Recent Reads: Pam the Shy Kitty by Sarah Brown

Source: From the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Pam the Shy Kitty by Sarah Brown
Series:Kitty Books for Kids #4
Publisher: White Cat Books
Publication Date:   April 13, 2020

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:







Goodreads Synopsis: 

Pam The Shy Kitty is a beautifully crafted short story with pictures about Pam White Cat. One of the best short stories for children. It is a fantastic book for any toddler or kid aged 2-5, with colourful illustrations helping to tell the story. It is one of the best bed-time stories for boys and girls who loves cats, puppies and hamsters. 

A modern classic story for kids. If you are looking for a short story with pictures to read to a child aged 2-5, then this kitty book is a must. Pam the Shy Kitty contains valuable moral lessons, and is as much a children’s story about friendship and kindness as it is a book about a white kitty.

The book will not only help your child with social skills and overcoming shyness, it tells a much deeper story about friendship and family in the form of a picture book.
Don't miss Pam's other adventures, including Pam the little Chef, Mike's Surprise Birthday Party and Good Night Pam, you will love the fun adventures in outer space!

Review: 
Pam the Shy Kitty is about a little white cat that is very shy. Pam is new to the household and not sure what to expect. He meets new friends that help him to night be so shy any more. 

The book it cute, young readers will enjoy seeing the animals and will appreciate the bright colors. While I read an ebook, it looks like the page spreads will have a colorful image on one side and then a text page on the other. There is a good amount of text for a children's book and it will lend well to adult readers versus learning readers.

Something that bothered me a bit was that whenever there was an apostrophe used there was what seemed like an extra space after it, like "weren'  t" and it was very off-putting. I think it will also make it harder for learning readers as well. It might be due to justified text boxes or the typeset but it is strange and difficult to read.

Overall, this was a cute book and I think it could be a fun addition for youths that love household pets.

Early Reader Review: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

Source: From DC Comics in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review

Primer by Jennifer Muro (co-author), Thomas Krajewski (co-author), Gretel Lusky (Illustrations)
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date:  June, 23, 2020

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:








Goodreads Synopsis: 

Primer introduces a brand-new superhero with a colorful array of superpowers to explore.

Ashley Rayburn is an upbeat girl with a decidedly downbeat past. Her father is a known criminal who once used Ashley to help him elude justice, and in his attempt to escape, a life was taken. He now sits in federal prison, but still casts a shadow over Ashley's life. In the meantime, Ashley has bounced from foster home to foster home and represents a real challenge to the social workers who try to help her--not because she's inherently bad, but because trouble always seems to find her.

Ashley's latest set of presumably short-term foster parents are Kitch and Yuka Nolan. Like Ashley, Kitch happens to be an artist. Yuka, on the other hand, is a geneticist working for a very high-level tech company, one that's contracted out to work for the government and the military. And it's Yuka's latest top secret project that has her very concerned. Developed for the military, it's a set of body paints that, when applied to the wearer, grant them a wide range of special powers. Fearful that this invention will be misused, Yuka sneaks the set of paints home, substituting a dummy suitcase with an ordinary set of paints in their place.

From here, signals get crossed. Ashley comes home from school one day with her new friend Luke and, thinking that the Nolans have purchased a surprise gift for her upcoming birthday, finds the set of paints. Being an artist, Ashley naturally assumes these are for her. It isn't long before she realizes that she's stumbled upon something much bigger and a lot more dangerous. Although she uses her newly discovered powers for good, it's not long before the military becomes wise to what happened to their secret weapon. And this spells big trouble not only for Ashley, but for her newfound family and friends as well. 

Review: 
This was such an interesting concept and I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It follows Ashley, a girl in the foster system, as she deals with her issues of trust and fear about having a new family. Ashley gets placed in a home with Yuka and Nolan, a cute couple that just want what is best for Ashley, but Yuka's job is in a lab and there are dangerous things happening there.  

Ashley is a great teen character, she is strong, stubborn and troubled, but able to push through in order to help others. It is a coming of age, as well as a superhero tale and her powers fit with her style. Ashley is a painter and her powers come from paints! it is a very interesting concept overall. 

 I like that this book showcased a non-traditional family as well as diverse characters, and it was great to see a girl being both scared but strong.  Sometimes books choose one or the other and it gets frustrating. 

