books.

Non-Fiction Review: Super-Quick Colorful Quilts

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Super-Quick Colorful Quilts by Wilkinson Rosemary
Super-Quick Colorful Quilts: 35 Vibrant Designs for Fast Quilts
by Wilkinson Rosemary

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This quilting book gives instructions for 35 gorgeous quilt designs. The illustrations and photographs clearly demonstrate each design, and the instructions are easy to follow through each step. There are some general instructions in the beginning of the book about how to choose fabric, cut shapes, add binding, and quilt by hand or by machine. This is excellent for beginners!

The quilt designs are divided into sections with “Fresh Colors, Vivid Colors, Bright Colors, Pastel Colors, and Primary Colors”, but each design could be used with any color or pattern that the quilter desires. Each design is shown with 5 different options for fabric alternatives and color schemes that match or work well with the type of design. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Review: The Rebels and Revolutionaries of Sound

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Playlist by James Rhodes
Playlist: The Rebels and Revolutionaries of Sound
by James Rhodes, Martin O’Neill (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations)

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


James Rhodes writes about classical music and features seven revolutionary composers who changed the landscape of music forever. With chapters on Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Ravel, this book outlines how music developed over time, and how each of these extraordinary musicians overcame the challenges of their era to create beautiful music that still resonates with musicians today.

I was really intrigued by the wild and colorful artwork depicting each composer, with elements of their time and items representing their music pasted into a chaotic blend. Bach is depicted with grand church buildings behind him, and Mozart has angels, flowers, and sunshine around his head like a halo. Chopin has a flaming heart on his chest, and a piano next to him being destroyed by sledgehammers. Rachmaninoff has butterflies and tigers, along with a diagram of a massive hand. (He had really huge hands; the bane of all pianists who try to play his piano compositions.) Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Peppa Pig and the Christmas Play

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Peppa Pig and the Christmas Play by Candlewick Press
Peppa Pig and the Christmas Play
by Candlewick Press

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Peppa and her school class are planning their Christmas play. Peppa wants to be a Christmas fairy in the play, and she invites Santa to attend at the school along with all the parents. But Santa is very busy. The schoolmates see him at malls, grocery stores, garden centers, and even at the tree shop. Peppa is sure he will be able to come to their school play, but Madame Gazelle, their teacher, warns Peppa that Santa might not come. The show must go on, even if Santa doesn’t make an appearance.

This adorable picture book has a simple storyline perfect for little children. The writing is easy to read and excellent for beginning readers.

The first part of the story describes what each of the schoolmates will be for the school play, and all the animals prepare their costumes as snowflakes, reindeer, elves, a Christmas tree, and a Christmas star. Suzy Sheep wants to be a Christmas nurse, so she can doctor anyone who is sick at the play! It’s so cute! Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Wishing You Blessings from A to Z

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Wishing You...Blessings from A to Z by Sandi Gore Evans
Wishing You…Blessings from A to Z
by Sandi Gore Evans

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This Christmas book goes from A to Z as snowmen characters demonstrate the joys and delights of Christmas. A is the “aroma of a warm cup of cocoa,” while C is for the “cookies, candy, and snow cones shared with a friend”, and I is for the “incredible snowflakes”. Each page features snowmen and snow-women singing carols, toasting marshmallows, putting on mittens and scarves, and decorating their Christmas trees.

The artwork is adorable! Such cute little snowmen in sweet hats and coats with lots of Christmas decorations around them. The colors are very festive! But a couple of the illustrations are used twice, and XYZ are lumped together on one page with “Yuletide blessings” making do for all three letters. Continue reading →

Book Review: The First Christmas Sweater

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The First Christmas Sweater by Ryan Tubridy
The First Christmas Sweater (and the Sheep Who Changed Everything)
by Ryan Tubridy

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

The rumor around the sheep farm is that Santa is looking for a special sheep to provide the wool to make the first Christmas sweater. Hillary is a rainbow-colored sheep who loves to make lists, and especially loves Christmas, but will her strangely-colored wool eliminate her from being able to donate her wool to Santa?

Each of the sheep in this Irish sheep farm have their own personalities and quirks. Hillary has many friends, but one of the sheep, Brian, is just annoying with his dumb jokes and “ewe” puns. Hillary spends her time daydreaming about Christmas, but Brian keeps interrupting her with boring small talk. Hillary would rather gossip with her bird friend, Didya, who is always asking “Didya know this? Didya know that?” and telling her all the news.

