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

Mystery and light fiction along with the series on Alexander the Great and poet Elizabeth Alexander’s memoir.  Enjoy!

This sweet title is sure to appeal to toddlers. Its brightly colored illustrations will keep young listeners attention. The text is simple with the repetition that toddlers love. Children will watch as the animals welcome the day with each entry leading to the next by showing a small bit of the next animal. as a clue. This book offers a fun way to acquaint little ones with farm critters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date:  October 20, 2020

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a true classic and one that is described as a bit more complex than The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  I read about Huck Finn and Jim many years ago and was delighted to revisit him through this audio recording.  The narration is very good and brings this title to life.  Listen to enjoy time with Huck either for the first or as a return to a well-known work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Kabbalah has become popular among celebrities.  Because of this, many more have now heard of this Jewish tradition.  For those who are interested in understanding more about Kabbalah, this book is a very good starting point.  It covers the main concepts along with providing some history and ways to practice.  The author begins the book with the personal experiences that led to exposure to Kabbalah.  From there, in a readable style much information was provided.

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

#KabbalahforBeginners #NetGalley

A variety here. Hope there is something that interests you.

A mix here.  Mythos is a contemporary retelling of Greek myths.  There are beautiful illustrations in this coffee table style title.  I just bought the Cheryl Strayed title, fun to read and to think about what my response would be before reading hers. Enjoy.

This book is the third in a trilogy that includes Five Days in Skye and London Tides.  I have not read the first two novels but did not find that to be an issue as this book could be read as a standalone.

What I most enjoyed about the book was its setting on the Isle of Skye.  It is a place that I would love to visit and the fictional hotel in the story would be just the place to stay!  I also liked the two main characters Serena and Malcolm, each of whom has a history and some sadness in their past.  Yes, it is a bit predictable how they interact with each other but the nice thing about that was that I could just relax and enjoy the story as it unfolded.

I recommend Under the Scottish Stars for those who are looking for a comfortable read.  By the way, I listened to part of the book on audio and loved the Scottish voices in the dialogue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#UnderScottishStars #NetGalley

This gorgeously illustrated title provides a wonderful introduction to poetry for young children.  The adults who share or read these poems will also enjoy the experience.

The poems are organized by subjects including, for example, Family and Friends, Feelings, Animals and Nature, Cities, Towns and Travel, Fun and Games, Science and Art, Body and Health and A World of Learning.  The range is vast and appealing.

I enjoyed so many of these poems, for instance, I’m Bigger by Kristy Dempsey.  What older sibling won’t enjoy this paean to having skills that the new baby lacks while also acknowledging love for that tiny creature?

This book is inclusive.  For example, the section on family includes poems about everything from adoption to same sex families to the Korean tradition of a baby choosing an object that is tied to their future to a poem titled Abuelita.  Throughout this book, on all other subjects this book is equally inviting.

I highly recommend this title.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

#AWorldFullofPoems #NetGalley

Pub date:  October 6, 2020