Non Fiction Book Review: The Pursuit of God

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine
by A.W. Tozer

4.5 out of 5 stars

This book dives deep into spiritual truths and how we can strip away foolish lies we tell ourselves and truly pursue God with our whole heart. There are chapters about what real spiritual treasure is worth compared to earthly riches, how Christ has removed the barrier of our sin so that we can approach God, and the “universal Presence” of God and how we can be more aware of His Presence in our lives. I especially loved the chapter about “The Gaze of the Soul” and how faith is simply looking to God and turning our spiritual eyes to Him. There is also a lovely chapter about the meekness of Christ and how we can rest in Him.

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Non Fiction Review: Encyclopedia of Animals for Young Readers

Encyclopedia of Animals for Young Readers by Tomáš Tůma

Encyclopedia of Animals for Young Readers
by Tomáš Tůma

3 out of 5 stars

This book teaches you how to classify different animals as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, or insects and other invertebrates. Each page has large cartoony illustrations of various types of animals, and small paragraphs with facts and information. This design is perfect for capturing the attention of a curious child!

I love the cartoony art style! It’s so cute and colorful. This book is really interesting, and it’s so cool to find out some new facts about rare species and also about common animals.

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Non Fiction Book Reviews: Atlas of Extinct Animals and Atlas of Endangered Animals

Atlas of Extinct Animals by Radek Malý
Atlas of Endangered Animals by Radek Malý

Atlas of Extinct Animals
by Radek Malý, Pavel Dvorský, Jiří Grbavčic

Atlas of Endangered Animals
by Radek Malý, Pavel Dvorský, Pavla Dvorská

4 out of 5 stars

The Atlas of Extinct Animals lists information about particular species that have now tragically gone extinct, and the Atlas of Endangered Animals gives information about currently endangered species.

I really like the design of these books; on one side there is a full-page illustration of the animal, and on the other side a page of text detailing in what type of habitat the animal lived, its main characteristics, and what it ate, and finally how it went extinct or why it is currently endangered. There is even a little map, showing where the animal lived or lives.

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Non Fiction Review: Atlas of Cats

Atlas of Cats by Helena Haraštová

Atlas of Cats
by Helena Haraštová ,Jana Sedlackova, Giulia Lombardo (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

This book gives information about all the different breeds of cats, how they first developed, what their temperaments are like, and how to tell them apart from other cat breeds. There are also cat stories told from the perspective of the cats in their own newspaper, “Meow News”.

This book is so adorable! I love the attractive design and the sweet artwork. Every page is so colorful, and all the kitties are so cute!

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Non Fiction Review: A Dab of Dickens and a Touch of Twain

A Dab of Dickens  A Touch of Twain by Elliot Engel

A Dab of Dickens A Touch of Twain: Literary Lives from Shakespeare’s Old England to Frost’s New England
by Elliot Engel

2 out of 5 stars

This book gives short biographies of literature’s greatest authors and poets, including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Poe, the Brontes, the Brownings, Dickens, George Eliot, Emily Dickinson, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Hardy, Doyle, D.H. Lawrence, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Frost.

These are actually classroom lectures that have been written out, and the writing style reflects that. It doesn’t feel like a normal biography or literary essay. The style is more conversational. I really hated that, because the author tries to be funny and clever and does not succeed. The dad jokes are numerous.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Antarctica The Melting Continent

Antarctica by Karen Romano Young

Antarctica: The Melting Continent
by Karen Romano Young

3 out of 5 stars

The author tells all about their expeditions to Antarctica, the animals that live there, the different types of ice, and how scientists are still learning more about the southern continent. We learn about the history of exploration in Antarctica, and how the South Pole was discovered. We learn about the different glaciers and science stations with maps to show their locations.

It really gets on my nerves when science books talk about scientific theories as if they were fact, and they don’t tell the reader that it’s just a theory. It’s so unethical, and it’s misleading. It makes me not trust anything else they say, because who knows what else they could be lying to the reader about. If you don’t have the evidence to prove something, then you shouldn’t be pretending like it’s a fact. That’s dishonest. It would be so easy to clear up these misunderstandings if they would just admit that it’s a theory!

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Non Fiction Book Review: 5 Minute Really True Stories for Family Time

Britannica's 5-Minute Really True Stories for Family Time by Britannica Group

Britannica’s 5-Minute Really True Stories for Family Time: 30 Amazing Stories: Featuring baby dinosaurs, helpful dogs, playground science, family reunions, a world of birthdays, and so much more!
by Britannica Group

4 out of 5 stars

This book gives true stories about traditions around the world for celebrating birthdays, weddings, and funerals. We find out about different types of trees, animals, and dinosaurs. There are sections about food and table manners in different cultures. We learn about the history of the bicycle, camping, playgrounds, and amusement parks.

I liked the cute illustrations in this book! The art style is colorful and clear, and the designs are really attractive. There is an illustration of a lesbian couple being married in the chapter about weddings.

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Non Fiction Book: How to Teach Grown-Ups about Pluto

How to Teach Grown-Ups about Pluto by Dean Regas

How to Teach Grown-Ups about Pluto
by Dean Regas

4 out of 5 stars

This book explains the history of planet discoveries and why the decision was made to make Pluto into a dwarf planet. You will learn how objects in space are classified as asteroids, comets, dwarf planets, moons, and of course the eight planets.

I loved the attractive design of this book! The artwork is so cute and fun, and Pluto is depicted as this scrappy little ice planet guy with a happy expression. I love that the book sort of personifies the planets in a funny way! It makes the features of the planets and other space objects really memorable.

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Non Fiction Review: Return to Factopia

Return to Factopia! by Kate Hale

Return to Factopia!
by Kate Hale

4 out of 5 stars

This gives amazing facts about everything under the sun (and beyond) with colorful artwork and photos on every page. Each fact connects in some way with the previous fact, leading you around in a trail of random information that is sure to grab your attention.

I love the attractive design of this book! Every page is so colorful and bright.

The facts are short and easy to read quickly. I wish that some of them had further explanations though. Many of the facts didn’t make sense to me and needed some more information added to them. Some of them are more theories than facts, since there is no way they can be proven.

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Non Fiction Review: Pet That Cat!

Pet That Cat! by Nigel Kidd

Pet That Cat!: A Handbook for Making Feline Friends
by Nigel Kidd, Rachel Braunigan (Contributor)

5 out of 5 stars

This book will give you instructions for how to approach a cat, make friends, and start petting that cat! There are sections about caring for cats, the history of cats, famous cats around the world, how to choose a cat for a pet, and ideas for naming your cat. There is even a personality quiz so you can match your personality to your cat! There is also a “cat tracker” where you can write in the cats that you meet and what breeds of cats that you see.

This book is so adorable! I love the attractive design and the sweet artwork. Every page is so colorful, and all the kitties are so cute!

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