Month: March 2022

Even Animals Have Best Friends!

by Sophie Corrigan

Ostriches and zebras; warthogs and Banded Mongooses; Elephants and Baboons; Sloths and Sloth Moths; Bushveld Lizards and Oogpister Beetles-these are just some of the animal buddies who feature in this title. What brings these animal friends together? Young naturalists will enjoy finding out in this interesting and well-illustrated title.

KIds (and adults) will learn about symbiosis in its varied forms. This will help them to understand why certain species spend time together. Be sure to look at the friendly facts that provide additional insights. Read in order or page through; either way there is a lot to learn.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title will be published on 28 Apr 2022.

An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (13)

by Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is probably best known for his No 1 Ladies Detective series. My favorites of his though are the the Isabel Dalhousie books. They combine beautiful titles along with a love of philosophy and a woman of a certain age in Isabel. Over the course of the novels readers watch as Isabel is tormented by someone at her journal, finds a relationship, becomes a parent and more. At the same time, readers enjoy spending time in Scotland and getting to know those around her including Isabel’s unlucky in love, niece Cat.

This time, in the 13th book in the series, Isabel is asked to be the executor of a Highland estate. What troubles will this bring to her? As if that is not sufficient, what is up with Cat and her latest love interest?

The books in this series are gentle and enjoyable. I highly recommend this entry and all of the others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for this title. All opinions are my own.

From a good historical mystery series. Find the review at joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews.wordpress.com

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE SHORTLIST BOOKS FOR THIS WEEK. THESE ARE RECENT TITLES THAT ARE TEN DOLLARS OR LESS

A counting story from 0 to 7.5 billion

by Kristin Roskifte

Everybody Counts

This book offers a rather original way of conceiving a counting book. I enjoyed the way that it was illustrated; the people are in color while the backgrounds are in outline.

Unlike other counting books that I have reviewed, this one offers up more for introspection and discussion. While it has a familiar “seek and find” aspect, some of the subject matter might be a bit dark for young children. For example, the number 7 offers a police lineup.

I would suggest that families who purchase this title take some time to discuss the pictures with their child. There seem to be a lot of worried people in these pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opiniona are my own.

From the Publisher:

One person. He is lying in bed counting his heartbeats. He wonders how many people are looking at the same stars right now.	Six people in an elevator. One of them is scared he’s missing out. Two of them feel lonely.	Eleven people on a soccer team. Ten of them like playing soccer. One of them dreads going to school.	Twenty people in a school history class. One of them is thinking about all the people who’ve lived before us. One of them is thinking about a lost teddy. One of them is dreading soccer training. One of them will become president.

Fifty people in a mall. One of them has great ambitions. One of them is worrying about a disappointed customer. Two of them are planning an important event.	Seventy-five people running a marathon. One of them has won the lottery and is only running because he’s happy. Two of them are sisters but don’t know about each other. One of them likes going to strangers’ weddings and funerals.	A hundred people in a schoolyard. One of them will soon fall and get hurt. One of them will develop a vaccine that saves millions of lives.	A thousand people watch a large comet that won’t pass close to Earth for another 2,533 years. Many of them wonder whether there is life on other planets. None of them knows for sure what the meaning of life is.

Winner of the 2019 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize and the 2019 Gold Award for Visual Communication from Visuelt / Grafill Nordic Association.
Shortlisted for the Brage Prize, Norway’s most prestigious literary award, and the World Illustration Awards 2019.

365 Devotions for Women by Women

Are you someone who likes to begin or end the day by taking a moment to step out of daily life to think about things? If you are, and have a religious spirit, this book that is filled with 365 short reads may be just the thing for you.

For each day’s entry readers find a quote from the Bible, along with a short narrative that combines daily life and a Christian perspective. Topics include loneliness, a parent’s love for a child, helping those who are struggling and more. There is an entry for every day. Readers are sure to find their favorites within these pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Our Daily Bread Publishing. All opinions are my own.

This title will be published on 05 Apr 2022.

by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Kristy Woodson Harvey writes the kinds of stories that readers enjoy. Those who have picked up books by authors including Dorothea Benton Frank will want to give this title a look. It is a women’s fiction title that has heart.

As is currently popular (and enjoyed by me), this story travels across several time periods. It spans many years, running from 1914 to the present day. The common thread (no pun intended) is a wedding veil, its history,meaning and beauty a part of the narrative.

This is a story about women who face challenges and changes. Readers will be absorbed spending time with everyone from a bride who feels uncertainty about her wedding in the present day to a grandmother who is making changes. One part of the story that I especially enjoyed had to do with a real people, Edith Vanderbilt and her daughter.

Is there a connection between the Vanderbilts and the other characters? Read this one to find out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for THE WEDDING VEIL

“Bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey will undoubtedly knock this out of the park.”—Zibby Owens, Katie Couric Media

“The author easily switches between the time periods to locate momentous events in the characters’ lives and connect each story line with the veil at the center. Harvey, ever a fine storyteller, manages to keep the pages turning.”—Publishers Weekly

“Finding inspiration in the true story of Edith Vanderbilt and her mysteriously disappeared wedding veil, Harvey intertwines a veil’s generations-spanning journey, the lives of the women who wore it, and the strength required to remove the veil and follow one’s heart instead.”—Booklist

I confess that when I first heard about this book I wasn’t sure that I wanted to read it but then I saw so many positive blurbs that I decided to give it a try. I am so glad that I did!

This is historical fiction that will undoubtedly be enjoyed by those who have read Ariadne (or similar stories) and those who have followed the stories about Marcus Didius Falco in ancient Rome. As is true for the other books mentioned above, Ms. Harper succeeds in creating a world filled with a sense of place. Life is not always easy there and especially not for the protagonist, who endures life changes due to circumstances beyond her control. However, Amara will give all that she has to try to create the life she wants. Follow along with her in this book that will have you turning the pages rapidly.

CONTENT WARNING:

This is a story about a woman who is sold into prostitution in historical Pompeii.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

The First School by the Sea Novel

by Jenny Colgan

Are either of these answered “yes” by you?

1. I envied that my children had the Harry Potter series to read. Could I please have a boarding school series of my own?
2. I always enjoy Jenny Colgan’s novels.

If you said yes to either or both, you will most likely enjoy this (re-issued) novel by Ms. Colgan. Even better will be the knowledge that this is the first in a four book series.

Spend time with new teacher Maggie in gorgeous Cornwall. Also get to know the school, its students and Maggie’s colleagues.

This is escapist fiction that surely does what it intends. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this enjoyable read. All opinions are my own.

An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers

by Jessica Roux

So, now we have social media and everything is always out there. But, long before our time, people found their own unique ways to communicate. One of these was via the message of flowers. For those who yearn for a more peaceful time or who would just like to have a bit of fun, this title offers a perfect guide.

Readers learn that this practice began in 1819. From there, it became quite popular as a (clandestine) form of communication. The author notes that, although floriography has not been so popular since WWI, remnants remain. Two of the given examples were that roses still signify love while lilies are often used in mourning.

This book includes numerous gorgeous illustrations. The text offers “definitions” of what each symbolizes.

I enjoyed this title. It can be viewed as a general guide to flower identification or as a way to think about communication.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.