book review

NonFiction Book Review: Family Tree Workbook

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Family Tree Workbook by Brian Sheffey
Family Tree Workbook: 30+ Step-by-Step Worksheets to Build Your Family History
by Brian Sheffey

4 out of 5 stars


If you are doing any kind of genealogy research, this book will help to organize the information, catalogue the facts, and track all the records of your family history. This book also includes wonderful advice about how to find US Census documents, death and birth records, and marriage records of your ancestors. There are also worksheets to use when interviewing family members and recording oral history. There is a log for cataloging family heirlooms, another for charting your distant cousins, and even one for researching the sale of enslaved people.

I do love a good worksheet! But this book takes it to the next level with charts, records, timelines, maps, trackers, logs, medical history, and more. My little organizational heart is so happy with this design! Continue reading →

Cookbook Review: Dairy-Free Meal Prep

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Dairy Free Meal Prep by Silvana Nardone
Dairy Free Meal Prep: Easy, Budget-Friendly Meals to Cook, Prep, Grab, and Go
by Silvana Nardone

4 out of 5 stars

This book begins by exploring the different benefits of living dairy-free, such as anti-aging, clear skin, improved digestion, and a stronger immune system. There are lists of foods to avoid, common dairy substitutes, and staples to include in your kitchen pantry.

Chapter Two is all about Meal Prep: how to make large batches and store them, how to plan ahead, and what not to prep ahead of time. There is a chart that shows how long meats and salads will keep fresh in the fridge or freezer.

The next chapters give detailed meal plans for 6 weeks, with a shopping list for each week, and recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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Cookbook Review: Budget-Friendly Vegan Cookbook

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The Budget-Friendly Vegan Cookbook by Ally Lazare
The Budget-Friendly Vegan Cookbook: Healthy Meals for a Plant-Based Diet   by Ally Lazare

4 out of 5 stars

This book begins with advice on being vegan and the benefits for your health.
There are some good instructions about including vitamins and supplements in your vegetable diet, as well as answering questions about getting enough protein. Meal planning is made easy with grocery shopping lists, kitchen supplies and tools, and how to buy items in bulk to save money.

The recipes are divided into sections for “Staples, Sauces, and Dressings; Tofu, Tempeh, and Soy; Beans, Legumes, and Seeds; Fruits, Vegetables, Mushrooms; Grains, Quinoa, Millet; Snacks and Sides; and Desserts”. This includes things like homemade vegan mayonnaise, tempeh BLT sandwiches, chickpea omelets, minestrone soup, vegetarian chili, barley burrito bowl, cinnamon orange french toast, and peanut butter chip cookies. Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: Inner Peace

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Inner Peace by Jordana Reim
Inner Peace: A Guided Meditation Journal for Beginners
by Jordana Reim

4 out of 5 stars


With guided meditations, mantras, and intentions, this book leads the reader into a more peaceful mindset full of gratitude and joy. There are journal prompts that explore deep questions and emotions, always moving toward a more positive outlook.

The writing is beautifully encouraging and gentle. I love how the author softly draws us into a quiet place of reflection.

This book is divided into four chapters entitled “Find Inner Peace, Focus Your Mind, Overcome Obstacles, Foster Gratitude and Spread Joy.” Then each chapter is divided into sections for each meditation, journaling pages, and intention setting. There is plenty of room for journaling and writing in your thoughts. Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: Actually, the Comma Goes Here

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Actually, the Comma Goes Here by Lucy Cripps
Actually, the Comma Goes Here: A Practical Guide to Punctuation
by Lucy Cripps

3 out of 5 stars

In case you missed it in elementary school, here are the rules for using punctuation so that your writing will make sense. There are snippets from history about how punctuation was first invented in the library at Alexandria, and how the Greeks and Romans developed their own styles of punctuation that morphed into what we use today. There are tons of examples of correct and incorrect punctuation in different types of sentences, questions, quotations, and clauses.

The best thing about this book is the comedic writing style. The author uses humor to make the punctuation rules memorable and fun.

There are sections for the period, comma, apostrophe, question mark, colon, semicolon, and a dozen others, and an entire chapter for markings that look like punctuation but aren’t, like the & and @ symbols. Continue reading →

Book Review: Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria

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Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria by J.M. Bergen
Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria (Book 2)
by J.M. Bergen 

4 out of 5 stars

Thomas and his magical friends are determined to stop the evil Arius before he can find a staff of great power and use it to destroy everything they hold dear. A mysterious monster is stalking them, so Thomas’ teacher, Scott, accelerates their training in magic abilities and fighting techniques. Thomas’ mother has been keeping secrets about where Thomas’ father really disappeared, and Thomas will have to decide who he can trust.

I enjoyed this book so much! The magic system is marvelous, the plot is brilliant, and the characters are deep and endearing.

One thing I really loved is how this book continues the world-building from

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Comic Review: Virtual Unicorn Experience

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Virtual Unicorn Experience by Dana Simpson
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Phoebe and Her Unicorn, #12)
by Dana Simpson

4 out of 5 stars


Phoebe is best friends with a unicorn named Marigold, and this has some pros and cons. Unicorns have magic and can help you win a game of handball at recess or perform in a talent show, but their magic doesn’t always work as planned. Phoebe and Marigold have to navigate both the human and unicorn cultures to keep their friendship strong, and they are always learning something new and interesting about each other.

I loved the fun camaraderie between Phoebe and Marigold! They are such cute friends, and I loved how they banter back and forth. Their dialogue is really funny and silly! Continue reading →

Non Fiction Book Review: Keep What You Love

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Keep What You Love by Irene Smit
Keep What You Love: A Visual Decluttering Guide (Flow)
by Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst,  Lotte Dirks (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

This book lists things you might want to declutter, and asks the question, “Do I really need it?” Each little page lists one thing, (an empty shoebox, old board games, nuts and screws, enough linens to stock a hotel, old phones, a breadmaker, holiday dinnerware, blank notebooks, and dozens more) and underneath it are checkboxes for “Yes” or “No”.

After every five or six decluttering items, there is a little snippet of advice about decluttering, living more minimally, and letting go of the emotions surrounding your possessions. The tips and advice are interspersed throughout the book, so I would recommend reading all of those first, and then going back and actually doing the declutter items checklist. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Indestructibles: Let’s Go Outside! and Let’s Be Kind

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Indestructibles by Ekaterina TrukhanIndestructibles by Ekaterina Trukhan

Indestructibles: Let’s Be Kind,   Indestructibles: Let’s Go Outside!

by Ekaterina Trukhan (Author) (Illustrations),Amy Pixton (Creator)

5 out of 5 stars

Let’s Go Outside – This book takes the reader on an outdoor adventure where we can stretch up like a tree, swim like a fish, and buzz like a bee. The writing is very simple, and just right for babies and toddlers learning their first words. I love that each page shows a parent and their child having fun in the forest or by the ocean.

As the parents and children explore the outdoors, there are little animals peeking out from behind the trees or swimming in the water. The little snails, turtles, frogs, and butterflies are so cute! There are birds, bunnies, and baby foxes too! So adorable!

Let’s Be Kind – This book teaches babies and toddlers about basic manners, saying please and thank you, and sharing toys with others. The writing is very simple, and just right for babies and toddlers learning their first words. Continue reading →