Early Book Review: The World's Most Ridiculous Animals by Philip Bunting

The World's Most Ridiculous Animals by Philip Bunting is the second book in a series. The first was The World's Most Pointless Animals, which came out last summer. They do not need to be read as a series, but if you like the style, humor, and format of one you should go check out the other. It is currently scheduled for release on July 12 2022. 

The antagonist voice, shown though 'written' annotations through out the book, points out the apparent ridiculousness of each creature's features. While the narrator also describes the evolutionary reasons or advantages for each animal's extraordinary characteristics. Humor, information and  illustrations fill this guide to ridiculous animals. It includes funny labelled diagrams and will help teach kids about evolution by studying some of its most wild products.

The World's Most Ridiculous Animals is a fun book. I have to admit chuckling out load a couple times at the snarky commentary about the featured creatures. However, it is also informative and this combination could be just the thing to help reluctant readers tackle nonfiction reading assignments or requirements for school and summer reading. Many of the animals featured are familiar to me, but I did learn a little something new about even the Betta fish. There were also several creature I have never heard of, like the Mexican Mole Lizard. I think the balance of reasonably familiar and completely new animals is nice, keeping readers interested and engaged. The artwork is fun and does a good job of capturing some of the real aspects of the animals and still being cartoonish. The only thing I would have liked is some actual photographs of the creatures features (not all but at least a few) perhaps in the endpages, along with some recommendations of books or websites to see more. 

Book Review: Scaredy Squirrel Gets a Surprise by Melanie Watt

Scaredy Squirrel Gets a Surprise by Melanie Watt is the second graphic novel in the series. Scaredy does NOT like surprises, he is a squirrel who likes a schedule, predictability, nothing unexpected. So, what’s inside the mysterious crate? Turns out it’s a POOL! Scaredy imagines sharks, eels, and algae! He prepares safety rules! Luckily his friends Ivy, Timber, and newcomer Rash are happy to remind him of another important rule, having fun!

Scaredy Squirrel Gets a Surprise is exactly what fans of the character and his series are looking for and expect. The artwork is consistent with past books, charming and funny at the same time. I like that the story is easy to follow for some of the youngest readers, while still having some inside jokes and humor for older readers. I love the balance of fun with the teaching of coping skills, dealing with anxiety, and facing new things on a level that everyone can learn from without feeling like we are being taught a lesson. Fans of this neurotic squirrel and the author will love the read and look forward to whatever might be coming next.

Book Review: Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age by Dennis Duncan

Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age by Dennis Duncan is a playful history of the humble index and its outsized effect on our reading lives. Most of us give little thought to the back of the book—it’s just where you go to look things up. But here is the secret world of the index: an unsung but extraordinary everyday tool, with an illustrious but little-known history. Charting its curious path from the monasteries and universities of thirteenth-century Europe to Silicon Valley in the twenty-first, Dennis Duncan reveals how the index has saved heretics from the stake, kept politicians from high office, and made us all into the readers we are today. We follow it through German print shops and Enlightenment coffee houses, novelists’ living rooms and university laboratories, encountering emperors and popes, philosophers and prime ministers, poets, librarians, and—of course—indexers along the way. Duncan reveals the vast role of the index in our evolving literary and intellectual culture, and he shows that in the Age of Search we are all index-rakers at heart.

Index, A History of the: covers a topic that I had given little thought to, aside from how useful a good index can be when I need it. Like all parts of human history, personality, politic, and power all had a role to play in any steps forward made in indexing. I really like that the author made an effort to give a well balanced look at how indexes came about and evolved over the years while including a look at the rivalries, drama, and humor that can be found along the way. I also like that he acknowledged the hard work that goes into creating a proper subject index, in the past and still today, and how many of the people that do the work get little to no credit for the labor intensive process.  I greatly enjoyed the read and learned a great deal. I think those that value indexes, and are interested in bookish history of any kind, will greatly enjoy this book. For those that are interested, there is a very well done audiobook version of this title as well. 

