Early Book Review: Kaleidoscope of Creatures: The Colors of Nature Explained by Cath Ard

Kaleidoscope of Creatures: The Colors of Nature Explained by Cath Ard is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on February 16 2021. Why are animals so amazingly colorful? Find out in this kaleidoscopic look at the technicolor world of animals. Meet animals of every color of the rainbow and find out why they are the colors and patterns they are. Discover the reason why some animals are stripy and others are spotty. Why do some creatures deliberately pop out while others strive to blend in? Why are some bright to warn off others while some only pretend to look toxic? Why are some male animals so much more flamboyant than their female counterparts? Why do some babies look so different from the grown-ups in their families? The animal kingdom is explored like never before in this richly detailed natural history book, bursting with life and color.

Kaleidoscope of Creatures is a well organized and interesting look at the colors of nature. I liked that it was organized by color, and then additional pages for reasons behind some of the unique color schemes- like warning and camouflage. I found the family tree other informational pages at the beginning of the book to be interesting to read and explore. I thought the illustrations for each page were bold and kept the reader engaged and interested.  The information was well chosen and explained. While I wish there was a section of suggested reading or something in that vein at the end of the book, I was pleased to see a nice glossary and index.

Kaleidoscope of Creatures is a colorful and interesting resource. I think it would be a good addition to classrooms and libraries. 

Early Book Review: Space Is Cool as F*ck by Kate Howells

Space Is Cool as F*ck by Kate Howells is an adult nonfiction book. It is currently scheduled for release on February 16 2021. From astrophysics to rocket science to the future of space exploration, it explains everything you thought you’d never understand about the universe in plain-old filthy English. We’re talking Big Bang, aliens, black holes, time travel, degenerate astronomers, and all the fundamental things you take for granted until you stop and think (like matter—what is this sh*t, really?). Alongside the knowledge bombs are 100 wild illustrations, photographs, and original artwork from 40 young international artists curated by Brooklyn designer Cynthia Larenas. Space is awesome, space is absolutely bananas, and space is for everyone.

Space Is Cool as F*ck is a guide to the fundamentals of space, and the building blocks of it all, written by and for regular people that just like space and learning a bit about it. If swearing bothers you, and the title was not enough warning for you, than you might want to skip the read. There is swearing on every page, and it reads like a conversation with someone that uses expletives for adjectives and punctuation. Back in my bar band days I have had many an intelligent and/or philosophical discussion- and recently had conversations about the current state of, well everything, with the same tone. So, it does not bother me but I do know it bothers others. I liked the honest, frank, and plain language approach to explaining the fundamentals of physics and space, and while I have read a great deal on the subject, I feel like I was better able to understand and retain the information than I have in more traditional books on the matter. I really enjoyed the read, and felt like I was entertained and educated in equal measure. I think the only thing I would have wanted was a section of suggested resources for further reading, but I always want that so it is not an unexpected gripe from me, and perhaps that is in the finished product.

Space Is Cool as F*ck is a frank and swear filled exploration of space, and the building blocks of our universe.  

Early Book Review: The Book of Tiny Creatures by Nathalie Tordjman, Julien Norwood, and Emmanuelle Tchoukriel

The Book of Tiny Creatures by Nathalie Tordjman, Julien Norwood, and Emmanuelle Tchoukriel is currently scheduled for release on February 16 2021. In the air, on the ground, and in the water, incredible tiny creatures are all around us! They may be small, but they live remarkable lives. This book introduces young learners to spiders, butterflies, worms, snails, and even the world's heaviest insect, the Little Barrier Island giant weta. It teaches children fascinating facts through interactive quizzes, detailed seek-and-find scenes, and hands-on activities, like how to make a snail terrarium. 

The Book of Tiny Creatures is a children's nonfiction book for those that want to learn about the tiny creatures that we share the world with. The illustrations are very detailed, and many are so details and perfectly shaded that I thought they might be photographs. I think this might be even more true for those holding a paper copy rather than a digital galley- which inherently will have some color, formatting, and digitization issues. I thought the balance between text and illustrations was very nicely done. The information was well chosen and straight forward. I also thought the inclusion of little quizzes and the seek and finds was good. Letting young readers test and try out their knowledge and challenging them in different ways keeps them interested and engaged, and makes it more likely that they will retain the information and interest in learning more on the topic. Similarly, I liked the extra, hands on projects that were included for interested readers. I think several will be favorite projects for some readers.

