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

This book is part of the My First series of Little People, Big Dreams books. These are board book editions that should be sturdy enough to stand up to little hands. As always, the illustrations are bright and engaging with special attention paid to Vivienne’s vibrant hair.
Vivienne tells the story of Vivienne Westwood, a little girl who stood up to others and grew up to use fashion as a means of expression. The author observes that today, Vivienne, continues to show us “how to speak up and change the world.”
Let your child know that they can who whomever they want. Read them lots of these books to show them that the world is full of choices.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#VivienneWestwood #NetGalley

This title is a vibrantly illustrated story about a girl, her grandmother and a grandmother school in India. The classroom was created to help grandmothers obtain the education that they were denied when younger.

Readers and listeners will delight in the close relationship between a young girl and her grandmother who both want to learn. Those who pick up this story will feel the joy when grandmother no longer needs to sign with her fingerprint at the bank but can write her name. She is on a learning adventure and fee;s such self-respect..

This title helps all of us appreciate what it means to get an education and to take joy in learning and family. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date:  May 5, 2020

I adore this sweet cartoon collection.  Cat runs such a helpful cafe for his many featured friends, who each also are the subjects of some of their own cartoons. Coffee lovers will enjoy the many coffee themed strips as Cat takes care of his customers.

This book touches on some universal feelings and truths with its warm humor.  I highly recommend it.  I feel so much better for visiting Cat’s care.

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

#CatsCafe #NetGalley

Pub date:  May 26, 2020

Thanks book community! This journal can now be accessed at no charge. Enjoy. Reading matters so very nice to have ways to choose your next book.

A couple of e book bargains in the Vera Stanhope series…Hidden Depths and Telling Tales. I enjoyed both.

A few comments…The Widows of Malabar Hill is the first in a new series by Sujata Massey.  Ms. Massey also wrote the Rei Shimura series which is one that I very highly recommend.  The first book for Rei is The Salaryman’s Wife.  Each title in the Rei Shimura series looks at an aspect of Japanese life.  Malabar Hill is the first of a new series set in India.  I have read both in this new series.

Dorothy Simpson writes a very solid set of books set in a small English town and featuring Luke Thanet, his team and his family.  They are easy, good reads.

Margery Allingham wrote during the “golden age” of mystery.  Here are three of her novels.

Enjoy these and the others listed below.

The jokes are silly and the illustrations are fun.  This is an excellent compendium of jokes for elementary school aged kids.  With 200 jokes, this title will keep children smiling for a while.  It is worth a look

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

Having trouble sleeping?  Maybe always?  Maybe sometimes?  If your answer is yes, this book is worth a look.  It is full of tips for sleep, organized by different types of “tricks.”  A few of the chapter headings include Mind Tricks, Food and Drink Tips, Breathing Trick and Tips of Taking the Stress Out of the Day. The suggestions are short and practical and definitely designed to be helpful.  Readers will know some of them but maybe not all.

This title is worth a look.  It can be read in any order and may just help you to get more zzzs.

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

Pub Date:  May 12, 2020

This is a very short book for the very youngest children.  They will enjoy seeing the animals and pressing the buttons to hear the sounds that they make.  A simple concept but it is effective.

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

#MooCluckBaaTheFarmAnimalsAreHungry #NetGalley

From the publisher:

What an adorable book for the littlest listeners and one with a lovely message to boot.  A number of sweet looking animals try to do things only to go…oops.  As this happens repeatedly, toddlers will enjoy the anticipation and will soon be shouting oops themselves.  The story ends with a lovely reminder that there will  always be friends to pick us up!

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

#OopsStepbystep #NetGalley