Book Reviews from Nube Ocho (English and Spanish books)

Llamando a mamá (Spanish Edition) (Calling Mama)
by Anya Damirón, César Barceló (illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Max calls for his mother every time he needs something. He screams out “Mama!” if he is hungry or can’t reach his toys or wants a glass of water. He yells for her so much that she tells him to only call for her if he really needs help. One day he screams for his mother, but she doesn’t respond. She waits to see what he will do without her. And he learns to be more independent and solve his own little problems by himself. His mother is still there to help him when he really needs it, but Max starts doing things on his own more and more. Until one day, his mother is the one to yell out “Max!” when he is making a mess in the kitchen!

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Classic Book Review: A Study in Scarlet

The First Adventure of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

The First Adventure of Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet
by Arthur Conan Doyle, Vincent Mallié (Artist),Mike Kennedy (Editor)

5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Watson is searching London for affordable rooms and his old colleague mentions that Sherlock Holmes is looking for rooms too. They are introduced and decide to become roommates at 221B Baker Street. Watson quickly discovers that Holmes is eccentric in many ways, and they are soon hot on the trail of a murder mystery. Holmes has a unique way of tracking down clues, and Watson is eager to help.

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Book Review: The First Four Years

The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The First Four Years (Little House, #9)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

Laura and Almanzo work hard at farming through their first four years of marriage. They can never seem to get ahead with their debts for farming equipment. Just when they think they will have a good crop of wheat, the weather turns nasty and ruins all their hopes. Their daughter Rose is born and brings them a lot joy, but they also have heartaches and disaster strikes their little farm. Still, they are unified in their love and in their determination to triumph over nature and make their farm a success.

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Book Review: These Happy Golden Years

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

These Happy Golden Years (Little House, #8)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Laura has taken a job teaching a school at the Brewster’s claim. Mrs. Brewster is sullen and rude, and some of Laura’s students are actually older than her. Laura does her best to teach the school, but she is miserable at the Brewster’s house. Laura wishes she could go home at least for the weekends, but the snow and ice would make for too long of a drive across the prairie. But Almanzo Wilder shows up to drive her home in his new cutter with sleigh bells ringing! Laura begins to understand that Almanzo is interested in courting her, and she isn’t sure how she feels about that.

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Book Review: Cursed

Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Cursed (Gilded, #2)
by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

In this second book of the Gilded duology, Serilda and Gild are both trapped in the Erlking’s castle. Serilda is forced into a sham marriage with the Erlking, so that he can claim her child as his own. Gild knows that if he could just remember his true name and find his body, they would be able to free themselves of their curse, but none of their plans against the Erlking succeed. He is too wily and too powerful. Serilda tries everything she can think of to find a weakness in the Erlking, some way to trick him or defeat him. But at every turn, he laughs in their faces and continues to terrorize humans, ghosts, and every magical creature in the realm.

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Book Review: The Golden Goblet

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

The Golden Goblet
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

3.5 out of 5 stars
Ranofer’s only dream is to become a goldsmith like his father was before his death. But Ranofer’s half-brother, Gebu, beats and starves him, and won’t allow him to be apprenticed to a goldsmith. Ranofer is allowed to work for a goldsmith as a lowly errand boy, but he is not allowed to learn the trade as an apprentice. He begins to suspect that Gebu is involved in some kind of thievery, but he has no proof! He must change his circumstances if he ever wants to become a master goldsmith someday.

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Book Review: Insectorama

Insectorama by Lisa Voisard

Insectorama: The Marvelous World of Insects
by Lisa Voisard (Illustrator), Jeffrey K. Butt (Translator)

3 out of 5 stars

This book about insects will teach you all about how insects are different from other creatures, and how to spot them in the wild. We learn the different body parts of insects, the different categories of insects, and how they feed. We learn about their habitats, how they build their nests, and how they develop from eggs to larvae to an adult insect that will bite or sting you.

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Book Review: All About Flags

All About Flags! by Robin Jacobs

All About Flags!
by Robin Jacobs

5 out of 5 stars

The history of flags is fascinating! As countries interacted and their cultures blended together or grew apart through hundreds of years, their national flags were designed to represent those connections. Different symbols and colors on flags represent specific places, religious beliefs, ethnic heritage, or special moments in history that influenced each nation.

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Book Review: Britannica’s Encyclopedia Infographica

Britannica's Encyclopedia Infographica by Valentina D’Efilippo

Britannica’s Encyclopedia Infographica: 1,000s of Facts & Figures―about Earth, space, animals, the body, technology & more―Revealed in Pictures
by Valentina D’Efilippo, Valentina D’Efilippo (Illustrator), Conrad Quilty-Harper, Britannica Group Britannica Group

3 out of 5 stars

This book is full of beautiful illustrations and eye-catching graphics with thousands of facts about space, earth, humans, and animals. We learn about space travel and black holes. We learn about volcanoes and how we can track wind and weather patterns. We can read about the neurons in our brains and the global economy. The fastest cars, the oldest instruments, the greatest athletes, the biggest wars, the tallest trees – you can learn about it all in this book!

However, I have to wonder just how much of this book is true, and how much is just guess-work and theories. The book does not always make it clear which factoids are theories and which are backed up by empirical data.

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Book Review: The Souls of Flowers

The Souls of Flowers by Pavlína Kourková

The Souls of Flowers (Large Encyclopedias)
by Pavlína Kourková

5 out of 5 stars

These beautiful portraits of flowers make you really stop to appreciate the delicate beauty of each petal. You can see the details of the stem and pollen and blossoms in a new way. This whole book is so enchanting! Each lovely page is a reminder of how precious creation is. I love that each flower looks both vulnerable and soft, but also strong in its own delicate way.

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