Category: Uncategorized

Making Math fun! The School of Numbers (Hawkins)

#TheSchoolOfNumbers #NetGalley

Do you know a child who loves Math? Do you know one who doesn’t but you would like to change that? Both kinds of kids may very well enjoy this book that makes Math fun.

The book opens with a “Letter of Acceptance to the Starship Infinity Astro Academy” and invites your Cadet to “Prepare to Join Us as We Explore the Cosmos and Discover Some Mathematical Marvels.” Guided by the team, children will learn about topics including prime numbers, square roots, decimals, geometric shapes, graphs and charts, probability and much more. There are 40 lessons in all.

Throughout the text there are appealing, bright illustrations. Children move through three terms at the academy, after which they graduate.

This book will make math intriguing and encourage learning. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for taking me on this journey. All opinions are my own.

What’s a Percentage?

Term 1 Getting the Knack of Numbers

Welcome to Term 1, new cadets! As part of our first term aboard the Starship Infinity we will be learning all about numbers, and how we can use them in all sorts of useful ways.

Graduation Ceremony

Graduation Ceremony

Well done, cadets. You’ve reached the end of your third and final term at the Astro Academy, which means you’re ready to become official crewmembers of the Starship Infinity. It’s time to celebrate your achievements at our graduation ceremony – congratulations!

Maths is a living, breathing subject. It may seem that the experts have all the answers, and that there’s not much more to find out. But the more we discover about maths, the world and the cosmos, the more we realise how much there still is to learn. Mathematicians today are grappling with many big questions, such as what is the next largest prime number, how big is infinity, and what is the shape of the universe?

Your voyage of mathematical discovery is by no means over – it’s only just beginning!

Happy Holidays! Celebrations Around the World (Halford)

#CelebrationsAroundTheWorld #NetGalley

This book for young readers includes facts about 25 holidays.  Some of the celebrations are secular or national (Thanksgiving, July 4th, Bastille Day, Groundhog Day, Anzac Day), while others are religious (Easter,  Rosh Hashana, Christmas, Hannukah, Eid al Fitr).  In addition to the holidays and celebrations just mentioned this book features fourteen additional days to remember.  Throughout the illustrations are whimsical, bright and engaging.

This book will be a good addition to the school library shelves.  It is broadly based with holidays from all over the world including China, Japan, India, Africa and more.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  I enjoyed celebrating with you.

For paper folders: Kawaii Origami

#KawaiiOrigami #NetGalley

This is a book filled with paper folding/origami projects that look adorable.  Some of my favorites are the bento box. the cat & dog hearts, the tea bag and the dustpan & scoop.  The beginning of the book provides detailed instructions on the basic origami folds.  Each project is presented in step sequence with diagrams and illustrations.  If you enjoy origami, definitely take a look at this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-galley of a book filled with fun projects.  All opinions are my own.

For the youngest entomologists: Tales from Naure-Ladybug (Attiogbe)

#TalesFromNatureLadybug #NetGalley

This book is for toddler to preschool age children.  With illustrations that are colorful and reminiscent of Eric Carle and a simple text, young children can learn about how ladybugs help nature and nurture their young.  A cute book for introducing young ones to nature.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this Tale from Nature.  The opinions are my own.

I am red with six black spots. I have two small wings.

I am red with six black spots. I have two small wings.

I am a ladybug!

An appealing title for future ornithologists: What on Earth? Birds (Unwin and Morgan)

#WhatOnEarthBirds #NetGalley

This book is so inviting! The text has an appealing layout and the illustrations are bright and colorful. Children are invited to learn more about nature, specifically birds, through reading, observation and activities. Even as an adult, I learned so much.

There are chapters on everything from “What is a Bird?” to Bird Food, Bird Life and Behavior, to Enjoying Birds. There are lots of fun activities including: make a bird cake, make a winter birdbath, make a bird nest and paint an egg. Young ornithologists can learn about the evolution of birds, their habitats and sounds. This is a great resource that will encourage children to get outside and explore.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a wonderful book that will make my nature walks more inviting. The opinions expressed are my own.

From the publisher:

The book is compiled of three different types of pages: Explore, Investigate and Create.

Parts of a bird

Feathers in focus

Make a feathery owl mask

Explore pages look at facts and knowledge about birds, teaching children how they fly, why they migrate and more.

