book review

Comic Review: Nimona

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Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Nimona
by Noelle Stevenson
4 out of 5 stars

Supervillain Lord Blackheart has a new sidekick, Nimona, who is a shapeshifter. They team up against Sir Goldenloin to prove that the heroes aren’t all they seem to be. But Nimona is keeping secrets, and Lord Blackheart begins to wonder if she is more dangerous than she appears.

This comic is so funny and imaginative! I loved all the witty one-liners and the weird characters. The story really kept me guessing, and I loved gradually learning the backstory for each of the characters.

The setting is so weird, since it looks like medieval times, but they have some modern technology. Science and magic have to work side by side.

I really liked the whimsical art style, and the intense colors. Every scene uses color and light and shadow to set the mood for an epic battle with a dragon or maybe a quiet board game night with pizza.

This is so much fun from start to finish!

Comic Review: Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness

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Narwhal's School of Awesomeness by Ben Clanton

Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness
by Ben Clanton (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars

Narwhal follows a group of fish to school, but the teacher is out sick, so Narwhal decides to substitute teach the class with Jelly as the supervisor teacher. The fish learn about waffles and math and science. They have a scavenger hunt to find fun facts about the sea creatures living in the ocean.

The cuteness!! The adorableness!! The sillyness! I can’t get enough of Narwhal and Jelly. They are so cute and lovable!

Each chapter is so delightfully funny! I laughed my head off, and smiled and chuckled with glee. I love the simple yet striking illustrations, and the bright colors. I love the sweetly imaginative dialogue and storylines.

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Activity Book Reviews: Paint By Sticker: Outer Space, A Book About Mom, Summer Brain Quest: Pre-K & K

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Paint by Sticker Kids by Workman Publishing

Paint by Sticker Kids: Outer Space: Create 10 Pictures One Sticker at a Time! Includes Glow-in-the-Dark Stickers
by Workman Publishing
5 out of 5 stars
This activity book has 10 beautiful designs, and hundreds of stickers in little mosaic shapes! It’s so easy to put the stickers into place, and the finished product looks wonderful. It’s very relaxing and helped me to get creative. You really feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish!

There are information boxes with facts about different planets, rockets, and comets. There is an astronaut, a moon, an observatory with a massive telescope, and even a Mars rover.

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Picture Book Review: Noah’s Seal

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Noah's Seal by Layn Marlow

Noah’s Seal
by Layn Marlow (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars

Noah wants to go sailing to look for seals, but Nana says that she has to repair the boat. While he waits, Noah crafts a seal out of sand, putting in pebbles and seaweed for the eyes and mouth. A storm sweeps in, and Nana and Noah have to take shelter. When the storm is over, Noah’s sand seal is gone! Will he ever see his seal again?

I loved this sweet book! The ending is so emotional and clever. Noah is such a cute little guy with a big imagination. I love that his Nana is kind and understanding. They have a special relationship.

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Sci-Fi Review: War of the Realms: Conquests and Consequences

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War of the Realms by Lee Watts, Th. D.

War of the Realms: Conquests & Consequences
by Lee Watts, Th. D.
3.5 out of 5 stars
SYNOPSIS:
Alexander is the heir to the throne of Theera-Enty. After a failed assassination attempt, he is stranded on a remote jungle planet while the kingdom is thrown into chaos. But it isn’t only human-kind who are working against him. The legendary Guardians must protect Alexander by battling against demonic beings who whisper evil into the minds of men. A pirate captain is caught in the middle of the war, a group of castaways look for rescue, an old priest preaches for repentance, and the governments of different planets vie for power.

This book has an epic scope as the people of Theera-Enty begin a fight against oppression, and Alexander struggles to understand a prophecy regarding the throne. A mysterious key might lead to a treasure beyond imagining but no one can unravel its secrets.

PLOT/ACTION:
This plot is full of so much action and twists and betrayals and big reveals! It really kept my interest through every chapter. There is a big space battle at the end of the book that amazed me from start to finish. Usually I am bored by fight scenes, but this was presented like a puzzle to be solved. How are they going to survive? What tricks and tactics can they use to overpower the enemy? It was fascinating, and full of emotional moments as characters had to face their worst fears and find the courage to keep going.

