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NonFiction Review: Solve This!
Solve This!: Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You
by Joan Marie Galat (Goodreads Author)
by Joan Marie Galat (Goodreads Author)
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This fun book gives problematic scenarios, and encourages the reader to find solutions by using engineering and science! The problem is set with a description of a place or difficulty, and then various people of different professions give their original solutions, and finally the engineers give a solution, and you can decide which one is best!
There are a wide variety of professional people from different areas giving imaginative solutions on each page; a marine biologist, a teacher, a librarian, an architect, a nurse, a plumber, and dozens more in addition to the actual engineers. Continue reading
Non-Fiction Review: To the Moon and Back
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This incredible book about Apollo 11, features the most amazing pop-ups I have ever seen in my life!!!
Every time I turned the page, I was oohing and aahing over the beautiful graphics and the intricacy of the pop-ups. There is a pop-up of the Apollo 11 rocket that is at least a foot long, and it blasts up from the page!
Every time I turned the page, I was oohing and aahing over the beautiful graphics and the intricacy of the pop-ups. There is a pop-up of the Apollo 11 rocket that is at least a foot long, and it blasts up from the page!
As if the gorgeous pictures and pop-ups weren’t enough, the story of the moon landing is also marvelous and full of interesting details. If you can tear your eyeballs away from the exquisite photos long enough to actually read the story, it is a delightful and easy to read history of the entire moon landing journey from start to finish. I loved how Buzz Aldrin tells the story from his own perspective!
And as if the interesting story AND pictures AND pop-ups weren’t enough, there is ALSO an insert with a paper model of the Eagle lunar module complete with assembly instructions for putting it together!
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Books and Yoga
Non-Fiction Review: Absolutely Everything
Absolutely Everything!: A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention
by Christopher Lloyd (Goodreads Author), Andy Forshaw
by Christopher Lloyd (Goodreads Author), Andy Forshaw
2 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This history book is full of colorful illustrations and photos, and a lighthearted writing style.
I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover and the gorgeous layout.However, I did NOT find the information to be reliable or accurate, and the conversational writing style was too cutesy and fake for me.
The author often cites things as fact which are only theories, or gives his personal opinion on events instead of relating them impartially. Many of his conclusions are erroneous, and I did not appreciate the silly introductions to each chapter.
I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover and the gorgeous layout.However, I did NOT find the information to be reliable or accurate, and the conversational writing style was too cutesy and fake for me.
The author often cites things as fact which are only theories, or gives his personal opinion on events instead of relating them impartially. Many of his conclusions are erroneous, and I did not appreciate the silly introductions to each chapter.
I did love the beautiful illustrations and colorful photos!
I would not recommend this book for anyone who is interested in reading actual history rather than personal opinion and propaganda.
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.
Graphic Novel Review: Illegal
Illegal
by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano
by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
A heartbreaking story about a young boy who follows his brother across the Sahara. They then travel in a leaking boat across the Mediterranean, in an effort to make a new life and reunite with their sister in Italy.
There are many sad stories of lives lost along the way, dodging violent gangs, forced to trust conmen who steal their money, and hiding from the police since they don’t have ID or travel papers.
A lot of their refugee companions die on the road, and the story is mostly serious and sad, but there are some light moments with humor and a blazing hope that spurs the characters onward. Continue reading
Book Review: Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga: Stretch the mindful way
by Kassandra Reinhardt
by Kassandra Reinhardt
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This beautiful book gives practical meditation tips, breathing exercises, and yin yoga postures for beginner through intermediate yogis. It includes yoga sequences for 30-90 minute yoga practices, and instructions on how to modify each yoga pose to make it easier if you need a gentler posture, or to make it harder if you are ready for a deeper stretch.
I adore the gorgeous photos of each pose. The serene ocean in the background of each photo makes me feel soothed and calm. The golden light and beautiful seaside landscapes really enhance every yoga posture. Continue reading
Graphic Novel Review: Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel (Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novels, #1)
by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano , Paolo Lamanna
by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano , Paolo Lamanna
2 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old genius, who discovers a way to infiltrate the hidden world of the faeries, and how to steal their gold. Holly Short is the only female police officer with the LEP (Lower Elements Police, the fairy law enforcement). Desperate to prove herself in the field, Holly will need all her tactical training to take on the young genius, but Artemis has his own secrets and outsmarts the faeries every step of the way.
I have always loved the Artemis Fowl stories, but this graphic novel does not do them justice. I did NOT like the art style. The colors are dark and brown and boring.
Continue reading
Graphic Novel Review: Thornhill
Thornhill
by Pam Smy
by Pam Smy
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This graphic novel follows two girls, Mary, an orphan in 1982, and Ella, a lonely girl who lives next door to the orphanage 20 years later. Mary writes in her journal about her life at the orphanage, and the terrible bullying she suffers from another of the orphan girls. 20 years later, Ella explores around the broken-down dilapidated orphanage, and sees a mysterious ghostly figure in a window.
This book was heart-breaking and disturbing and unutterably sad. The bullying at the orphanage is terrible, and poor Mary is so depressed and frightened. The black and white illustrations are beautiful and haunting. Continue reading
Luminous Libro 