Early Book Review: The Rainforest Book by Charlotte Milner

The Rainforest Book by Charlotte Milner is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on February 2 2021. Sweep aside the liana vines, hop over the giant roots of the kapok tree, and follow the sound of the howler monkey as you venture into the tropical rainforest. Find out about some of the amazing animals that live there, learn about the enormous variety of life-giving plants, and discover why the Amazon rainforest is known as the 'lungs' of our Earth. In this book, Charlotte Milner continues to highlight the important ecological issues faced by our planet, following on from The Bee Book, The Sea Book, and The Bat Book. Did you know that over half of our planet's wildlife live in the rainforest? And that at least two meters of rain falls in the rainforest every year? The world's rainforests are packed with amazing animals and plants, from the deadly poison dart frog, to the stinky rafflesia flower--there is plenty to discover! As our planet's climate crisis becomes even more critical, with forest fires raging in the Amazon, The Rainforest Book is the perfect way to introduce little nature-lovers to this enchanting yet threatened world. This celebration of the rainforest shows children just how important it is, and reminds them that it is up to us to care for our planet and its wildlife.

The Rainforest Book is a well researched, illustrated, and written book. I thought the information was very interesting, and I learned a few new things even though I thought myself well versed on the subject. I liked that the information was well rounded but straightforward with no judgement, just the facts. I thought the illustrations and page formats were very well thought out and executed. It captured, built up, and maintained my attention, and I expect it will do the same for other readers. I also liked that in all the information, there is also detailed things that can help readers make choices that will lessen their impact on the environment in general, and the rainforests specifically. There are opportunities for the readers to get hands on, and to have an impact. My only complaint is one I often have with nonfiction materials, and that is that there was no suggested reading or similarly themed addition in the endpages. I was glad for the creature index, but suggested books, websites, or organizations listed in one place at the end of the book would make me very happy.

I think fans of Milner's previous book will want to add The Rainforest Book to their collection. Readers that have not been following this collection, but love learning about nature and the environment will also get a great deal from this book.

Book Review: Her Turn by Allison Jones

Her Turn by Allison Jones is a contemporary romance. Addie Snyder’s first novel is becoming an overnight sensation. Unprepared for being thrust in the limelight, she is desperate to shelter her brother, Owen, who has Down syndrome. After her father abandoned them when Owen was just a baby, she is his sole guardian after her mother passed away. She must protect him from the harsh world, but how can she do that with public events coming up? An unlikely ally in her cold and emotionless publicist, Jameson Ford. As a former Navy Seal, Jameson has his own demons, but there is something about Addie that defrosts his icy wall. Together, they navigate the twists and turns as her book becomes a world-wide phenomenon. Her life becomes even more complicated when her long-lost father arrives threatening to take Owen away from her and her distant relatives trying to hoard in on Addie’s success. But, through the drama, Addie maintains her humor while popping chocolate kisses as if they were Xanax and seeking solace behind her computer creating stories that fill her soul. Even though all of her dreams are coming true, no one can prepare her for what lies ahead. It’s true when they say, be careful what you wish for.

Her Turn is a book that started with great potential, lost me, and then almost brought me back. I thought that the emotional drama and stakes that the story began with had me wondering what was going to happen, curious about family secrets, and eager to know more. The marketing as a bookish romantic comedy did not really fit with that opening, or most of the book either. Once the story got moving along I almost put it away. I am not an author, certainly not a published novelist. However, I have worked in libraries with two, and talk to several online regularly. A debut novel- unless by a already famous individual- does not get the fanfare, interviews, and publicist even if your agent is a friend. Yes, an independently wealthy author could very well make some of these things happen, but a debut author that would happily dodge the spotlight would not get this treatment. I know authors on their second or third series, already established and popular in their genre, that do not come close to getting this kind of attention. This disconnect made it really hard for more to get lost in the story and empathize with Addie in many situations. Maybe that is why I could not really connect with the characters. There are regular comments about Jameson's PTSD and Addie's emotional issues- but most of the time it felt like a reminder to readers that so and so has these issues, but rarely did they have any role to play in the actual story. The majority of actual use of Addie's issues were found in her internal monologues, which I guess were what were supposed to make this a comedy. While some of it was funny, it felt unnecessary most of the time. I did like that readers got to see a bit of the thought process for the secondary character- it made their actions and interactions more believable in the context of the story. There were some good character moments, some good twists, but I felt like maybe the author tried to put too much into one book. 

Her Turn is a romance that I had some issues with, but think other readers might enjoy more.

Early Book Review: A History of the Undead: Mummies, Vampires and Zombies by Charlotte Booth

A History of the Undead: Mummies, Vampires and Zombies by Charlotte Booth is a nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on January 31 2021. Are you a fan of the undead? Watch lots of Mummy, zombie and vampire movies and TV shows? Have you ever wondered if they could be 'real'? This book unravels the truth behind these popular reanimated corpses. Starting with the common representations in Western Media through the decades, we go back in time to find the origins of the myths. Using a combination of folklore, religion and archaeological studies we find out the reality behind the walking dead. You may be surprised at what you find.

