book review

Picture Book Review: How Winston Delivered Christmas

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How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith
How Winston Delivered Christmas: An Advent Story in Twenty-Four-and-a-Half Chapters
by Alex T. Smith

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Winston is a little mouse, just trying to stay warm on the streets of the city. On Christmas Eve, he finds a letter addressed to Santa, and determines to make sure the lost letter reaches Santa before it’s too late! Along the way, he meets other creatures who advise him on his journey, and finds help in the most unexpected corners.

I loved the story! Winston is so adorable and sweet. He’s very brave and spunky, and I loved all the quirky characters that he meets. The plot really moves along with different twists and turns, and lots of descriptions of beautiful holiday decorations and food and toys that Winston gazes at longingly.

The illustrations are beautiful and colorful and entertaining! I love the cute expressions on Winston’s face, and how each character comes to life in the artwork. Continue reading →

Book Review: Anna of Byzantium

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Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett
Anna of Byzantium
by Tracy Barrett 

4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads


This historical novel tells the story of Anna Comnena, daughter of Emperor Alexius I, Princess of the Byzantine Empire in 1083 AD. Anna is in line to inherit the throne and someday rule the entire empire, until her grandmother plots against her to undermine Anna’s right to rule and establish Anna’s little brother, John, as the next emperor.

Anna is incredibly intelligent and well-educated, spending hours pouring over history books in the palace library and learning from the scholars there. She also becomes very good at seeing to the heart of people’s character, using her emotional intelligence to understand their hidden motives.

There are so many manipulative people in the palace, using their words to influence Anna and secure their own futures. Since she is surrounded by lies, Anna becomes obsessed with cherishing the truth, seeking truth in religion and philosophy, and also finding truth in her books and manuscripts. Because others use words as their weapons, Anna learns to play a strategic game with her words, using her speech as a way to protect herself and assert her dominance and power in the political games. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Monster’s Ring

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The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville
The Monster’s Ring 
by Bruce Coville, Katherine Coville (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Russell visits the Magic Shop and gets a magic ring that turns him into a monster, and uses it to help him stand up to the bully in his school. But the Monster Ring makes Russell feel wild and feral, and not just when he’s wearing it! He starts howling at the moon at odd times, he terrifies his classmates during their Halloween party, and he growls at the school principal. Can Russell keep his wildness under control before he becomes a monster for good?

This story is fast-paced and has good development. Russell goes through such a transformation, not as a monster, but as a character. He starts out as this frightened, timid little boy, and discovers that power and strength are not about having big muscles and fangs. He learns how to express himself better, and his life changes because of his courageous honesty with his family and friends. I really loved the character development and the story arc!

The story is also funny, with crazy scenarios and magical shenanigans that made me laugh!

Book Review: The Griffin’s Feather

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The Griffin's Feather by Cornelia Funke
The Griffin’s Feather 
by Cornelia Funke (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Firedrake is back! Along with dragon rider, Ben, and the incorrigible Scottish brownie, Sorrel, the whole gang is off on an adventure, with new friends and some new enemies too. They are trying to acquire a rare griffin feather, the only magical way to save a nest of baby Pegasus eggs. Ben worries that this adventure might be too dangerous for Firedrake, since the griffins have a history of warfare with the dragons. It will take fierce courage and loyalty to bring them through this magical adventure together!

I love this author’s writing! The plot is imaginative, full of dry humor and magic. There are wild and wondrous settings all over the world, full of fascinating creatures, both mythical and real.

The main characters (Firedrake, Ben, Sorrell, Twigleg, and Barnabas Greenbloom) are magnificently written, with backstories, deep motivations and fears, and hidden longings that push them forward in the story, shaping their decisions and interactions with others.

Continue reading →

Board Book Review: Yum Yummy Yuck

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Yum Yummy Yuck by Amanda Jane Jones
Yum Yummy Yuck 
by Amanda Jane Jones, Cree Jones

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This baby board book teaches little toddlers what is okay to eat and what is yucky! Fruit, veggies, icecream, donuts, and pizza are all good to eat, but boogers belong on a tissue, NOT in your mouth. Coins go in a piggy bank, NOT in your tummy. Crayons are for drawing, NOT digesting; and even toothpaste has to be spit out.

Each page has a simple silhouette of an item with the caption of “yum, yummy,” or “yuck”, perfect for teaching little hands to keep certain things out of their mouths.

I can really imagine reading this with a young child, and making faces as we read each page together; licking our lips and rubbing our tummies for the yummy pages, and making gross faces and gagging at the yucky pages. haha! Even a simple book like this is fun when read with a child! Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: 5 Minute Stories

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Margaret Wise Brown 5-Minute Stories by Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown 5-Minute Stories 
by Margaret Wise Brown

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This collection of picture books for children includes: Count to 10 with a Mouse, A Song for All Seasons, Sleep Little Angel, Away in my Airplane, Wish Upon a Dream, Sleep Tight Sleepy Bears, All the Families, and The Tickly Spider.

There are eight adorable stories with the same author, but different illustrators and artists. Each story is unique with artwork to match the style and mood of the writing. Continue reading →

Classic Review: The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel

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The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel 
by Emmuska Orczy

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Josette is trapped in Paris during the French Revolution, when her employer tries to blackmail prominent men in the government and is murdered. Desperate to protect his widow and child, Josette seeks for help from the Scarlet Pimpernel. Josette and her boyfriend Maurice fall into the clutches of the merciless Chauvelin, and only the clever Scarlet Pimpernel can save them from the guillotine.

Josette is a wonderful main character, full of compassion and faith. She is not clever or wise, but her good heart and her unwavering loyalty pull her through the story. I loved the scenes where she takes action for herself, never flinching in the face of danger.

The plot is fantastic, of course, with many twists and turns. I loved how all the complexities of each situation finally run together to a swift and glorious end. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Review: Awesome Achievers in Science

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Awesome Achievers in Science by Alan Katz
Awesome Achievers in Science: Super and Strange Facts about 12 Almost Famous History Makers 
by Alan Katz 

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Do you remember who invented the Post It note? Or the Polaroid camera? You may know the name of the Heimlich maneuver, but do you know anything about Dr. Heimlich himself, who invented the famous move?

This book features twelve scientists, chemists, doctors, engineers, and astronauts whose inventions or actions are well-known, but the people themselves are less than famous. Including the inventions of Velcro, Teflon, Kevlar, the Polaroid camera, bionic limbs, laser eye surgery for cataracts, and the CPR method, this book gives short bios of the almost-famous inventors, along with a comedic poem or song written by the author in their honor, and sometimes a small comic sketch or personal anecdote.

This book is FULL of “Dad jokes”. There are cringey puns and wisecracks on every page that will make anyone remember their own dad and his terrible jokes. The humor might appeal to a 7-year-old boy, but I spent most of the book rolling my eyes at the ridiculous one-liners. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Review: 1,000 Facts About Ancient Egypt

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1,000 Facts about Ancient Egypt by Nancy Honovich
1,000 Facts about Ancient Egypt 
by Nancy Honovich

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Everything you ever wanted to know about Ancient Egypt is in this book! There are facts, figures, and wild details about mummies, pyramids, the sphinx, the pharaohs, and the everyday lives of regular Egyptians.

I loved how the information is presented in small sections that would keep a child’s attention, and make it easy to read. Each two-page spread focuses on a category of Egyptian life: inventions, government, religion and temples, women rulers, games and art, food and trade, royal life, beauty and fashion, weapons and soldiers, the Nile river, and of course mummies and pyramids, along with a dozen other fascinating subjects. Continue reading →