Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

Stress is a popular topic these days. Stress comes at us from many directions at, what sometimes feels like, an ever increasing velocity. There may be family issues, work problems, school struggles, etc. or you may just have a personality that is vulnerable to stress. For any of these, this book may be helpful.

This book is organized into sections and subsections. A few examples:

Morning (section) has subsections including Waking Well, Starting the Day and Breakfast

The Peaceful Home (section) includes Light, Shade and Colour, Managing Your Spaces, Positive Energies, The Feel Good Home, Outside and Your Neighborhood

and one last example

Evenings (section) which includes Winding Down, Looking Back-Looking Forward and Off to Bed

Within each of these areas there are short, simple things to ponder such as Forget Yesterday’s Mistakes, Create a Personal Affirmation and Call Yourself from Home (leaving a positive message that you will listen to when you arrive at work).

This book may be read in order or dipped into at random. It provides some good suggestions for living comfortably.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Are you planning to go on vacation with an elementary school aged child this summer or would you like to give a book to a child who will be traveling?  If yes, this is a good potential keepsake for that child.

Inside, there are lists, questions to answer, things to color, jokes, things to think about, a space for addresses, checklists, etc.  A child could well enjoy the activities in this book and…when they are done, they will have a good keepsake.

A few examples from the book…a checklist titled “These are some of the activities I am looking forward to doing on vacation, I would never leave home without…, If I owned a souvenir shop these are some the things I would sell, etc.

So, get out your pencils, crayons or markers and get writing.  Bon Voyage!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this vacation reading.  All opinions are my own.

When my kids were little we used to read a Sesame Street book that started this way: “Follow the Monsters wherever they go, sometimes they’re fast, sometimes their slow…” This toddler book reminds me that kids are interested in monsters (Cookie and otherwise) from a young age. If you know a little monster who is interested in monsters, get them this book.

The author retells the stories of many monsters in a way that felt like hearing a story or fairy tale. Some of the many featured monsters are Apep (from Ancient Egypt), Beatrice Rappaccini (Hawthorne), Dorian Gray (Wilde), Frankenstein (Shelley), and The Weird Sisters (Shakespeare). Each entry includes additional facts including the Category of monster, Base of Operations, Timing, Powers, Deeds, Fear Factor, Weakness, etc. There are additional sections that enlarge upon each monster’s tale; for example, in the Dracula section, one can read Dear Dracula and The Grisly Tale of Elizabeth Siddal.

This book is a wonderful compilation of monsters, their stories and more. It will be welcomed by those who like the weird and wonderful.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this (scary…not really but good) read. All opinions are my own.
#TheBigBookOfMonsters #NetGalley

This is a challenging search and find book for children. Each section starts with a sentence like “I lost my favorite truck-my fire truck. Where can it be hiding?” Then on the following page the child is told “Look at my red truck. Keep the picture in your head, turn the page, and if you see it, show me.” This is followed with illustrations of many similar vehicles. There is then another quote and illustration of the next vehicle to be found.

I think that children will need patience for this book. They will need to examine the differences among similar objects. They will feel quite rewarded if/when they make the match!

#WhereIsMyCar #NetGalley

Children will meet a number of animals in this book including, among others, a dragon, a hippo and a cat. Each animal is shown in an illustration with a picture of their house. The challenge for the child is to turn the page and find exactly that house among those pictured.

This book provides children with a fun way to build their visual discriminatory skills. I recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is such an appealing book for kids interested in maps and exploration! It charts journeys that expanded knowledge of the world, starting in ancient times and continuing to the modern era. Each two page spread is lavishly illustrated and easy to follow. The route of the traveler and facts about the things seen are so interesting.

The book starts with some good information on exploration, then moves on to describe how to read and use the maps. Then the journeys begin. Just some of the explorers included are Hanno the Navigator (a very early explorer), Ibn Battuta (a devout Muslim), Cortez, Cook, and Peary. There are also several women!

The book is politically correct as it, for example, commenting on the controversy around Columbus. Additionally, the author points out that some expeditions, such as Amelia Earhart’s, end tragically but nonetheless are noteworthy.

I learned a lot while reading this book. The world is there for each of us to explore!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I very much enjoyed my armchair travels. All opinions are my own.

#AmazingExpeditions #NetGalley

This picture book shows two foxes; I did not realize initially that they are brothers, although they are. Benny, the older fox, is having fun doing many different activities. Whenever the younger (nameless) fox asks to participate, he is told no. This happens repeatedly, in my opinion a few more times than needed for the sake of the story, although the illustrations are fun. Eventually the younger fox begins to play on his own although he continues to follow Benny a while longer. After a time, the two foxes begin to share and play together in an activity initiated by the younger.

This story shows the persistence of the younger fox and the older fox’s focusing on himself, not others. The ending, in which, Benny enters into an activity with his younger brother is meant to, at least temporarily, resolve their conflicts.

Younger siblings will most likely relate to being pushed away by their elders. Older siblings will be reminded of how hard it is when a younger brother or sister wants their attention. This is all fine but what I slightly quibble with is the persistence of the younger sibling. He might be viewed a bit as a victim, rather than as a child who has some resources of his own. Nonetheless, this may be a good story book to read with children of any birth order.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance read. Opinions are my own.

#WhatAreYouDoingBenny #NetGalley

#LiviGrace #NetGalley

This is a short book that is in verse.  The story is about sisters Grace and Livi who are different from, but value, one another.  It provides a gentle reminder that being siblings does not mean that you are, or should be, the same.  It is a sweet early reader.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e book galley.   All opinions are my own.

One note:  The illustrations, other than the cover, did not come through on my galley.   I imagine that they are comical and lively based on the cover picture.

#WhenILookUp #NetGalley

In this picture book, a young girl looks all around her and sees the wonder in her world.  She uses her lively imagination to expand on what she sees; for example, after noticing a fly on the ceiling, this child wonders what it would be like to be able to walk upside down.  At the end of this simple story, our narrator comments that everything that she needs to make her happy is right in front of her…and how uplifting is that.

The illustrations have bright colors and are the perfect accompaniment to the text.  Young children will enjoy this story of noticing the amazing things in their daily lives.

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

 

Lots of good choices today.  Hope you find one that you like.

A heads up on some forthcoming books.  I will be reviewing some of these in future posts.  Have you read any of these titles? What did you think?