book review
Non Fiction Review: 5-Minute Happiness Journal
The 5-Minute Happiness Journal: Practices to Help You Tap Into Joy Every Day
by Leslie Marchand LCSW
by Leslie Marchand LCSW
4 out of 5 stars
This guided journal explores the meaning of happiness and how it can be unique to each individual. The journal prompts you to write down the things that make you happy, to re-imagine difficult situations in a more pleasant light, and to go after your own style of joy.
The journal questions include things like:
“What is a hobby you’ve always wanted to try?”
“Write about a time when a closed door led to a new opportunity that brought more happiness into your life.”
“Write about a time when you used your imagination to solve a problem.”
“Write down one thing you do regularly that makes you happy.”
Some of the prompts are simple, and others are more complex, leading to deeper reflection. Each page builds on the previous lesson, guiding you further on a journey toward understanding and embracing happiness. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: 1,2,3, Animals!
1,2,3, Animals! A First Counting Book for Toddlers
by Bethany Lake
by Bethany Lake
4 out of 5 stars
The circus animals are getting ready to perform in the big top! The lion is the ringmaster. The dogs are clowns. Elephants play the drums while the toucans play trumpets. Kangaroos sell snacks and treats. The bears dance ballet. Eight tigers balance on unicycles.
This book has such cute illustrations! The animals are colorful and fun! I liked the crazy costumes and the energy on every page. The text has nice pacing and some good rhymes that fit the story.
I really like that the book counts from 1 to 10 as the animals prepare for the show, and then while they are performing in the show we count backwards from 10 back to 1. This is a wonderful technique of teaching children to count both ways! Continue reading
Favorite 90s TV Shows
Non Fiction Review: Extreme Ocean
Extreme Ocean: Amazing Animals, High-Tech Gear, Record-Breaking Depths, and More
by Sylvia A Earle, Glen Phelan
by Sylvia A Earle, Glen Phelan
5 out of 5 stars
With stunning photographs, this book chronicles the ocean explorations of the author, a marine biologist. Along with personal stories and anecdotes, this book includes the facts and science about everything in the ocean from currents to sharks.
The first section explores waves, tsunamis, and currents, ice shelves, and answers why the ocean is blue and why it contains salt water.
The second chapter focuses on the fish and animals that live in the ocean. There are articles and facts about seals, whales, and other mammals, as well as fish and creatures that live in the deepest parts of the ocean. The photographs of these fish are absolutely gorgeous, showcasing their bright colors and delicate fins. There are also facts about sea plants like kelp forests, and a whole page about coral reefs. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: Letters from Maisy
Letters from Maisy
by Lucy Cousins
by Lucy Cousins
5 out of 5 stars
Maisy is going on a vacation, and she sends letters to all her friends describing the places she has seen and sending little gifts to her neighbors back home. Every other page has an envelope pocket with a letter and a small paper gift.
Maisy shops at an outdoor market and sends a beautiful paper fan to her friend, Ella. The book includes a real paper fan for the reader!
Maisy goes on a river safari, and sends Eddie a search-and-find game with animals from the jungle. The reader can play the game too!
Maisy rides a carousel, and sends a paper horse to her friends Tallulah. A sturdy paper horse is included with the letter in the book pocket for the reader to play with too.
The book even includes a REAL postcard for the reader to mail to a friend. Continue reading
Board Book Reviews: Maisy’s Animals, and Maisy Explores
Maisy’s Animals: A First Words Book
Maisy Explores: A First Words Book
Maisy Explores: A First Words Book
by Lucy Cousins
5 out of 5 stars
In Maisy Explores, Maisy explores a variety of different ideas, like the weather, types of plants, insects that change from caterpillar to butterfly, body parts, textures from rough to smooth, sounds, colors, and everyday items. The only text is labels for each type of item, but the drawings show Maisy playing the drums, planting a seed, flying a kite, and painting a picture.
In Maisy’s Animals, Maisy travels all over the world and interacts with animals in different places. The only text is labels for each type of animal, but the drawings show Maisy riding a camel in the desert, dog-sledding with a husky in the Arctic, swimming with fish in the ocean, and feeding chickens on the farm, and putting out cat-food for her kitty at home. Continue reading
Book Series Review: Warren the 13th Trilogy
Warren the 13th Trilogy
5 out of 5 stars
I loved this trilogy! The design is elaborate and the plot is mysterious. I loved the characters and the writing style. I flew right through the pages, and enjoyed the action in every chapter.
Warren is such a likable and interesting character! I really appreciated his curiosity, his resilience, and his love for the hotel. He feels connected to his parents and to his ancestors through their shared history in the hotel, and it gave the story a lot of depth to have that heritage. He finds clues that his father left behind for him, and that gives him the courage to face difficult circumstances.
There are so many great supporting characters, all unique and quirky and memorable.
Non Fiction Review: Meditation for Kids
Meditation for Kids: 40 Activities to Manage Emotions, Ease Anxiety, and Stay Focused
by Tejal V Patel
by Tejal V Patel
5 out of 5 stars
This book has easy and fun meditations for children that helps them to navigate tough emotions, calm their impatience, and learn to listen. The meditations are grouped in categories for increasing your positive energy, improving concentration and creativity, and opening your heart to kindness and compassion. There is an entire chapter of meditations just for bedtime, to soothe and calm the mind and body. Continue reading
Non Fiction Review: Trigger Point Therapy Made Simple
5 out of 5 stars
This book outlines where trigger points are located in our muscles, and how massage, pressure, and other therapies can help to alleviate that pain. The self-therapy techniques include self-massage, breathing exercises, stretching exercises designed to alleviate nerve tension, massaging or compressing a trigger point in your muscle, and Swedish movements for stretching your range of motion.
I really like the attitudes in this book, putting the power of healing back into the hands of the patient, instead of relying on doctors who don’t give any answers or solutions other than prescription pain medication. The writing is so encouraging and gives good information about using techniques to heal yourself and find relief from pain and tension. Continue reading
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