Mystery, often with history, leading up to the holidays.
— Read on www.libraryjournal.com/story/prepub/from-anne-perry-and-rhys-bowen-to-philip-margolin-and-mike-lupica-channeling-robert-b.-parker-mystery-previews-nov.-2023-pt.-1—prepub-alert

The best paperbacks of 2023

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3fc338b4-8087-11ed-be7b-e3d756e725f4?shareToken=a0c7cbce9f7344018935762958dfd5f4

The Sunday Times Bestsellers List — the UK’s definitive book sales chart

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f2c6f942-da35-11e9-8fc3-6e1b00e49ce4?shareToken=eb544af1a6be520a8bfbcb3e65bff982

Paul Theroux, the quintessential travel writer, has also enshrined his Massachusetts roots in his writing. Here are his recommendations for those who come to visit.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/books/boston-books-paul-theroux.html

Her new book, “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” is an exploration of what happened to her marriage after she became a well-known poet.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/style/maggie-smith-poet.html

I love that they sent me this.

The Forest Keeper– The true story of Jadav Payeng

by Rina Singh

This book is based on a true story and a real man. It is a beautiful story about love for one’s environment and the difference that one person can make. It deserves a place in school and home libraries.

The story is well told by an author who cares about her subject. The illustrations are truly five star. I adored them.

Many thanks to NorthSouth Books and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

The Horn Book

“An inspiring true story of an environmental activist whose important work began in his teens and spanned a lifetime.”

Booklist

“Showing what one person with limited resources can do to restore the environment, the story celebrates Payeng’s vision and determination.”

Publishers Weekly

“Singh inspires with this biography of Jadav Payeng”

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is a child friendly biography of Jadav Payeng, an ordinary man who worked unnoticed for decades to realize an extraordinary vision for his community. It tells the true story of how as a young man, Jadav Molai Payeng saw the devastation that the monsoon wreaked through the Brahmaputra River in Assam, North East India. He decided to do something about it, and his story is a story of perseverance in the face of all odds. When others were defeated by the problem, his small steps, constant care, innovation and hard, determined work led to the growth of a forest in the most unlikely places. It is also the story of environmental activism and how each person can play their part, however small they think they are. Payeng harnessed the power of the monsoons to grow the forest in dispersing the seeds, rather than destroying habitats and the animals and people that rely on them. The illustrations are evocative, detailed, informative and bright with color. They work with the story to reflect great respect for Payeng’s work and give huge scope for discussion and learning. This book is a beautiful and inspirational story to share with children of any age. It will aid in discussions of environmentalism as well as problem solving and perseverance.” ― Children’s Literature Reviews

“An inspiring true story of an environmental activist whose important work began in his teens and spanned a lifetime.” ― The Horn Book

This is a wonderful book for a child that you may know. It tells the story of Mahani who grew up on distant Easter Island. How did she come to love music and the piano? What led her to travel far from her home? And, what brought her back, and what amazing things did she then accomplish? Read this lovely picture book to find out. Note that this title also has gorgeous illustrations.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in April 2023

FREE

#SearchingforSunshine #NetGalley

This lovely title will be enjoyed by many but, perhaps most especially, by those who live in New York City. The author moved to New York from India and missed that essential sense of the outdoors. How it was found again is in these pages.

As the title notes connections are made with plants, parks and the people who love them. Thus, there are conversations with those who know the Union Square Market, the New York Botanical Garden and a host of other locations.

Enjoy this one for its content. Stay, too, for the glorious illustrations.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 April 2023

From the Publisher

Meet a few of the experts and plant-lovers featured in Searching for Sunshine

Jose Lopez Deputy Director of Parklands, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation We have small parks in the city. A small triangle of green still serves a purpose. I might plant a tree now and I might not see that tree grow. I might be gone, but I’m hoping that the tree will grow to be eighty years old.	Alex Crowder Florist, Brooklyn I use my skills to elevate local or seasonal flowers or weeds and get people to see them in a new way. This is my livelihood. I am really good at this. I also want to fight for change. I think we put this idea of activism into a small box… but you can infuse activism in your work ethic as well.	Tama Matsuoka Wong Forager, New Jersey For Tama, foraging is a cultural experience. When her father visited her from Japan with some friends, they were thrilled to see hakobe (chickweed) in the meadow in her backyard. For others in the locality this was just a weed, but in Japan it is one of the seven precious herbs of spring.

Jess Turner Herbalist, Brooklyn When I started working with plants professionally, what felt good was feeling connected to the web of life. I would often do my work without gloves. So when I was working with soil, I would touch the soil. I remember the first time that I took my shoes off and the feeling of my feet on the bare ground.	Joseph Charap Director of Horticulture, Green-Wood Cemetery I’m very fortunate that I have a job that doesn’t require me to be indoors all day. It never gets old for me to see the same tree every day… Natural landscapes are so conducive to the grieving process because there’s a sense of continuity—even if a tree falls it’s created seeds and they can continue.	Dr. Ina Vandebroek Ethnobotanist, New York Botanical Garden I combined my studies in biology with my interest in medicine, and so I arrived at medicinal plants and human health. Traditional medicine and folk illnesses are about community understanding community and caring for themselves.

With over 200 gorgeous illustrations by Ishita Jain