Parts of a bird: A bird’s body is specially built for flying. Instead of front legs, it has wings, and its skeleton is very light to help keep it in the air.

Investigate pages are activities and experiments which allow children to investigate the anatomy and behaviors of birds in a hands-on and educational way.

Feathers in focus: Feathers are amazing! Find a nice, big feather and take a closer look to discover just what makes it so special.

Create pages let children stretch their imagination, whether its reading a traditional story about birds or making art out of feathers and shells.

Make a feathery owl mask: Make an owl mask. Too-whit too-woo!

An e-book bargain for today: Leaving Everything Most Loved

Leaving Everything Most LovedAn entry in the Maisie Dobbs series.  I have read every one and always enjoy them.  The series is best read in order but you could add this to a collection as, if you read one, you will most likely keep going.

From Booklist

Months after Usha Pramal is murdered in London, Scotland Yard—having declared the crime a cold case—contracts with Maisie Dobbs for help. But the day before psychologist and investigator Maisie is to meet with Usha’s friend and fellow countrywoman Maya Patel, Maya is killed in the same manner as Usha. Maisie wonders who would have wanted to kill Usha, by all accounts an exceptionally beautiful, caring, and well-educated woman who comforted others with her touch and remedies. As Maisie looks into the status of Indian women in England, her own desire to travel deepens, leading to further conundrums involving both her would-be fiancé, James Compton, and her business. The cross-cultural theme adds another dimension to Winspear’s London of 1933, with its lingering traces of World War I and ominous rumblings of World War II. This tenth Maisie Dobbs mystery continues the series’ high quality, capturing a time and place and featuring a protagonist as compassionate as she is intuitive. A fine historical mystery with broad appeal. –Michele Leber

Equines for artists: Horses & Ponies

#ArtStudioHorsesPonies #NetGalley

If you love horses and want to develop your talents and techniques for drawing them, this book will be an excellent guide. It is helpfully divided by mediums, types of horses and horse features and also includes numerous how-tos. The many tips and projects, along with the excellent photographs and illustrations, will help you as you progress. So much is demonstrated in these pages, even including how to sharpen your pencils! Enjoy your creations. They will be gorgeous.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions are my own.

 

HORSE DETAILS

MUZZLE

EYE Horses’ eyes have a lot of detail,

EARS Render the horse’s forelock hair with long, slightly curving strokes. Then shade the interior

MUZZLE

The muzzle has subtle, curved forms, which are defined with careful shading. The area around the nostril is raised, as is the area just above the mouth; indicate this shape by pulling out highlights with a kneaded eraser.

EYE

Horses’ eyes have a lot of detail, from the creases around the eyes to the straight, thick eyelashes. To create a sense of life in the eye, leave a light crescent-shaped area to show reflected light, and leave a stark white highlight above it.

EARS

Render the horse’s forelock hair with long, slightly curving strokes. Then shade the interior of the ear with upward, parallel strokes, making them darkest at the bottom and gradually lighter as you move up the ear.

A wise and moving story: The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Hogan

#TheWisdomOfSallyRedShoes #NetGalley

This is author Ruth Hogan’s second novel. I was quite moved by it and plan to read her debut, The Keeper of Lost Things. She has a talent for describing characters who are fully human, quirky and both struggling and trying their best.

The novel is about two women and those they know, love and/or have lost. Masha is a mother whose child disappeared a number of years ago and, although not found, was presumed to be dead. Masha has grieved for him and has struggled to progress in her life. The reader observes as she moves forward bit by bit, fortified by new and old relationships. Part of Masha’s story takes place at the lido, a favorite locale for me after reading Libby Page’s novel. As in that novel, swimming yields some peace.

Then there is Alice. She is a mother who is overprotective and very attached to her son. Her backstory is told with compassion and the reader comes to understand her struggles and decisions.

Sally, herself, is a elderly woman whose past history becomes known late in the novel. She is eccentric and a source of some of Masha’s healing. She reminds Masha of the importance of continuing to dance, both literally and metaphorically. Other characters include Kitty who has overcome her own tragedy.

While characters in this book have experienced loss, the story is not depressing. Ruth Hogan writes empathically and I was sorry when the novel ended. There is a twist that you might see coming but, even if you know, you can enjoy reading about it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley. Ruth Hogan is an author to watch!

Advance Praise