#TheGreatBigBookOfLife #NetGalley
The Great Big Book of Life will be a welcome addition to home and library shelves. It is appealing in its layout, factual (and when appropriate humorous) in tone and has very appealing illustrations that remind me a bit of Helen Oxenbury. For extra fun while reading, look for all of the pictures and comments by the cat.
The book starts with an entry about before babies are born and moves through the life cycle until death by the end of the book. Early sections will appeal to young children who want to know what they were like as babies or perhaps have recently become older siblings and want to understand things like why babies cry, why they are supposed to be quiet when the baby is sleeping, etc. This short book moves forward from infancy through all of the stages of development including toddlerhood, the school and teen years, adulthood, older age, etc.
I found this book to be a helpful guide to questions children may have…or not even know that they had. I recommend it highly.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early read. All opinions are my own.
Being a Baby
It takes six weeks for a baby to learn how to smile reflexively in response to other people’s emotions. Once they have fully recognized who their caregivers are, a sense of trust develops, and through gradual steps a baby will begin to smile back, hold their head up, turn themselves over, and much more.
Teenage Years
During the teenage years, adolescents require more sleep to function well the next day because of the changes happening inside their bodies. This age group is typically characterized as being moody, unpredictable, and opinionated on certain matters.
This entry in the Katie Woo’s Neighborhood series is for beginning readers. It is a short chapter book with illustrations. I especially liked the map of Katie Woo’s community at the beginning of the story.
This is an incredibly comprehensive and detailed guide to traveling in Ireland. The book starts by acknowledging the country’s “famously big attractions” and also includes information on best annual events and “what the Irish gave to the modern world.” The next section on Dublin has 34 sections; many of these have to do with food and with drinks ranging from coffee to cocktails. Of course, there is also a listing of Dublin’s main attractions, stores, walks and views. There are similarly comprehensive sections on other cities including Belfast, Cork and thee Galway area. In addition to many geographic area breakdowns, there are sections on historical places, outdoor places, strolls and more. If you are thinking of traveling to Ireland (or dreaming of going), I highly recommend this book.
This short book is about fifteen impressive inventions that were created by women. To name just a few…the windshield wiper, the car heater, kevlar, medical diagnostic tests, the syringe, the life raft and early wifi technology. A great book for women’s history month. It hightlights women’s creativity and will remind children that good ideas can lead to new products that we all use.
This guide provided me with both nostalgic returns to places that I have visited and excitement about so many art venues that I have yet to see. I think that it is a great resource for travelers both real and armchair.
Susan B Anthony is someone who often comes to mind when considering iconic American women. Her influence has become widespread over time.
The Whispered Word is the second entry in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series. The main characters’ secrets were fully described in the first book but a reader can still enjoy this one as a standalone novel.
This is the first book that I have read by Ellery Adams and I truly enjoyed it. The protagonist, Nora, is a bookseller who believes that there is a book that is just right for each customer’s particular emotional state; the notion that one could get meaningful suggestions from a bookseller was lovely in this day of internet sales. I enjoyed the many literary references and the back stories of the protagonists. There are also hints of romance. If you like cozies, I would recommend this book highly.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 