, and emotion. His work explores themes of love, time, and perception, offering readers a personal and poetic vision of the world.
MY BOOK REVIEW:
Day vs night. Immediately, the reader recognizes that Zicky transforms himself into a hero everynight.
The images conjured up in Zicky’s dreams are reflected in vivid colors and daring action shots. Zicky might lead a dull daily existence, but every night he becomes a superhero fighting against the army of rats. The book is broken into five chapters, which makes it a good choice for a beginning reader or for an adult to read aloud and then discuss with the child. Young readers enter a cinematic world that literally moves the reader and involves him as an active participant in the adventure.
The author suggests an audience of nine plus, but younger children interested in action adventure will be mesmerized with this appealing graphic novel.
Shep begins his life as an overzealous pup. He has a large head and teeth. Shep is clumsy and frequently finds himself in trouble. Soon his owners reject him and he finds himself homeless until one day he encounters a lonely man. Can these two find friendship and a happy home? Will Shep grow up to find acceptance and his place in the world?
This is a short book that is appropriate as a bedtime story. It appeals to children who enjoy animals and stories about family pets, friendship, and individual differences.
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Soli Wants to Sniff EVERYTHING!: A Funny Interactive Picture Book About Curiosity, Impulse Control, Boundaries, Safe Choices, Listening, and Knowing When … Bedtime) (Soli’s Silly Adventures 2)
This book is part of a series about a solenodon. You have probably never heard of it. Solenodons are large shrew-like mammals.
In this tale, the solenodon cannot contain his impulse to sniff everything he encounters. That might be a sandwich, cake, shoe or sock. Lots of humor in the illustrations. Readers are asked to interact and give opinions on whether to smell or not.
The book is a helpful way to discuss issues like impulsivity, make safe decisions, and learn impulse control. It provides a non-threatening way to help primary grade readers to handle their behaviors.
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Stephen is excited. National Good Deeds Week is coming up soon. He loves the challenge of finding good deeds to show kindness to others and cannot wait to accomplish his checklist.
Despite his good intentions, Stephen is disappointed when some of his ideas go terribly wrong. He must learn to readjust, persevere, and find alternative solutions. This book teaches elementary school readers lessons about kindness, empathy, and resilience.
This book is a good teaching tool for parents and teachers who want to explore these issues with their children.
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Talon, Come Fly with Me: Inspirational Story about Friendship
Written by Gigi Sedlmayer
This tender story has won multiple awards. The protagonist is Matica, a young girl who is born with a disability that makes her small. She lives high up in the Peruvian mountains. Matica is ostracized for this disability. She searches for a friend. Matica forms a friendship bond with two condors. She names them Tamo and Tima. In time, the village marvels at her talent to communicate with these creatures and to protect them from danger.
The book is an inspiration for children with disabilities who face ridicule and disdaindue to their individual differences. Teachers might use the tale as a resource for class discussions on bullying and disabilities.
The book is an easy read for middle-grade, young adult and adult audiences as a lesson in empathy and true friendships.
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I Love You More Than Anything: Children’s Book About Emotions and Feelings, Toddlers, Preschool Kids
Written and illustrated by Emily Hartmann
This is a perfect read aloud or bedtime story for toddlers and preschoolers. It provides parents or teachers with a perfect way to discuss the variety of emotions a young child feels. The book communicates the important message that a parent always loves its child no matter what emotion is present.
The illustrations portray animal and child scenes with typical emotions like fear, anger, frustration, shyness, or sadness. Each contains four lines of rhyming text that are easy for a young reader to understand.
As a parent and educator, I highly recommend this one for preschoolers and toddlers.
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How to Write a Novel Before You Turn 13 : 13 Steps for kids to Turn Creative Writing Into a Book (Write Your Own Book)
Written by Ollie Ood
I was impressed with the scope of this guide for budding young authors.
Each chapter details the writing process sequence from generating ideas to a finished, published work.
Subjects include subject ideas, character, plot, dialogue, point of view, conflict, setting, and publishing. The author includes templates for implementing each step. At the end of the book, readers find examples of successful authors under the age of thirteen.
In my opinion, the book is a wonderful resource for middle-grade and young adult prospective authors seeking to publish their first novel.
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November 1, 2026
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