Transitions are hard for toddlers. When they are doing something that they want to do, they do not always want to accommodate the schedules and needs of their adults. This title in the excellent Terrific Toddlers series focuses on this issue. There is a charmingly illustrated story for the children and a helpful suggestions for adults at the back of the book.

Raising children is a hard job and adults can use help. It is good to have a series like this that addresses common childhood concerns.

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

by Sarah Fox

There is a lot going on in this cozy title. There are a murder, a possible hidden treasure, and vandalism on a film set. Then there is the amateur sleuth, her book themed pub, her cocktail creations and her romantic life. There is also a nice, small town setting in Vermont. This all makes for a perfect confluence for readers who like their mysteries without too much violence and with the right amount of plot. I recommend this title for those readers. It was a fun read.

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

by words&pictures

This is an adorable book on colors for the youngest children. The illustrations are vibrant, colorful and sweet. The rhyming text will appeal to toddlers who can also look for objects in each two page spread.

Share the world of color with someone you know. You will both enjoy this title.

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

Many of this author’s books are on sale now.

A Penny Brannigan Mystery

by Elizabeth J. Duncan

#OnDeadlyTides #NetGalley

On Deadly Tides is the eleventh title in the Penny Brannigan series of cozy mysteries. Penny, who is in her 50s, is a Welsh amateur sleuth who always land in the middle of things. This entry is set in scenic Anglesey where Penny is enjoying a group painting excursion. Unfortunately for her ( but not for readers), Penny finds the body of a New Zealand journalist. How did the journalist come to be there? Who is the murderer?

Along with solving the case, readers will follow Penny’s personal and romantic life. Those who enjoy cozies may well want to give this title, and the series, a look.

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

1 book, 100s of things to find!

by AJ Wood

This is an entertainingly and brightly illustrated search and find book. There are objects for each number in the highly detailed drawings and also some extra puzzles along the way. As an example, for number 7, kids are asked to find 7 different dogs and their pups and then 7 balls, bowls, bones and 1 hot dog! Number 9 has all kinds of things we wear and then the mouse asks kids to find his underwear. This is typical of the title’s humor.

The book is inviting and is a great way to learn numbers and to practice visual skills while searching for the objects mentioned. I highly recommend it. Five stars for its intended audience and adults will enjoy it too.

Pub Date 24 Nov 2020

The Big Book of Espionage

by Otto Penzler

No one does an anthology better than Otto Penzler of the Mysterious Bookshop. His anthologies are filled with stories; this one is no exception coming in at over 800 pages. This may make it the perfect gift for someone that you know this holiday season. They will be immersed in tales that will keep them going for a while.

The book starts with an essay on espionage in its glamorous fictional guise. It is pointed out that the lives of real spies may be a bit more dull. Then come the stories. They are by writers well and less well known and cover historical eras including The Great War, World War II, “Other Terrors, Other Battles,” and The Cold War. Some of the many authors included are W. Somerset Maugham, John Buchan, Edgar Wallace, Eric Ambler, Erle Stanley Gardner, Joseph Finder, Sara Paretsky and Ian Fleming, among others.

This is a great book for you or someone on your gift list. Highly recommended.

Let’s Go Dreaming, Book 2

by Shanita Allen

This book for young listeners is about dreams, the kind that we have at night and also the kinds of dreams that we dream during the day. The story is told by a child to his dog. Note, that the dog speaks, initially surprising the child. I am not fully sure how well this works as the story’s mechanism. It felt less than perfect to me.

What children will take from this book is that dreams can be lovely. They are described in terms of many senses.

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