Book Review: Bumblebee Grumblebee by David Elliot

Bumblebee Grumblebee by David Elliot is a board book. Playful animals get up to everyday toddler mischief in this board book built on child-based wordplay, where each page twists animal names into funny new words that are fun to share. Babies and young children will recognize each activity—getting dressed, playing, painting (including themselves), having a bath, using the potty—and see how the animal makes the mischievous most of it. The bumblebee breaks its toy—bumblebee grumblebee! The cockatoo is getting dressed—cockatoo sockatoo! The pelican tries out the potty—pelican smellican! What will turtle do? Everybody gathers for the final squirtle. Built for adults, babies and toddlers to share and read aloud, this fresh and sweet board book encourages experimentation with words and sounds, just by changing a letter or two.

Bumblebee Grumblebee is a fun board book for sharing and enjoying with your young reader, or letting them have some time to look through an enjoy the fun pictures on their own. I liked the play on words and the fun pictures. The cartoonish pictures are muted but do a good job of capturing the action and mood of each phrase. I think the rhymes and fun plays on common tasks and scenes will make for enjoyable story time and some giggling. I think this stand for multiple reads and might become a favorite for some littles and their caregivers or older children that might want to read with them. 

Book Review: Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly is a romance with intense feels and humor. Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she's focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.  After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan. As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.

Love & Other Disasters had my attention from the very first page. The characters and their personal challenges and emotions were complex and multifaceted even before the romance came into play. Dahlia is still reeling from divorce and trying to figure out what she wants from life. London is still trying to figure out how to handle, well everything, as they work to figure out who they are and what they want. Friendship and more develops, and I enjoyed going along for the ride. I like that they had open communication about consent and intimacy. I love that their connection was slow growing and built mostly on friendship, respect, and trust. I also like that they each had a support system, and the story did tackle the intolerance of some but focused more of the relationship and growth of the main characters rather than focusing on hardships from outside their connection. I really enjoyed the read and felt for London and Dahlia as they got in their own way more often than not. 

Love & Other Disasters is a funny and emotional romance. 

Book Review: Super Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 Fresh as F*ck Designs by Julie Jackson

Super Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 Fresh as F*ck Designs by Julie Jackson offers crafters snarky inspirations they. The book features 50 patterns (23 brand-new designs and 27 fan favorites) along with easy-to-follow instructions for the beginner and fonts and designs for adventurous crafters looking to customize their creations. It recasts a traditional, dare we say "sentimental," craft into a modern,
relevant art form. It's the latest offering in the Subversive Cross Stitch brand, beloved by legions of DIYers. Less messy than graffiti, Super Subversive Cross Stitch allows crafters to adorn walls with political pith and irreverent twists on classic quotes ("I think, therefore I drink," "Let the good times be gin").

Super Subversive Cross Stitch is not for the prim and proper crafter, and I do not recommend gifting any of these creations to those that you do not know well, or would not enjoy the humor. I thought the chosen designs offered a good selection of what one would expect from this author and what the title promises. I thought the grids, instructions, and information on techniques were all well done, easy to understand, and entertaining in their own right. Most importantly I thought the author's encouragement to try new things and embrace mistakes made this book even better. The support and tools to try and create this designs and more, create your own and explore options and your own creativity could be the difference between someone trying something new and sticking with it and them giving up after a few mistakes think they just cannot be good at this. I really appreciated the tone, encouragement, and creativity in this book. While I might not be making these to give away for the holidays, I will be keeping some of these in reserve for the perfect moment and right recipient. 

Early Book Review: Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau

Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau is a contemporary romance currently scheduled for release on October 26 2021. Actor Ryan Kwok is back in Toronto after the promotional tour for his latest film, a rom-com that is getting less-than-stellar reviews. After years of constant work and the sudden death of his mother, Ryan is taking some much-needed time off. But as he tries to be supportive to his family, he struggles with his loss and doesn't know how to talk to his dad—who now trolls him on Twitter instead of meeting him for dim sum. Innovative baker Lindsay McLeod meets Ryan when he knocks over two dozen specialty donuts at her bakery. Their relationship is off to a messy start, but there’s no denying their immediate attraction. When Ryan signs up for a celebrity episode of Baking Fail, he asks Lindsay to teach him how to bake and she agrees. As Lindsay and Ryan spend time together, bonding over grief and bubble tea, it starts to feel like they’re cooking up something sweeter than cupcakes in the kitchen.

