Category: Uncategorized

Some literary fiction, historical fiction, and mystery for today.

One day Ella May’s mum encourages her to taste a new food, telling her that it is good to try new things. Ella takes this idea and runs with it, deciding to do things differently. For example, she walks backwards. Others catch on and walk backwards too, so Ella May decides to…read the book if you want to find out.

This is a short sweet story that young listeners will enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the latest in a wonderful series for young children.  In each nicely illustrated entry, is a story about a famous person while, at the end of each, there is a more detailed time line and photos.  Each book shows the child that there is a world awaiting them that is full of possibility and that dreams matter. This book on Nureyev is no exception!

Readers will learn about how Rudolf fell in love with dance from the first time that he saw a ballet.  Due to poverty and lack of resources, he was seventeen when he was accepted to ballet school.  Young readers will find out about the ways in which Rudolf wanted to do things differently, his defection from Russia and the amazing, high leaping dancer that he was.  Mention is also made of how there should not be particular dreams for girls or boys but dreams for everyone.

This book is a welcome addition to the series.  Celebrate dance as you learn about Nureyev.  Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this read in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short picture book about Anna and her monkey. Anna is a third grader whose monkey is with her all the time. The monkey represents the dyslexia that makes school life challenging at times. Anna explains how her monkey distracts her, changes the directions of letters and more. She expresses her concern that she will not make it through third grade. However, Anna also shows some ways in which her monkey is a good companion and she does make it to her finish line.

This book was written for adults to read with children who have dyslexia. It is a way to open a conversation and talk about a topic that can be difficult. There are some suggestions for discussion at the end of the book.

This book fills a niche for children who have dyslexia and also for students who may need to empathize with a friend or fellow student’s situation. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for my honest review.

This is a lovely book that is full of ideas for how children can do kind things for others. It will appeal to elementary school age children and may help to counteract some of the meanness that occurs regularly in their world. The illustrations are bright, colorful, cheerful and appealing. The suggestions are simply stated. A child could dip into this volume without reading it in order. There are many good ideas to be found. A few examples:

Paint kindness rocks and leave them where they will be found.

Set up a bird feeder. There are directions for how to make one from a pine cone.

Foster a pet.

Set the dinner table without being asked.

Bring two jars of homemade bubbles to the playground. Instructions are included.

Make a welcome card that you and your friends sign (for a new kid in town.)

If these ideas appeal to you and/or you think that they may appeal to a child you know, consider purchasing this book. It would also be a good resource for a school library.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in return for an honest review.

There are may choices for today.  A couple, The Summer Cottage and Three Things About Elsie are in my TBR pile. Death at La Fenice is the first Donna Leon mystery.  The series is wonderful, especially for the food and family.  I’ve also included a few other mysteries by well regarded authors.

 

 

Wow! An embarrassment of riches today.  Hope you find something that you like!

This illustrated short story is written with kids who have dyslexia in mind.  The publisher notes that the font is one that is more easily read by kids who have dyslexia.

It is summer and time for camp.  Sammy and his fellow campers are given the task of finding their group’s red flag.  Sammy, who has dyslexia, is assigned to read the map.  This causes him understandable anxiety but he tries to trudge through.  Of course, there are issues, the group gets lost and then, Sammy’s highly tuned, visual memory helps to save the day!

This book may well appeal to children who face similar challenges.  It also gently reminds other children to not tease and recognize everyone’s skills.  There is a helpful section for adults at the end of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for my honest review.

This Caillou title will be welcomed by preschoolers.  In it, Caillou and his stuffed dinosaur, Rex, visit the natural history museum with their family.  With bright primary color illustrations and a simple text, the book answers some basic questions about dinosaurs that kids may have.  Caillou learns about dinosaur bones, types of dinosaurs and more.

Over the course of this short book, both Caillou and  Rex get lost at different times.  Caillou remembers what his family told him to do and is found again without upset.  The same happens a bit later for Rex.  The message about what to do if separated is a bonus lesson that parents can offer to their children.

This is a fine title in a series with a character that young children enjoy.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley.  All opinions are my own.

This week we left the amateur sleuth behind and moved on to private investigators (P.I.’s).  Time was spend on background regarding the male PIs, as written by Chandler and Hammett. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman features Cordelia Gray, an early female PI; she is smart, independent, a risk taker and a young woman with a back story.  I enjoyed spending time with her in this more literary novel.

Cordelia, whose partner has just committed suicide, is contacted by the father of Mark Callender, who reportedly committed suicide. Mr. Callender Sr. tells Cordelia that he would like to know why.  Her investigation leads Cordelia to Cambridge where she becomes a part of a group of Mark’s friends.  What did they know?  What does Nanny Pilbeam know?  Is the job unsuitable? Was it suicide?

I enjoyed this novel very much.  To me, it felt in some ways like the predecessor to Tana French”s The Likeness.  That is one of my favorite books.

P D James is better known for her Adam Dalgliesh novels.  In fact, Dalgliesh has cameo appearances in the book.  P D James only wrote one more Cordelia Gray novel, even through she wrote many Dalgliesh novels.  According to our professor, James did not like Cordelia all that much.  Reportedly readers wanted a romance between the two but Ms. James was not having it.  So, after The Skull Beneath the Skin, Cordelia disappeared from view.

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman introduces bestselling mystery author P.D. James’s courageous but vulnerable young detective, Cordelia Gray, in a “top-rated puzzle of peril that holds you all the way” (The New York Times).

There were so many female PIs to follow Cordelia; to name a few there are Kinsey Milhone, V I Warshawski, Sharon McCone and more.  Who are your favorites?  Do you prefer the PI to the amateur cozy sleuth?  Let me know.