Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

The author of this book has collected mantras that relate to different categories; these include Peace, Love, Happiness, Strength and Journey. There are gentle and attractive illustrations throughout each of these sections.

Some of these mantras are tried and true and will be familiar, while others may be less so. For each, the author includes a Mantra Action and a Mantra Benefit. One example:

“Live More. Worry Less.” The author suggests an action which includes a meditation for calming fretting. She also lists a benefit, in this instance, seeing your shoulders be less hunched and the reader feeling better over time.

Many may well enjoy spending a moment each day to center and reflect. This book can help to do just that.

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

#FindYourMantra #NetGalley

This is a funny and entertaining short read that young children will relate to. Nancy wants the cornbread…all of the cornbread. She involves her listeners in ensuring a successful plan of securing this treat for herself, only herself, but what happens? Little ones will be amused to find out as this book provides a nice, not at all preachy lesson on sharing. The illustrations engage the reader and add to the story. Perfect for toddlers who understand the concept of “mine.”

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

#NancysGeniusPlan #NetGalley

I received this e galley in exchange for an honest review. I am not sure if this was the finished copy. The first pages had colored illustrations, after which the remaining pages were black and white. Deliberate? Something for children to color? Not the finished copy? I just don’t know.

Nonetheless this is a cute book with playful illustrations. The pages start with waking up in the morning, move on to getting ready for school, being there and, of course, returning home at the end of the day. A quick sample of words which are both concrete and abstract; playing, cereal, scooter, friends, goldfish, sharing, crayons, sandwich, skipping rope, smiling and gold star, along with many others.

This is a book for toddlers and adults to look at together. Children can point to objects while adults can familiarize a chlld with what school is like.

This is a fine book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

What Really Matters is about just that. This book of short readings, one for each day, is about living a life in accord with one’s values and beliefs. Taking the few minutes in the morning (or later) to pause, read and reflect, is a wonderful way to have a day that is filled with kindness and mindfulness. There are suggestions for bible verses to study which I think readers may delve into further should they wish. I myself don’t. The book is geared towards those who are Christian but the underlying messages are for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Pub date:  March 2020

This book for young readers includes facts about 25 holidays. Some of the celebrations are secular or national (Thanksgiving, July 4th, Bastille Day, Groundhog Day, Anzac Day), while others are religious (Easter, Rosh Hashana, Christmas, Hannukah, Eid al Fitr). In addition to the holidays and celebrations just mentioned this book features fourteen additional days to remember. Throughout the illustrations are whimsical, bright and engaging.

This book will be a good addition to the school library shelves. It is broadly based with holidays from all over the world including China, Japan, India, Africa and more.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I enjoyed celebrating with you.

What a day!  I am especially excited about Maya Angelou’s poetry which I just purchased.  For a comfort read, no one is better than Maeve Binchy, the wonderful Donna Leon is here and look at all those bests!  Enjoy.

A groundbreaking novel of its time and a National Book Award winner: “[A] fine, honest, and moving a study of a young doctor” (The Atlantic Monthly).”

I read this one many years ago and it has been on my wanting to re-read list for a while.

A treat from Zadie Smith

I knew that the musical, Come From Away, was quite successful. However, since I was living in Manhattan on that fateful 9/11, I thought that I would never see Come From Away. I thought that it would bring back too many memories of an impossibly stressful, sad and difficult time. Then, this past spring, a friend got tickets for us and off we went, only for me to conclude that Come From Away was a fantastic show and one that was uplifting. I immediately began proselytizing for this musical, telling friends to see it. Of course, not everyone can get to Broadway, but this book will give readers a rich flavor of the play and its context.

Illustrated with photos of Gander and its surroundings, with sections on history and context, comment and information on the folks whose creation it was (the authors of this book, by the way), interviews with the cast and residents, and dialogue from the play’s book, Come From Away includes so much.

Given how much I loved the show and the people of Gander as they were portrayed, I was absolutely thrilled to be given an e galley of this title by NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. I give it 4.5/5

Lots of nonfiction today including

  and also: