Children's books reviewed: Apr 18

 
 

I've Only Got Three Hands:: Teach Your Children to Keep Their Room Clean (Bedtimes Story Fiction Children's Picture Book Book 2) by Sigal Adler

This book contains two children's books, the above title and Even monsters get scared.

..

Nameplate is included at the start.

Rhyming, colorful children's book about cleaning  your room.

He wants his mother to read him a book but she gets busy cleaning his room and she's too tired so it's a very short story.

Next night it's just as bad and she doesn't read at all. Child learns if he picks up after himself she will have time to read him stories....

Good lessons. He feels sorry for us with only two hands as he has four.

..

 

 

Even monsters get scared

This colorful rhyming children's book is about a monster an dhe has a boy for a friend.

They make up a dangerous situation and tell us what they'd do to scare the animal, not have animal scare them.

Different animals have their own pages and the solution is right on the next page.

No fighting or anything, I like the ideas.

They must find the ball that rolled in to the basement and it's very dark there and lots of shadows with the flashlight they carry...

Good story.

 

 

The Easter Bunny's Vacation by Jemima Neal

Colorful children's book about the Easter bunny.

He and his wife decide to take some time for themselves, at the beach.

They love the things they are able to do. Very colorful, vibrant pictures.

They meet a little boy and they are heading back home because the Easter bunny won't find their house here at the beach.

The bunnies get to thinking about retiring....

What if you were...? by Remy Agee 

Colorful, children’s book and a great imagination of being something different.

The story  asks the question on the left side of the page and tells you a little of the things you'd be able to do on the right hand side.

after asking if you'd like to be a balloon, light, shoe, kite, song, tree, cheese or a star they give you the answer because it is the best one.

Great story. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

 

E is for Elephant : An Animal Alphabet from A to Z by Kjersten Faseler 

This colorful alphabet children's book is about the alphabet. Each letter has it's own page and colorful picture of the large size letter along with the animal it stands for.  

I really like the not so common animals found in this book. Not only is the book teaching the alphabet but animals also. Great idea.

 

 

Oliver and the Wishing Star by Jennifer Decker

This colorful children's book is about Oliver and he wants to go play at his friends. Problem is his mother stops him and makes him do his chore of walking the dog and then his homework before he can do anything.

He think shte dog has it made because everybody feeds him, they even pick up his poop and everybody loves him. While at the end of the night Oliver wishing on a star....

Cute story.

  

 

Would You Rather? Game Book for Kids: Fun and Silly Questions that Make Kids Think by Logan James

This children's book I feel would even be good for adults in a party setting.

Each page has two different sets of 'would you rather'. Some are about eating bugs and such while others want to know which of the two foods you'd want to eat for every meal.

So funny and laugh out loud fun for the whole family.

 

Apr 19 The Road to Me by Laura Drake

  

 

The Road to Me by Laura Drake

Jack is on her way to get her grandmother, Nellie, she's the only living relative and she escaped the nursing center in AZ. 

Jack left Seattle and hopes to be back there later that night. Problem is after she gets her there is a car mishap...

Next day they get in the car that granny had bought and reminisces about Woodstock and her grandmother's style of living...

She only wants to see the grand canyon one more time and Jac gives in.

Her company she works on scents and is able to produce many different smells. 

Growing up her grandmother taught her to use flowers that was woven into a crown. Her grandmother never hung around.

Nellie wants to live a lot more and they are on their way to Vegas where Jac has a show to put on with the perfumes.

There are many adventures ahead for Jac as Nellie is the one who drives the car and knows the area from eons ago.

I can imagine Jac's face as they drive into the nude colony. It's where there is a medicine man there and jack goes through a massage and analysis about her stress.

The two women hae it out, all pent up past and why the grandmother left the kids with the alcoholic mother, Jack feels she could've done something to help, especially when she finds out about amount of money Easy had left her with.

Past we see a small glimmer of how each had hard lifes. Love learning about Leo and the things he does with his hands, his career and his goals.

Chapters of their past lifes are heartbreaking, the things Nellie had to endure to make it...

Love hearing about her hiking to find scents she can smell.  Reminds me of our trail hiking and leaving the path to find some new discoveries.

So scary when she hikes by herself, it gets worse ...

Love the sign G'ma gives her to say all is good.. love the symbols and what they stand for.

Love the travel as we’ve been to many of the same locations over the years, fond memories and love hearing about them from others eyes. Scents and sculptures sound phenomenal.  

Acknowledgement and about the author are included at the end.

Can't wait to read more from this author.

Received this review copy from The Story Plant  via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

#TheRoadtoMe #NetGalley.

Cookbooks reviewed: apr 14

  

 

Jamaican: Discover Delicious Jamaican Cooking Simply with Easy Jamaican Recipes by BookSumo Press

Lots of full page colorful photographs of the area, not individual recipes.

TOC where recipes are listed.

