Early Book Review: The Atlas of Migrating Plants and Animals by Matt Sewell, Megan Lee

The Atlas of Migrating Plants and Animals by Matt Sewell and Megan Lee is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on March 8 2022. This informative collection featuring mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, and plants from all continents and nearly all oceans will teach young nature lovers about migration in its many forms. Grade-school children will discover how creatures navigate the planet when they encounter climate change, sun, chemicals, the Earth’s magnetic field, and the changing seasons in this illustrated reference book. Follow flocks of arctic terns on their annual 24,855-mile journey between the Earth’s poles. Join the monarch butterflies on their famous pilgrimage, upwards of 3,000 miles, from Canada to Mexico. Marvel at wildebeests, humpback whales, salmon, dragonflies, and more, as they travel around the globe and battle the Earth’s toughest conditions to survive.

The Atlas of Migrating Plants and Animals is an interesting and accessible read that covers the migration style of over sixty living creatures. I thought the text was easy to follow, written in a conversational tone with some humor and interesting facts to keeps readers engaged. Each of the creature profiles includes one or most watercolor style illustrations of the subject matter. I think I would have preferred photographs, as the quality of those illustrations seemed to vary through out the book with some being near perfect and others feeling a little childish to me. The maps that are included are well done and help give a scope of some of the distances covered, but I do not think there are enough maps to really call this an atlas. I liked the information shared and think the book had great potential and intent, but fell short of what I was expecting from the title.

The Atlas of Migrating Plants and Animals is a well written and interesting read that could be helpful in the classroom. However, it fell short of being a true atlas for me. 

Early Book Review: Gardening for Everyone: Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and More at Home by Julia Watkins

Gardening for Everyone: Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and More at Home by Julia Watkins is currently scheduled for release on March 8 2022. It is a guide to creating and growing a backyard garden simply and sustainably—from planning to planting to harvest, with profiles of essential vegetables and herbs, ecological tips, and fun and creative projects.  Growing food in your backyard, porch, or windowsill can be one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to nourish yourself, be self-sufficient, and connect with nature in a hands-on way. Here sustainability expert Julia Watkins shares everything you need to know to grow your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs (as well as wildflowers and other beneficial companion plants). The book covers all the nuts and bolts of creating and caring for your garden—planning, building, planting, tending, and harvesting—followed by a deeper dive into the plants themselves: demystifying annuals vs. perennials, cold-weather vs. warm-weather veggies, and profiles of favorite crops. Throughout, Julia offers tips for creating an eco-friendly and sustainable garden (such as vermicomposting, no-till “lasagna” gardening, and attracting pollinators), plus some fun and unexpected hands-on projects like how to build a bean teepee, make wildflower seed paper, and enjoy refreshing herbal lemonade ice pops.

Gardening for Everyone is a book that has something for everyone that is interested in growing their own food- regardless of the amount of land or time you may have at your disposal. Growing up my parents had a huge garden and most of our produce for the year come from it. I have fond memories of the fresh food, less fond memories of the work involved, and less land and time to invest in the process now than when I was a kid. What I love about the book and the author is that they meet the reader where they are. Information on how to do just about everything in the most sustainable way possible is offered, along with the understanding that not everyone is up for everything. The text is accessible and well written and organized while the included images are well chosen and brighten up the book. I think the reference style of the book offers readers the chance to explore all of the information they are interested in and the chance to explore options they might not have thought available to them, with no judgement about gardening style. For instance, I am a well intentioned gardener- I plant a garden with full intention of a great harvest and doing better than last year every year, but end up sharing the majority of my harvest with bunnies and birds every single year. The fact that the author admitted to having been that type of gardener at one point themselves made me feel much better. I loved that she covered every topic that I might have gone looking for, and included some that I had never considered. The recipes, crafts, and gardening projects included were interesting to me, and I might be trying some oft hem out this year to get the kids more involved. I also liked that some resources for supplies and further information was included at the end of the book.   

Gardening for Everyone is a well written and useful book that I would recommend for public libraries and a spot in personal libraries for those with space for more.

