Readers of my blog know that I regularly recommend each entry in this series. Now, there is (finally) a compilation of these excellent biographies for young children.

There are fifty stories here. Each is inspiring and interesting. The entries are organized by time period. There are so many names to choose from among the many. I will just include one from each section here: Lucy Maud Montgomery, Josephine Baker, Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking and Mindy Kaling. No matter where you dip into this book, you will find a good bio. Each short entry has a portrait and quote and is followed by a detailed time line with story pages that, I think, are from the original books.

The book opens with a brief note from Ms. Sanchez Vegara. She notes that learning about people is a strong interest of hers and that she most definitely likes telling stories that will encourage children to dream. She has done just that with this title. Buy it for a child you know. It could make a perfect holiday gift.

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

Ms. Cochrun has written a fun book that will, I think, be enjoyed by many. Readers follow Dev and Charlie, all the while wondering if there will be a “happy ever after” for them and if so, with whom? You may think you know and you may even be right and yet, this is still a book that is easy to spend time with.

I enjoyed the notion of setting a book on the set of a reality tv show. I don’t watch shows like The Bachelor but this may seem familiar to fans of such series. I liked the behind the scenes story. I also enjoyed the character sketches and the over the top way that the contest was portrayed.

Gay relationships are a part of this story. Readers early learn that Dev has been hurt by another man who works on the show. Will he move forward and find love? Will Charlie who is supposedly brilliant in business but lacking in how to deal with others find what he is looking for? Read the book to find out.

By the way, spend a minute to think of what the title of the book does or may mean. I had a few thoughts on this.

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

A Sesame Street ® Guide to Caring for Your Dog

by Marie-Therese Miller

This is the perfect book for a young child who is about to add a dog to the family. Sesame Street characters and photos partner with a helpful, age-appropriate text. The characters teach something that cleverly pairs with one of their own traits. For example, Oscar talks about pets needing some alone time. There is also good information about puppy care, including everything from supplies, to going to the vet, to baths and more.

I highly recommend this adorable book for its intended audience.

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

Stories for Christmas

by Bernadette Watts

I adore the delicate illustrations that enhance this collection of Christmas stories. There are eight tales in all. Some of these are well-known as, for example, The Little Drummer Boy, and The Snow Queen while others were not as familiar to me. All are nicely told but what will keep readers coming back are the absolutely gorgeous illustrations; definitely could be a picture book of the year in my opinion.

There is a note at the end of the book from the illustrator which is entitled “How I Became an Illustrator.” I am so glad that she did!

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

A Novel

by John Banville

John Banville has written at least six books in the Quirke, Dublin set, dark(ish) mystery series. The stories are set in the 1950s. For those who are looking for the older entries, they were published under the name Benjamin Black.

April in Spain hearkens back to an earlier case. That story was told in Elegy for April. Now, while on vacation, Quirke thinks that he spots April. Can it be her? What could this mean?

This book may be most enjoyed by those who remember April. As it true for other titles in the series, it is not a happy story. Still, those who like a Dublin (Spain) noir may want to give this one a read.

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

sleuthofbakerstreet.ca/i/1584200/October_2021_e_MOM_Print.pdf

nyti.ms/3FtO8zo

Right now Matt Amodio will walk away from Jeopardy with over one million, two hundred thousand dollars. So, clearly trivia can be both fun and profitable or maybe both together. In any event, those who enjoy challenges will enjoy this title.

The author includes over 4,000 questions. So many categories are covered; to name some: General Knowledge, Movies, Music, Science, Religion, Geography, Classical Music, Art, Mythology and many more. Luckily the answers are also provided!

I found the questions to be challenging and discovered I knew much less than I thought. Still, I will have fun dipping in and out of this title to test myself.

The author also offers a lot of practical advice on how to run a quiz night. This was quite helpful.

All in all, an excellent resource for its audience. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title.