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

This is both a very charming and a very instructive book. If you want to learn to draw and paint adorable animals, you can learn how here. There are detailed instructions on supplies and steps in creating the animals shown. There is also support for the need to learn and acceptance at not being perfect. However…If you don’t want to draw, you might enjoy just looking. The illustrations are adorable!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto!

T

This picture book has the most lovely and appealing illustrations, as can be seen from the cover. I adored them!

The story begins with Hedgehog who loves her garden. Children will see how carefully she cares for it and will learn about the flowers that she grows. So far, so good, but…one day, the flowers are destroyed.

Hedgehog is very upset. She begins to accuse other animals, all of whom are adorably illustrated, of ruining her garden. From this, children may gently learn that it does not do to accuse others without evidence.

Next, Hedgehog does some investigating, finds out who the culprit is and they become friends. At the end of the story, you will see how the thief is literally transformed!

This book is further enhanced by a section that offers suggestions for adults to help children get the most from the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this enticing book.

#StorytimeThePrettiestFlower #NetGalley

Some good escape reading for the season as other stresses rise.

This book offers a fascinating look at either places you may not have heard of or interesting aspects of places where you may have been.  A few examples…you may have been in Rock Creek Park but did you know that discarded stones from the Capitol building are there?  Have you heard of the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument or the home of Carter G Woodson that is located in the Shaw neighborhood?  For those who don’t know Dr. Woodson was “the man known as the father of African American History.”  Have you visited the home with a front yard filled with dinosaurs?  How about the President’s Suite at Regan Washington National Airport where Roosevelt held meetings?  There are many places listed, described and photographed in this book.  It is worth having for both first time and frequent visitors to DC, along with DC residents.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  I learned a lot.

#NoAccessWashingtonDc #NetGalley

This is the third novel that I have read by Kate Morton and it is by far my favorite. I loved this novel! I am going to give it one of my rare five star reviews and say that it is one of my best reads of the year.

Aptly named with an allusion about time, The Clockmaker’s Daughter takes place in different periods including the 1860’s, 1899, 1928, WWII, 1962 and the present. Like the exquisite, interlocking, sensitive and perfectly balanced workings of a clock. the characters are connected over time and in their relationships. The revelations of the interconnections add depth and emotional resonance to the novel.

The plot is complex as would be expected in a novel that keeps the reader’s interest for over 500 pages. Characters include an artist, his model and their circle; the backstory of the model; the artist’s family; a young British girl sent to boarding school in England from India; an archivist; a biographer; a hunter of lost treasure and more. The most consistent and overarching presence is that of Birdie, the clockmaker’s daughter and artist’s model who is a spiritual (ghostly) presence throughout. For me Birdie worked perfectly even though I do not gravitate toward books with spirits. The other main character is the house where much of the story takes place. Within the pages there are mysteries, murder, love, grief, family and friendship.

I was sorry to finish this book as I enjoyed it so much. I hope that you will too.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful and engrossing read.

This sampler shows that there will some fun books coming our way this spring. Undercover Ostrich appears to be a very silly story that is told just for fun. Dibs shows that one cannot really shout “dibs” every time one wants something. For example, what if a toddler wants to be a pilot? The point is made in a humorous way. Be A Maker encourages doing things. All three of these picture books look promising. I look forward to their publication.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

#LernerS19pictureBookSampler #NetGalley

The young child in this book is outside playing hide and seek when, unfortunately, he gets stung by bees.  Of course he is very upset.  Max copes by deciding to only play inside.  This seemingly keeps him safe but, naturally, does not leave him happy.  Eventually Chris, Max’s brother, teaches him ABC worry free. A is for accept, B is for Breathe and C is for change.  Each concept is demonstrated and explained.

This book comes from the National Center for Youth Issues.  It is a good book to read with a child who has a fear or to read so that children know that fear is something that we all face if we take risks.  There are helpful suggestions for adults at the end of the book.

I recommend this book which does a nice job of dealing with its chosen topic.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

#AbcWorryFree #NetGalley

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.

This is the first in a long running and very good series set in the aftermath of WWI.  The protagonist, Ian Rutledge, is haunted by the ghost of a solder whom he was forced to kill for cowardice.  Hamish’s presence enhances the book as it helps the reader to better understand Inspector Rutledge.

An interesting fact…Charles Todd is really a mother/son writing team.

From Library Journal

Just Mercy is a non-fiction title that is supposed to be excellent and thought provoking.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time

For the Sake of Elena is an excellent title by Elizabeth George.

From Publishers Weekly

The Other Alcott tells the story of Louisa’s artistic sister May.

“[May’s] adventures illuminate the world of intrepid female artists in the late 1800s […] The Other Alcott comes alive in its development of the relationship between Louisa and May.”  –The New York Times

Enjoy!