Early Book Review: Life in the Sloth Lane: Slow Down and Smell the Hibiscus by Lucy Cooke

Life in the Sloth Lane: Slow Down and Smell the Hibiscus by Lucy Cooke is currently scheduled for release on April 17 2018. This book is exactly what the title suggested, pictures of sloths to help those looking through the pages to slow down and enjoy. Photos of a variety of adorable sloths illustrate a mindfulness book that reminds us to slow down and appreciate the small things.

Life in the Sloth Lane: Slow Down and Smell the Hibiscus is full of photographs featuring sloths. Two toed sloths, three toed sloths, baby sloths, sloths holding flowers,sloths that seem to be smiling, and sloths looking right at the camera so it looks like they are looking you in the eye. Interspersed with these delightful images are quotes meant to encourage and support mindfulness and some factual information about sloths. The book is soothing, full of cuteness, and I learned some things about sloths along the way. Unless you are one of those people that do not find sloths cute or fascinating in some way, you will want to read this book, or at least take a moment and slowly flip through the pages. 

Early Book Review: I Love Science: A Journal for Self Discovery and Big Ideas by Rachel Ignotofsky

I Love Science: A Journal for Self Discovery and Big Ideas by Rachel Ignotofsky is currently scheduled for release on March 7 2017. This is a guided journal for young women and girls based the author's illustrated book Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World.Both books encourage young women and girls to ponder the world and the daily ins and outs of their
lives. Opening with a short reference section that contains basic equations, the periodic table, basic HTML codes, and a measurement converter, the journal then invites the user to write and dream through writing prompts like, "What is a challenge you've overcome recently?" and inspirational quotes from notable women who've achieved greatness in the science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) fields, such as famous primatologist Jane Goodall's, "Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together can we reach our full potential."

I Love Science: A Journal for Self Discovery and Big Ideas is a great journal and source of inspiration for those interested in science. I like that it offers interesting quotes and prompting questions to encourage the reader/writer to think about things in new ways and to keep on exploring the world around them. My daughter is a little to unfocused for this yet, but I think this would be a great thing for her to use and enjoy. I think exploring and experimenting with his book by her side would be a great thing for summer break. This could also be a great tool for organizations or classroom sessions that are focused on getting girls and women interested in STEM or STEAM- like perhaps a Girl Scout troop or summer science session through a school, library. or camp.

I think I Love Science: A Journal for Self Discovery and Big Ideas would be a great gift for anyone interested in science and exploring the world around them. I think artists and those that consider themselves more observers than scientist would also benefit from and enjoy the book.