I think that there is a bit of confusion on what age group this book is for, it is marketed for ages 8-12 and I believe that it is good for that group, however the look and feel of some of the themes might be more YA. Either way this was a great read. I think all ages of readers will enjoy this book and the violence is limited to a lot of punching and knocking into things. 

I am very interested to see where this series goes from here.

 

Recent Reads: The Flying Flamingo Sisters by Carrie Seim

The Flying Flamingo Sisters by Carrie Seim 
Narrated by: Gabriel Vaughan, Bill Andrew Quinn, Jessica Almasy, Carrie Seim, Kevin Pariseau, Dina Pearlman, Khristine Hvam
Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Release date: 12-12-19
Publisher: Audible Original
Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Literature & Fiction

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Audible Subscriber Freebie 

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

This hilarious, heartfelt and soaring adventure will delight fans of 'The Goonies' and 'Indiana Jones'.

When their ace pilot parents (and adorable puppy) mysteriously disappear over the Pacific, the Flamingo Sisters - Flo, Faye, and Franny - escape the clutches of their evil Uncle Freidrich (who believes the girls should NEVER pilot aeroplanes) and join a flying circus. They soon become a smashing sensation, performing aerial acrobatics, wing walking and other death-defying feats in a dazzling biplane outfitted with three cockpits.

But when the girls discover a mysterious map - which may lead them to the long-lost family fortune - their dastardly uncle follows them on a thrilling chase in the skies. The Flying Flamingo Sisters must use wits, courage and derring-do to solve secret codes, trek through spooky jungles and save their parents. Not to mention themselves!

Review: 

This is a cute, short audiobook similar to the likes of the Lemony Snicket series. Three girls Flo, Faye, and Franny are part of the Flamingo family, a family of flyers. When their parents go missing flying across the Pacific, the girls realize it is up to them and their aeroplane skills to find them and bring them home safely. That is easier said than done though because their evil uncle has shown up claiming there is a flamingo fortune and he is there to find it!

While short, this audiobook was a cute and fun adventure with a lot of laugh out load fun bits throughout. It was a full-on adventure from beginning to end which made it easy to listen to and entertaining. The sisters are smart and cunning and stubborn at times but even in this fast-paced short book, they grow and learn about each other and their family as the story progresses. If you are looking for something fun to listen to on a family road trip, this would be a fun one to pick up.

Building the Book Pile #329

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Hello All - sorry for the bout of no content. I needed a breather this past week. Work was busy, I had the week off from classes, and now we are back into things! I have been doing some reading though so content and reviews are on their way!

I hope that everyone is safe and well.
Yesterday we took some time away from the house finally, and floated down the river on tubes with some friends. Regardless of how much sunscreen we used... we are all SO BURNT! It was a very hot a sunny day in Vermont so we tried to make the best of this intense Summer weather - to our detriment! 

Have you done anything fun lately? Are you feeling comfortable enough to get out of the house?

In other news, we are packing and cleaning like crazy. We have our stuff starting the move before us and we need to get it all ready and I am in full panic mode!

What are you reading this week? How are you feeling?

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi

 

Current Giveaways

Here you gooooo - Running one starting TODAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: The Flying Flamingo Sisters by Carrie Seim (MG, Audiobook)

Early Reader Review: Primer by Jennifer Muro (YA/ GN)

Early Reader Review: Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria by JM Bergen (MG)

Recent Reads: Pam the Shy Kitty by Sarah Brown (Youth)

Recent Reads: Fatemarked by David Estes (Adult)

Books Received Recently...

    

Pam the Shy Kitty by Sarah Brown from the author for review.

Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria by JM Bergen  from the publisher for review

Managers Guide to Motivating Employees by Anne Bruce - for class :P

Have you missed anything lately?

