Author: LuminousLibro

Book Review: Be the Dragon

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Be the Dragon by Catherine J. Manning

Be the Dragon: 9 Keys to Unlocking Your Inner Magic: Roar with Confidence and Slay Your Fears with Quizzes, Quests, and More!
by Catherine J. Manning
5 out of 5 stars

Go on a journey of discovery to find out what kind of dragon you are! This book has short stories about dragons who demonstrate some character trait of bravery, kindness, patience, or friendship to teach the reader how to be a real dragon in your own life.

There are several quizzes throughout the book so that you can find out what type of dragon you are, what type of roar you have, what dragon power is your biggest strength, and what problem-solving style you use best. You can do activities and crafts to complete a quest and build your creativity.

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Book Review: Quackery

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Quackery by Lydia Kang

Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything
by Lydia Kang (Goodreads Author), Nate Pedersen (Goodreads Author)
3 out of 5 stars

Throughout history people have tried all sorts of weird things to cure ailments. Sometimes they have even continued to use products that they knew were poisonous, hoping for lingering benefits. Conmen have promoted cure-all elixirs that promised youth and beauty and robust health, when really they were poisoning their customers with arsenic, mercury, and morphine.

I think this book is just too morbid for me. It is certainly interesting, and the writing is excellent, but it’s not quite my cup of tea. The writing is funny, putting a light mood onto a dark subject, but it’s still too yucky and disturbing for me.

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Book Review: Who Got Game? Baseball

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Who Got Game? by Derrick Barnes

Who Got Game?: Baseball: Amazing but True Stories!
by Derrick Barnes, John John Bajet (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Did you know that a girl pitcher struck out Babe Ruth? Did you know that a Japanese baseball player has more home runs than Hank Aaron? Who were really the first African Americans to play in the major leagues before Jackie Robinson? These are the lesser known heroes of baseball.

I loved this book all about the lesser-known history of baseball! With decades of history, there are some people’s stories that have been lost to time, but now you can discover the real people behind the legends.

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Classic Review: Wind in the Willows

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The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame, Grahame Baker-Smith (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
I adore this book! It is one of my favorite classics to reread. There is something so enchanting about Mole and Rat, Toad and Badger, and all the animal folk. Every time I read it, I am swept away into the exciting world of the River.

When I received this beautiful Templar edition in the mail, I literally started crying because the book is so beautiful. The cloth-bound green cover perfectly captures the peaceful mood of a breezy day boating on the River. I love the gorgeous gold foiling on the cover. It’s so tactile! I want to run my fingers over it, feeling the embossed edges of the ripples in the water, but I don’t want to mess it up by handling it too much.

And the inside is just as gorgeous! The endpapers are a pretty green with patterns of willow branches. Every couple of pages throughout the story, there is another delightful illustration bringing the story to life.

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Cookbook Review: Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook

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Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook by David Atherton

Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook: Fun and Healthy Recipes for Young Cooks
by David Atherton, Rachel Stubbs (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

This children’s cookbook is perfect for any young bakers who want to learn the basics of cooking and get inspired in the kitchen. It’s so cool that this is written by one of the winners of the Great British Baking Show! This book includes recipes for breakfast, lunch and supper, cakes, and desserts.

These recipes are kid-friendly and give instructions to the young readers about when to ask an adult for help. There are recipes for pancakes, tacos, pizza, scones, potpie, lasagna, and a lot of yummy cakes. I really want to try the recipe for Victoria sandwich buns, which is a little cake with jelly in the middle.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Klutz Craft Sets

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Watercolor Wonders by Editors Of Klutz

Watercolor Wonders
by Editors Of Klutz (Creator)
5 out of 5 stars
I am so impressed with this cool watercolor set! As you paint, hidden designs are revealed on the page. This whole book is full of pages to watercolor! There are instructions for how to wash your paintbrushes, how to create different effects with the paint, and how to blend colors.

This is such a creative book! It really gets your imagination fired up. I love the cute designs of the coloring pages. Some are peaceful beach scenes, or funny pets, or adorable otters. There are so many to color in and get your creativity flowing!

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Cookbook Review: Buen Provecho

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¡Buen Provecho! by Ericka Sanchez

¡Buen Provecho!: Traditional Mexican Flavors from My Cocina to Yours
by Ericka Sanchez
5 out of 5 stars

This cookbook has recipes for meals made in the traditional Mexican style. There are recipes for Salsas, Breakfast, Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Main Dishes, Drinks, and Desserts. And of course, there is an entire section for Holiday recipes that are deliciously Mexican.

These recipes take me back to my childhood in Mexico! Just reading the book makes my mouth water. Every recipe has a large colorful photograph that shows you the delectable result. I’m so impressed with how attractive this book is!

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Book Review: Made by Hand Guitars

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Guitars by Patricia Lakin

Guitars
by Patricia Lakin
5 out of 5 stars

This book gives an overview of the history of the guitar and how it was developed over time to include different styles in different cultures, finally including the modern guitar and electric guitar. With paintings and photographs showcased in a colorful design, this book is sure to capture the attention of anyone interested in the guitar!

I like that the design has small paragraphs of text so that it is easy to read and absorb the snippets of information. As a musician, I really appreciated all the music history, the explanations about types of guitars, the nature of sounds for each instrument, and how different styles developed.

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Picture Book Review: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

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Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost, Vivian Mineker (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

I am in awe of how beautifully this book captures the majesty and mystery of Robert Frost’s poem. The narrator stops in the woods to reminisce about his life, and he is visited by the ghostly memories of his family and friends who have departed. They all come vividly back to him. He cherishes those memories of the people he has lost. He has one of those moments of inspiration when you realize that your journey has led you to a place of beauty and heart’s ease; all these things are explored in this lovely picture book.

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Puzzle Train Reviews: Christmas and Alphabet

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Puzzle Train Alphabet by David W. Miles

Puzzle Train Alphabet
by David W. Miles (Artist)
5 out of 5 stars
This adorable puzzle goes through all the letters of the alphabet with beautiful illustrations of animals and items that begin with each letter. The puzzle creates one long train with the alligator conductor at the front driving the engine of the train.

Each letters connects to the next one by some action taken or item shared between them. “Newt naps in the nest for Owl. Owl orders oatmeal for Pig. Pig plays piano for Quail.” I love that this gives the child a clue about which letter of the alphabet should come next, and they can find the correct puzzle piece.

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