Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

I reviewed this book as you can see in my archive. Library Journal recommends it highly.

GALLOWS COURT (Poisoned Pen, paper, $15.99) seems awfully bloodthirsty for a traditionally designed mystery set in foggy old London in 1930. Rachel Savernake, the daughter of a dearly departed “hanging judge,” is determined to carry on the family legacy. “The judge is dead,” she declares, “but I inherited a taste for melodrama.” So when a woman’s body is discovered in Covent Garden but her head turns up elsewhere — and in a trunk — the atrocity prompts Rachel to exercise her sleuthing skills. Little does she know, or care, that the author’s designated detective is Jacob Flint, an eager-beaver reporter for a not entirely respectable newspaper.

Rachel and Jacob dance around each other, but theirs is not a romantic relationship. Fans of clean-cut heroes will be rooting for Jacob, although some of us would rather see devilish Rachel clean his clock. Either that or commit a clever, more refined murder of her own.

Miyuki is eager to welcome spring and to see her flower bloom. While her grandfather counsels patience, Miyuki is so impatient that she cannot do this. The story unfolds as Miyuki goes on a journey searching for water and learns that things happen in the time that is meant for them.

This is the second collaboration by the author and illustrator. As in the first book, Time for Bed, Miyuki, the text and illustrations complement each other well. As can be seen from the book cover the reader looks at peaceful, gorgeous, imaginative scenes.

I hope that I will get to spend more time with Miyuki, her grandfather and her world in the future. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this lyrical volume. All opinions are my own.

Editorial Reviews

This is a wonderful nature book for children. In it, they will learn about the Citizen Scientists’ Christmas Bird Count. The reader watches as a young girl, her mom and Big Al go out on a cold winter’s day to record all of the birds that they see; the reader learns about how the count takes place as, for example, a bird must be seen by at least two people for it to be counted. Along the way, there are facts about different birds and their calls; the birds can easily be found in the appealing illustrations.

There is bonus content at the end of the book. Information is there about both the birds and the author. There is also a section on additional resources.

This is a very good book for children who would like to know more about birds. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is targeted to a young elementary school aged audience. It is divided into short chapters and has beautiful, vibrant illustrations. Madam C J Walker Builds a Business tells the story of Sarah Breedlove from when she was the first in her family born in freedom, not slavery, through her remarkable business success and accomplishments. Sarah faced many obstacles including the closing of her segregated school, the deaths of her parents, her difficult time living with a sister and her sister’s demanding husband, her early marriage, becoming a parent and her husband’s violent death. The book shows how Sarah went from this background that included the most menial jobs to becoming Mrs. Walker and a woman who was incredibly successful in building her business centered on caring for African American women’s hair.

This is a detailed, readable biography. There are additional sections at the end of the book to encourage further learning. This book should be in classrooms and is highly recommended.

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

#RebelGirlsSeries #NetGalley

See my earlier reviews of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek  and Carnegie’s Maid in my archive.  I have read, enjoyed but not reviewed The White Shepherd.  16 Lighthouse Road is the start of a women’s fiction series with multiple books and recurring characters.

This is a story for young children that is about how animals hibernate in the winter.  It is told through the point of view of a young child who is visiting his grandmother. Children will learn a lot of interesting facts as they look through this beautiful, peaceful and charmingly illustrated book.  A great resource for young nature lovers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

In each cutaway scene, see what the child cannot—that underground below his feet are dens with sleeping creatures, and within the hollow trunks of trees, animals are nesting. After the story, annotated illustrations explain the hibernation facts for each animal and what they will do when they wake up for spring.

WHAT IS HIBERNATION?

Can you imagine going to bed in winter and not getting up until spring? When a snowy blanket arrives, much of the world seems sleepy. The sun feels lazy. The nights are long. Trees look undressed. Ponds freeze over. Fewer birds sing. Even the flowers are resting.

With plants shutting down for the colder, darker winter months, there are few flowers, fruits, nuts, and leaves for animals to feed on. There are also fewer insects to eat. It is difficult for many creatures to find food and keep warm. Instead they snuggle up somewhere secret, sheltered and safe.

Hibernation is a special kind of deep sleep. It helps animals live through the coldest and hungriest times, by saving them energy. They find or make a place to hide, out of danger from hungry predators.

Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and minibeasts have different kinds of winter sleep…

BAT

In chilly places, bats spend most of the winter hanging upside down, snoozing in their roost. They store up warm fat on their backs and bellies, to give them energy.

HEDGEHOG

A hedgehog builds a nest of leaves in winter. This is often under a shed, in an old rabbit burrow, or under a compost heap. As it sleeps, rolled into a tight ball, its body temperature drops from about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35°C) to about 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5°C).

This cookbook is utterly charming! It pays tribute to Louisa May Alcott with quotes and background, including a very informative introductory essay. Food plays an important part in the novel as readers of the book know and as the author of this cookbook knows as well. There are so many fpasssages about food as the Little Women grow. There are Amy who has issues with her limes, Meg who has trouble with her jam, breakfasts given to those in greater need and much more. Reference to all are made and give the reader the opportunity to enjoy memories of reading Little Women.

The recipes themselves are easy to follow. They are organized into four chapters:

-Hannah’s Breakfasts

-Gatherings with Family and Friends

-March Family Dinners and Suppers and

-Sweet Treats, Desserts and Drinks

A few of the featured recipes include:

Buckwheat Pancakes, A better Omelet for Marmee and Milk Toast in the breakfast section.

Roast Beef Picnic Sandwiches, Jo’s Much Improved Corned Beef and Spice Trade DEviled Eggs in the Gatherings section and of course more as you move through the additional chapters. The recipes are clearly delineated and look easy enough for those who are not kitchen stars.

The illustrations throughout are delightful. They definitely enhance the text. There are also some photos, including one of the Orchards, the Alcott home.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cookbook both for the recipes and for the joy of browsing through the book itself. Last year, I read Little Women for the second time. It was more substantive than I had recalled. Read it while your food is cooking and while you wait for the newest version of the movie to be released this December. Enjoy!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

This book is part of a series that introduces young children to the world.  This appealing entry is about China.  So much is packed into this short picture book that is written in verse.  Each two page spread is about a particular location such as the Forbidden City or Hong Kong or Shanghai.  Each includes a small box titled “Did You Know?” and includes a hidden object to find.  Some pages include vocabulary words in Chinese and English.  At the end of the book, there is an answer key for the hidden objects.

Young children and their adults will learn a lot about China while reading this book.  This looks to be an excellent series.

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

#GoTinyTravelers #NetGalley

The Mask got a terrific early review in Library Journal.

To Capture…is in my TBR pile.  It’s an historical novel.

Rita Mae Brown is a good read for lovers of cozier mysteries.