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

This is such an appealing book for kids interested in maps and exploration! It charts journeys that expanded knowledge of the world, starting in ancient times and continuing to the modern era. Each two page spread is lavishly illustrated and easy to follow. The route of the traveler and facts about the things seen are so interesting.

The book starts with some good information on exploration, then moves on to describe how to read and use the maps. Then the journeys begin. Just some of the explorers included are Hanno the Navigator (a very early explorer), Ibn Battuta (a devout Muslim), Cortez, Cook, and Peary. There are also several women!

The book is politically correct as it, for example, commenting on the controversy around Columbus. Additionally, the author points out that some expeditions, such as Amelia Earhart’s, end tragically but nonetheless are noteworthy.

I learned a lot while reading this book. The world is there for each of us to explore!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I very much enjoyed my armchair travels. All opinions are my own.

#AmazingExpeditions #NetGalley

This picture book shows two foxes; I did not realize initially that they are brothers, although they are. Benny, the older fox, is having fun doing many different activities. Whenever the younger (nameless) fox asks to participate, he is told no. This happens repeatedly, in my opinion a few more times than needed for the sake of the story, although the illustrations are fun. Eventually the younger fox begins to play on his own although he continues to follow Benny a while longer. After a time, the two foxes begin to share and play together in an activity initiated by the younger.

This story shows the persistence of the younger fox and the older fox’s focusing on himself, not others. The ending, in which, Benny enters into an activity with his younger brother is meant to, at least temporarily, resolve their conflicts.

Younger siblings will most likely relate to being pushed away by their elders. Older siblings will be reminded of how hard it is when a younger brother or sister wants their attention. This is all fine but what I slightly quibble with is the persistence of the younger sibling. He might be viewed a bit as a victim, rather than as a child who has some resources of his own. Nonetheless, this may be a good story book to read with children of any birth order.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance read. Opinions are my own.

#WhatAreYouDoingBenny #NetGalley

#LiviGrace #NetGalley

This is a short book that is in verse.  The story is about sisters Grace and Livi who are different from, but value, one another.  It provides a gentle reminder that being siblings does not mean that you are, or should be, the same.  It is a sweet early reader.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e book galley.   All opinions are my own.

One note:  The illustrations, other than the cover, did not come through on my galley.   I imagine that they are comical and lively based on the cover picture.

#WhenILookUp #NetGalley

In this picture book, a young girl looks all around her and sees the wonder in her world.  She uses her lively imagination to expand on what she sees; for example, after noticing a fly on the ceiling, this child wonders what it would be like to be able to walk upside down.  At the end of this simple story, our narrator comments that everything that she needs to make her happy is right in front of her…and how uplifting is that.

The illustrations have bright colors and are the perfect accompaniment to the text.  Young children will enjoy this story of noticing the amazing things in their daily lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of good choices today.  Hope you find one that you like.

A heads up on some forthcoming books.  I will be reviewing some of these in future posts.  Have you read any of these titles? What did you think?

This book will teach your toddler while s/he has fun along the way.  While searching for Little Chameleon, young children will learn about animals and their sounds, colors and numbers.  They will get to look for the lightly hidden objects on each two page spread.

All in all, this is a nicely illustrated and fun book for the littlest book lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early read in exchange for an honest review.

#HideAndSeekLittleChameleon #NetGalley

Porthmellow is the kind of place that I daydream about living in. It is beautiful, in Cornwall, by the sea and the people who live there care about one another. The setting for this book is an upcoming food festival. The residents we follow include Sam, the organizer; Gabe, who once dated Sam and is now a celebrity chef; Sam’s sister and her partner, Ben; a mom, Chloe who has been estranged from her daughter and granddaughter and many other locals. Their stories are all told in a way that allows the reader to care about them. Over the course of the story, lives are lived, misunderstandings are cleared up and characters grow and love. If this is your kind of book, try this. It is an enjoyable read.

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

This book is an entry in a series entitled, Little Guides to Great Lives.  It is indeed a good guide to the very significant, short life of Anne Frank. Anne’s story is a difficult story for children to learn; it is about a young girl who died too young in a horrible way for nothing that she did wrong, but for being Jewish during a period of great anti-Semitism and war.  I always wish that children did not have to know such a painful story but the lessons from Anne’s life are too important to shield children from.

This book tells Anne’s story well.  It shows the many ways in which she was a normal girl in an abnormal time.  She had a loving family, friends and parents who tried their best to protect her.  Her early life, her time in the annex and her life in a concentration camp are all detailed.

The illustrations add greatly to this story.  They are in simple colors but filled with life and emotion.  Important people have their portraits with some facts beneath them.  Anne’s imagination is brought to life in one spread that I especially love.

This is an important story and one that needs to be understood.  Young readers will perhaps be inspired to read Anne’s diary after reading this book.

Of note is that there is a section in the back of the book with additional information including definitions of terms that children might not know.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this little guide to a great life.  The opinions expressed are my own.

This is an adorable bedtime read for toddlers. The illustrations are bold and appealing while the simple text pairs well with the pictures.

In the story, a group of creatures tell what they need to do before going to bed. By the end of the book, a young child tells their routine for what must happen before going to sleep. In a sweet way that ties the book together, each critter that was previously featured in the story then is shown within the child’s room (for example, as part of a mobile).  Young readers are then asked what they need before going to sleep.

This storybook has an appealing concept; reluctant toddlers will undoubtedly love to see how each featured player finds ways to avoid bedtime. The book will then, hopefully, send them off to the land of Nod.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book which I was given in return for an honest review.