Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

Sharing a story with a toddler can be one of life’s sweetest experience.  There is the joy of sitting close together and the knowledge that helping a young child to love books is giving them a gift that will last throughout their whole life.

In this book, the author has compiled a group of short tales that are diverse.  To name a few, there are stories from Scandinavia, ancient Rome, Mali, Russia and more, twenty beautifully illustrated stories in all. These entries are sometimes based in folklore or may have come from Aesop.  They are tales that do not talk down to children and are not too simplistic.

All in all, this title offers a nice collection of stories.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

#ReadToYourToddlerEveryDay #NetGalley

A real mix here from literary fiction to lighter reads. Becoming Mrs. Lewis about Joy Davidman and C S Lewis is in my TBR pile as are Punjabi Widows and The Other Alcott.

Sophie and her Dad are invited to Olive’s birthday party.  They get ready by dressing up and making food to bring with them.  When it is time to attend the party, how do they get there?  They go by elevator!

As Sophie and her dad make their way to the tenth floor, the elevator gets pretty crowded!  Young listeners will enjoy the exuberant illustrations as everyone squeezes in.  When they arrive, there is a good party.

That’s it.  This is a simple but fun book that young listeners will enjoy.  The illustrations show a diverse group of people who enjoy being together.  That is an added bonus of this title that is geared toward young children.

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

.From the publisher:

What happens when you press the buttons?  Will you like what happens?  A young child may well enjoy this book which has interesting and silly things result as each button is pressed.  Along the way, toddlers can learn colors and shapes as they enjoy the story.  With amusing illustrations and repetition, this book may well appeal to toddlers or preschoolers.

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

#TheButtonBook #NetGalley

Some mystery, romance, women’s fiction and an historical novel.  Happy reading!

It has been a wonderful but very busy week for me.  I am tired.  This time, I will leave it to you, readers, to investigate these titles.  Hope you like something.

This book would be a nice gift for someone who is seeking self-knowledge, including you if this is something that appeals. The Magic of Mindset is a guided journal with room for reflection and your own thoughts. For example, you may be prompted to think about somewhere that you feel stuck or talking to your future self about a way that you would like to succeed. There are also many affirmations and words of encouragement.

There are undoubtedly other guided journals out there but there may not be one as gorgeous as this. The artwork is so beautiful!

Of note: This title could also be a resource that a therapist and patient/client could talk about together.

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

From the publisher:

So last night I did NOT have a good night’s sleep. I don’t know if this book will make me sleep better tonight but I can say that it is very cute. This is a book for all ages. There are sheep everywhere to be counted and all kinds of puzzles including mazes, word searches, spot the difference, find the two that are alike and more. Throughout the book is delightfully illustrated with cartoon sheep like the ones that you see on the cover..

In addition to the puzzles, there are many quotes about sleep. There are also hints that are tried and true, such as shutting off screens, drinking warm milk, etc.

This book will not necessarily solve your sleep problems, but you might enjoy looking through it.

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

Do you know what the monkey mind is? Does your child? As I understand it, this is a concept that addresses our being all over the place, unable to focus on the moment or to live one’s best and most peaceful life. We all can use some assistance in learning to quiet ourselves and to be more present. This deck hopes to help children, and maybe their adults, to do this by sharing some of the “playful and powerful qualities of animals and elements in nature as inspiration to discover these qualities in ourselves.” In a note to adults, the author states that the exercises are meant to provide a “safe way to reflect on difficult topics and a form of…support.” The author engages children by offering them multiple ways to use the cheerily illustrated deck.

I recommend these cards as one tool for helping children to think, feel and be as comfortable as possible in their lives. Adults may well enjoy this deck too!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

Friendly Firefly Be a light in the darkness. Just like Firefly, even if you are small, you can be a light in the darkness. 1. Think of someone you know who could benefit from a spark of your light. It might be a person or an animal or even a tiny insect crawling on the floor. 2. How can you offer a flash of your light? Draw a picture or write a card to cheer someone up? Give a smile or a hug? Pick up a tiny bug and place it outside in a safe spot where it won’t get squished? 3. Your firefly lamp is always with you. It might be exhausting to try to light up the whole world, but you can always light up your corner!

Mountain You’re bigger than you think you are. You can’t always change what’s happening outside, but you can be like a mountain and get bigger on the inside. 1. Take a seat anyplace you can sense the earth beneath you. Place your palms on the ground on either side of you. Feel yourself firmly planted, like the base of a mountain. 2. Imagine all the life on, in, and around your mountain: bugs, animals, plants, trees, wind, rain, and snow. Your mountain has room for all of it. 3. A mountain doesn’t need to make life easier or harder for the bugs. It doesn’t need to push away the snow or pull in the rain. A mountain simply is, big and stable. It doesn’t get bothered or knocked over by anything.

Golden Sun Smile like the sun. Like the blue sky, the sun is always there behind the clouds. No matter how you are feeling, when the clouds part, your sun can shine through. 1. Stand up straight. Plant your feet on the ground with your arms down by your sides. 2. Take a big breath in. As you breathe, raise your arms; feel your upper body and head lift up. Stretch your mouth into the biggest smile you can make. 3. Turn your head and arms from side to side, sharing your giant smile all around you. Relax your arms down, letting your smile relax. Repeat two more times. How did you feel when you started? Has it changed? Amazingly, sometimes just the act of smiling can cheer you up!

Hurricane	Jewel	Refreshing Rain

MonkeyMindMeditationDeck #NetGalley

I adore the old fashioned illustrations that appear throughout this book; I felt nostalgic as I saw Camay soap, Tang and Crisco in the paintings. Amy, the artist, talks in the introduction about her inspiration while Martha, the cook, also adds her take. The book itself is organized with the day in mind, beginning with breakfast and moving through to late night snacks. There are then anytime treats. Yum.

Within this framework, there are intriguingly named recipes. For example, the Morning’s Glories section includes “Ethel’s Overnight Breakfast in Bed (a casserole), and Marge’s Usual Sunrise (a drink) among others. These titles definitely enticed me and kept me browsing through this book.

The recipes are all doable. The presentation is quirky and fun. This title could be a nice addition to a cook’s bookshelf.

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

#AGoodMealisHardtoFind #NetGalley