Do you remember when you were young and all you wanted was to grow up?  Well, that is exactly how Little Bear feels.  He seeks advice from those he is close to but none of the advice works.  At the end of the story Little Bear’s parents let him know that he will grow little by little.

This book has a lovely message for children.  They will grow in time surrounded by those who love them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this sweetly illustrated read. The opinions are my own.

#LittleBearWantsToGrow #NetGalley

Varina is the story of the woman who was married to Jefferson Davis.  The Holy Thief is part of the medieval Brother Cadfael mysteries.  The Shell Seekers was Rosamund Pilcher’s breakout novel.  I blogged about her death recently.  I very much enjoyed this novel when it came out.  It is a family saga and a good one.

This is a comprehensive look at the field of psychology.  It is a good reference for those who want an introduction to the subject but will also provide a good review and additional information for those who have already taken some courses.

The book is divided into chapters that address different aspects of Psychology.  These include:

What is Psychology

The Psychology of Learning

Cognitive Psychology

Biological Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Social Psychology

The Psychology of Intelligence

Personality Psychology

Clinical Psychology

Professional psychology

Future Directions

The chapters can be read in order or the reader can dip into just those that are of interest.  Concepts and clearly explained and defined.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this good resource.  The opinions expressed are my own.

On the Playground is a non-fiction title that introduces children to the ways in which prejudice can be hurtful and damaging. In an afterword, the author states: “When I was growing up, it was common to see other kids being bullied…Much to my shame, I remember doing nothing…I encourage all readers of this book to make better choices than I did.” The author wrote this book to help children understand and do better.

This is an informational text. It does not have a fictional story line. There are illustrations that are multi-cultural and multi-contextual. There is a hybrid of what seems like a read aloud with other sections that are related and instructional.

To this reader, the book did not seem like one that a child would pick up and read but more one that would be part of a discussion in a school setting. While I admired what the author hoped to, and does in many ways accomplish, I found the book to be a bit dry. Using this book as a jumping off point for discussion makes sense to me.

This is a child’s counting book that adults are sure to love too!  The illustrations are bright, appealing and in the style of ten different artists including Monet, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollack, Frida Kahlo etc.  At the end of the book, there is additional information on each of the artists.  The picture book is an appealing addition (pun recognized) to the counting book genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  I truly enjoyed this one.

#KahlosKoalas #NetGalley

Here are two entries in long running  series.  Clouds of Witness is an excellent entry in Dorothy Sayers series of Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries.  In this one, Lord Peter’s brother is the one accused.  Dorothy Simpson wrote a good series of police procedurals featuring Luke Thanet and those around  him.  They are good, not violent mysteries. Wake the Dead is an entry on sale today.  The books do not have to be read in order.

I very much enjoyed Orphan Train when I read it.  From Goodreads:

I wish that all beginning readers were this entertaining! With a simple vocabulary, funny and fun illustrations and some good rhymes, this is a great choice for a new reader.

Kids will feel successful about their reading skills and will also see that reading can be fun as they go through the story. For the adults, there are helpful suggestions at the back of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another good title in the Reading Stars series.

This is a simple story book for young listeners. They will see how well a mother owl takes care of her baby when he becomes ill. The routines of a sick room are simply explained. The reader also sees Little Hoo’s friends arrive. They can’t play with Little Hoo but come back with a get well surprise for him. Children will be reassured to know that when ill, they can feel better soon.

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

This is part of a series of early readers. The text is very simple, yet appealing in its easy repetition. The illustrations are amusing and bright.
Young readers will be entertained by learning about the things that Cody is happy to eat and will enjoy the success of reading on their own. . Adults will appreciate the short section on using this book with a child. All in all a fun read for everyone.

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

This brightly illustrated book will be a useful addition to classroom and library shelves. In this story, it is diversity week at school. Students from Japan, Mexico and Hawaii share some of their traditions and the children learn from one another. Suggestions for responding to new experiences will encourage politeness among those who are being exposed to something for the first time. Diversity is presented as a positive value in which all have something to contribute. The book also includes suggestions for the adults in students’ lives.

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

So many books.  I wish that all I had to do each day was read.  Hope you find something that you will want to add to your booklist here.  Just a few  comments.  Vinegar Girl is part of the series re-telling Shakespeare’s play in modern times.  This one is a take on The Taming of The Shrew. Three Wishes is Liane Moriarty’s first novel.  The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan is sweet women’s fiction. Crocodile on the Sandbank is part of the Amelia Peabody historical mystery series.  The Princess Bride is a modern classic.  The Nest is about dysfunctional siblings. The Alienist is a mystery set in New York’s past.  Righteous received excellent reviews.  And finally, presidents and their wives.

Enjoy.