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

This STEAM series entry is for the “A” in STEAM, art. The book will appeal to four to seven year olds.

Max and Suzy have baked cookies and would like to sell them but, alas, they have no customers. With the help of their art teacher, the two learn that they have to make their stall more visible and appealing. They discover that art will help them to do this.
Max and Suzy decorate with fine results. Along the way, they learn about primary colors and how to make secondary colors. They also find out that art doesn’t have to be neat to be something to enjoy and take pride in.
There is an added learning section in the back of the book. It also includes some suggested websites.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another book in an excellent series. The opinions are mine.

#SteamStoriesTheCookieStallArt #NetGalley

From Publishers Weekly an “absolutely terrific thriller, so pulse-pounding, so ingenious in its plotting, and so frighteningly realistic that you simply cannot stop reading.” Eye of the Needle won the 1979 Edgar Award and was adapted into a 1981 movie of the same name starring Donald Sutherland.

I read this novel when it first came out many years ago and literally could NOT put it down.  If you have not read it, I highly recommend this one for those of you who like WWII spy stories.  It was riveting.

I wanted to read this novel from the moment that I heard about it.  It turns out that it was a very good, but not absolutely amazing, read.

The Gown in question is the one that Queen (then Princess) Elizabeth wore for her wedding.  However, the Royals are not the ones that this story is about; rather, the novel is a fictional account of two women who embroidered this most important dress and the granddaughter of one of them.  The book moves back and forth between the 1940s and the present day.

An important setting in the book is the studio of Norman Hartnell whose atelier designed and made Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress.  Mr. Hartnell comes across as a nice man who hired nice people.  He and Miss Duley, who manages the embroiderers, were real people.  The author did her research and was fortunate enough to meet one of the seamstresses from the time. This gives the studio scenes a welcome authenticity.

The three protagonists are Ann, Miriam and Heather.  Ann has been impacted by the war and its post-war austerity.  No spoilers so I won’t say what happens to her.  She is a good friend to Miriam, a Jewish woman, who emigrated to London after suffering many losses during the war.  Heather is Ann’s granddaughter.  The book is told in alternating narratives of the three.

At the end of the book there is a section on sources, a reader’s guide and an interview with Betty, the seamstress whom the author interviewed.

If you enjoy historical novels, I recommend this.  I cared about the characters and found the setting to be quite interesting.  If you have watched The Crown, this novel gives background from the time of the first series.

I would give this one three plus stars, just shy of four.  Let me know what you think if you read it.

 

This is another entry in the series of children’s books that is published in conjunction with the American Psychological Association. Each title gently teaches young children how to manage their world.

In this picture book, Blue is upset when Red and Yellow fly off without him. In his upset, Blue starts a rumor that is spread by birds of many colors. (A side benefit of the book is that children can show off their ability to identify the colors.) Eventually all is resolved. Blue apologizes for his lie while Red and Yellow acknowledge that they should have invited Red to come along. The birds of every color are together in harmony.

At the conclusion of the story, there is a section for caregivers on how to help children to deal with similar situations. This adds extra value to the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book that belongs on nursery and day care bookshelves.

#ThreeLittleBirds #NetGalley

This is an appealing and funny way to help young children learn the importance of good manners. In this humorously illustrated story, Dot and Duck have a visit. The two are going to have tea together but Duck is never satisfied and behaves quite poorly. Dot’s refrain throughout is “How rude!” Things get worse and worse, the mess gets messier, the phrase how rude is printed larger and larger… and so it goes. Finally Dot has her own moment. By the end of the book all comes together and both Dot and Duck have shown their better selves. The story resolves in a way that will entertain young children.

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

#HowRude #NetGalley

I am featuring mysteries here.  What a way to start the year.  So, so many books.  Some are priced as low as $1.20 and there are multiple books in some series, for example Janet Evanovich, Ellis Peters, Phil Rickman and Dorothy Sayers.  There is also a book by Ausma Khan.  I just blogged on her soon to be published novel which was excellent.

and other dorothy sayers

 

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

This book will provide a lot of entertainment for elementary school aged children while simultaneously teaching them about their world. Divided by geographical region, young students can examine the atlas and learn about cultural highlights as well as the flora and fauna of each area. What makes this book special is that three viewing lenses are provided. Each lens is to be used in order to highlight the hidden objects in the maps. Of course my copy of the book is virtual so I had no lenses but I really wished that I did!

I think that kids will enjoy this easy and entertaining way to experience and learn more about their world.

****Four stars

#Illuminatlas #NetGalley

This appears to be an excellent picture book for adults to share with the nursery school aged children in their lives. This is the story of a young boy who sometimes feels angry. Simon does not know how to manage this difficult emotion but learns to handle things better by the end of the book.

Along the way, Simon’s anger is anthropomorphized as a variety of animals that grow larger and larger. The illustrations of the animals are very expressive as you can see from the book’s cover. Each time the refrain is

“It was great, it was marvelous, it was magical to have…” an animal to express his anger.

While at first Simon seems to feel powerful and not to care about others, of course, eventually he wants to re-connect and needs help to do so. The author writes

“It was not so great, not so marvelous to always have such anger.”

Simon practices a bit of calming down mindfulness which begins to help. He reconnects with others after this.

At the end of the book, there is a detailed section for adults on ways to help the children that they guide.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley which will be helpful to both kids and adults.

I absolutely adore the poetry of Mary Oliver.  It is simple yet deep; it is also profound and moving.  I often start my day by reading a poem from this wonderful anthology.

Very sadly, I read today that Ms. Oliver died at age 80 plus in Florida.  Her shimmering and beautiful work will be here for me still but nonetheless she will be missed.

Read Devotions or any of her other works; you will be deeply affected.

In “When Death Comes,” she wrote:

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life

I was a bride married to amazement.

I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder

if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,

or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

This is the first novel that I have read by Ms. Khan, although it is not her first novel. I plan to read this entire series of mysteries featuring Esa and Rachel, along with the significant people in their lives.

This novel is a mystery but more than that. It has an important story to tell that resonates in the current climate of being less than welcoming to immigrants. The story takes place in a small Quebec community where the Muslim population is mistrusted by many. An attack occurs at a mosque and deaths result. Who is at fault? What has led to such deep feelings of unease on everyone’s part? Is the situation hopeless?

In A Deadly Divide there are members of the Wolf Gang, a white supremacist group, the Lilies, a group of girls, whose role in all that goes on seems ambiguous, the local priest, a reporter, the police force and a government spokesperson, among others. All are well described and become real and distinctive.

Along with the mystery and the politics, this novel is very much about the relationships of the characters with one another. This felt true to life as human feelings and emotions do not go away, even in the light of crises and volatile political situations.

I recommend this novel. It will make you think about the positions that you hold while also enjoying a well told story. Fans of author Suzanne Chazin’s series will want to read this. Both series look at the role of immigration in our world view while also depicting complex mysteries.

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

“Outstanding…Khan perceptively explores who fear can quickly erupt into violence.”―Publishers Weekly (Starred and Boxed)

“Khan peoples her police procedural with believably nuanced characters to highlight the consequences of hate. The tension never lets down.”―Kirkus

AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN holds a Ph.D. in International Human Rights Law and is a former adjunct law professor.