Donut Fall in Love hooked from the very beginning. I really enjoyed Ryan and Lindsey as characters, they were each complex and dealing with their own issues before they even meet. Family, identity, friendships, grief, racism, and more are all part of the story. These issues come together to show a realistic experience; good and bad all wrapped up together like in the real world. The complications of grief and family in this book really hit me hard, and I appreciated the open way it was discussed and dealt with. I think the story did a great job of balancing the hope and dream chasing with the realities of coping with public perception, family, and grief. I also liked the emphasis that is placed on communication,  because as much as most of us dread the hard conversations they need to be had, and even if the results are unexpected they can still have a needed impact. I was engaged through the entire read, and rooting not only for our main couple, but their friends and family as well. I will be looking to read more from this author. 

Donut Fall in Love is a fun romance that also tackles some serious topic. It is a well balanced and enjoyable read.

Early Book Review: Oddball: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen

Oddball: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen is currently scheduled for release on October 12 2021. This is the fourth book in this graphic novel series. This particular collection of Sarah's Scribbles comics explores the evils of procrastination, the trials of the creative process, the cuteness of kittens, and the beauty of not caring about your appearance as much as you did when you were younger. When it comes to humorous illustrations of the awkwardness and hilarity of millennial life, Sarah's Scribbles is without peer.

Oddball is exactly what fans of the artist will be looking for from this book. Her art style and humor is consistent and enjoyable. The perils of living as an artist, introvert, or anxious individual are portrayed well, and in ways most of us that fall into those categories can relate to. While some of the pages were familiar to me, since I follow the artist on social media, others were new. The humor is relatable on several levels, even if some of the generational jokes pretty much ignored the existence of generation x- but everyone does. I think fans will want to pick this up, or at least give it a read through. 

Oddball is not the first I have read from this collection, and hopefully it will not be the last. It offers humor and self awareness to all the socially awkward, anxious, and otherwise odd feeling introverts trying to survive day to day life. 

Early Book Review: The World's Most Pointless Animals: Or are They? by Philip Bunting

The World's Most Pointless Animals: Or are They? by Philip Bunting is a children's non fiction book currently scheduled for release on July 202021. From familiar animals like giraffes (who don’t have any vocal cords) through to those that surely should not even exist, such as the pink fairy armadillo (absurdly huge front claws, super tough protective shell in baby pink, particularly susceptible to stress), our planet is full of some pretty weird and wonderful animals. For example: Koalas spend up to 18 hours a day asleep!Pandas are born bright pink, deaf, and blind.Dumbo octopuses flap their big fin-like ears to move around.A Narwhal’s tusk grows through its upper lip—ouch!

The World's Most Pointless Animals is a fun and informative book that will keep readers engaged as they learn about some of the less common animals that we share the planet with. The illustrations are fun, and give some accurate scale and detail of each animal while also being cute and silly. A good number of the animals were ones I already knew about, because this are my favorite kind of animals, but some were new or less well known to me. The made up latin names were fun, although I think tossing in the correct names would not have been a bad move, since some of the real latin names  (and translation) are pretty amusing in their own right. I like that each animal each got a page (or two) dedicated to it, and that some of the value of each as part of the larger ecosystem is covered. I also like that the book celebrates the things that make the animals different, the things that might have us wondering why they are like that, and points out that we all have our differences and that is what makes the world interesting and so much fun. I a book that balances fun, learning, and a good message. This book has that in spades. 

