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

All children feel scared at some time and learning how to cope is an important life skill. This book may help.

A child and their mother are going camping. At the same time a bear cub and its mother are out and about. In a way that parallels the book Blueberries for Sal, the cub and the child have similar experiences. Each learns to cope and is less frightened at this picture book’s end.

The illustration in this book are engaging. The story line is simple and consists mostly of a few repeated sentences. This book provides a sweet way to look at fear and being brave. It also shows how helping others can be a good coping mechanism.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-proof in exchange for my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley of Bee Calm, The Buzz on Yoga. I feel better already!

The text of this picture book is rhyming and the illustrations are appealing. The reader observes Bee as he buzzes about and spends a little time with many of his friends. They are all doing yoga poses. At first, Bee is not sure that he is interested but then he decides to give it a try. He learns more about yoga and starts to make it a part of his life.

This is another in the series published by the American Psychological Association. There is a reminder about the hectic pace of life and the need for kids to learn ways to let go of that. A helpful section at the back of the book suggests ways in which adults can practice yoga with children.

I highly recommend this title. It makes yoga feel appealing, fun and helpful.

It is always fun to spend time with the Peanuts gang. In this volume, Lucy certainly does speak out but she is not the only one. Visit all of your favorite Peanuts characters including Schroeder, Linus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Sally, etc. I was reading this while sitting at jury duty yesterday. The perfect antidote and one that left me laughing out loud.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a fun read.

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.

 

I love this book! It is so sweet and caring and demonstrates empathy without being preachy.

Daddy is sick and his daughter wants to make him feel better. The child who listens to this picture book will see all that she tries…does daddy feel better in the end? Is he ready to be the usual daddy again? Adults may know but children will love finding out.

The illustrations as you can see from the cover are simple yet very appealing. I enjoyed looking at the little girl, her dad and I adore the dog.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a lovely book about what happens when a parent is sick and how a child might help. The opinions are my own.

There is a new series of books from Quarto called Bright Start. A Thank You Walk is the first of these that I have read; I think that the books will be welcomed by those with young children.

A mom and her child go for a walk together. They observe the animals with whom they interact. The sounds that the animals make are their thank yous and the mom and child together enjoy hearing them, as for example, when a horse neighs after being given a carrot. The walk itself is also something that the child thanks her mom for.

The illustrations are simple with black, white and a bit of color yet they are very engaging. The dog Duke in particular has a lot of personality.

This is a sweet and simple story. It feels just right for the youngest children as it reminds them to be aware of the things that we may be thankful for and shows a warm relationship between a mother and child.

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

#AskAScientist #NetGalley

This book was written by a grandfather who wanted to be a scientist from a young age. He has also spent time in schools and it shows. He is keyed in to ways to answer kids questions with just the right amount of detail.

In this book, our scientist answers 100 questions that children have posed. Some examples include the following: How does Velcro stick? When did time begin? Why does ice cream melt? How do we get taller? Why does our hair turn grey when we get older? How does the moon affect the tides of the sea?

As you can see this book is encyclopedic in scope. It is broken down by questions in fields including chemistry, the human body, physics, natural science, the earth and space. To help keep the reader engaged there are colorful illustrations throughout.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this excellent resource for young (and older) scientists. I learned a lot!

Another day of good choices…Sweet Little Lies and Under the Harrow are debut mystery/suspense titles while Just Mercy is about our real justice system.  Jodi Picoult fans, here is one if you have not already read it.  Finally Arthur Pepper is another debut, a fiction title.  Enjoy.

This is the first novel in a new historical mystery series set in Britain during WWI. The premise centers on the formation of a new detective unit which includes both men and women. The two women are a doctor and a woman who took law courses but, since she was female, could not obtain a degree. The men are forward thinking officers of the law.

The story centers on the death of a returning soldier who may have been murdered by his wife. A lot is thrown into the mix including scenes set in upper class homes, hospitals and brothels.

This was an interesting book with characters who were quite likeable. I look forward to the next in this Mayfair 100 series.

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

Coming soon: Book 2

I found this to be a very sweet board book for toddlers. The patch of blue from the child’s jeans is found in a series of colorful and appealing illustrations. For example, it becomes part of a sign, a ferris wheel, a stained glass window etc. This is a charming, wordless picture book.

Kudos to all who were involved with this book. The illustrations ate very appealing as is the design and structure of the book. Ward is very interested in helping adults and children to connect with nature. She previously wrote a book called I Like Dirt. She wants people of all ages to get outside, observe and enjoy the world around them.

This book’s contents are organized around the four seasons. There is information about birds, migration, food, habitats, etc. There are many projects for adults and children to do together. Observation and slowing down are also encouraged. In addition, there are short boxed entries with information and samples of things such as what a bird observation journal entry might look like.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

The story…Diana does not like school! She especially hates the multiplication tables. Diana’s mother tries to help. she gets a tutor. The tutor is not successful. The medical doctor finds nothing wrong and suggests a psychologist. While there, Diana accidentally discovers that she loves to dance and move. From there, school gets better.

This book may well appeal to young students who feel “out of sync” at school. The illustrations are amazing; whimsical, appealing, funny and fun. My quibbles: It is stereotypical to have a girl who struggles with Math. Also, everything improves very quickly. This is not generally the case in real life. Those points aside, this is a cute title.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. The opinion are my ow.

#HuntWithNewton #NetGalley

Why were there no books like this when I was young?  It would have made such a difference to me.

This is a book that makes learning about science engaging, entertaining and fun while still teaching so much to young scientists.  The premise…Harriet, Charles Darwin’s tortoise, and Milton, Shroedinger’s Cat are friends with a time machine.  They are traveling in the 17th and 18th centuries in this entry.  The number of scientists and thinkers whom they meet is staggering and impressive.  To name just a few:  Boyle, Harvey, Newton, Pascal and, of course, many more. Facts about each are easily incorporated in the text.  There are experiments that can be replicated.  There are even some jokes and a bit of a plot.

I don’t often give five stars in my reviews but this one deserves it.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read that will encourage young scientists to learn to explore.

Other books in the series:

There are two series that I have enjoyed represented here by authors Macneal and Perry. Catherine Aird is a cozy writer while the River at Night is a suspense title.

#ArtfulCarts #NetGalley

Have you ever stopped to consider the role of cats in art? They can be subject and/or inspiration; public art or private art sent in letters; pets of loving owners and more.

This book has chosen cats as its focus, something that I have not seen in any of my art history classes. Sketches, art work and photos of artists with their cats come to this book from the Archives of American Art. The book is divided into sections including Strike A Pose, Cats in the Studio and Cats and the Creative Process. You will see artists some of whom I knew and others whom I did not, including Louise Nevelson, Robert Indiana and Romare Bearden.

This book is work a look if cats and art are among your passions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this look at cats in the art world.