Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

Robert Munsch has a uniquely entertaining style.  It is shown to good effect in this counting book.  While your child counts to twelve, s/he can search the illustration for the object that is being represented.  A fun addition to the genre.

This is a fun compendium of jokes and riddles that will be enjoyed by both kids and adults.  Some examples:

Why are hairdressers never late for work?  They know all the short cuts.

How much room is needed for fungi to grow?  As mushroom as possible.

What treat is never on time?  Choco-late

What kind of lights did Noah use on the ark?  Flood lights.

If any of these made you smile, this is a book for you or a child that you know.  There are cartoon like illustrations with each joke.  These add to the fun.

Highly recommended for those with a funny bone!

TheWorldsBestJokesForKidsVolume1 #NetGalley

I loved Donna Leon’s first Brunetti mystery, Death at LaFenice, which, like all of her novels, takes place in Venice.  The setting is critical to Ms. Leon’s series and she truly brings it to life in each of her novels.  I am currently reading the forthcoming Unto Us a Son is Born (thank you NetGalley) and can already tell that I will be giving it many stars.

My Venice is about this expatriate author’s life in her chosen city.  It is an e-book bargain for today.

From Booklist

Katherine Hall Page has written a series of cozies featuring Faith Fairchild.  Faith is a New York City caterer who falls in love with a minister in small town Aleford, Mass.  The books follow Faith’s relationship with her husband, her children, her friends and her community.  They are reliably good cozy mysteries.

Today, Small Plates, is an e-book bargain.  If you want, you can taste this author through her short stories and then decide if you would like to read the novels.

PRAISE:

From the Back Cover

I have read several books by Katherine Reay and will rank this one among my favorites. It is the story of three women who run a bookshop following the death of one of the protagonist’s relatives. The main characters are Madeline, who inherits the shop; Clare who feels unseen by her family and struggles with her teenage daughter; and Janet who made one mistake that led to the end of her marriage and another that led to a major crisis for the store. The stories of these characters overlap and form the basis for the novel.

The novel takes place in a small town outside of Chicago. The location feels idyllic as does the bookshop.

If you have ever had a dream about owning a bookstore that enhances a community, you will enjoy this novel. There are definitely struggles for the store but the author makes owning a bookshop feel so worthwhile.

I enjoyed this novel very much. There are friendship, romance and books, books, books within these pages. An added bonus was the number of books that are named in the novel and the complete list of those titles at the end. This list is a great resource for future reads.

So…if you like a light story with a great setting, think about this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book about books.

I ordered this book from England and am so glad that I did! This is the first mystery by M.B. Shaw (aka Tilly Bagshaw) who is a modern Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh. All of the elements for a successful series are in place and I hope that Ms. Shaw keeps writing. The characters are well developed and nuanced; each is unique and has a backstory. The mystery is solved through the protagonist’s acute observational skills. Iris Grey, amateur sleuth, is an artist who brings a certain sensibility to the small English village where she has rented a cottage. Getting to know her and the victim, successful author, Dom, and his family kept the pages turning. Highly recommended for mystery lovers with a British bent.

In today’s world we often are typing away when we want to communicate. Depending on your age, you may or may not have studied penmanship in school. Want to learn? Need a refresher?

In this book, the author offers the opportunity to begin to master hand lettering. There are examples of font styles, suggestions about art materials to use when lettering and a recognition of the importance of practice. There are many workbook pages to utilize while progressing.

If you would like to be able to do artistic hand lettering, whether for an art project, an invitation or for your own pleasure, this book could be a valuable tool. Take a look.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher…I am off to practice.

This is both a very charming and a very instructive book. If you want to learn to draw and paint adorable animals, you can learn how here. There are detailed instructions on supplies and steps in creating the animals shown. There is also support for the need to learn and acceptance at not being perfect. However…If you don’t want to draw, you might enjoy just looking. The illustrations are adorable!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto!

T

This picture book has the most lovely and appealing illustrations, as can be seen from the cover. I adored them!

The story begins with Hedgehog who loves her garden. Children will see how carefully she cares for it and will learn about the flowers that she grows. So far, so good, but…one day, the flowers are destroyed.

Hedgehog is very upset. She begins to accuse other animals, all of whom are adorably illustrated, of ruining her garden. From this, children may gently learn that it does not do to accuse others without evidence.

Next, Hedgehog does some investigating, finds out who the culprit is and they become friends. At the end of the story, you will see how the thief is literally transformed!

This book is further enhanced by a section that offers suggestions for adults to help children get the most from the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this enticing book.

#StorytimeThePrettiestFlower #NetGalley

Some good escape reading for the season as other stresses rise.