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

#AnnesAlphabet #NetGalley

This is a lovely alphabet book in which each letter is represented by something from Anne of Green Gables. The illustrations are particularly charming.  While this title may appeal to toddlers, I think that its greatest impact will be with adults who have happy memories of reading the Anne books.  Still, this is an opportunity to interest your child from Anne at a young age.  Go for it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this nostalgic ABC.  All opinions are my own.

Gary Giraffe is turning six and thinks that he will now be able to reach the sweetest leaves on the Acacia tree. What happens when he can’t? How does he feel?

This is another in the series from the American Psychological Association. It is written to de-stigmatize asking for help. There is a good lesson here for kids: it is okay to ask and others will help.

As always in the series, there are helpful suggestions for adults at the back of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another helpful entry. I wish that these books had been around when my children were little.

Do you know a young baker or would you enjoy introducing a child to baking? If yes, this book is an excellent resource. The book begins with a helpful chapter on baking basics and then goes on to have many recipes. There are cookies, bars and bite size treats; muffins and quick breads;cakes, cupcakes and frosting; pies and tarts and savory and salty breads and snacks. A few examples that appealed to me included peaches and cream pie,apple cider-doughnut cake, pumpkins spice muffins and lemon bars.

The directions are easy to follow. Each starts with a list of the tools and equipment that are needed. It is important to look at these because you may not have everything in your house if you are not a baker yourself. For example, a pastry blender or a sifter or parchment paper or a stand mixer. The recipe then has the steps for the recipe spelled out. There are also sections on tips and/or things to ask an adult.

In my opinion, this book could be used successfully by older children, children with their parents or adults themselves who want to learn to bake.

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

Do you know a young baker or would you enjoy introducing a child to baking?  If yes, this book is an excellent resource.  The boog begins with a helpful chapter on baking basics and then goes on to have many recipes.  There are cookies, bars and bite size treats; muffins and quick breads;cakes, cupcakes and frosting; pies and tarts and savory and salty breads and snacks.  A few examples that appealed to me included peaches and cream pie,apple cider-doughnut cake, pumpkins pice muffins and lemon bars.

The directions are easy to follow.  Each starts with a list of the tools and equipment that are needed.  It is important to look at these because you may not have everything in your house if you are not a baker yourself.  For example, a pastry blender or a sifter or parchment paper or a stand mixer.  The recipe then has the steps spelled out. There are also sections on tips and/or things to ask an adult.

In my opinion, this book could be used successfully by older children, children with their parents or adults themselves who want to learn to bake.

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

Sample Recipe: Pink Lemonade Layer Cake

Serves 12 / Prep time: 10 minutes / Bake time: 25 minutes

The only question about this pink and yellow cake is whether it’s more wonderful to eat or look at!

Here’s the Equipment You’ll Need:

• 2 (9-inch) round cake pans
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment or mixing bowl and electric beater
• Whisk
• Rubber spatula
• Mixing bowl
• Wire rack

• Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) salted butter
  • 21/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 2 teaspoons for dusting the pan
  • 11/2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 21/2 teaspoons baking powder, 4 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, Zest of 2 lemons
  • Pink food coloring, Yellow food coloring
  • 1 batch of Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (page 117)

   

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients.
  3. Add the butter.
  4. Mix the wet ingredients.
  5. Add half the egg mixture at a time.
  6. Add the food coloring.
  7. Bake for 25 minutes ( or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
  8. Let cool.
  9. Make Frosting.
  10. Decorate!

 

 

#IoweYouOne #NetGalley

Sophie Kinsella has written many novels but this is the first book of hers that I have read. I give it a solid 3.5 stars. The story is about relationships including those with friends, family and romantic partners.

Main characters include the three Farr siblings; there is self-centered Jake, dreamy and unfocused Nicole and the main protagonist, Fixie, who earned her nickname by, you guessed it, always wanting to fix things. But can she? How much should she fix for others and how much for herself?

Early in the novel, Fixie fixes something big for Seb. She saves his work computer from a flood. He, in return, writes an IOU on a coffee sleeve, vowing that he will do something for her. A big favor is asked for. There is a lot of score keeping as other favors occur. Because of this, over the course of the novel, the author asks the reader to consider how transactional relationships should or should not be. Even if you know the answer, you may enjoy following the story of Seb and Fixie.

A major setting in the book is Fixie’s family business, a housewares store. I am pretty sure that as you read the novel you will wish that you had access to the goods and could shop there.

I enjoyed this novel. I found myself reading more quickly the closer I got to the end. The Farr siblings change and grow over the course of the book and, even though you know how it will end, getting there is entertaining. If you enjoy light fiction, you might want to give this one a try.

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

Praise for I Owe You One

“This book is a shot of pure joy!”—Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Corner

“A delightful, irresistible romp.”—Booklist

“[A] fun story about family, loyalty, and taking charge of your own life . . . Kinsella creates a charming story full of quirky characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue. . . . [Her] many fans will devour this warm and hilarious read.”—Kirkus Reviews

“I Owe You One is another impossibly delightful story by Sophie Kinsella, a must-read for her die-hard fans and new readers alike.”—PopSugar, “24 of the Best New Books Coming Out This Winter”

“I love the opportunity to escape with a Sophie Kinsella book, and I Owe You One came just when I needed it. Fixie’s story is one of missed cues, mistakes, and the realization that you can’t fix someone else’s mess until you fix your own—a smart lesson wrapped in a gem of a novel.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things

This is a lovely, elegaic story about the love between a young girl and her grandfather. The illustrations complement the story beautifully.

Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan every summer. The two share a love for the rock garden that the grandfather has created. Each year, Mayumi can do more in the garden. The two enjoy working together and then sitting on a bench to share their bento box.

One summer Mayumi’s grandfather has grown older and can no longer care for his garden. What does Mayumi do for him? How does she create a memory for herself? These two questions are answered in this lovely story about the connection between the grandparent/grandchild generation.

This sweet story will be a good resource for children whose relatives are aging.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy which I have received in exchange for an honest review.

#AdaLovelaceAndTheNumberCrunchingMachineNewFromNorthSouth #NetGalley

This book offers an excellent introduction to the achievements of Ada Lovelace, daughter of a mathematician and a poet.  Her early years, the education that she had (when many girls did not), her interest in Math and work with Babbage are all covered in one easy to read package.  By the way, the illustrations also add to the book as they reflect Ada’s personality.  Get this one for a young reader you know who wants to be a big thinker with big ideas!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read about Ada who worked on what later came to be known as the computer.  All opinions are my own.

#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.