Early Book Review: Sexus Animalis: There Is Nothing Unnatural in Nature by Emmanuelle Pouydebat

Sexus Animalis: There Is Nothing Unnatural in Nature by Emmanuelle Pouydebat is an illustrated guide to the amazingly multifarious sex lives of animals, from elephants and bonobos to butterflies and bedbugs.It is currently scheduled for release on March 8 2022. 

There may be nothing unnatural in nature, but nature still encompasses much that seems fantastically strange—the amazingly multifarious sex lives of animals, for example. Sexus Animalis tells us everything we never dreamed we wanted to know about the reproductive systems, genital organs, and sexual practices of animals, from elephants (who masturbate with their trunks) to fruit flies (who produce spermatozoa twenty times their size). In the animal kingdom we find heterosexual, lesbian, gay, and bisexual behavior, as well as monogamy, polygamy, and polyandry, not to mention fellatio and many varieties of erections and orgasms. Emmanuelle Pouydebat, a natural history researcher, tells us about gutter penises, double penises, detachable penises, and corkscrew-shaped penises, as well as vaginas built for storage and clitorises with thorns. (Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s more data about animal penises than animal vaginas and clitorises.) She explains how the ostrich achieves an erection, describes the courtship of pygmy chameleons, and recounts how the female short-beaked echidna chooses a partner. She reports on sexual assault among animals—there’s evidence that half of female mallards are sexually assaulted—and explains how masturbation helps squirrels avoid sexually transmitted diseases. It seems that animals have been composing their own Kama Sutra throughout the ages. Striking color illustrations accompany the text.

Sexus Animalis is a book that offers exactly what is promises, fascinated information that I never knew I wanted to know about the anatomy and mechanisms of sex for a wide variety of animals and how evolution and natural selection could play their part in all of it. I found the writing style to be accessible with some humor and straight forward information that I never thought about exploring previously. I thought the information included was well researched and organized, and pointed out the gaps in our understanding and how much work there is still to do. I thought the frank and honest explanations were peppered with a nice dose of humor and wit to add another level of interest and entertainment to the read without lessening the credibility of the text. I thought that the illustrations were tasteful and very well done, and helped give readers a more informed awareness of the size and particularities of what is being described in text. I was very interested in the implications of how evolution and other factors have made so many variations on the sex lives of creatures of all shapes and sizes. I never thought much about it, and think there are many people that likewise never considered the complexity and sometimes straight up strangeness of the world around us. This read entertained, informed, and got me thinking a little more about the complexities of the world around us. 

Early Book Review: Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu, Teny Issakhanian

Wingbearer, written by Marjorie Liu and illustrated by Teny Issakhanian, is currently scheduled for release on March 1 2022.It is the first book in a new middle grade graphic novel series. 

Zuli is extraordinary—she just doesn’t realize it yet. Raised by mystical bird spirits in the branches of the Great Tree, she’s never ventured beyond this safe haven. She’s never had to. Until now. When a sinister force threatens the life-giving magic of the tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it. So begins an adventure bigger than anything Zuli could’ve ever imagined—one that will bring her, along with some newfound friends, face-to-face with an ancient dragon, the so-called Witch-Queen, and most surprisingly of all: her true identity.

Wingbearer is a beautifully drawn and colored graphic novel with fantastic writing. I was engaged in the story from the very beginning, ad my only complaint is that now I have to try and wait patiently for the next installment. Zuli and the the characters that she meets on her journey are well written and complex, with very few good/evil absolutes. The world building, as revealed through the characters and their interactions, was very well done. I feel like I have a reasonable grasp of the important aspects of the world, and never felt like there was an info dump. It was reveals as things became important in a way that really made sense and felt natural. Although, I will admit that I saw the big reveal (not telling), or something very close to it coming on a couple levels. However, I think the way it was done was smart and will keep readers hooked and invested in continuing the series. I think this series will be a new favorite for a wide range of readers and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Wingbearer is a wonderful start to a new series. I look forward to reading what comes next.

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. 