Book Review: Definitely Not Dating (Love Lottery) by Christi Barth

Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth is the second book in the Love Lottery series. I have not read the first book in the series, but the prologue gives a good run down of how the new inn owners got where they are, so newcomers to the series and author will not feel lost or left behind. 

Everleigh Girard always dates the wrong men at the worst times. The last debacle cost her a job and an apartment. But thanks to a crazy lottery win, she and her friends have a fresh start restoring a historic inn. Determined to make it a success, Everleigh swears off the dangers of dating entirely. Except, the town’s police chief is distractingly hot. So how much trouble could friends with benefits really cause? Police chief Matt Halliday always puts protecting his town first. He’s blindsided when his house mysteriously burns down, and grateful his friends rent him a room at their inn while they finish renovations. It’s a great deal. Mostly. It’s hard to resist the very beautiful Everleigh. Love is permanently off the table for him—but lust is definitely on. After their first red-hot kiss, keeping it casual is impossible. Can Everleigh teach Matt to trust again—especially when he’s keeping a secret that may put him and his new friends at risk?

Definitely Not Dating is a romance that balances humor, heat, and heart very well. Ever is dealing with confidence issues and rarely trusts her own judgement- something that many of us can relate to on some level. She needs to prove to herself that she can do the right things, make the right choices, and help the inn succeed. Matt is still focused on not getting hurt again, while trying to figure out who burned down his house. The best relationships form when no one is looking, and sometimes when you are actively trying to deny the exist. That is definitely the case here.  I loved that Matt and Ever were open and honest (mostly) with each other from the very start- and the level of sass and fun that was a part of almost every interaction really made me smile as I read the story. I love when characters are real, flawed and dealing with real life issues that readers can relate to, or can at least see as possible. The feeling of found family and supportive friends is also something I love to see in romance novels- the main couple have other people and responsibilities in their lives, and this book did a good job of showing a nice balance with that, and how romantic relationships can find a happy balance with friend groups and even the most demanding jobs as long as communication and caring are at the heart of it all.  

Definitely Not Dating is a contemporary romance with plenty of character growth, heat, and feels. 

Early Book Review: Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley is a contemporary romance currently scheduled for release on May 25 2021. Kara Sullivan’s life is full of love—albeit fictional. As a bestselling romance novelist and influential bookstagrammer, she’s fine with getting her happily-ever-after fix between the covers of a book. But right now? Not only is Kara’s best friend getting married next week—which means big wedding stress—but the deadline for her next novel is looming, and she hasn’t written a single word. The last thing she needs is for her infuriating first love, Ryan Thompson, to suddenly appear in the wedding party. But Ryan’s unexpected arrival sparks a creative awakening in Kara that inspires the steamy historical romance she desperately needs to deliver. With her wedding duties intensifying, her deadline getting closer by the second and her bills not paying themselves, Kara knows there’s only one way for her to finish her book and to give her characters the ever-after they deserve. But can she embrace the unlikely, ruggedly handsome muse—who pushes every one of her buttons—to save the wedding, her career and, just maybe, write her own happy ending?

Talk Bookish to Me was a book that shook me out of a reading slump. I loved the fact that Kara and Ryan were both imperfect and accepted that about themselves and were generally comfortable in their own skin. They each had their own issues and awkward moments, and certainly each made their share of mistakes. I really enjoyed that they felt real, and owned their awkward moments and rolled with it. I am typically not a fan of second chance romance, but there is so much of them getting to know each other again and messing things up again that I did not get the feeling I missed something somewhere that I often get with them. I just enjoyed the characters so much- in their perfect imperfections. Even when I disagreed with their action, or lack there of, I could completely understand the choice and empathize with them. I would love to have people like Kara and Ryan- and the secondary characters that make up their friend group- in my life. Even better, with the realistic why they are written I fully expect that I could run into them if I were lucky enough to be in the right neighborhood. 

Talk Bookish to Me is a second chance romance that struck all the right chords with me. Humor and heart are well balanced and will keep the reader engaged.

