Category: books

May 5, 2020

Amazing Animal Journeys Book Review

Kids will learn all about animal migration with this fascinating book.

About Amazing Animal Journeys

Kids will learn all about animal migration with this fascinating book. Whether flying or walking, animals are constantly on the move! Join different animals on their exciting travels as they seek out food, shelter, and warm weather. You won’t believe how fearless and strong these brave creatures are!

Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age-appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children’s interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.

Our Thoughts

Are you looking to expand on the current e-learning situation we as parents are finding ourselves in? Or perhaps looking to go in a new direction? Keep your child entertained and learning with Amazing Animal Journeys.

Animals are incredible and this book focuses on one of the most amazing journeys animal make – migration. Animals migrate for many reasons (give birth, find food, escape cold weather), and your child may have seen this happen without really understanding it (the Canadian geese heading South for the winter). This book looks at four specific animals that migrate in North America: caribou, Monarch butterflies, Gray whales and snow geese.

Each of the four sections dedicated to an animal gives us a brief background of the animal, where they live and where they migrate to and why. The book then dives right in following the animals migration monthly, where they travel to and what they face on their journey.

We loved learning about these four animals and the journey they go through. We had never heard of snow geese, who make their home on Baffin Island and really enjoyed learning about how they raise their young and travel South to stay warm during the summer months. We learned many new facts about how the animals raise their young, their predators and were amazed at how far they travel and how many months they go without food! The young animals make very long journeys at such a young age, reminding you just how amazing and strong animals are. At the end of the book, several pages are dedicated to how humans can be harming these animals by taking over their habitats, drilling, oil spills and more.

Beautiful pictures and great facts can be found in this engaging book all about the migration journey of four animals. This is a great resource to start your child learning about migration, animals and how we may have an impact on these animals without realizing it (not to mention what we can do to help stop this).

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Chapters Indigo.

About the Author

Liam O’Donell is a Toronto-based educator and author of books and graphic novels for young readers. His many titles include DK’s Amazing Animal Journeys, West Meadows Detectives series, and Tank & Fizz books.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

April 23, 2020

The Mountain Lion at Crab Lake Book Review

About The Mountain Lion at Crab Lake

There is a newcomer at Crab Lake this winter, big and fierce and intimidating. He is a mountain lion, and none of the creatures of Crab Lake – nor Jeannie – have ever met an animal like this, and they’ve never been so nervous. Where did he come from? Why is he here? Is he dangerous? Some of the animals think so, but Jeannie is brave, and wants to welcome Mr. Mountain Lion to the lake even though his large paws, long white teeth and bright yellow eyes are a little scary.

The third book in the Crab Lake Tales series, The Mountain Lion at Crab Lake will teach you the importance of not judging someone by their appearance, and of embracing those things that make us unique. Discover who Mr. Mountain Lion really is and revisit Jeannie s enchanting world in The Mountain Lion at Crab Lake!

Our Thoughts

In this third book, we return to the beautiful surroundings of Crab Lake and their wonderful animal inhabitants. We once again meet up with the adorable and funny animals that call this place home. They are each unique in their own way, with quite the personalities (my personal favourites being Pudgey and Belknap Beaver) that will make you smile.

In this book, they turn to Jeannie for help when a mountain lion appears in their home! They have never seen a mountain lion before and are understandbly quite afraid. Mountain lions are large, with great big teeth and a reputation for eating other animals. The animal friends are scared and afraid that this particular one has come to their area to do harm but how do they find this out without upsetting and hurting the mountain lion’s feelings? Jeannie is determined to help the animals find a solution and protect all members of Crab Lake – new and old.

This was a beautiful story that helps children (and some adults too) understand why we should not judge others based on their outwards appearance. It is so important to not judge others based on what others think is true but instead get to know that person. In this case, everyone believed that this mountain lion is fierce, mean and only wants to eat every animal insight. What they learn though is a story that will touch your heart. It is so important for young children to learn that everyone has a story that has gotten them to where they are. Each story is unique and has shaped us into the person we are. It is so important to stop and learn the story of those around us – this makes us a stronger community and better people. This is a beautiful story with an important message delivered to children in a funny and engaging manner.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

For David Mulford and his wife, Jeannie, Christmas would not be complete without their visits to the beautiful Wisconsin waters of Crab Lake. These magical journeys provide the inspiration for David’s whimsical tales. In addition to writing, David has a PhD from Oxford University, serves as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and has enjoyed a long and notable career in international finance and diplomacy. For the last twenty-seven years, David’s Christmas gift to Jeannie, no matter where they are in the world, has been a story of Christmas at Crab Lake. This is the first such tale. When not traveling, David and Jeannie reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 21, 2020

Straight Uphill: A Tale of Love and Chocolate

In a hilltop Italian village, women chocolatiers work the improbable magic of love and chocolate.

About Straight Uphill: A Tale of Love and Chocolate

After tragedy strikes, brokenhearted Gretchen takes a holiday in a hilltop Italian village to seek peace and solitude. Through chance, she meets Bettina, an elderly woman estranged from her legacy as a chocolatier. Gretchen soon finds herself wrapped in the aromas of chocolate and caramel and butter and wine, as villagers past and present, question all aspects of love that send her on a journey of self-discovery and healing. But will Gretchen truly be able to leave the past behind and open her heart again to life and love, or will she be content to drown her sorrows in chocolate?

My Thoughts

Straight Uphill: A Tale of Love and Chocolate is a story full of loss, suffering, but also hope, love and second chances.

