This is a truly inspiring story in a continually inspiring series.

Jane Goodall knew what she wanted from a young age and figured out a way to realize her dream. Starting from the moment that her father gave her a stuffed animal named Jubilee, Jane was in love with chimpanzees. Unable to afford university, she made her way to Africa, met Leakey and began to patiently observe chimps in the wild. Touchingly, she named the animals and did not only see them as research subjects. Through patient study, Jane learned a great deal and made an amazing discovery (read the book to find out what this was). In later years, she has fought tirelessly for our environment.

Jane is a determined woman and her story will encourage young readers to be determined in setting and keeping to their own biggest hopes and dreams.

Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto and the author for this excellent entry in an excellent series.

This read-aloud/picture book is published under the auspices of the American Psychological Association. It is cheerfully illustrated with a diverse group of toddlers who do not want to share. A calm and lovely teacher repeatedly intervenes to help by respecting the child who does not feel ready to part with something and by offering the other child an alternative. The repetition will be helpful for young readers and will remind parents of the need for patience when coping with young children. At the end of the book, there is a VERY helpful guide for parents. Believe it or not, there is even a little spoiler there that you will discover for yourself. Highly recommended for toddlers and their caregivers.

As adults, it is easy to forget what it is like to experience something for the first time; things that we take for granted may be overwhelming for children. This short picture book/read aloud will help kids to know what to expect when they go out to eat in a restaurant.  This preparation may well help your little eater to have a more positive experience when dining out.   After hearing this story, children will have a better sense of who is who and what choices they will be making.  Ideas are also given for things to do when waits seems long.  At the end of the book there are additional suggestions for adults that will help them and the kids they know to enjoy this time together.

I have read the first Viveca Sten novel and very much enjoyed it.  The books were originally published in Sweden, have been translated into English and are now available in the U.S.  Still Waters was an involving read in which I cared about the characters and the mystery.  I read it a little while ago so here is the Goodreads summary

Every month I impatiently wait for news of new books in this series. This time I was delighted to see L.M. Montgomery as a subject. If anyone out there does not know, L.M. Montgomery wrote one of the (and my) most beloved childhood books, Anne of Green Gables. That story about an impulsive, loving young girl who brought new life to brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla, is full of the wonders of friendship, nature and life’s daily challenges. How did Miss Montgomery create the novel? This book explains that young Maud wrote a story of the childhood that she wished she had experienced. In doing so, she brought joy to countless children and the adults who read to them.

In this entry in the Little People, Big Dreams series, young readers will get to know Maud, understand her early years and see the spirit that moved her toward her dream of becoming a published author.

Read this book to a child you know and then, read or re-read the books that made Maud Montgomery a beloved resident of Prince Edward Island.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author.

Anne Perry has been writing Christmas novellas for many years; A Christmas Revelation is this year’s entry. This is a story about Worm, a precocious orphan, who lives at a shelter/ women’s clinic whose bookkeeper is a reformed criminal named Squeaky. Readers of the William Monk series will recognize the clinic as the one where Hester works and will also know that Squeaky is a regular series character.

Worm sees a beautiful woman on the street who appears angelic to him. When he realizes that she is in trouble, Worm wants to help. Because he cares for Worm, Squeaky becomes involved in a somewhat convoluted plot to help her. Their efforts form the plot of the novella.

In the fore and backgrounds of the story is the spirit of Christmas as is appropriate for this seasonal book. The reader observes as Worm learns the meaning of the holiday and has, what appears to be, his first true holiday celebration.

Long term fans of Anne Perry will want to read this book so as to be up to date with all of her series and characters. However, much as I love Anne Perry, I have enjoyed several of her holiday novellas more than this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I very much wanted to read this book.

I read Little Big Lies well before it was on tv and very much enjoyed it.  I purchased Truly, Madly, Guilty when it came out.  No review though because it is still in my TBR pile.  The author has a new book coming out soon but in the meanwhile, this is an e-book bargain today.

“Truly Madly Guilty will be widely read…It has all the requisite trademarks of one of her hits…It probes some of the things she writes about best: fraught friendships, covert backbiting, stale marriages.” ―New York Times

“Stacked with her signature themes: female friendship, duplicity, the darkness lurking beneath lucky, ordinary suburban lives…The last twist, though, is nearly worth the wait, and what sets Moriarty’s writing apart…has as much to do with her canny insights into human nature as her clever plotting…Compelling.” ―Entertainment Weekly

“Moriarty’s fans will rejoice at her latest title as she tackles marriage, parenthood, friendship, and sex, in this provocative and gripping read…This novel sheds light on the truths that we all fear as parents, spouses, and friends. It’s perfect for those long summer days, but readers will have to pace themselves to not devour it in one sitting.” ―Library Journal (starred review)

“Perhaps the most anticipated release this summer, Moriarty is at her finest in this keep you guessing multi-family drama surrounding a tragic event at a casual neighborhood barbecue. You will not soon forget this cast of troubled yet very likable characters, and the relationships that both bind and nearly destroy them.” ―Huffington Post

“The author of Big Little Lies doing what she does best: unraveling people’s public selves with an urgency that keeps you reading.” ―Glamour Magazine

The Ruin is a first novel by an author who is Irish and currently living in Australia.  Readers who know Tana French will think of her when they read Dervla McTiernan’s book.

A brief plot synopsis:  A detective had a case twenty years ago that involved two children who were not adequately cared for.  In the present, that little boy, now an adult dies.  What happened?   Was it murder? Why?  Is his sister involved?  Guilty?

The story is involved and complex with multiple characters.  They are well drawn, have personalities and evoke reactions in the reader.

I finished this  novel already looking forward to the next in the series.  One small criticism;  the author includes so much, maybe too much in the final solving of the case.

This novel gets 4 plus stars from this reader.  Other opinions below:
“A gripping mystery set in Galway that spans twenty years. It’s a complicated page-turning story that touches on corruption, clandestine cover-ups, and criminal conspiracy. . . . A story that’s as moving as it is fast-paced.”
—Daily Mail (London)
“Powerful . . . McTiernan neatly ties [the threads of the novel] all together in the suspenseful conclusion. McTiernan, born in Ireland but now living in Australia, is a writer to watch.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This is a charming and delightful book! The illustrations are adorable and the rhyming text makes for a perfect read-aloud. This is also a counting book which offers even more fun to young listeners. There are children, a dog, adventures and a cold, snowy day. Perfect! Highly recommended!