Book Review: Old Norse For Modern Times by Ian Stuart Sharpe

Old Norse For Modern Times by Ian Stuart Sharpe is entertaining and informative. Never be lost for words again...with this book of lost words. Have you ever wanted to wield the silver tongue of Loki, or to hammer home your point like a Thundergod? Old Norse is the language of legends and the stuff of sagas, the inspiration for Tolkien and Marvel, for award-winning manga and epic videogames. It is the language of cleverly crafted kennings, blood-curdling curses, and pithy retorts to Ragnarök. Old Norse for Modern Times gives you the perfect phrase for every contemporary situation—from memorable movie quotes ("We’re going to need a bigger boat." Þurfa munu vér skip stærra) to battle-cries to yell on Discord ("Do I look to be in a gaming mood?" Sýnisk þér ek vera í skapi til leika?), from mead hall musings ("This drink, I like it! ANOTHER!" Líkar mér drykkr þessi! ANNAN!) to tried-and-tested pickup lines ("Nice tattoo!" Fagrt er húðflúrið"). With over 500 phrases inside (plus the chance to add your own!) it is the perfect guide for Vikings fans, whether they are re-enactors, role-players, or simply in love with Ragnar.

Old Norse For Modern Times is well researched, with explanations and footnotes for translation, spelling, and punctuation choices. I really enjoyed the idea behind the book ad the execution. The topics covered, the organization of them, and the phrases were all well done. I loved the nods to popular culture and the sense of humor that is woven through out the book. I chuckled more than once, and grinned more than I would care to admit as I read through this book. I now need to get a hold of the audio book copy of this- which the introduction promised me existed-  because I am horrible with languages but there are several of these phrases I want the ability to use. And frankly, if I am going to confuse people by speaking Old Norse, I am going to do it right- or as close to it as I can get. 

Book Review: Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams is a contemporary romance novel. Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan. Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush. Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

Crazy Stupid Bromance is a contemporary, friends to lover romance that is self aware. I loved the importance put on communication, consent, and honesty (especially with yourself). These are factors in every relationship, and most romance novels, but here they were not just underlying themes and plot points- they were THE point. Neither Alexis or Noah want to lose the friendship they have, and neither can get out of their own way long enough to have an honest discussion about it all because of that fear and the amount of other things going on in their lives. For awhile I thought the sheer amount of intense thing happening to them at the same time was overkill, but then I looked around and thought about my life, and sometimes that's just how it goes. Good and bad all bombarding us at the same time- and getting a moment to process and take a breath seems impossible. I held my breath with both Alexis and Noah more than once, was upset with each of them sometimes for either not listening or not speaking, and relieved when their support systems stepped up and helped. I loved the secondary characters and the community that is clearly built in the books by Adams. I will be going back to read previous book, and keeping an eye out for future releases.

Crazy Stupid Bromance is a sweet and funny romance with plenty of heat and angst built in. An emotional roller coaster to be sure, but still plenty of moments that make readers like me grin.

Book Review: Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead by Ross Payton

Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead by Ross Payton is a humorous reference book. Zombies have plagued humanity's nightmares for centuries, but fortunately, the scientific community has created this detailed and completely serious guide to the undead which reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology. Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species. Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy (Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie (Mortifera immortalis choreographicus) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research. 

Zombies of the World is an interesting take on zombie lore. Written as a non fiction book it is the story of zombie evolution, classification, and explanation. I think the illustrations were very well done, and a perfect pairing to the text. I like that the history and science possibilities are heavily featured. The approach is rather like the mermaid mockumentory from a few years back, that might have some readers wondering if there is truth in the book rather than fiction. I also enjoyed the dry humor that is inherent in this style of writing, but it might fall flat for those looking for a more obvious humor. The descriptions of the zombie varieties were my favorite part of the book, and the section I think are the most universally appealing. I rather liked the approach, but think that it is best suited to serious zombie fans.

