book review

Non-Fiction Review: Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff

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Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

The everyday things around us have fascinating histories of genius, inspiration, happy accidents, tradition, and ancient legends. How were zippers, scissors, candles, velcro, pockets, skateboards, hair dye, and chewing gum invented, and how have they changed over the years? This book tells the incredible origin stories of hundreds of everyday items, holidays, games, foods, and sports.

The colorful photos and illustrations bring each entry to life, as the reader dives into the history and legends of common-place items. The colors are bright and energetic, and draw your attention. The design of each page is calculated to spark the reader’s interest! Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: One Wild Christmas

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One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland
One Wild Christmas
by Nicholas Oldland

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


A bear, a moose, and a beaver all come together to celebrate Christmas. The moose loves to bake and cooks a fabulous holiday meal for the friends. The beaver is especially good at decorating and puts up twinkle lights. The bear does the heavy lifting, piling up massive armfuls of presents and gifts for everyone.
They search for the perfect Christmas tree to cut down and bring home, but the bear loves all living trees and will not allow his friends to cut down any trees! Will Christmas be ruined without a Christmas tree to decorate?

I loved this book! The characters are so cute. The storyline is interesting and imaginative, and the writing is charming and simple for young readers. The story made me smile! Continue reading →

Non Fiction Book Review: The Book of Kings

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The Book of Kings by Caleb Magyar
The Book of Kings: Magnificent Monarchs, Notorious Nobles, and Distinguished Dudes Who Ruled the World
by Caleb Magyar, Stephanie Warren Drimmer

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This book gives short bios on more than 100 amazing men who were (and are) leaders of nations, artists, inventors, revolutionaries, writers, scientists, astronauts, and shapers of their culture. Even fictional kings, comic book heroes, and mythical men are included, as figures of our imaginations that have influenced the way we think about men in power.

Each short biography shows how each incredible man came to gain fame and renown for his accomplishments and position. Every page includes beautiful photographs and illustrations, showcasing the history of the era in which these kings lived. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Book Review: The Book of Queens

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The Book of Queens by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
The Book of Queens: Legendary Leaders, Fierce Females, and Wonder Women Who Ruled the World
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book gives short bios on more than 100 amazing women who were (and are) leaders of nations, artists, inventors, revolutionaries, writers, athletes, scientists, designers, and shapers of their culture. Even fictional queens and mythical women are included, as figures of our imaginations that have influenced the way we think about women in power.

Each short biography shows how each incredible woman came to gain fame and renown for her accomplishments and position. Every page includes beautiful photographs and illustrations, showcasing the history of the era in which these queens lived. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Maisy’s Christmas Party

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Maisy's Christmas Party by Lucy Cousins
Maisy’s Christmas Party: With 6 Festive Letters and Secret Surprises!
by Lucy Cousins

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Maisy is inviting all her friends to a Christmas Party, and they each reply with a special letter. Eddie sends Maisy a little calendar to count down the days until the party. Cyril sends her a recipe for gingerbread. Tallulah sends Maisy a star to put on her tree. Charley includes a joke book with his letter, and Maisy laughs and laughs at his jokes. Finally, it’s the day of the party, and the friends have a good time together.

This is such a special Christmas book, with pockets for each of the letters the friends send to Maisy. Inside each envelope/pocket is a letter and a different decoration, recipe, or tiny booklet. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Book: My Preschool Workbook

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My Preschool Workbook by Brittany Lynch
My Preschool Workbook: 101 Games & Activities that Prepare Your Child for School
by Brittany Lynch

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This workbook has games, coloring pages, and activities to help little ones learn their colors, numbers, alphabet, and basic shapes. Including simple puzzles and challenges, this book teaches children that learning is fun, and coordinates with basic lessons they will be learning in preschool and kindergarten.

There are tracing pages to help little fingers learn how to draw letters and numbers. There are connect-the-dot games and matching games to get them thinking with logic, and to improve their memory. Moving from identifying basic colors into finally reading small words, there are even sections about rhyming words, and counting the syllables in a word. The pages gradually teach the reader their colors, shapes, numbers, alphabet, and simple spelling as they grow throughout the school year. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Magic Christmas Ornament

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The Magic Christmas Ornament by James Barbato
The Magic Christmas Ornament
by James and Victoria Barbato (Authors),  Joe Huffman (Illustrator)

2 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Three siblings hear the story about how their father found a magic ornament when he was a boy. When they examine the ornament on Christmas Eve, the children are whisked away to Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole, where they play with toys and meet Santa’s elves. They are given an ornament off Santa’s own Christmas tree, and they return home full of the joy of Christmas.

The writing is good, but has a stiff style, especially in the dialogue. It doesn’t flow as well as it could, but it’s not bad. The story is interesting, but rather simple. There isn’t anything particularly memorable or special in the plot, but it is a sweet story.

The illustrations really bothered me.

Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: One-Pot Weight Loss Plan

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The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan by Shelley Rael
The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan
by Shelley Rael

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book provides meal plans for 28 days, and 85 recipes to help readers lose weight and easily cook delicious meals. The recipes are all fairly simple with basic ingredients that are widely available.

At the beginning of the book, the author provides excellent advice about changing your lifestyle to be healthier, sleep better, reduce stress, and include gentle exercise into your daily routine. The book gives a positive picture of the whole person, instead of only focusing on diet. There are sections about portion control, calories, vitamins, and whole foods, but the book also mentions developing good habits of exercise, meditation, unplugging from technology and screens, and how to make time in your busy schedule for cooking. I really appreciated the balance in this common-sense approach. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Book Review: Code This!

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Code This! by Jennifer Szymanski
Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You
by  Jennifer Szymanski, Carlos Bueno 

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This fascinating book teaches children the concepts and ideas behind computer programming, and provides simple coding problems to be solved. The challenges include activities, games, and crafts that can be completed to solve the puzzles, as the reader learns computer coding approaches like binary code, directions, algorithms, loops of code, debugging when there is a problem, and optimizing the commands given to the program. Using logic and simple commands, the reader learns to understand the basic structure of a computer program. Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture

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National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of American Indian Hist... by Cynthia O'Brien
Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture
by Cynthia O’Brien

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This book lists the major characteristics and customs of over 160 Native American tribes, dedicating one or two pages to each tribe and including illustrations and photographs, both of historic cultures and modern people.

The book is grouped by region, showing how the environment and climate shaped their culture and livelihood. Time lines demonstrate the changes and historic events that developed their societies.
Each region section has a tribal story that is a part of that culture’s traditions and beliefs.

Continue reading →