The Amazing World of Video Game Development
by Denis Galanin
This picture book gives a concise explanation of the basics of video games and how they are created. Each page has two or three paragraphs explaining the different components of a game, and the roles of different people who design the concept, music, sounds, art, and coding of the game.
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Marcel’s Mouse Museum
by Hannah Abbo
An adorable mouse guides us through a tiny modern art museum where we learn about famous artists like “Parmesan Picasso” and “Gouda Kahlo”. We get a short biography of the famous mice, their art style, their heritage and influences, and their favorite cheese. There is a special section of the museum featuring “Furrealist” art. As we learn about the different art styles, there are activities for creating your own art and imitating the great masters.
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Hear Them Roar: 14 Endangered Animals from Around the World
by Becky Thorns (Illustrator), June Smalls ( Author)
This book has buttons that play audio of the roars, chirps, and calls of fourteen endangered animals. Each page gives information about the animal, their habitat, why they are endangered, and what humans are doing to conserve the species. There is even a little world map that shows where their natural habitat is.
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Want a Hug?: Consent and Boundaries for Kids
by Christine Babinec MA LPC NCC, Vivian Mineker (Illustrator)
This book talks about consent and boundaries in a simple way that is easy for young children to understand. Sometimes we don’t want to hold hands or hug, and that is okay. Sometimes we are happy to say yes to a hug, and then might change our mind later. That is okay too. Maybe we don’t want to be pushed higher on the swings, or maybe we don’t want to be tickled. It’s good to say “No” politely. We need to respect when other people say “No” as well.
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Paint by Sticker: Plants and Flowers: Create 12 Stunning Images One Sticker at a Time (Paint by Sticker)
by Workman Publishing
This activity book has 12 beautiful designs, and hundreds of stickers in little mosaic shapes! There are pictures of gorgeous flowers and plants, and descriptions of the flora on the back of each page. I love that the description tells you the Latin name for the plant, and a little something about the history or uses or ecosystem of the plant.
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Stress Less: Stop Stressing, Start Living
by Kate Hanley (Goodreads Author)
This book gives little tidbits of advice about reducing stress, living with kindness and compassion, and finding ways to alleviate tension. Most of the advice is commonplace, but presented in a fresh way that makes you think a little differently about it.
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2.5 stars
Annie’s father teaches her to write down all the bad things she does and feed the paper into a little hole in the floor of their house. After she drops the paper into the “sin eater” hole, her regrets and guilt go away and she feels better. Annie hears a mysterious skittering and chattering in the cellar, and the neighbors begin to report seeing rats around the neighborhood. Annie learns about her Litvanian heritage and the dark secrets of her family past.
Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Meditation: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Techniques for Calming Your Mind and Spirit
by Shai Tubali (Goodreads Author)
I had to DNF this book because the philosophy of meditation did not at all line up with my personal beliefs. There were several ideas in this book that actually felt dark and scary to me, and that go against Christian teachings about meditation.
There was one practice that encouraged you to leave your personality behind when you meditate. “I am no longer my name or my person.” That seemed very strange and scary to me.
When I meditate, I am MORE myself in Christ, not less. I am MORE of a person how He created me to be, and my name is MORE who I am because I belong to Christ. I understand that author is trying to get you to shift your perspective, but it was not in the right direction.
The Folk of the Faraway Tree (The Faraway Tree, #3)
by Enid Blyton
Three siblings and their friend, Connie, visit the wood behind their cottage, and at the center of the forest is the Faraway Tree. It is the largest tree in the world; so large that the top reaches the clouds, and at the very top the Faraway Tree connects to a magical land.
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Upside Down
by Katarína Macurová
5 out of 5 stars
A gardener sees a little green plant growing in his rose garden. No matter how he waters it or tends to it, the plant does not bloom. Little does he know that underground a massive carrot is growing down into a rabbit hole. The rabbits have a grand feast, eating most of the carrot. What will the gardener say when he finds out the truth?
This is such a cute book! I actually laughed out loud when I read the ending. It’s so clever and fun!
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Luminous Libro 