Book Review: Honeymoon Alone by Nicole Macaulay

Honeymoon Alone by Nicole Macaulay is a contemporary romance. When irrepressibly romantic Lucy Gray is ditched at said wedding by her date in front of her whole family, the promises of a psychic seem better than her pity-riddled reality. The psychic’s advice seems insightful: stop ignoring fate’s signs – fate will lead you to love. But when “fate” leads Lucy to London, she finds herself tangled in a web of lies. In a story about finding independence and taking chances, Lucy learns that leaving everything up to fate can be dangerous – and jeopardize her chances at happily ever after.

Honeymoon Alone is a story that caught my attention right at the begin. Lucy is sweet, reliable, and tired. Everyone expects her to do what they need and while they care about her they never seem to think about what she wants, only what they think is best for her. I could very much relate to her position and emotional state. She takes a chance, takes an impromptu trip, and comedy, romance, and a dash of danger are the result. I like that all of the conflicts and bumbles felt completely natural, and rather like things that would happen to me. I like how the characters were all well developed an d that the story does not frame Lucy as incomplete without romance, but that it would simple not be unwelcome. In much of the book romance takes a back seat to figuring out just what was going on and enjoying Lucy's discovery of London. For those looking for steam, there is none of that here- nothing more than some kisses- but the journey is very much worth the read.

Honeymoon Alone as much a story about Lucy finding herself and figuring out what she wants. I enjoyed the story and am glad I requested it from NetGalley. 

Early Book Review: Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible by Erin Gardner

Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible by Erin Gardner is currently scheduled for release on June 1 2020. Sometimes you need to take a mini vacation from the demands of daily life, and the kitchen is the best space for it. How can you return those emails when there’s dough on your hands? It would be counterproductive to handle clean laundry after dipping chocolates all afternoon, right? Whether you’re avoiding work, the news, or just trying to keep your hands busy, baking offers the perfect escape.

The digital galley for Procrastibaking landed in my hands at the perfect time- as my family were stuck working and learning from home and not going much of anywhere. When better to turn math lessons into treats, or delay dealing with a problem that really should not belong to you than by producing edibles in the kitchen? I enjoyed testing and planning to try out some of these 100 recipes. Some call for an hour, some call for a weekend, and all end in something yummy to eat. I still have several of the recipes bookmarked for further testing. I enjoyed the small asides that were between the recipes. Sadly some of the suggestions, like running down to the store for the perfect fruit or gourmet chocolate were not a good idea when I was reading the book I still enjoyed the sentiment- and could spend that time to see if I could order the same things online for delivery. As a whole; the recipes were easy to follow, the tone of the writing was fun and conversational, and I really enjoyed this book.
Procrastibaking is a fun and well written collection of recipes to try, regardless of if you should really be doing something else.

Early Book Review: Rascal by Jean-Luc Deglin

Rascal by Jean-Luc Deglin is a graphic novel about a mysterious mewling package arriving in the mail. One busy young woman's life changes forever. Rascal lives up to his name, filling every day with wild adventures and long naps: brave expeditions into closets, fierce battles with curtains, and wrestling with slumbering giants... Sometimes she's tempted to throw him out the window. He's lucky he's cute.

Rascal is a cute book about a reluctant cat owner and the mischief that more pet owners can identify with. Rascal is a cute cat, and the illustrations are nice. The black cat is well paired with the tones used on each page. Cats are a blend of sweetness and trouble, killing machines that can endear themselves to even the most reluctant guardians and make us their caretakers, cooks, and maids. I think those of us that already have cats in their lives, and those that wish they did, will enjoy and see something of themselves in the story. 

Early Book Review: Bears Behaving Badly (BeWere my Heart) by MaryJanice Davidson

Bears Behaving Badly is the first book in the BeWere my Heart series by MaryJanice Davidson. It is currently scheduled for release on March 31 2020. 