Our novel begins with Gretchen, who has suffered a pain that no parent ever should – the loss of her son. The death of her son has destroyed her marriage, her employment and her mental health. She spends her days in a fog without a sense of purpose or goal. She takes a trip to a small hilltop village in Italy – a remote village full of beauty and a small population. She is not quite sure what she is looking for, but this is just the trip that she needs.

It is here where we uncover a village full of history, promise and hope centred around a story of chocolate. In this small town, Gretchen meets an older woman, Bettina, who owns a bread bakery and is set to lose everything after her son ran away. Something tugs at Gretchen’s heart and she finds herself connecting with this woman and this small town in ways she hasn’t since she lost her son. We begin to dive into the story of this small village and how Bettina found herself where she was (she didn’t always sell bread!). Not only does this help Gretchen, but we find the bakery and the story begins to heal the hearts, mental well being and relationships of others in the small village. We learn about the people in the village, how they have survived over the years through great hardships, war and discrimination.

I found myself ready to cry at times and at other times sharing in the joys of the characters. Life is never perfect, it is a bumpy road full of questions around why do we suffer, why do we lose some people so early and how can people be so cruel. This novel captures life as it is – the raw pain of loss, cruel wars, loss of freedom, discrimination based on gender but also shows the beauty of life – love, hope and people coming together to fight for what is right. I loved every moment of this beautiful novel, I did not want to put it down as I wanted to see how the story evolved and I couldn’t help but fall in love with our characters. Our characters are beautiful inside and out, their thoughts, feelings and journey is something that we can all relate to. This is a fantastic read – perfect for book lovers.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Jess Wells is the author of five novels and five books of short stories, the recipient of a San Francisco Arts Commission Grant for Literature, a four-time finalist for the national Lambda Literary Award, and a member of the Saints & Sinners Literary Hall of Fame. Her work has appeared in more than three dozen literary journals and anthologies, has been reprinted in England and translated into Italian. She blogs regularly at jesswells.com.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 20, 2020

Killer Deadline Book Review

Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist. With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter what it takes.

About Killer Deadline

Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.

When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face the biggest challenges in her career and life—the first love she had left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.

But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do with the murder of Nikki’s father?

With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter what it takes.

My Thoughts

I love the way that Lauren Carr writes and she does not disappoint, this book is a huge treat! I loved our strong, independent characters, the plot that was true to her style of writing and full of twists – the novel is fantastic from start to finish.

Nikki is incredible – brave, confident and strong. She is not afraid to say how she feels and go after what she wants (except for maybe that lost love of hers). She lost her Father many years ago and the murder had gone unsolved, something that she intends to change once she gets a tip from a frenemy (who she also later discovers dead!). This sets her off on a very dangerous path of lies and betrayal and a discovery in the death of her Father, while reuniting her with a lost love, her hometown and those who she thought loved her family.

There is an excellent blend of mystery and suspense with comic relief and romance throughout novel. Lauren has a great way of balancing this without taking away from the story. We have well developed characters, that you can’t help but feel a connection to. I loved Nikki’s character but also her connections to her hometown, her family and her lost love. We learn about so much history in this small town and how this ends up being connected to several murders. I loved the way the story unfolds, it kept me on my toes and constantly guessing on who actually committed the murder of her Father so many years ago. I definitely did not see the end coming!

Killer Deadline is a fantastic read from start to finish – you will love the plot and characters. A definite must read.

You can pre-order a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Killer Deadline marks Lauren’s first venture into mystery’s purely cozy sub-genre with a female protagonist.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

A popular speaker, Lauren is also the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 10, 2020

The Sea Book

Featuring fascinating fishy facts accompanied by bright, bold, and beautiful illustrations, this book takes children on a journey through the sea and all its zones.

About The Sea Book

The Sea Book explores a wealth of incredible marine animals and their habitats, from up on the ice, down to colorful coral reefs, underwater forests, and right down to the deepest darkest depths where the weird and wonderful lurk.

Following on from The Bee Book, Charlotte Milner continues to highlight to children important ecological issues faced by our planet, this time with a focus on marine life and the damaging effects humans are having on our seas. Children will discover what they can do to help, and there are tips on how to live plastic-free. Children will even get to craft their own recycled shopping bag!

Our Thoughts

I have always found our oceans fascinating – the power, the mysterious nature of them and the incredible creatures found in their depths. The sea is beautiful and it is our job to protect the animals that live in the water and their home.

The Sea Book starts off by exploring our blue planet and what inhabits those mysterious waters. We are even introduced to underwater volcanoes and trenches – I have always been intrigued by volcanoes underwater and learned that there are more volcanoes underwater than there are on land! Neat right? The deepest point in the ocean is so deep that Mount Everest could fit into it – almost hard to believe right?

The creatures that fill the ocean are pretty incredible too. There are fish of all shapes and sizes – some that we are familiar with and others not so much. We even learned about a new shark – a cookiecutter shark! We learned about the reptiles, mammals and invertebrates that also call this home. We also appreciated that Charlotte went into detail on the different areas in the sea – the place these animals call home can be quite different. We explored life on ice, coral reefs, kelp forests, open water, and even the deep and dark areas of the ocean.

This book is full of interesting facts as it explores the waters around us. We learn about the animals and the places they call home using beautiful illustrations and facts that are age appropriate. I love how the book also dedicates parts of the book to how we are hurting these animals and their home and how we (parents and children) can help out. This is a definite must have book for children.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Indigo.

About the Author

Charlotte Milner is an illustrator and author based in London. She studied illustration at Kingston University where she discovered picture books as a tool to bring non-fiction topics to life. Since graduating, she has been designing, writing, and illustrating to bring information to little readers. Charlotte has a natural flair for illustrated storytelling and a strong interest in conservation.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.