Really fascinating story! I appreciate the elements of creativity, upcycling, and helping family and community members. The illustrations are well donReally fascinating story! I appreciate the elements of creativity, upcycling, and helping family and community members. The illustrations are well done, but I especially liked the photograph of Nelson's "store" at the end. Really fun! Both kids and parents would enjoy this unique picture book. ...more
I read this after reading Melanie Benjamin's "The Children's Blizzard" to see the real life events that she drew from. This was a pretty quick read anI read this after reading Melanie Benjamin's "The Children's Blizzard" to see the real life events that she drew from. This was a pretty quick read and the real stories are just as gripping as the novel. It was easy to identify the inspirations for several of Benjamin's characters.
I did get a bit tired of the extensive explanations of weather patterns, and wish the author could have included some photos, but perhaps none were taken of this tragic event. Photos of some of the people he talked about would have been nice. However, this was a very informative and fairly well-written book. I'm not sure I would have read it without reading Benjamin's novel first, but it was a good follow up....more
Thanks to Bloomsbury and Edelweiss for early access to this title.
This is really a lovely book about a difficult subject - death and what happens whenThanks to Bloomsbury and Edelweiss for early access to this title.
This is really a lovely book about a difficult subject - death and what happens when something dies. Using a fox, the author tells the science behind decomposition, and how all the elements of life are used by other creatures and plants in the cycle of living and dying. The end pages go into more depth, and help to educate kids on this process. The illustrations are lovely and tell the story without going into sentimentality. A great book to help kids who may have lost a pet, or just for anyone wanting to know more about this natural process. Highly Recommended! ...more
3 1/2 stars. Super interesting premise! It got kind of long and a little bogged down in places, but I enjoyed the writing style. I completely agree wit3 1/2 stars. Super interesting premise! It got kind of long and a little bogged down in places, but I enjoyed the writing style. I completely agree with his conclusions. Very interesting to think about....more
Super cute potty training book! I love Mo Willems anyway, and this is a fun way to help your child with that all important learning task - going to thSuper cute potty training book! I love Mo Willems anyway, and this is a fun way to help your child with that all important learning task - going to the potty. Willems gives detailed instructions! Kids can learn and parents can get a giggle out of the fun text and illustrations....more
Such a beautiful book! Kadir Nelson is one of my favorite illustrators, and the nuance and beauty of his art in this book is very moving. Kwame AlexanSuch a beautiful book! Kadir Nelson is one of my favorite illustrators, and the nuance and beauty of his art in this book is very moving. Kwame Alexander's words are powerful and heartfelt. This is both a beautiful and important book to share with young people, and it leaves a lot of space for education and discussion. Highly Recommended!...more
This wasn't my favorite graphic novel, but I did learn a fair amount. The illustrations are quite simplistic and more like a comic book. The story is This wasn't my favorite graphic novel, but I did learn a fair amount. The illustrations are quite simplistic and more like a comic book. The story is straightforward and tells the life of John James Audubon and how he created his famous book Birds of North America. Is a fine read, not terrible but not great either....more
This was pretty fun! The illustrations are quite childlike, and a little too naive for my taste, but they get their message across. The 3 1/2 stars -
This was pretty fun! The illustrations are quite childlike, and a little too naive for my taste, but they get their message across. The sayings - "advice" - are cute and what you would expect from this little book. Not a lot new here, but a cute, quick read that will bring a smile to your face, whether or not you like dogs!...more
Wow this was good! It took me a really long time to read for some reason, but I never lost the thread of the story or what was happening with each of Wow this was good! It took me a really long time to read for some reason, but I never lost the thread of the story or what was happening with each of the "characters." Although its primarily supposed to be a biography of Churchill, his family and associates get a lot of in-depth examination as well. I know pretty much only the main lines of all this history, so it was fascinating to get such a behind-the-scenes look into this extraordinary time.
Its almost unbelievable that the Brittish people were able to survive this period, and the eventual outcome was anything but sure. I knew the US involvement turned out to be key, but didn't realize the extent to which Churchill worked to make that happen.
I also really liked seeing so many of the other players in the drama, their motivations and involvement. I particularly liked the parts dealing with Mary and her diary, and how she saw the war and all the incidents that were occurring.
Larson's writing is extraordinary! This book reads almost like a novel, but he still includes all the endnotes that you would expect from a scholarly work. For anyone who's a fan of this time period, this is a must read! Highly Recommended!...more
Thanks to Quarry Books and Netgalley for an early copy of this book.
I was blown away by this book! I loved all the instructions, particularly the sectThanks to Quarry Books and Netgalley for an early copy of this book.