A History of the Undead is an informative, entertaining, and engaging read. I like that the author acknowledges the amount of information of the subjects in the world, and that they are only tackling a fairly small segment of it. By focusing only on the subject in one part of the world she was able to get a great deal of detail about the undead in Western culture. If they had tried to tackle the whole world this would have had to be a multi-volume set. Although, I would not mind seeing this fleshed out to a more inclusive and expansive series including all cultures. I enjoyed seeing stories I knew from history, and some of the entertainment items I have enjoyed get mentioned. I was sad to see some things I thought would have added to the book left out (particularly a couple zombie books that stood out to me) and mentioning certain movies (like Dark Shadows) without referring to the television series that it was based on. However, I also got a chance to get the names for some books, movies, and games that I have missed over the years and will now get to enjoy. These subjects are vast, and while there where some missing things along the way, and some chooses in wording of information here or there that had me less than thrilled, I think the author did a good job of getting the information compiled in a readable and engaging fashion. The recovered English major that I am, I was thrilled to see proper citing of sources, et all. Way too often I see nonfiction materials for a variety of audiences that fail to do so. 

A History of the Undead is a well written and researched introduction to the evolution of mummies, zombies, and vampires in western cultures, entertainment, and media.

Book Review: Lord of Secrets (Lord of the Borders) by Mary Gillgannon

Lord of Secrets by Mary Gillgannon is the second book in the Lord of the  Borders series. I did not read the first book, and found it works as a stand alone.

An enigmatic Welsh wise woman. A bold English knight. The first time they are alone, she draws a knife on him. From there, things get interesting. William Fitzhugh is proud to be named lord of Higham Castle on the Welsh border. But defending and managing the castle and the lands surrounding it is a huge responsibility. He needs a wife to aid him, but the only woman who interests him is the local healer, Rhosyn, a mysterious Welshwoman who wants nothing to do with him. Rhosyn fled the traumatic events of her life in Wales to begin a new life at Higham. She hopes to earn the trust of the local people and become accepted in the community, and she fears the new lord of Higham will ruin her plans. The English noblemen she’s known previously were arrogant and cruel. She doesn’t expect this giant of a knight be any different. From the beginning, Lord Fitzhugh confounds her. He seems to genuinely want to do right by the people of Higham and make certain they prosper. Rhosyn is surprised and intrigued by the handsome young lord’s generous and reasonable nature. Other people see it as a weakness and scheme to bring him down. William is entranced by the lovely young healer and admires her knowledge and dedication. But she remains wary and elusive. As the passion between them builds, so does the weight of the secrets keeping them apart. Secrets that have the power to sever the fragile bond between them and destroy all they care about.

Lord of Secrets is a well written romance with complex characters. I liked Rhosyn's character and thought she had a nice balance of strong and vulnerable. The exploration of power and the vulnerability of women, and men of lower classes as well, was handled well and in an honest way. I thought the secondary characters of the town were equally well written, with even the less agreeable characters carrying some complexity to make the reader understand a bit about their reasoning. Fitzhugh was also well developed as a character. His reasonable nature and willingness to learn from those around him made him stand out from other characters, and frankly many other romance heroes.While still very much in charge, he seems very aware of what he does not know, and is willing to lean on others  to bridge the gap. I though the story was good. The politics, drama, and danger were all interesting and mostly came together in a satiafying way by the end of the book. However, I did feel like it ran a little long. About two thirds of the way through the book I was ready for the big wrap up, and it took awhile to get there. I am not sure if it was my mood while reading or if something could have been condensed for a smoother finish. I did enjoy the read, both for the story and the characters, but just found myself impatient for the end.

Lord of Secrets is a well written historical romance.

Early Book Review: Girl Haven by Lilah Sturges, Meaghan Carter

Girl Haven, written by Lilah Sturges and illustrated by Meaghan Carter, is a graphic novel currently scheduled for release on February 9 2021. Three years ago, Ash’s mom left home and never returned, leaving behind a husband and child and a shed full of mystical curiosities related to the all-girl fantasy world she’d created as a child—Koretris. One day Ash invites a new group of friends from Pride Club over, and they try one of the spells to enter Koretris. To their amazement, they’re all transported to a magical realm filled with human-sized talking animals who are fiercely protective of their world and are ready to fight to protect it. But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy—shouldn’t the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in?

