book blog

Picture Book Review: My Hike in the Forest

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My Hike in the Forest by Neecy Twinem
My Hike in the Forest 
by Neecy Twinem

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This children’s picture book takes the reader along for a hike in the woods, searching for animal tracks, noticing interesting plants and animals, and exploring through the streams and bushes and trees. Each two-page spread focuses on one animal or group of plants, with a story that follows the hiking trail, and little factoids about the animal/plant written in a border around the edges of the page.  Continue reading →

Book Review: Wait Till It Gets Dark

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Wait Till It Gets Dark by Anita Sanchez
Wait Till It Gets Dark 
by Anita Sanchez (Goodreads Author), John Himmelman (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This book introduces the amazing abilities of various nocturnal animals with sharpened senses of smell, sight, and hearing, and also encourages readers to try out their own senses in the night. The illustrations are colorful and interesting, and each chapter gives practical advice about walking safely in the dark, how to find and observe nocturnal animals, and how to enhance your own 5 senses as you explore.
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Book Review: Fairies 1,2,3

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Fairies 1, 2, 3 by Liza Gardner Walsh
Fairies 1, 2, 3 
by Liza Gardner Walsh, Hazel Mitchell (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

So much cuteness!! Adorable baby fairies take a bath, play hide and seek, slide down a mushroom, fly with a bird, and finally fall asleep on their rose petal beds.

Their cute little wings are just as unique and bright as their own little fairy selves. Each baby fairy is diverse and colorfully dressed. Such sweet illustrations with pretty little details will keep any child interested looking for butterflies, inchworms, and ladybugs on each page. The plant-life gives the perfect background for this fairy world with acorn hats and leaf showers for the tiny folk.

A charming board book that teaches little ones to count, and play and fly with the fairies!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are influenced by anyone.

Book Review: The H.L. Hunley Submarine

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The H. L. Hunley Submarine by Fran Hawk
The H. L. Hunley Submarine: History and Mystery from the Civil War 
by Fran Hawk, Monica Wyrick (Contributor)
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

The mysteries of the Hunley submarine are finally being answered! But even more mysteries remain to be discovered in connection with this Civil War submarine wrecked outside of Charleston, South Carolina. Starting with the story of Lt. George Dixon and his miraculous survival at the Battle of Shiloh, and including the innovative vision of Horace Hunley, this book covers the history of the men who designed and commanded the H. L. Hunley “fish boat” until she sank in 1864.

This book is wonderfully written in a way that engages the reader, and keeps your interest through every chapter. I loved the colorful illustrations, photos, and diagrams in this book, which really brought the story to life.

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Review: NatGeo Kids US Atlas

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National Geographic Kids United States Atlas by National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids United States Atlas 
by National Geographic Kids
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

I love maps at any time, and this atlas is full of amazing maps! It’s got pictures and factoids and terrain and history, all with colorful lines and photos and interesting little details.
The first thing I did was turn to the page for my state, Georgia, and poured over the pages, finding my town, and looking for nearby national parks and monuments. Continue reading →

Comic Review: Quiet Girl in a Noisy World

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Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story 
by Debbie Tung (Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


A wonderfully insightful comic about the pitfalls and struggles of being an introvert in an extrovert-centered world. Each page has a comic with a sometimes funny/ sometimes poignant punchline. The blue/grey artwork shows all the myriad of emotions that an introvert experiences each day, and the writing cuts right to the heart of what makes introverts special.  Continue reading →

Book Review: The Thirteenth Princess

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The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
The Thirteenth Princess 
by Diane Zahler (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

 

Zita is the thirteenth daughter of a king who only wanted sons, and when her mother dies during childbirth, the king banishes Zita to be raised as a servant in the castle. Zita steals little moments with her twelve sisters, but must sneak around the castle to keep it a secret, terrified of her father’s anger. When the twelve princesses fall ill and their shoes are worn through every morning, only Zita knows the secrets ways to sneak into their bedrooms and watch where they go at night. The princesses are trapped in an evil enchantment that forces them to dance until dawn, but Zita can’t find a prince who is willing to save them!

I loved this book from start to finish! Every chapter is wonderful! Continue reading →

Book Review: Searching for Dragons

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Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Searching for Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #2) 
by Patricia C. Wrede, Peter de Sève (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


King Mendanbar, Monarch of the Enchanted Forest, is having trouble with wizards burning up bits of his forest. He visits Kazul, the King of the Dragons, for some advice, but Kazul is missing, and Mendanbar teams up with Princess Cimorene to find Kazul and restore the Enchanted Forest.

I enjoyed this book even more reading it for the second time! I still wish that there were a little more romance between Mendanbar and Cimorene, but I do enjoy their friendship and the way they respect and rely on one another through all the sticky magical situations they find themselves in.

There are so many delightful characters in this book! Even the side characters shine with originality and wit.
The basic plot is rather straightforward, but there are so many misdirects and twisty roads for the characters to get delayed and misguided and thrown off course, that it feels like a complex plot.

Book Review: Nurse Matilda

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Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand
Nurse Matilda 
by Christianna Brand, Edward Ardizzone (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


The Brown children are the most ill-behaved, mischievous, naughty little children in all the world, and the only nanny who can possibly control them or teach them any manners is Nurse Matilda. With her magical walking stick, Nurse Matilda teaches important lessons like going to bed when you’re told, not chomping your food, closing doors after yourself, and putting on your best clothes when you’re told. Only the insane magical situations the children find themselves in could possibly teach them to say please and thank you!

I started rereading this one as a way to de-stress and help me fall asleep at night, but then I got so interested in the story that I stayed up late reading it!

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