I was blown away by this book! I loved all the instructions, particularly the section on Procreate, which I've wanted to learn for quite a while. The lettering itself is really beautiful, and Kim's instructions are clear and easy to follow. The photographs are lovely, and, along with the illustrations, help to make this book a great resource for anyone wanting to learn this skill. A great practical and creative book!...more
There's a lot of really good food for thought here, but its a little on the unbelievable side. I did enjoy the audio, which is narrated b3 1/2 stars -
There's a lot of really good food for thought here, but its a little on the unbelievable side. I did enjoy the audio, which is narrated by the author, and he has a very pleasant voice and presentation. I'm compelled enough to read his other book, "The Untethered Soul" - I think I'll enjoy the philosophy / spiritual side of things more than the actual biography....more
Really nice book! The photos are very helpful, and I appreciated all the different sizes, shapes, colors, and abilities of the models. It made me feelReally nice book! The photos are very helpful, and I appreciated all the different sizes, shapes, colors, and abilities of the models. It made me feel that I indeed could do yoga and succeed! A great introduction to yoga for anyone who wants to try it....more
Thank you to Netgalley and Workman Publishing Company for early access to this title.
This is quite a book! While I didn't agree with every choice (reaThank you to Netgalley and Workman Publishing Company for early access to this title.
This is quite a book! While I didn't agree with every choice (really?? No "Handmaid's Tale"??) I was fascinated by the books that were included. Many, I hadn't heard of, but many were ones I've had on my "to read" list for ages. I liked the extensive commentary with each book, with the real greats having whole pages dedicated to them. This is an excellent book for anyone who loves books! I can see my library purchasing this for our own collection development. Great idea, and done quite well....more
WOW. This is an incredible tale, masterfully told. I was deeply moved by Westover's story, and am grateful that she chose to share it with the world. WOW. This is an incredible tale, masterfully told. I was deeply moved by Westover's story, and am grateful that she chose to share it with the world. Her story is incredibly brave and truthful, and I read it pretty much in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Part of the engagement for me was that I'm quite familiar both with LDS culture and the area of the world she grew up in, but I don't think you need that background to understand this memoir. Her writing style is very engaging, and I would love to see what she could do with a work of fiction, or with some narrative non-fiction - history of course! For Westover herself, I hope so much that her life continues on the positive path she's put it on, and that she will be able to find closure with her family and her childhood. I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone! While there are some hard things to read, the truthfulness of the story and her life path make this a real inspiration for both older teens and adults. Highly Recommended!...more
Really good book! Candace Fleming is a fantastic historian and writer for kids, and she does a masterful job in relating the story of Barnum's life foReally good book! Candace Fleming is a fantastic historian and writer for kids, and she does a masterful job in relating the story of Barnum's life for her audience. I liked that she doesn't shy away from the controversial aspects of his life, and that she presents a nuance, balanced picture of a complicated man of his times. This is a great book to read, particularly if you've enjoyed the recent film "The Greatest Showman," which is less than historically accurate. It would be a fun classroom discussion to compare the two, and open up conversation on the more controversial aspects of Barnum's life....more
Very interesting book! Its very much the same as some of the others I've read lately, but I think his was the first to articulate these ideas. He has Very interesting book! Its very much the same as some of the others I've read lately, but I think his was the first to articulate these ideas. He has some great insights and advice on getting and keeping yourself motivated. A large chunk of the book is aimed at businesses, but there are a ton of great take-aways for individuals, too....more
This is a wonderful biography of Mary Blair! The colors in this book match the artist's own. This is a great biography for tweens, and one that parentThis is a wonderful biography of Mary Blair! The colors in this book match the artist's own. This is a great biography for tweens, and one that parents can learn a lot from as well. The writing is good and the illustrations are wonderful!...more
This was ok, and has some interesting elements. I enjoyed hearing a lot of the tales, but it got fairly "same-y" after a while. I do wish they had incThis was ok, and has some interesting elements. I enjoyed hearing a lot of the tales, but it got fairly "same-y" after a while. I do wish they had included photos of all the places the author talked about, and maybe a map. Maybe this book is solely for a British audience who knows all these places already, but for American me, I a had to keep googling them as I read. I did like that the author takes his subject seriously, but with a scientists outlook - open-minded that there might be something to these tales, but also upfront that much could be attributed to natural causes. I think people who are interested in ghost stories and paranormal events would enjoy this....more
Thanks to Netgalley and Dawn Publications for early access to this title.
Absolutely delightful! The illustrations in this one are just stunning in botThanks to Netgalley and Dawn Publications for early access to this title.
Absolutely delightful! The illustrations in this one are just stunning in both their realism and their artistic presentation. I really liked the "I Spy" aspect of the book. The simple yet effective rhymes tell a wonderful story of life in the tall treetops of the redwood forest, something I knew nothing about. The longer explanations at the back of the book are excellent for teachers and parents to help them further a child's understanding of this amazing ecosystem. It certainly makes me want to visit the redwood forests and experience some of this for myself! This is a book both parents and kids will enjoy, and is a great one to read aloud. Highly Recommended!...more
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