Month: March 2020

What a great resource for kids who are getting a dog, have a dog or just love dogs. This book is well organized with many appealing photos and illustrations. There are things to make like treats, toys and dog beds, facts on breeds, quizzes and more. Even more important though are all of the helpful sections on how a dog communicates and how to train and raise a dog so that the dog and all family members are happy.

I highly recommend this excellent title. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

“Far out at sea, the water is as blue as cornflower petals and as clear as the purest glass.” So begins this version/translation of the well known fairy tale. It is nicely told here. The text is accompanied by pen and ink drawings that enhance the text. This Hans Christian Anderson tale is the basis for the Disney movie but is not the same. Read this for yourself or with a child that you know.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to reread this beautifully written story. All opinions are my own.

We are all looking for diversions as we hunker down at home, whether for ourselves, with other adults or with the kids in our lives.  This book includes games to be played by one, by two or by two or more players.  There are the rules for 75 card games including everything from Go Fish to Spite and Malice to various solitaire games.

I highly recommend this book.  It will provide some fun as we while away the days at home.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#SuperFunFamilyCardGames #NetGalley

From the publisher:

Not too much so far today.  A romance for escape, a detective series that I don’t know but is quite a bargain and part of an old mystery series whose protagonists are a bit like Nick and Nora Charles.  The Kate White has not yet been published but can be preordered for $3.99.

The “other” Windsor Girl is Princess Margaret, known to many because of the successful tv series, The Crown.  This book is another way to gain perspective on Margaret, those around her and the times in which she lived. Readers will move through the sedate 40s right up to the 60s.

The narrative includes a mix of historical and fictional people and a wide variety of both royal homes and places where Margaret spent time. The most prominent of the fictional characters is Vera who becomes a lady in waiting to Margaret, thus giving her a fly on the wall perspective to royal life.  Her story is one of making choices after coming under the royal gaze.  Are the choices that she makes ones that she will regret?

The underpinning of the novel is the impact that being A princess but not THE princess had on Margaret who garnered less attention and found it difficult to establish a meaningful life.  She often wanted what she could not have and did not want what was there for her.

In my opinion, this novel started a bit slowly but  is worth staying with until the end.  The skill of the author is such that I kept hoping for Margaret to have the life she yearned for, especially in her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend, all while knowing what happened historically.

This book can provide a bit of escapism as we all are in our homes dreaming of having a more exciting life.  I rate it at four stars.

I love this book! It is a picture book about a girl who looks forward to bedtime stories with her dad each night. This favorite time is disrupted when dad gets a new job and is too busy and distracted for this ritual. Taking matters into her own hands, Shailey advertises for someone to read to her. Readers will chuckle as Shailey edits and modifies her help wanted ad based on the applicants. For a further sense of fun, the applicants are all characters from favorite children’s stories. Both adults and children should enjoy recognizing job seekers like Cinderella and Goldilocks. The end of the book is sweet as the best applicant, gets the job.

At the end of the book are amusing personal statements from a few of those seeking employment, including Robin Hood and Tinkerbell. There is also a caution to keep devices and distractions away from story time.

All in all, this was a delightful story with great illustrations. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pierre & Paul tells the story of two friends with imagination. Read the book and look at the illustrations to get a sense of the avalanches at hand. This is a simple, amusing story of two young boys that switches between English and French. There are contextual clues to help with the language that a child may not speak. The book provides a way to expose children to bilingual text. I especially liked the illustrations.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very short but cute and effective book.  Toddlers will enjoy seeing the animals playing instruments as, for example, penguin plays the piano.  They can then press a button to hear the sound that the instrument makes.  This simply but cheerfully illustrated book is certain to be a hit with its young audience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Alya and the Three Cats is a very sweet and appealing book.  The illustrator captures the look and feel of each of the cats, all of whom enjoy being treated like princes.  Myriam lovingly cares for Minouche, Pasha and Amir.  The cats love climbing on Myriam but…what is happening?  Myriam is getting larger.  Why does she leave one day and return with a pink basket and what is inside it?  Will there be enough love to go around?

Young children will enjoy this story, both to see the delightful illustrations and to understand a bit about bringing a baby into the home.  It could be a great gift for an older sibling.

I truly enjoyed this adorable title.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

A little mystery, a women’s fiction title and some classics.  The Bostonians is free.