non fiction

Non-Fiction Review: Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff

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Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

The everyday things around us have fascinating histories of genius, inspiration, happy accidents, tradition, and ancient legends. How were zippers, scissors, candles, velcro, pockets, skateboards, hair dye, and chewing gum invented, and how have they changed over the years? This book tells the incredible origin stories of hundreds of everyday items, holidays, games, foods, and sports.

The colorful photos and illustrations bring each entry to life, as the reader dives into the history and legends of common-place items. The colors are bright and energetic, and draw your attention. The design of each page is calculated to spark the reader’s interest! Continue reading →

Non Fiction Book Review: The Book of Kings

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The Book of Kings by Caleb Magyar
The Book of Kings: Magnificent Monarchs, Notorious Nobles, and Distinguished Dudes Who Ruled the World
by Caleb Magyar, Stephanie Warren Drimmer

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This book gives short bios on more than 100 amazing men who were (and are) leaders of nations, artists, inventors, revolutionaries, writers, scientists, astronauts, and shapers of their culture. Even fictional kings, comic book heroes, and mythical men are included, as figures of our imaginations that have influenced the way we think about men in power.

Each short biography shows how each incredible man came to gain fame and renown for his accomplishments and position. Every page includes beautiful photographs and illustrations, showcasing the history of the era in which these kings lived. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Book Review: The Book of Queens

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The Book of Queens by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
The Book of Queens: Legendary Leaders, Fierce Females, and Wonder Women Who Ruled the World
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book gives short bios on more than 100 amazing women who were (and are) leaders of nations, artists, inventors, revolutionaries, writers, athletes, scientists, designers, and shapers of their culture. Even fictional queens and mythical women are included, as figures of our imaginations that have influenced the way we think about women in power.

Each short biography shows how each incredible woman came to gain fame and renown for her accomplishments and position. Every page includes beautiful photographs and illustrations, showcasing the history of the era in which these queens lived. Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: One-Pot Weight Loss Plan

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The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan by Shelley Rael
The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan
by Shelley Rael

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book provides meal plans for 28 days, and 85 recipes to help readers lose weight and easily cook delicious meals. The recipes are all fairly simple with basic ingredients that are widely available.

At the beginning of the book, the author provides excellent advice about changing your lifestyle to be healthier, sleep better, reduce stress, and include gentle exercise into your daily routine. The book gives a positive picture of the whole person, instead of only focusing on diet. There are sections about portion control, calories, vitamins, and whole foods, but the book also mentions developing good habits of exercise, meditation, unplugging from technology and screens, and how to make time in your busy schedule for cooking. I really appreciated the balance in this common-sense approach. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Book Review: Code This!

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Code This! by Jennifer Szymanski
Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You
by  Jennifer Szymanski, Carlos Bueno 

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This fascinating book teaches children the concepts and ideas behind computer programming, and provides simple coding problems to be solved. The challenges include activities, games, and crafts that can be completed to solve the puzzles, as the reader learns computer coding approaches like binary code, directions, algorithms, loops of code, debugging when there is a problem, and optimizing the commands given to the program. Using logic and simple commands, the reader learns to understand the basic structure of a computer program. Continue reading →

NonFiction Review: Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture

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National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of American Indian Hist... by Cynthia O'Brien
Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture
by Cynthia O’Brien

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This book lists the major characteristics and customs of over 160 Native American tribes, dedicating one or two pages to each tribe and including illustrations and photographs, both of historic cultures and modern people.

The book is grouped by region, showing how the environment and climate shaped their culture and livelihood. Time lines demonstrate the changes and historic events that developed their societies.
Each region section has a tribal story that is a part of that culture’s traditions and beliefs.

Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Book Review: Adventures on Earth

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Adventures on Earth by Simon Tyler
Adventures on Earth
by Simon Tyler 

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

This book tells about explorers who discovered the highest, deepest, coldest, hottest, and most dangerous areas of our planet. Featuring sections about the polar regions, mountains, volcanoes, oceans, deserts, rivers, jungles, caves, and forests, this book gives a wonderful overview of the history of exploration, and the men and women who broke the boundaries.

I loved the gorgeous artwork in this book! The illustrations are eye-catching, showing the beauty of the nature and the overwhelming glory of mountain peaks and glaciers. Each page is attractive and lures the reader in to read more about incredible natural phenomena. Continue reading →

Back to School Books for Kids

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Brain Games: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42183016-brain-games
Beginner’s World Atlas: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42924686-national-geographic-kids-beginner-s-world-atlas-4th-edition
Student World Atlas: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42924683-national-geographic-student-world-atlas-5th-edition Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Review: Brain Games

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Brain Games by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Brain Games: Mighty Book of Mind Benders
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer,  Gareth Moore

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Warning: This book will melt your brain!

With puzzles, codes, optical illusions, and games, each chapter focuses on one aspect of how our brains process information, including spatial awareness, how our hearing affects our visual perception, and how our memory works (or doesn’t work).

I especially liked the chapter on Words and Language, which explores how our brains process language and reading. There are tons of word games with anagrams, alphabet codes, palindromes, crossword puzzles, and word search games.

Each chapter starts with an explanation of how the brain functions in particular areas, how the brain is mapped, and what scientists and physicians are discovering about the power of the mind. Then challenges and puzzles are introduced to show how your brain is fooling you, or how your brain is stronger and smarter than you realize. Continue reading →

Non-Fiction Review: Awesome Achievers in Science

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Awesome Achievers in Science by Alan Katz
Awesome Achievers in Science: Super and Strange Facts about 12 Almost Famous History Makers 
by Alan Katz 

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Do you remember who invented the Post It note? Or the Polaroid camera? You may know the name of the Heimlich maneuver, but do you know anything about Dr. Heimlich himself, who invented the famous move?

This book features twelve scientists, chemists, doctors, engineers, and astronauts whose inventions or actions are well-known, but the people themselves are less than famous. Including the inventions of Velcro, Teflon, Kevlar, the Polaroid camera, bionic limbs, laser eye surgery for cataracts, and the CPR method, this book gives short bios of the almost-famous inventors, along with a comedic poem or song written by the author in their honor, and sometimes a small comic sketch or personal anecdote.

This book is FULL of “Dad jokes”. There are cringey puns and wisecracks on every page that will make anyone remember their own dad and his terrible jokes. The humor might appeal to a 7-year-old boy, but I spent most of the book rolling my eyes at the ridiculous one-liners. Continue reading →