Audiobook Review: Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life by Pamela Gail Johnson

Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life was written and narrated by Pamela Gail Johnson.  People think happiness is a singular feeling, but it isn't. The real way to feel happier is to expand your definition of happiness and manage your Happiness Zappers.  Pamela Gail Johnson, founder of the Society of Happy People, identified the four practical happiness principles that have helped thousands of people shift their mindsets so they naturally notice more happiness, whether it feels sparse, abundant, or somewhere in between. Pamela shares real stories from real people who put the four practical happiness principles into action. With thought-provoking workbook-style questions, you can immediately apply these principles to your life. You'll discover how happiness is unique to you and your circumstances; how to manage common experiences that zap your happiness; how happiness changes; and thirty-one types of happiness.

Practical Happiness is a well organized book with information and tools for finding and recognizing happiness that could be very helpful to readers. I recognized much of what was written as being true and useful, but mostly things I have heard before in other context and in some cases have been doing for years. Since I am not someone that normally seeks out or reads self help books I found it odd that most of what I was hearing n the audiobook were things that were familiar. However, I did find the descriptions of different types of happiness and it's zappers interesting and mostly new to me. I think many people will find the book helpful, and for me it was a good reminder to be more present and acknowledge the little moments and to allow myself to work through the happiness zappers rather than trying to simply ignore them until they are a bigger issue.  I think that Johnson did a decent job of narrating her book. I find that authors reading their own work do a good job, as they know where they want the emphasis on and what the flow of the text should be. That was true here, but sometimes the pauses were a bit too long- and I feel like she must be a great in person speaker but that does not always translate to a great audiobook reader. Sadly, the pauses and the very natural mouth noises made through out the book often distracted me and made me want to offer her a glass of water. Others might not notice it, but it is one of my irks in life so I found it hard to ignore. 

Practical Happiness is a good book for those looking to learn more about finding and appreciating happiness more. 

Book Review: Sink or Swim (Shore Leave) by Annabeth Albert

Sink or Swim is the second book in the Shore Leave series by Annabeth Albert. You do not need to read the series in order to fully enjoy each read. 

Navy chief Calder Euler loves to win big. His latest score? A remote mountain cabin. Checking it out is supposed to be a quick trip, but Calder’s luck abruptly turns when a freak injury and a freakier snowstorm leave him stranded. Oh, and the cabin isn’t empty. A silver fox caring for two young girls claims that the property is his, but Calder’s paperwork says otherwise. Felix Sigurd is on a losing streak, and his ex-husband risking the cabin in a reckless bet is only the latest in a series of misfortunes. He’ll tolerate the handsome stranger for a couple nights--even care for his injuries—but that’s it. Calder doesn’t know a damn thing about kids, but making pancakes for Felix’s girls is a surprising delight. Trapped in the cabin, the four of them slip easily into the rhythms of a family. But when the ice melts, they’ll have to decide if a future together is in the cards.

Sink or Swim is another romance with complex characters that grow in the process of unexpectedly finding love from Albert. I thought Calder and Felix each had their hang up, but were great guys from the beginning, and I enjoyed being along for the ride as they each made self realizations about who they were and what they wanted, and how to get there. I really loved Felix's nieces, and thought the quirky comments, personalities, and worries were very realistic. I loved the open and honest discussions between Calder and Felix, in and out of the bedroom,  and that the amount of care and concern for each other and the bigger picture with the girls was always considered and often reevaluated to stay on top of issues and concerns. As always, I loved the secondary characters and how the author makes the support systems of friends and family an important part of the story. I would love to see more from many of the secondary characters and get a kick out of them in every book from Albert. I really enjoyed this read and think other fans of the author will as well. 

Sink or Swim is an emotional and rewarding romance. 

Early Book Review: Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao is an autobiographical graphic novel currently scheduled for release on March 8 2022. 

After spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas, where her hometown is as foreign as Mars—at least until 2020, when COVID-19 makes Wuhan a household name. Laura illustrates her coming-of-age as the girl who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school, and figure out why girls make her heart flutter.

Messy Roots is a skillfully drawn and written autobiography. The struggles are unique to the author, as everyone's specific circumstances and takes on life are, but still relatable to a wide range of readers. I did find the time jumping slightly confusing or jarring on occasion, but that is honestly the only complaint I have about this book. I love learning about other peoples experiences and perspectives, and this book let me get a glimpse at moments I have never experienced while also capturing some of the family dynamic issues that I have felt.  She captures her struggles with identity and fitting in with insight and humor, acknowledging her own missteps and misunderstandings and showing how she and her perceptions changed and grew. The honesty and ability not to take herself too seriously made the read especially engaging. I enjoyed her storytelling and was invested in her story, and look forward to seeing her do wonderful things in the future.

