review

Series Review: Sherlock Academy

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Sherlock Academy by F.C. ShawWatson's Case by F.C. ShawThe Holmes Brigade by F.C. ShawSherlock Academy by F.C. Shaw

Sherlock Academy
by F.C. Shaw

4 out of 5 stars

Rollie and his best friend, Cecily, have just been accepted into the prestigious Sherlock Academy. They have to solve clues to figure out their class schedule, learn the art of disguise, decode secret messages to find out their assignments, and analyze fingerprints in the class roster. But there is a deeper mystery hidden in the library of Sherlock Academy! Throughout each book, Rollie and his detective friends work to stop the evil mastermind, Herr Zilch, who leads Moriarty’s old underground ring of criminals.

I loved everything about these books! The characters, the plot, the mystery, the action, the school, the writing style… everything is wonderful!
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Journal Review: True You

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True You by Dr. Kelly Vincent
True You: A Self-Discovery Journal of Prompts and Exercises to Inspire Reflection and Growth
by Dr. Kelly Vincent,  Jacinta Kay (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

This journal gives prompts for writing about certain themes including, self-awareness, values, identity, confidence, emotions, spirituality, health, family, relationships, community, career, passions, goals, life purpose, and dreams.

The most basic prompts say things like, “Today I’m grateful for…”, “Today I learned….”, “My biggest fear is…” But the journal quickly gets into more deep questions and more complex prompts about times when you had the confidence to stand up yourself, how you felt when you solved a difficult problem, and what relationships give your life meaning. Continue reading →

Puzzle Book Review: 100 Large-Print Crossword Puzzles

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100 Large-Print Crossword Puzzles by Chris King
100 Large-Print Crossword Puzzles: Easy Puzzles to Entertain Your Brain
by Chris King

4 out of 5 stars

I really like that each puzzle has a theme as a sort of additional clue to the type of words that will be used in the puzzle. The themes are also diverse and unexpected things like “time, being surrounded, light reading, any day now, and ahoy mateys”.

The clues and answers are fairly simple and common things, but every once in a while there’s a little bit of a head-scratcher to keep your brain nimble. The answers to all the crosswords are at the back of the book, in case you get stuck.

When they say “Large-Print”, they really mean it! The text is huge and the spaces for the puzzles are large as well. This book would be very enjoyable for some light fun without getting too frustrated with complex puzzles. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: 5-Minute Happiness Journal

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The 5-Minute Happiness Journal by Leslie Marchand LCSW
The 5-Minute Happiness Journal: Practices to Help You Tap Into Joy Every Day
by Leslie Marchand LCSW

4 out of 5 stars


This guided journal explores the meaning of happiness and how it can be unique to each individual. The journal prompts you to write down the things that make you happy, to re-imagine difficult situations in a more pleasant light, and to go after your own style of joy.

The journal questions include things like:
“What is a hobby you’ve always wanted to try?”
“Write about a time when a closed door led to a new opportunity that brought more happiness into your life.”
“Write about a time when you used your imagination to solve a problem.”
“Write down one thing you do regularly that makes you happy.”

Some of the prompts are simple, and others are more complex, leading to deeper reflection. Each page builds on the previous lesson, guiding you further on a journey toward understanding and embracing happiness. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: 1,2,3, Animals!

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1,2,3, Animals! A First Counting Book for Toddlers by Bethany Lake
1,2,3, Animals! A First Counting Book for Toddlers
by Bethany Lake

4 out of 5 stars


The circus animals are getting ready to perform in the big top! The lion is the ringmaster. The dogs are clowns. Elephants play the drums while the toucans play trumpets. Kangaroos sell snacks and treats. The bears dance ballet. Eight tigers balance on unicycles.

This book has such cute illustrations! The animals are colorful and fun! I liked the crazy costumes and the energy on every page. The text has nice pacing and some good rhymes that fit the story.

I really like that the book counts from 1 to 10 as the animals prepare for the show, and then while they are performing in the show we count backwards from 10 back to 1. This is a wonderful technique of teaching children to count both ways! Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Extreme Ocean

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Extreme Ocean by Sylvia A Earle
Extreme Ocean: Amazing Animals, High-Tech Gear, Record-Breaking Depths, and More
by Sylvia A Earle,  Glen Phelan 

5 out of 5 stars


With stunning photographs, this book chronicles the ocean explorations of the author, a marine biologist. Along with personal stories and anecdotes, this book includes the facts and science about everything in the ocean from currents to sharks.

The first section explores waves, tsunamis, and currents, ice shelves, and answers why the ocean is blue and why it contains salt water.

The second chapter focuses on the fish and animals that live in the ocean. There are articles and facts about seals, whales, and other mammals, as well as fish and creatures that live in the deepest parts of the ocean. The photographs of these fish are absolutely gorgeous, showcasing their bright colors and delicate fins. There are also facts about sea plants like kelp forests, and a whole page about coral reefs. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Letters from Maisy

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Letters from Maisy by Lucy Cousins
Letters from Maisy
by Lucy Cousins

5 out of 5 stars


Maisy is going on a vacation, and she sends letters to all her friends describing the places she has seen and sending little gifts to her neighbors back home. Every other page has an envelope pocket with a letter and a small paper gift.

Maisy shops at an outdoor market and sends a beautiful paper fan to her friend, Ella. The book includes a real paper fan for the reader!
Maisy goes on a river safari, and sends Eddie a search-and-find game with animals from the jungle. The reader can play the game too!
Maisy rides a carousel, and sends a paper horse to her friends Tallulah. A sturdy paper horse is included with the letter in the book pocket for the reader to play with too.
The book even includes a REAL postcard for the reader to mail to a friend. Continue reading →

Board Book Reviews: Maisy’s Animals, and Maisy Explores

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Maisy's Animals by Lucy Cousins    Maisy Explores by Lucy Cousins
Maisy’s Animals: A First Words Book
Maisy Explores: A First Words Book

   by Lucy Cousins

5 out of 5 stars


In Maisy Explores, Maisy explores a variety of different ideas, like the weather, types of plants, insects that change from caterpillar to butterfly, body parts, textures from rough to smooth, sounds, colors, and everyday items. The only text is labels for each type of item, but the drawings show Maisy playing the drums, planting a seed, flying a kite, and painting a picture.


In Maisy’s Animals, Maisy travels all over the world and interacts with animals in different places. The only text is labels for each type of animal, but the drawings show Maisy riding a camel in the desert, dog-sledding with a husky in the Arctic, swimming with fish in the ocean, and feeding chickens on the farm, and putting out cat-food for her kitty at home. Continue reading →

Book Series Review: Warren the 13th Trilogy

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Warren the 13th Trilogy

by Tania del Rio (Author),  Will Staehle (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

I loved this trilogy! The design is elaborate and the plot is mysterious. I loved the characters and the writing style. I flew right through the pages, and enjoyed the action in every chapter.

Warren is such a likable and interesting character! I really appreciated his curiosity, his resilience, and his love for the hotel. He feels connected to his parents and to his ancestors through their shared history in the hotel, and it gave the story a lot of depth to have that heritage. He finds clues that his father left behind for him, and that gives him the courage to face difficult circumstances.

There are so many great supporting characters, all unique and quirky and memorable.

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