book review
Book Review: The Tiltersmith
The Tiltersmith
by Amy Herrick (Goodreads Author)
Four friends are concerned that the winter is not ending. They begin to suspect that there may be magical forces at work which are holding off the spring. A mysterious green man gives them magical objects, but they don’t know how to use them. They start to wonder if ancient legends are controlling the weather.
Continue readingNon Fiction Review: The Leadership of C. S. Lewis
The Leadership of C.S. Lewis: Ten Traits to Encourage Change and Growth
by Crystal Hurd
What are the character traits that make a good leader? This book explores ten important attributes that are essential for any leadership role, and demonstrates how C. S. Lewis displayed those traits through his life and his writing. Here we analyze the details of why Lewis’s influence still continues to inspire countless Christians through his fiction and apologetic books.
Continue readingPicture Book Review: Dear Wild Child
Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You
by Wallace J. Nichols (Goodreads Author), Drew Beckmeyer (Illustrations)
A family build their home in the forest, a beautiful home where their daughter can grow up surrounded by the beauty of the woods and the wind. They have wonderful times together in their house, playing under the trees, fishing in the streams, and playing music with friends. One night a lightning storm starts a forest fire that burns down their beloved home, and the father comforts his child with the knowledge that they carry their home and all their memories inside them forever.
This is such a heartwarming book! It’s bittersweet in the end, since the family has lost their home, but it’s also full of hope, because they know that what truly matters can never be lost. They have their family safe and all their memories of their beloved home. I love the beautiful picture of growing up strong and resilient like the trees.
Continue readingBook Review: The Blue Dragon’s War
The Blue Dragon’s War (The Chronicles of Calibran, #0.5)
by Sean Newton (Author), Alberto Bieri, Tommaso De Benetti (Editor)
2.5 stars
Belrog the Minotaur tells the younger minotaurs the tale of Grom, a legendary minotaur warrior who fought the Blue Dragon in a great war. Grom was once a simple soldier, apprenticed to learn from one of the fighting Masters. General Kelkak leads them to war when a dragon and his army of orcs threaten their peaceful city. The dragon has orcs and evil elves on his side, but the Minotaurs have their own magicians and a secret company of berserk minotaurs who will fight to the death.
Picture Book Review: Nervous Nigel
Nervous Nigel
by Bethany Christou
Nigel’s family are all champion swimmers, and they have the medals and trophies to prove it. But Nigel doesn’t like to swim fast. It makes him nervous when the whistle blows and the coach yells for him to go faster. He likes to float along and relax when he swims. It’s his special time to think. Nigel’s family enter him into a swim race, and Nigel is too scared to tell them that he doesn’t like racing. How will Nigel get his overachieving family to understand?
Continue readingPicture Book Review: Books Aren’t For Eating
Books Aren’t for Eating
by Carlie Sorosiak (Author),Manu Montoya (Illustrator)
Leopold is a goat who owns a bookshop. A long time ago, he used to eat books, but then he learned to read them instead. Now he loves to help other people (and animals) find the perfect book to inspire and entertain them. Leopold is thrilled when another goat comes into his bookshop! He offers the goat a special book that he thinks the goat will enjoy, but the goat eats it! Leopold tries everything to get this goat to stop eating the books. He searches high and low for a book that will inspire the goat to read instead of eating the pages. Finally Leopold thinks he has found a solution, but he will have to sacrifice his favorite book.
Continue readingBook Review: The Pear Affair
The Pear Affair
by Judith Eagle (Author),Jo Rioux (Illustrator)
4.5 stars
Nell’s horrible parents are going to Paris, and Nell begs to be allowed to go with them. Her former nanny, Pear, left years ago and lives in Paris, and Nell is desperate to find her. Pear is the only person who ever really loved Nell, and Nell stopped hearing from her months ago. Nell is worried that Pear may have disappeared, but when she arrives in Paris, Nell discovers that the mystery goes far deeper than one missing au pair.
I loved this book so much! The plot is a mixture of many different mysteries that all blend together. I loved the way the different characters’ storylines overlapped. A bellhop with a secret underground lair. A baker’s son who worries that their bakery might go out of business. A poor young seamstress who dreams of going to school. And Nell’s evil parents, who are definitely up to something nefarious.
Continue readingActivity Book Reviews: Merriam Webster’s Activity Mysteries
Merriam Webster’s Activity Mysteries: Please Don’t Laugh, We Lost a Giraffe!
by Tish Rabe (Goodreads Author)
Merriam and Webster are best friends. They visit Wildlife World, and the park ranger asks for their help. There is a giraffe missing! They must follow the clues and solve the puzzles to search for the giraffe. They ask the animals for help, and track the giraffe through all kinds of terrain.
Continue readingPicture Book Review: Healthy as a Dragon!
Healthy as a Dragon!
by Štěpánka Sekaninová, Veronika Zacharová
The Dragon has a toothache and he is crying and wailing so loudly that the Princess hears him. She takes him home to the castle to teach him about eating healthy foods and brushing his teeth. But this Dragon needs a serious education about hygiene! The Dragon stays at the castle and learns about the importance of good clean habits. He learns to clean his new room, take a shower, get exercise, and go to bed on time. In the end he is a happier and healthier Dragon!
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