by Fumio Sasaki, Eriko Sugita
He doesn’t give very many practical tips; It’s mostly about having a minimalist attitude.
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John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise
by Marc Aronson
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This book explores the connections between two historical figures, John Winthrop and Oliver Cromwell, as both attempt to establish a new order in their respective lands, America and England.
John Winthrop based his new colony on the idea that God was guiding the Puritans’ community to a righteous way of life. Oliver Cromwell believed that God was guiding his army to purge England of the old evil ways and establish a better government for the British people.
The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify
by Francine Jay
K
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This book is perfect for those who are curious about minimalism and want to declutter their homes and try it out. I love that the author emphasizes that minimalism is a mind-set and a life-style, not an aesthetic or a decorating trend. It’s not about how your home looks; it’s about how you feel in your home. It’s not about having a set number of belongings; it’s about having the right number of items that belong in your life for a reason.
I find the philosophy similar to the KonMari method of decluttering. Every item must have a purpose, whether it is useful or brings beauty into your life or just makes you happy.
This book takes you room by room, and gives common-sense advice on decluttering each space, how to get rid of things you don’t need or want, how to store what is left, and how to keep more clutter from building up again.
There is also a chapter all about how to get your family involved in decluttering the house and keeping it tidy.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and it inspired me to do a mini-decluttering session in my closet! (My house is already pretty minimal, but my clothing needed some pruning.)
I would recommend this book to anyone who isn’t sure about minimalism, or who hates minimalism but just wants to declutter and find more space in their home. This book might change your mind about minimalism and what it really stands for!
The information is interesting and memorable, but uses many big words and technical terms that children might find too heavy for enjoyable reading.
I loved the colorful photographs, and curious facts about each animal, and I found it very informative and impressive. Continue reading
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Everything you ever wanted to know about every kind of predator is in this book! With categories that talk about each type of animal, sections that address fangs, claws, wings, and special pages for endangered animals, this book answers every question you might have about these incredible animals.
Beautiful photos of predators in action really bring the book to life, and give a strong impression of the life these animals live in the wild. I could just stare at these photos for hours. Every page is so colorful and full of movement.
There are big sections for predatory mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and a strange array of predatory invertebrates like squid, scorpions, spiders, and ants. I really like how the book is organized, and all the great information about each animal. There are also several pages that tell the reader how they can help conservation efforts to preserve endangered species, and how predators help their ecosystems from getting out of balance.
There is also a glossary at the back to help the reader with large words, and a list of websites, movies, and places to visit to find out more!
This book will spark the curiosity of any child or teen, and is a wonderful reference for all the knowledge you’ll need about the world of predators.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions expressed here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I read through the entire book in just a half hour, fascinated with every wacky statement and attracted to each page by the stunning photos. I learned so many freaky things, like that jellyfish used to have hard shells, there is an albino humpback whale off the coast of Australia, and that it’s against the law in the USA for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs! haha! Weird and random and hilarious! Continue reading
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
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!