For when you need to laugh: The World’s Best Jokes for Kids Volume 1 by Lazar

This is a fun compendium of jokes and riddles that will be enjoyed by both kids and adults.  Some examples:

Why are hairdressers never late for work?  They know all the short cuts.

How much room is needed for fungi to grow?  As mushroom as possible.

What treat is never on time?  Choco-late

What kind of lights did Noah use on the ark?  Flood lights.

If any of these made you smile, this is a book for you or a child that you know.  There are cartoon like illustrations with each joke.  These add to the fun.

Highly recommended for those with a funny bone!

TheWorldsBestJokesForKidsVolume1 #NetGalley

For lovers of Venice and/or Brunetti: My Venice by Donna Leon

My Venice: And Other Essays by [Leon, Donna]I loved Donna Leon’s first Brunetti mystery, Death at LaFenice, which, like all of her novels, takes place in Venice.  The setting is critical to Ms. Leon’s series and she truly brings it to life in each of her novels.  I am currently reading the forthcoming Unto Us a Son is Born (thank you NetGalley) and can already tell that I will be giving it many stars.

My Venice is about this expatriate author’s life in her chosen city.  It is an e-book bargain for today.

From Booklist

The many thousands of readers who love Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti mysteries love them for multiple reasons, the least of which is probably their plots. Not that there is anything wrong with those plots, but it is the side dishes surrounding the plots that entrance us, especially the character of the cynical yet sensitive Brunetti and the way he interacts with his family. So it is with the essays in this collection of Leon’s brief nonfiction writings. Whether she is musing about Venice, expressing not only an appealing crankiness about garbage or Bermuda shorts–wearing tourists but also an unassailable love of the human interaction that the city’s car-free status makes possible; or about her love for classical music; or her mixed reactions to America; or her thoughts on men, she never fails to explore the periphery of her topic, deepening her theme and giving it context and nuance. A favorite? How about “With Barbara Vine,” in which two celebrated mystery writers chat about their favorite ways of doing somebody in (“Oh, I love a good push down the step”)? –Bill Ott

An appetizer-Small Plates by Katherine Hall Page. An e-book bargain

Small Plates: Short Fiction by [Page, Katherine Hall]Katherine Hall Page has written a series of cozies featuring Faith Fairchild.  Faith is a New York City caterer who falls in love with a minister in small town Aleford, Mass.  The books follow Faith’s relationship with her husband, her children, her friends and her community.  They are reliably good cozy mysteries.

Today, Small Plates, is an e-book bargain.  If you want, you can taste this author through her short stories and then decide if you would like to read the novels.

PRAISE:

“A tasty introduction to Agatha Award–winner Page’s popular mystery series.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A variety of tasty short morsels that will whet [Page’s] fans’ appetites…Well paced and will leave the reader satisfied, as a good short story should… [A] delectable treat.” (Library Journal)

“The perfect accompaniment to the summer vacation or a simple afternoon on the porch swing…delicious.” (Daily News)

“Serves up, in miniature, the kinds of old-fashioned puzzle mysteries that fans of writers like Agatha Christie crave.” (Boston Globe)

From the Back Cover

Katherine Hall Page, author of the beloved Faith Fairchild series, invites you to enjoy her first ever collection of short fiction. Readers will delight in the broad range of these mysteries—tales to suit every taste and mood.

Page’s stories will take readers from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the dunes of Cape Cod and “Across the Pond.” Her characters include a man who longs for widowhood, dreaming of attention from the casserole brigade—good women lining up at his door with offerings of food and perhaps themselves. A British bride calls Faith and her sister for help after a series of alarming “accidents.” And Faith herself is almost “Sliced” in a reality TV show when the competition turns deadly.

For those who love books and bookstores; The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

I have read several books by Katherine Reay and will rank this one among my favorites. It is the story of three women who run a bookshop following the death of one of the protagonist’s relatives. The main characters are Madeline, who inherits the shop; Clare who feels unseen by her family and struggles with her teenage daughter; and Janet who made one mistake that led to the end of her marriage and another that led to a major crisis for the store. The stories of these characters overlap and form the basis for the novel.

The novel takes place in a small town outside of Chicago. The location feels idyllic as does the bookshop.

If you have ever had a dream about owning a bookstore that enhances a community, you will enjoy this novel. There are definitely struggles for the store but the author makes owning a bookshop feel so worthwhile.

I enjoyed this novel very much. There are friendship, romance and books, books, books within these pages. An added bonus was the number of books that are named in the novel and the complete list of those titles at the end. This list is a great resource for future reads.

So…if you like a light story with a great setting, think about this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book about books.

 

#ThePrintedLetterBookshop #NetGalley

Now out in the U.S. Murder at the Mill by Shaw

I ordered this book from England and am so glad that I did! This is the first mystery by M.B. Shaw (aka Tilly Bagshaw) who is a modern Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh. All of the elements for a successful series are in place and I hope that Ms. Shaw keeps writing. The characters are well developed and nuanced; each is unique and has a backstory. The mystery is solved through the protagonist’s acute observational skills. Iris Grey, amateur sleuth, is an artist who brings a certain sensibility to the small English village where she has rented a cottage. Getting to know her and the victim, successful author, Dom, and his family kept the pages turning. Highly recommended for mystery lovers with a British bent.

Remember penmanship? Hand Lettering A to Z Work Book by Sy

In today’s world we often are typing away when we want to communicate. Depending on your age, you may or may not have studied penmanship in school. Want to learn? Need a refresher?

In this book, the author offers the opportunity to begin to master hand lettering. There are examples of font styles, suggestions about art materials to use when lettering and a recognition of the importance of practice. There are many workbook pages to utilize while progressing.

If you would like to be able to do artistic hand lettering, whether for an art project, an invitation or for your own pleasure, this book could be a valuable tool. Take a look.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher…I am off to practice.

#HandLetteringAToZWorkbook #NetGalley

Just out-Draw and Paint Super Cute Animals

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!

The Prettiest Flower by Shuttlewood

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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

Now out-No Access Washington DC

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