Each recipe starts with a title and to the far right hand corner, sometimes with dark brown background with black lettering, YOU can't see what it says, prep and total time, servings.

Some nutritional information: calories, fat, carbs, protein, cholesterol, sodium. Center of the page is a list of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.

Directions are given along with notes. Some spicy recipes here, tells you what area they came from.

 

The Easy Dutch Oven Cookbook: a great variety of tasty meal-in-one recipes for your most versatile cast iron pot in your kitchen by Lisa Mackay 

Starts with table of contents where recipes are broken up into meals and food categories.

Intro talks about the recipes in the book.

Basics of Dutch oven cooking are discussed with a lot of information and tips.

Each recipe starts with a title and cooking time and servings.

List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.

Directions are given and there are substitutions you can use along with why you should use the Dutch oven.

There is no nutritional information. There are NO individual recipe photos.

Lots of everyday meals and foods to choose from. Like seafood and fish area the best.

 

Book reviews from author Lou Aronica

  

 

Recovery by Lou Aronica

This book follow Corinna and she's now the widow of a teen age son. It was not her son but her spouses and she tries to get him involved in things with her, but he has no part of it.

When he becomes sick in bed she does take care of it and he remembers and cherishes it. They set new memories together with his father and will make them yearly things they do.

Other works by the author are highlighted with summaries of each at the end, including about the author as well.

Enjoyed this read from the different standpoints of each involved.

Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

Until again by Lou Aronica

This story follows the story Blue form the same author.

I had not read that one and this one was a bit different and a bit out there for me.

Like story of the parents and their daughter Becky as they help her to get over the pain of the divorce and the father leaves to live elsewhere.

She will still see it but it's not the same as they had worked on a fantasy realm type game together.

Didn't enjoy this one as much as the authors other works but it was ok to read.

Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

Book Review: Love in Bloom's by Judith Arnold

  

 

Love in Bloom's by Judith Arnold

Story is about the family store and the grandmother and mother both live above it in their high-rise.

Julia is the lawyer but works at the law firm, NOT the store. Her sister and mother both work in the store and have for years and have put their whole life on hold to do their jobs.

When they learn Julia is to get the presidency they don't understand.  Their uncle also thinks the job will be his. He's a playboy, plays golf and has fancy cars and likes his computer.

Products of the store appeal to the community and they have brilliant ideas in how to expand and what to select for new items.

We learn of the history of the store and family coming to the US from the mother country.

The mother and sisters collaborate and come up with a plan that will allow them all to do what they want to, Julia at her law job, giving brief appearances in the store, others will work their running the store as they've been doing.

Funny that the grandmother thinks because the granddaughter has a tattoo won't fit into being president and her daughter had her nose job and doesn't fit, LOL

I keep thinking somebody is going to get thrown under the bus...Lots of clues to gather to find out who the culprit is. Bit odd genre for me, lots of drama.

Adult situations. About the author and her works are listed at the end.

Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

Apr 12 Book Review: Conscious Crafts: Knitting 20 mindful makes to reconnect head, heart & hands by Vanessa Koranteng; Sicgmone Kludje

  

 

Conscious Crafts: Knitting 20 mindful makes to reconnect head, heart & hands by Vanessa Koranteng; Sicgmone Kludje

Book starts out with table of contents where patterns are listed.

Colorful pictures throughout the book  Introduction discusses the authors and their passion for knitting.

Tools and equipment along with basic stitches also discussed in detail along with diagrams and pictures.

Geared to helping black women this book can be used for any one. Love the explanations of the stitches and swatch that is included, in color.

Each pattern starts with a name  and to far left are equipment you will need, needles, yarns, and other items along with finished size and stitches used.

To middle section summarizes the project then instructions, row by row along with pictures and diagrams of each and every step.

There are so many projects to keep you busy for a while, to spruce up a table, your work area, etc. Great as gifts also in the receiver's favorite colors.

Going to try twist head band in chunky which I've never used and have some here.

Fingerless mittens are also a hit around here with photographers.  Fringed scarf would also make a nice gift, I never think to add fringe!

Love the section on making your own yarn, so many useful ideas in this book. Acknowledgements end this book.

A KEEPER!

Received this review copy from Quarto Publishing Group – Ivy Press, Leaping Hare Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

#ConsciousCraftsKnitting #NetGalley

Book Review Apr 9 An anniversary feast by Lou Aronica

  

 

An anniversary feast by Lou Aronica

Story starts out with inclement weather outside so they stay inside and cook together.

Love how they do work together, with music, I can picture them dancing around each other while reaching for supplies.

They pull everything out of cupboards and prepare a feast with many courses, experimenting by trying new combinations.

This got me to think of what i could do tonight with our beef stew, put it over rice would a change and a different dessert as well than our normal.

Weather really upsets her fear of losing power, etc.

About the author is included at the end

Excerpt from The Forever Year is included at the end.