book review

Children’s Non Fiction Book: Rosa’s Big Boat Experiment

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Rosa's Big Boat Experiment by Jessica Spanyol
Rosa’s Big Boat Experiment
by Jessica Spanyol

5 out of 5 stars
I love how this book puts STEM concepts into simple terms for little readers. The children learn that objects float or sink based on their density. “Everything is made of molecules… They are very, very tiny. The closer the molecules are packed together, the denser the object.” That quote is probably the most technical part of the entire book. The rest of it is mostly simple statements about how a marble will sink, but a ping pong ball will float. A sponge will first absorb the water and then sink.

The children in the book build boats out of objects that can float and they have a boat race. The boats are made out of tin foil, milk cartons, and plastic bowls. The boat with the biggest sails and a hull that is pointed at the front will sail the fastest. Continue reading →

Children’s Non Fiction Book: Caribou

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Caribou by Dorothy & David Aglukark
Caribou
by Dorothy & David Aglukark

5 out of 5 stars
This book contains wonderful information about caribou, their habitat, their migration patterns, and their young. There are two to three paragraphs of information in each section, giving interesting information like how caribou survive against predators and how their antlers grow. There is even a section about how Inuit tribes will use caribou skin or bones to make clothing and utensils.

I love the warm artwork in this book! It really makes it enjoyable to read and see these majestic animals illustrated in their wilderness home. It immediately captured my attention!

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 not influenced by anyone.

Children’s Picture Book Review: This is My Daddy!

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This is My Daddy! by Mies van Hout
This is My Daddy!
by Mies van Hout

4 out of 5 stars

Each page of this book shows a young animal who asks the reader, “Who is my Daddy?” There are four choices of adult animals, and the reader has to guess which one is the grown-up version of the little animal. A little tadpole joyfully declares, “This is my Daddy!”, when reunited with his froggy father. A baby rhino frolics with his large rhino Dad, and a baby beaver chomps on some branches with his beaver Dad.

This is such a fun way to get children thinking critically and noticing the details. It also stretches their memory capabilities, and helps them to predict what will come next based on the previous pattern. Plus it’s just fun! Continue reading →

Board Book Review: Wild Week

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Wild Week by Teresa Porcella
Wild Week
by Teresa Porcella

4 out of 5 stars


Each of the animals are doing something different each day. “On Monday, the hen lays an egg… On Tuesday, the shark cuddles a pillow in the living room.” The koala likes to draw, the panda wears a scarf to stay warm, a bird builds a nest, and the skunk combs his hair. They all wait for Sunday when they can play together all day long!

The best thing about this book are the flaps that open up to reveal the animals doing their activities around the house. It’s so much fun to open the flaps and peek into the wild house where these animals are living.

I like the illustrations okay, but I feel like the animals’ eyeballs are staring at me. Their eyes are just so big and bulging. It weirds me out. I do like the colors and the general art style though. I like the design of each scene and some of them are funny and clever, like having a shark chilling on a chair in the living room. How does a shark SIT in a chair? It’s silly and hilarious! Continue reading →

Board Book Review: Mummy, What’s in Your Tummy?

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Mummy, What's in Your Tummy? by Bernardita Romero
Mummy, What’s in Your Tummy?
by Bernardita Romero

5 out of 5 stars

This board board is so sweet and adorable! A child wonders what could be growing inside their mother’s tummy for 9 months. Is it a watermelon, a bunny rabbit, or a penguin? Is it a lion or crocodile, an elephant or a mouse?

The rhyming text is well-written and has a nice flow to it. The illustrations are bright, and I like the clarity of the artwork. I can’t stand when picture book are cluttered with too much stuff on each page, but this book is wonderfully clear and clean, putting the focus on the main characters that matter.

I love the heart-felt and emotional storyline, all about family connections and building relationships. Even before the baby sister is born, she can hear her older sibling singing to her and reacts by moving in the womb. “It dances and wiggles when I sing. It must be a very special thing.”
I love that this book shows a relationship already being established with the unborn child. So sweet!
Continue reading →

Board Book Review: The Wolf and the Fly

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The Wolf and the Fly by Antje Damm
The Wolf and the Fly
by Antje Damm

5 out of 5 stars

This board book is adorable! A hungry wolf eats up some of his toys and animals because he is so hungry. But the reader has to guess what he has eaten based on what toy or animal is missing from the page. As he gobbles up each item, the reader has to search the page to see what is missing from the previous page.

This is such a fun way to get children thinking critically and noticing the details. It also stretches their memory capabilities, and helps them to predict what will come next based on the previous pattern. Plus it’s just fun!

I loved the cartoony illustrations and the funny wolf character. He’s such a cute little guy!

Continue reading →

Non Fiction Book Review: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

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The Autobiography and Other Writings by Benjamin Franklin
The Autobiography and Other Writings
by Benjamin Franklin

3 out of 5 stars

This is an interesting look at Benjamin Franklin’s life. The first part is his autobiography, which he never finished. It tells mostly of his early life and his beginnings in the printing business. Then there are collections of his letters, scientific writings, and political writing. These are divided by topic, with short explanations from the editor giving general information surrounding those letters or publications. It shows his work as a scientist and inventor, his gradual assent into public life as a statesman and politician, and his personal life as a husband and father and his personal relationships.

I found it very interesting and readable, and I loved seeing how meticulous and sensible Franklin was in ordering and organizing his life. He had some excellent ideas and some crazy ideas. He was a person always searching and wondering and puzzling through the mysteries of life. He must have had a terrific amount of energy, since he often writes about diligence and industry. He was a rare personality.

I enjoyed this close look into American history!

Book Review: Jane and the Genius of the Place

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Jane and the Genius of the Place by Stephanie Barron
Jane and the Genius of the Place (Jane Austen Mysteries, #4)
by Stephanie Barron

3 out of 5 stars


Jane Austen is visiting her brother and sister-in-law at Godmersham Park, when a mysterious lady is murdered at the Canterbury Races. As Justice of the Peace, Jane’s brother, Edward, must investigate the murder, and Jane is all eagerness to help solve the puzzle.

I really liked this story and the history behind it. There is quite a lot of real history woven into the story with Jane’s family and her acquaintances, but of course the murder mystery and Jane’s involvement in the investigation are entirely fictional.

The best part of this book is the close look at Jane’s day to day interactions with her family, her nieces and nephews, and especially her sister Cassandra. It’s fun to imagine what their family dynamic might have been like. Continue reading →