Girl Haven is a middle grade fantasy that holds appeal for older readers as well. Ash is trying to figure life out, find a friend group, and figure out how to keep moving forward after their mother disappeared. Making inroads with a new group is hard enough, but when you are still reeling with the loss of your mother and not quite comfortable in your own skin it is even harder. Add in a trip to a magical world with the journey of finding your own path and emotions, fear, and uncertainty can take over. I really liked the character and world building. I thin Ash and the Pride Group and are well built characters with room to grow both individually and together. I loved the world building of Koretis, and the story line surrounding is creation and troubles. I hope to see this continue on in a fun, lengthy series and plan on following it. The art style fits with the story, but I will admit is not my personal favorite style. However, it is a style found in many very popular graphic novels and cartoons, and I think it will appeal greatly to the target audience. There was great skill in the artwork, motion, emotion, and detail was well done. It is much more a matter of personal preference than anything else.

Girl Haven is a solid graphic novel for middle grade, and older, audiences that is entertain and encourages readers to find their own truth and their own story.

Audiobook Review: 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime: 30 Amazing Stories: Featuring Frozen Frogs, King Tut’s Beds, the World's Biggest Sleepover, the Phases of the Moon, and More by Britannica Books

 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime: 30 Amazing Stories: Featuring Frozen Frogs, King Tut’s Beds, the World's Biggest Sleepover, the Phases of the Moon, and More by Britannica Books was narrated by Joanna Lumley. It was written by Jackie McCann, Jen Arena, and Sally Symes.

Why do we sleep? How do sharks snooze underwater? Where is the oldest bed in the world? In this compendium of 5-minute really true stories about bedtime, you can go on a journey of wonder and learning to find out the answers to all these questions, and many more! Travel to Ancient Egypt to explore the beds of Tutankhamun, jet off into space to see how astronauts get ready for bed, or even plunge underwater to learn how hibernating turtles breathe through their bottoms! There are 30 amazing 5-minute stories, with all facts verified by Britannica.

5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime has thirty five minute sections, but I am not sure that I would classify them as stories. Each of the segments is well told and researched, with a combination of silly or weird facts and more serious sounding information about sleep and all sorts of things related to it. They are interesting to listen to and full of information that will be new to most of the young readers or listeners that this book is aimed at. The book information says that the printed version has specially commissioned artwork, which I expect will help keep the attention of young readers, however the audiobook narrator did a wonderful job with inflection and emotion to keep my attention and interest. Please keep in mind that this is a book that uses British vernacular, and some terms in the text are different because of this. Those that have a hard time with things like lorry instead of truck, biscuit instead of cookie, and so on just be forewarned.  I love it, and think it is a great thing for readers of all ages to understand that people that speak the same language do not always sound the same. 

5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime is a great bedtime, or anytime, read. Perfect for short reads together.

Book Review: The Best Man (From Connemara With Love) by Alex Kelly

The Best Man is the first book in the From Connemara With Love series by Alex Kelly. My name is Alex Brennan, and this is my story: of how I realized I’d lost the most important person in my life, before I even had her. I always turn up at just the wrong moment. I never know how to make the most of a situation; I don’t know the right thing to say, or when I should come or go. Let’s just say I have really shit timing. I’m not a smart guy. I don’t have great ideas. I’m practical, a hard worker; someone who lives for his family, and for the air that she breathes. It’s just a shame that the “she” in question never knew this. It’s a shame that I waited all these years to make my move. It’s useless to tell you, readers, that it was already too late; that I’d screwed everything up, once again. And, this time, my mistakes forced her to come home. Except she didn’t want to stay. And now she hates me – or maybe she doesn’t. I still haven’t worked out what’s going on between us, but like I said, I’m not the sharpest tool in the box. And even though this could be my last chance, I’m not going to be the one to ask her to stay. Not even if she turns out to be the one I’ve always waited for. Because she doesn't belong in this place. And she doesn't belong in my life. 

The Best Man is a book that took me by surprise. It started with an interrupted wedding and then explained all the characters, connections, and relationships. I will admit that it took me awhile to get to like Alex, for the same reason I sometimes have trouble with other lead characters. Everyone, including himself, puts his courage and intelligence. Just like when a female character puts herself down because of her choices, her body, her personality- whatever. It drives me crazy, especially when it is the very aspect of the character that makes them so perfect for the relationship the story is about. Alex is not stupid, he cares more about other people's happiness than his own- which gets him into trouble sometimes but is a trait that makes him who he is. Elle is sweet, sassy, and a little lost. I liked that the personalities were the opposite of the expected. Alex is caring and willing to wait while Elle is a little all over the place and taking a little longer to understand the feelings. It was very much an emotional journey, with plenty heat, with a few surprises along the way. I was a little annoyed with the fact that they never talked protection, because I think the safe sex and consent talks are very important. However, I enjoyed the read and loved the secondary characters. I have another book from this author in my reading queue, and I am really looking forward to returning to this small town and seeing where some of the characters go from here. 

The Best Man is a sweet friends to lover romance with plenty of feels.