I loved all the sheep characters! They are so funny and cute. I could really imagine all their Irish accents. The plot is entertaining, and the writing is playful. There are many sheep puns, and several pages full of sheep jokes at the end of the book. Continue reading →

Cookbook Review: The 30-Minute Ayurvedic Cookbook

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The 30-Minute Ayurvedic Cookbook by Danielle Martin
The 30-Minute Ayurvedic Cookbook: Healing Recipes for Total Wellness
by Danielle Martin,  Annie Martin (Photographer)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

“With the proper diet, medicine is of no need; with an improper diet, medicine is of no use.”

This book explains the theories behind Ayurvedic medicine, and gives advice on eating for your body type or “dosha”. The first section gives a little history about the origins of Ayurveda and how this system can stimulate the body to heal itself. Then the three “doshas” are introduced with a quiz to help you determine your type. Kaphas are sluggish and compassionate. Pittas are energetic and ambitious. And Vatas are restless and imaginative. They each also have physical characteristics and common health problems that result from their body type and personality type.

The next chapter gives advice for eating according to your “dosha” and how certain foods can worsen common ailments for your type or can heal those problems. Eating a healthy diet at regular meal times can balance the “digestive fire” and help your body respond well to food, embracing nourishment for every area of your health. Continue reading →

Board Book Review: All Around Bustletown: Winter

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All Around Bustletown by Rotraut Susanne Berner
All Around Bustletown: Winter
by Rotraut Susanne Berner

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Everywhere in Bustletown people are getting things done, going to their piano lessons, doing their shopping, finding lost objects, buying a Christmas tree, skating on the pond, getting their car repaired, and tending to the animals. Everywhere you look there is something interesting happening and a story line to follow!

I love the colorful and detailed illustrations! Each page is beautifully drawn with fun little details to draw the reader in. I’m 37 years old, and I was fascinated with each beautiful scene!

It’s so fun to search for people in the hustle and bustle of the scenery and follow them from page to page as their little story unfolds.

Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: The 4-Week Fast Metabolism Diet Plan

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The 4-Week Fast Metabolism Diet Plan by April Murray, RD
The 4-Week Fast Metabolism Diet Plan
by April Murray, RD, Leila Page, RD

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This book gives a well-rounded plan for dieting and resetting your metabolism to have a healthy body.

The first section talks about lifestyle changes like moderate exercise and eating healthy foods, but also places a strong emphasis on sleep as a way to lose weight because it balances your hormones and allows your body to rejuvenate itself while you rest. This section also explains how the metabolism functions and why it is such a factor in our weight.

I really loved how this chapter includes herbs and spices that you can include in your food, like turmeric to reduce inflammation, green tea to help lower blood sugar, reishi mushrooms to balance hormone levels. And there are vegetables and meats that help to boost the metabolism like beets, broccoli, salmon, eggs, and lentils. Continue reading →

Cookbook Review: Easy Cake Cookbook

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Easy Cake Cookbook by Miranda Couse
Easy Cake Cookbook: 75 Sinfully Simple Recipes for Bake-and-Eat Cakes
by Miranda Couse,  Annabelle Breakey (Photographer)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This cookbook is perfect for beginner bakers who want simple recipes! The cakes are easy to make, and look amazing. The instructions are simple to follow, and the cakes don’t require a lot of fancy ingredients. Even though the recipes are uncomplicated, the cakes look rich and delicious!

There are sections for bundt cakes, loaf cakes, coffee cakes, little mug cakes, and even cakes baked in a skillet. With an entire section just for toppings like frosting, whipped cream, ganache, and glaze, this book has everything you need to create delicious cakes! Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Little Robin’s Christmas

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Little Robin's Christmas by Jan Fearnley
Little Robin’s Christmas
by Jan Fearnley

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Little Robin has seven beautiful vests to keep him warm in the winter, but he gives them away to animals who are freezing in the snow, until on Christmas Eve he only has one vest left. He meets a lonely mouse who is shivering in the cold, and gives away his last vest. Now Little Robin will be frozen, unless a certain jolly fellow in a red coat can find this generous bird and give him the most precious Christmas gift of all.

Little Robin is such a sweet and generous little guy! He meets a lot of different animals struggling to stay warm in the snow and ice of the winter, and thoughtfully offers them a knitted vest to keep them warm and cozy. Continue reading →