THEMES:
There are deep themes about faith, spiritual warfare, friendship, courage, the nature of truth, and the proper roles of government and education. These powerful messages are so smoothly woven into the story that it never feels too preachy. It makes the story really meaningful. I especially appreciated the spiritual themes and the clear messages about God’s love and forgiveness through Christ.

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Graphic Novel Review: Kyle’s Little Sister

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Kyle's Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong

Kyle’s Little Sister
by BonHyung Jeong
5 out of 5 stars

This graphic novel follows Grace as she begins middle school in the shadow of her older brother Kyle. Grace and her friends have an argument, and Grace blames Kyle for getting involved. She worries that her new friends only like her because it gets them closer to Kyle, one of the most popular boys in school. How can Grace repair her friendships and make her own mark as her own person when Kyle is always getting in the way?

I loved how complex the characters are in this book! Grace is navigating some very awkward situations and there is a lot of tension among the characters. They all have such vivid personalities and different ways of approaching problems. Kyle is outgoing and sporty, while Grace is quiet and good at video games. I loved seeing how the dynamics between characters played out and how they each grow and change through the story.

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Picture Book Reviews: Atticus Caticus, Sophie’s Seashell Scramble, Phoebe Dupree is Coming to Tea!

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Atticus Caticus by Sarah Maizes

Atticus Caticus
by Sarah Maizes (Goodreads Author), Kara Kramer (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

A cat named Atticus stretches and yawns and naps in the sunshine. His owner feeds him, and dangles string for him to play with. Atticus sees a bird out the window, but can’t get to it. At bath time, Atticus does his own style of washing by licking his fur.

The best part of this book is the silly rhyming with any word that rhymes with “cat”. Atticus “jumps splat-a-tat-taticus”, and he has a “tummy so fat-ticus”. It’s so funny to read out loud!

I like the cute crayon-style illustrations! Every page has energy and humor in the artwork.

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Cookbook Review: How to Grill Vegetables

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How to Grill Vegetables by Steven Raichlen

How to Grill Vegetables: Surprising Techniques and Delicious Recipes
by Steven Raichlen (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars

This book has everything you ever wanted to know about grilling vegetables. There are tips about how to manage the heat in your grill, and different techniques for different types of vegetables. There are even instructions for plank grilling, steam grilling, and smoking.

The recipes look delicious, and include all types of vegetables, breads, pizzas, and quesadillas too. There are colorful photographs of some of the recipes that make it all look so yummy!

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Spanish Picture Book Reviews: Una Tarde Super Increible, Al Carnaval!, Daniela y las Chicas Pirata

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Una Tarde Súper Increíble by A.H. Benjamin

Una Tarde Súper Increíble
by A.H. Benjamin, Anne Vasko (Illustrator), Luis Amavisca (Translator)
5 out of 5 stars

Una niña y su abuelo dan un paseo y se encuentran con unos animales súper increíbles que hacen cosas increíbles. El mono los invita a trepar a los árboles, el cocodrilo los invita a chapotear en el agua, la cebra los invita a bailar, el hipopótamo los deja levantar pesas con él, y el tigre los invita a jugar en la cama elástica. Cuando regresan a casa, la niña le cuenta a su abuela sobre su increíble día, pero la abuela no le cree, ¡hasta que todos los animales se presentan a cenar en la casa!

¡Este es un libro tan lindo! Durante la mayor parte de la historia, pensé que la niña y su abuelo solo estaban fingiendo hacer cosas con los animales, ¡así que fue una sorpresa divertida cuando todo resultó ser verdad!

Keep Reading to See the Reviews in ENGLISH!

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Fantasy Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn

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Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Summers at Castle Auburn
by Sharon Shinn
5 out of 5 stars

Corie is the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, who visits the royal court every summer to be groomed and trained for life among the nobility. The rest of the year she lives with her peasant grandmother in a small village learning to be an herbalist healer. As Corie grows into a young woman, she begins to realize the depth of the court intrigue that surrounds her half-sister, Elisandra. She determines to do everything she can to help her sister. She soon discovers that there are others who need her help too; the magical elven people who are held as slaves in the castle.

I loved everything about this book! The magic, the world-building, the exciting plot, the writing style, the complex characters: everything is golden!

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