Review: Field Guide to Autumn

 

This nonfiction book is fascinating and full of information.

There are:

recipes

nature crafts

poems

nature questions answered

And the illustrations are beautiful

This is a fun nonfiction book to pour over.

* Book sent for review

Picture Book Review: The House with the Little Red Door

Olivia lives in a nice house, but there's something missing. She has a hard time figuring out what that is. There's a little mouse with a house inside a tree. The pair meet when it snows. Mouse doesn't know about snow and Olivia decides to teach him. The snow ruins mouse's house and he needs a new house. 

This is a lovely story with charming illustrations and a great message about friendship. A cozy read that's perfect to share.

* book sent for review

** this book has many flaps, making it not ideal for libraries. But it's wonderful for a home library.

Board Books: Spring

Just a couple Spring board books:

Taller than your average board book 

Little Robin flies over areas and spies all kinds of birds before coming back to the nest at night. 

Little bee flies over all the flowers before flying home for the night. 

Both books have soft colors and lovely illustrations in addition to all the information in them They are great books for add to your library's collection.

* These books were sent for review

** There are too more books in this series: one about turtles and bugs

Picture Book Review: Lost and Found in History

Maya and Leo move through history. 

Each historical period has a two-page spread. The first pages are the hide and seek pages and the follow up pages discuss that moment in history. There's so much to pour over with these illustrations. 

* Book sent for review 

Picture Book Review: Mouse by the Sea

 

* This is the 3rd book in the series *

Mouse heads out on a vacation following the coast. Mouse walks along the beach, seeing all sorts of wonderful things from the boardwalk to the dunes to tide pools.

I love these books. The illustrations are charming and beg to be poured over. There are flaps that let you look inside little shops, homes, and nooks and crannies. There are author pages in the back that talk about the items in nature Mouse found. I hope there are more Mouse books to follow. This is a new favorite book. 

* As this book has lots of flaps, it's not recommended for library purchase

** However, it makes a wonderful gift

*** Book sent for review

Review: Are Wolves Afraid of the Dark

 

Intrepid readers are invited on a field trip into the wild to discover whether wolves are as big and bad as we think they are.

In this worldwide adventure, readers get up close and personal with one of nature's most misunderstood creatures: the wolf. Packed with little-known facts about wolves' family lives, eating habits, and their connection to domestic dogs, readers will discover the secret lives of wolves and how to protect them.

For many people, wolves are the stuff of nightmares and horror movies, but the reality is that they’re among some of the most vulnerable wild animals on our planet. By following field guide Huw Lewis Jones and nature illustrator Sam Caldwell into the wild, readers will meet subspecies of grey wolf living in forests throughout Europe, North America, and China, as well as red wolves in North Carolina and other members of the canid family, including coyotes.

Along the way, aspiring naturalists will discover the difference between a timber and a tundra wolf, what traits wild wolves share with domestic dogs, and why wolf poop is so important to scientists! - summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: This is a fun nonfiction book - perfect for kids who love wildlife or dogs. The illustrations are lovely. There's so much information to devour, but it's broken up so it doesn't seem overwhelming. And it does answer all the questions! 

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your children's nonfiction section.

This book is a little bit on the larger size, it might be a sideways book on your shelf. 

Review: Mini Architects

 

20 Projects Inspired by Great Architects

Each project has a little bit of history about the building/creation and then step-by-step pictorial instructions on how to re-create the work of art. There are discussion questions and different ideas to try out.

I love how the projects are so different - from mediums to places in the world to time of creation.

The one thing I would have like to see was a mini biography of the architect that inspired the work. I feel like that was missed opportunity.

This book makes a great gift!

* Last year I reviewed another book in this series - Mini Artists - which I also enjoyed.

** Book sent for review

Review: There's a Mountain in this Book

 

What do you know about mountains? I definitely learned about mountains and their environments. 

The illustrations in this book are soft and charming. Information about animals, how mountains are formed, and the different environments of a mountain the higher it grows. There's a glossary at the end of this book about mountain terms. 

This wonderful book makes a great gift and is perfect for the summer reading theme

* This isn't a book for libraries as there are flaps that showcase more information.

** This book was sent for review

Picture Book Wednesday: A Mouse on the River

Mouse is headed down the river - follow him on his journey.

This is the second mouse book (Mouse's Wood) and it's equally charming. The illustrations are soft and gorgeous. There are dye-cuts and tabs that give the reader a closer look into both nature and inside homes and boats. The story winds along the river along with the main character. 

These delicate features mean this isn't a book for the library collection, but one for personal collections. This book makes a great gift. 

* This book was sent for review

Review: Do Penguins Like the Cold

Tomorrow is National Penguin Day - so here's a book treat for you.

What does the reader know about Penguins? What do they want to know? 

This book asks a new question every page spread like: Were there dino-penguins? Do penguins want to fly? and Do you smell like a penguin/ (You don't want to smell like a penguin.) Lots of information in this book with lots of illustrations that make this book very attractive. 

* this book was sent for review 

Review: Mini Artists

 

There are 20 projects in this book - that are inspired by famous art creations over time. For each of the project, there are discussion questions, a little bit of history, and step by step pictural instructions which also include tips.

This is a fun book for artists who want to branch out and try new mediums. It would also make a great gift! 

* book sent for review

Review: Big Book of Nature Art

 

This book will make you spend some time outside - looking at nature and collecting it. 

It uses a blend of craft supplies and items found in nature

The instructions are easy to follow and the illustrations/pictures are fantastic.

This is a wonderful book for crafts! 

* Book sent for review

Picture Book Wednesday: This Small Blue Dot

 

A big sister explains the world to her new baby sister.

This is a sweet story full of hope and knowledge. I loved the message (especially the part about broccoli and favorite cultural desserts). It's a great book for inspiring others to be their true selves, how everyone is different but we all share the same qualities. And it asks a very important question at the end.

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