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

#HealthyEatingOnePotCookbook #NetGalley

This cookbook is a fabulous resource for those of us who are not whizzes in the kitchen.  Each recipe is cooked in either an instant pot, a sheet pan, a skillet or a dutch oven;  yes that IS why it is called one pot, but how nice that is when it comes to clean up.

The beginning of the book has advice about things like healthy eating, kitchen staples worth stocking, menu suggestions and descriptions of the various types of pots.  There are then recipes grouped by breakfast, meatless mains, chicken, meat, seafood, snacks and sides and lastly, staples and sauces.  A few recipe examples include smoked salmon frittata, sheet pan bacon and eggs, curried chick pea stew, Italian eggplant stacks, sheet pan chicken teriyaki, chicken and quinoa skillet, etc. etc.  I read a number of these recipes very carefully and found the directions to be clear and easy to follow.  I can’t wait to start cooking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this cooking treat.  All opinions are my own.

This story book has amusing, whimsical illustrations and a simple text. The young Panda is learning about what he can and cannot have. There is an adventure with a kite and a chance to move away from mine and yours to ours. At the back of the book, there are notes about the animal breeds that are featured in the story. It will be a cute addition for a young child’s bookshelf.

#HowToRaiseAreader #NetGalley

This book is an incredible resource for parents and other important adults in a child’s life who want to impart a love of reading to children. I was given this book in e-galley form by the publisher and NetGalley. I will most definitely want to purchase the hard copy. I bookmarked and bookmarked as I read.

Pamela Paul oversees book coverage at the New York Times while Maria Paul is associated with the Times. They both love reading and want children to as well. Both authors recall their favorite reads over the course of the book. As an adult, like me, you may start thinking again about when you learned to read and the books that you most loved as a child as you make your way through the text..

The book is divided into four sections: Born to Read which is about babies and toddlers; Growing a Reader which is about emerging and then independent readers; Your Middle-Grade reader and A Reader for Life: Teenagers. The book ends with a section on more books by theme and reading level.

In each section there are many suggested books. I will give just a brief idea of the riches within. For babies: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and Moo, Baa La La La. Classic board books are mentioned as well including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Snowy Day. Toddler suggestions include The Carrot Seed, Millions of Cats and Harold and the Purple Crayon along with new Classics like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Hello Lighthouse. The authors continue with suggestions right through the teen years. The importance of keeping an open dialogue with children is stressed; for example, The Hunger Games may upset some readers but not all. It can be good to dialogue with the reader.

Paul and Russo are parents and it shows. They have practical knowledge about raising readers. There are so many suggestions from using the library, to NOT using books that are device based, to not getting overly caught up in parental contests about whose child learned to read first, to the joys of bedtime stories, young readers love of series and so much more. One aside was about Harry Potter with the authors noting that these are not meant for very young readers even if they are able to decode the words.

I recommend this book most highly. It is full of reasoned ideas and book suggestions that will make adults excited about opening the world of literacy to children.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this terrific book. The opinions are my own.

 

#ArtMasterclassWithClaudeMonet #NetGalley

This book is part of a series and I already know that I will enjoy whichever one comes next. This entry on Monet provides a brief biography and time line so that young artists will know more about who Monet was and and when he lived. They will also learn how the Impressionists got their name. In addition, there is information on what materials are needed in order to complete the projects in the book. That taken care of, creating can begin.

Readers discover how Monet used his senses in his art, especially looking at what he saw en plein air (outside). Students are encouraged to copy some of the artist’s works (not sure I could do that), to make some from their imagination and even with stickers. Some examples of projects include

How to Show Things Move Like Monet

How to Color Like Monet and

How to Make an Impression Like Monet

At the end of the book there is information about each of the paintings in the book. All in all, this was a good introduction to Monet and a chance for young artists to create.

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

I will start with the last sentence of the book first: “Mom does one job for her career, the others out of love.”

This is an amusing and sweet book for children and their parents. It shows a mom who goes to her day job and then comes home to more work. At home the mom is everything from a journalist to a DJ to an archaeologist as she interacts with her children and completes tasks around the house. For example, she is a DJ when she dances to music with her children.

The illustrations in this book are unique. The author has crafted felted figures. He then photographs them in the settings that he has chosen.

This is an enjoyable story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions are my own.

#TheQuietCrocodileGoesToTheBeach #NetGalley

This book is most appealing as a hidden pictures adventure.  There are numerous objects to find in each two page spread.  Young children will also enjoy finding all of Fossil’s friends in the pictures.  The text is minimal.  Will Fossil go in the water?  Children will find out by the end of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a day at the beach.  All thoughts are my own.

I really liked this book and think that young beach explorers (and their adults) will too! It is filled with information, photographs, illustrations, stickers, suggested activities and more. There are many suggestions about things to look for and observe; everything from seabirds to plants to tides to sounds to shells and rocks and loads more. There are suggestions for games, building sandcastles and many other activities. At the back of the book is a facsimile of a diary entry in which a child can note the day’s adventures. The book is appealing and interactive. I recommend it highly!

#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.

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.

Here are two books in this author’s Annie Darling series.  These are cozies set on an island that is part of South Carolina.  There are lots of references to mysteries throughout the novels as Annie has what sounds like the perfect mystery book shop!