Now out: The Complete Book of Birthdays

Four stars ****

This title begins with a deep explanation of the principles of astrology. I suspect that many readers will, however, quickly turn to their own birth date or to those of the significant people in their lives. Readers will, undoubtedly, look to see how the descriptions accord with their own senses of self or others. It can be an interesting pursuit and one that could lead to great popularity for this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

A great resource for girls: Growing Up Powerful Journal (Rebel Girls)

#GrowingUpPowerfulJournal #NetGalley

This journal serves as a terrific companion the the Rebel Girls book titled Growing Up Powerful. The cover describes it as a confidence boosting, totally inspiring and joyful journal. That makes me want to purchase it for every young girl I know.

Following the introduction, there are sections called What is Confidence?, Take Action, Train Your Brain, Build Your Team, and finally, Change the World. Inside, the pages are colorful pages with helpful text and a series of prompts.

The first section, for example,starts with an explanation of the topic and ideas about how to be more confident. Prompts for the journal writing include listing things that already make a person feel confident, thinking about when a confident feeling first was noticed, writing things a girl might do to feel more confident and so on. Another section asks the reader to pick which scenario best demonstrates confidence. The additional prompts are ones that I think are quite helpful. The rest of the book is equally so.

I wish that I’d had this journal when I was younger. I recommend it highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 October 2023

Now out: Logic Puzzles for Brain Fitness

Five stars *****

Here is another in a series of puzzle books for “brain training.” These puzzles may in fact be good for you but I mostly do them because I think that they offer a fun challenge.

There are six different types of puzzles included in this title. They are logic grids puzzles, sudoku, calcudoku, battleship, kakuro, and Masyu (a puzzle with which I was unfamiliar). There are three sections, each of which includes some of the puzzle types, with harder puzzles being added as one goes along. Puzzlers can choose to go in order, or if they feel more skilled, they can advance to a harder section. Try puzzles that you already know that you like or learn something new. There are full directions for each type. However, the puzzles are approached, have fun!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for this title. I plan to get the hard copy of this title so that I can do all of the puzzles. All opinions are my own