These social worker bear shifters give the term "mama bear" a whole new meaning! Werebear shifter Annette Garsea is a caseworker for the Interspecies Placement Agency. When a selectively mute and freakishly strong teen werewolf is put in her custody, Annette has to uncover the young girl's secrets if she's to have any hopes of helping her. And not even the growling of a scruffy private investigator can distract her from her mission. Bear shifter David Auberon appreciates Annette's work with at-risk teen shifters, but he's not sure if her latest charge is so much a vulnerable teen as a predator who should be locked up. All that changes when he, Annette, and her motley band of juveniles find themselves dodging multiple murder attempts and uncovering a trafficking cartel that doesn't just threaten the kids, but risks discovery of the shifters by the wider world of homo sapiens.

Bears Behaving Badly has a good deal going on.Annette and David had some great dialogue, and I enjoyed the clueless, thought to be unrequited love, aspect of the story. They were fun and I liked getting to know them. I also really liked the secondary characters- and found some of them more interesting and entertaining than the major players on occasion.  I like that parts of the character backstories are slowly revealed rather than having a massive information dump. I thought that the mystery of what was going on and who the mole was had a good pace and had a good balance of danger and character exploration. Although, I have to say that some of the big picture was a little obvious to me and I wanted to facepalm when Annette and David finally figured it out. The story was fun and enjoyable. However, there several occasions when the transitions were sudden and I had to go back and reread bits to see if I missed something, some clue, as to how they got to be somewhere or which line of dialogue when to which character. Everytime that this happened with a scene transition I was taken out of the story and it took away from my enjoyment a bit. 

Bears Behaving Badly is a fun romantic adventure with a nice balance of humor, mystery, and a touch of heat.

Early Book Review: Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise

Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise is a children's book currently scheduled for release on March 10 2020. Consider the facts: Appleton Elementary School has a new librarian named Rita B. Danjerous. (Say it fast.) Principal Noah Memree barely remembers hiring her. Ten-year-old Reid Durr is staying up way too late reading a book from Ms. Danjerous's controversial "green dot" collection. The new school board president has mandated a student dress code that includes white gloves and bow ties available only at her shop. Sound strange? Fret not. Appleton's fifth-grade sleuths are following the money, embracing the punny, and determined to the get to the funniest, most rotten core of their town's juiciest scandal. 

Don't Check Out This Book! is a read full of punny names, and a healthy dose of humor. I really enjoyed the letter based format, and think that it portrayed the personalities and intent of the characters very well. I liked how well the different tones and voices were done, even with variation in stationary and handwriting to make them each stand out. I like that while some of the personalities seem over the top, I have actually met people like most of these characters. The story seems simple, but covers a lot of ground. THere is the importance of following the rules, but knowing that there is a time to question them and follow your own heart and mind to do the right thing. There is supporting others in doing the right thing, the importance of the perfect book, and how some people crave power and prestige more than the good they could do with it. The balance of humor and important ideas is so well done that it does not feel like preachy or heavy handed, which can ruin a read for some readers (like myself). I hope just as many parents, educators, and school board members read this as children because there were moments that felt all to real. I really enjoyed the read and was reminded how much I have enjoyed Klise's work. 

Don't Check Out This Book! was a great story that I think kids and adults can enjoy on their own and to spark conversations. 

Book Review: Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures by Vanita Oelschlager, Robin Hegan

Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures, written by Vanita Oelschlager and illustrated by Robin Hegan, is an exploration of fun phrases. The book introduces children to the magic of idioms - words that separately have one meaning, but together take on something entirely different with outlandish illustrations of what the words describe literally. The reader then has to guess the "real" meaning of the phrases (which is upside down in the corner of each spread). 

Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures is a cute book and worthy of a fun grinsa and chuckles. The illustrations and bright and bold, catching and holding the reader's attention. Some of the paths the book took for the literal interpretations were not the way I would have gone, but they made for fun pictures. I like that the meaning of the idiom way on each page, but I would have liked more information on the background of the sayings, perhaps in the endpages. One offering of such information was there, but I think more of this could have been done beyond encouraging readers to think about sayings more. Maybe suggestions for further reading in books or on websites that might go into more detail. 

The book was fine for what it promised, but I was kind of hoping for a little more.