Picture Book Wednesday: The Lodge that Beaver Built

 

Beaver builds a lodge for his family - and it helps lots of other animals in the stream.

This is a great nature book - which showcases the circle of life. I love that the lodge helps so many other animals - even when the beavers have moved on. There are so many different animals to talk about. I love that they are all connected to each other. A smart book with lovely illustrations. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Bookmarks

 This week's topic is a rewind freebie. I'm going with favorite bookmarks.

Ones I have:

A few favorites still to purchase

Christmas Bookshop from Emily Cromwell Designs

Galaxy Art Bookmarks from Frangi Art Lab

Beauty and the Beast Rose Bookmark from Bare Bookish

Enchanted Garden Bookmark by Catarina Book Designs

Boiled Potatoes from Tale Me Co

A few bookmarks I just created that will arrive soonish in my Etsy Shop:

Tulips

It's easier to paint two together and then cut...

A reading tree

A series of dried flower bookmarks:

Are you a fan of bookmarks or do you just use any piece of paper handy?

Review: Sweet Pea Summer

 

* Book 2 in the Full Bloom Farm Series *

Eight years ago, May decided not to travel the world with Tom after graduation. She never told anyone the truth about that night and let everyone think he left her. Everyone in town turned against him, which wasn't a bad thing because he never came back.

Until his family needed him to come home and run the vineyard. But the vineyard is struggling. Tom needs the Northwest Food and Wine Festival to be a big hit in order to survive. He's willing to do anything to make that happen - including co-organize the event with May.

The more time May spends with Tom, the more she realizes that:

1. She was never brave

2. She should not have kept silent all those years ago

3. She's stuck in a rut

4. She might still have feelings for him.

Could there be room for a second chance?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed the second book in this four book series. Obviously, this is the Persuasion retelling. And I liked that May was the one in the wrong. The tight knit community might be a bit too tight in this one - I felt badly for Tom. He struggled with all the negative comments, but handled it well (much better than I would have.) I liked the moments between May and her father. Looking forward to book 3. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Book sent for Review

Library Recommendations: Perfect for your Jane Austen fans and your Hallmark movie fans. 

TBR Check In: Winter

 

I just shared my Spring TBR list - so it's time for a check-in from my winter list.

And I did ok but not great.

Part of the is the supply issue - ordering books for the library use to take a week. Now it takes a month or so for them to arrive. 

While I did read other books, out of this list, I read:

1 middle grade

0 YA (although I have three currently checked out from the library)

6 adult and 2 more are currently checked out.

I have read 45 books this year so far...

Teen Summer Reading Program (4): We Are Stronger Together

Here is the final week of the summer reading program posts.

I talked about craft ideas for the week 1 and week 2. I talked about food programs for week 3.

And this week I'm talking about book ideas.

It's harder to buy books for this theme for teens. There are a lot more books for kids around kindness, community, and friendship...

There are a lot of older YA titles about friendship but I'm looking for new titles to add to the collection. 

Animals:

What else could you add to this list?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

This is a cute board book about love and all things Irish. This rhyming story is one to share again and again. The illustrations are brightly colored and cheerful. 

Books set in Ireland

 Just in time for St. Patrick's Day...

Book List:

Lucky Me

Paris is Always a Good Idea

Love & Luck 

Artemis Fowl

An O'Brien Family Christmas