Messy Roots is a wonderful read for middle grade and older readers. I think it would be a great discussion starter for families or classrooms.

Early Book Review: Girls Solve Everything: Stories of Women Entrepreneurs Building a Better World by Catherine Thimmesh, Melissa Sweet

Girls Solve Everything: Stories of Women Entrepreneurs Building a Better World, written by Catherine Thimmesh and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, is currently scheduled for release on March 1 2022. Women all over the globe are asking questions that affect lives and creating businesses that answer them. Like, can we keep premature babies warm when they're born far from the hospital? Or, can the elderly stay in their homes and eat a balanced diet? Women are taking on and solving these issues with their ingenuity and business acumen. How did they get their ideas? Where does the funding for their projects come from? And how have some of these businesses touched YOUR life? Girls Solve Everything answers these questions, inspiring today's kids to learn from entrepreneurs and take on some of the world's biggest problems, one solution at a time.

Girls Solve Everything is a collection of short biographies feature women that have shown perseverance and made impacts on the world through their discoveries, inventions, and more. I like how the book illustrated that a small idea, class assignment, or serious problem can spark the inspiration for real change, and that anyone can make that change with the right tools. I thought the illustration work was extremely well done and matched the content and tone of the text perfectly. I think this book would be a great addition to school and public libraries, as well as home libraries. I have to admit that my digital copy had some formatting issues, which made it challenging to enjoy, but I know these issues will be resolved well before the final copy hits the shelves. 

Girls Solve Everything is a book that shows some of the many accomplishments of women, and just might inspire current and future generations to make their own marks on the world. 

Audiobook Review: A Brief History of Timekeeping: The Science of Marking Time, from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks by Chad Orzel, Narrated by Mike Lenz

A Brief History of Timekeeping: The Science of Marking Time, from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks was written by Chad Orzel and narrated by Mike Lenz. Predating written language and marching on through human history, the desire for ever-better timekeeping has spurred technological innovation and sparked theories that radically reshaped our understanding of the universe and our place in it. Chad Orzel, a physicist and bestselling author, continues his tradition of demystifying thorny scientific concepts by using the clocks and calendars central to our everyday activities as a jumping-off point to explore the science underlying the ways we keep track of our time. Ancient solstice markers depend on the basic astrophysics of our solar system; mechanical clocks owe their development to Newtonian physics; and the ultra-precise atomic timekeeping that enables GPS hinges on the predictable oddities of quantum mechanics. Along the way, Orzel visits the delicate negotiations involved in Gregorian calendar reform, the intricate and entirely unique system employed by the Maya, and how the problem of synchronizing clocks at different locations ultimately required us to abandon the idea of time as an absolute and universal quantity. Sharp and engaging, A Brief History of Timekeeping is a story not just about the science of sundials, sandglasses, and mechanical clocks, but also the politics of calendars and time zones, the philosophy of measurement, and the nature of space and time itself.

A Brief History of Timekeeping is a thorough and fascinating description about how people throughout history have calculated, marked, and understood time. I thought that the history of calendars, clocks, and all the theories and math that surround them was well explained and that the information about the people involved, and the day to day aspects, made it more accessible. I will admit that there were moments deep into the numbers of physics that I felt a bit over my head, I think that if I had the print version of the book to look at the charts and calculations rather than listening to the numbers being read off it might have felt slightly easier to follow. I think the narrator did a great job of conveying the information with good tone and inflection, as I do not think I could have made it through the more complicated bits if the narrator had been less skilled. I liked the honesty and humor that came into play on occasion- acknowledging that many of the calendar and time decisions were based on politics as much as math and practicality. I also liked that the author disclosed any connection to certain figures in the history, to avoid any potential claims of favor. I thought the book as a whole was interesting, well balanced, and informative. I even gained a new favorite word- perturbation. 

A Brief History of Timekeeping is an informative and engaging look at the history of how people have looked at time.