Early Reader Review: You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez and Illustrated by Julie Maroh (YA, GN) -4 stars

Recent Reads: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon (MG, Audiobook) -4 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon

Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon
Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins, Ellen Archer, Josh Hurley, Eileen Stevens, Erin Mallon, Jonathan Davis, Stephen Bel Davies
Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher: Audible Original
Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Science Fiction & Fantasy

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Audible Subscriber Freebie 

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Fugitive. Criminal. Robot.
Eve looks like an ordinary 12-year-old girl, but there’s nothing ordinary about her. She has no last name. No parents or guardian. She’s on the run from a dangerous and secretive organization that will stop at nothing to track her down.
And most astonishing of all: She’s a robot, a product of Eden Labratories.
When she discovers the truth, she realizes everything she thought she knew about herself is a lie. Eve manages to escape, fleeing the lab, the only home she’s ever known.
After being arrested for shoplifting, Eve is interviewed by Petra Amis from Child Welfare Services. Her incredible story unfolds during the interrogation, with flashbacks to her life inside Eden Laboratories, which has a dark secret.
Exploring a range of topics that drive our society and our lives - topics such as artificial intelligence and human nature - Interview with the Robot is a story told by a startlingly original protagonist, a story that explores the vast potential of technology and the deep complexities of humanity

Review: 
This was such a fun book. It follows Eve as she talks to a Child Welfare Services Social Worker about her life, the twist - she is a robot. Eve started out as a box and is now a fully formed, almost human robot girl who looks like she is 12. She was built in a lab by a man named David, who is working to make better humans. 

This story is told in a few ways, Eve as she converses with Petra as well as flashback scenes into her life at the lab and then escaping the lab. There is a full cast of narrators for the audiobook and they all do a great job. 

There was a lot of mystery and suspense throughout this audiobook and I really enjoyed the story. There is a huge twist at the end that really threw me and I was very surprised by it.  I don't want to give more away so I will leave it at that.

As an Audbile Freebie for Middle Grade readers, this book is fairly short, which is nice. It is also packed with emotion, mystery, suspense, and drama and I think parents and young readers will really enjoy it.  

Early Reader Review: You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez

Source: From DC Comics in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez, Illustrated by Julie Maroh
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date:  June 9, 2020

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Jake Hyde doesn’t swim––not since his father drowned. Luckily, he lives in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, which is in the middle of the desert, yet he yearns for the ocean and is determined to leave his hometown for a college on the coast. But his best friend, Maria, wants nothing more than to make a home in the desert, and Jake’s mother encourages him to always play it safe.

There’s nothing “safe” about Jake’s future—not when he’s attracted to Kenny Liu, swim team captain and rebel against conformity. And certainly not when he secretly applies to Miami University. Jake’s life begins to outpace his small town’s namesake, which doesn’t make it any easier to come out to his mom, or Maria, or the world.

But Jake is full of secrets, including the strange blue markings on his skin that glow when in contact with water. What power will he find when he searches for his identity, and will he turn his back to the current or dive headfirst into the waves?   

Review: 

You Brought Me the Ocean is a graphic novel about self discovery, friendship, and is also a coming out story as well. The book follows Jake Hyde, a teen with an overbearing mother and a yearning to see and work with the ocean. He spends time with his best friend Maria, hiking and trying to figure out himself, his dreams, and how to tell those around him that he wants to move away. 

This book has a lot of layers, it is a coming out story at its heart but it is about friends and family, secrets, its a hero story of sorts, and it covers bullying as well. Jake grows a lot in these 186 pages. The coming out story was not over the top, it was built up very well through the dialogue and internal thoughts of Jake - the feelings of not being the same as others, the fish out of water feeling, which in this case has so many other meanings.  Jake also learns about his birthmarks and his family and how he again is different, but the important take away is that he moves through these stressors and dramatic elements with purpose and meaning. He is a strong character.

Other great things about this graphic novel - it has a fully diverse cast of characters. Jack is African American, Kenny seems to be of Asian decent and Maria and her family Hispanic / Latino.  I love seeing diverse characters. Additionally, the book was written and illustrated by Alex Sanchez and Julie Maroh, both part of the LGBTQIA+ community and are able to tell and show this story so accurately. 

Following the story there is a page of resources as well as a note from Julie and then an illustration sketchbook and prior to the story a heartfelt note from the author as well. 

Overall this was a very good read, I really enjoyed it. It would be great for any readers, especially those that would like a good Pride Month read or just a diverse cast. 

Building the Book Pile #328

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Hello Hello! 

So much has been going on lately!

I need to get this off my chest and out there - I will only accept LOVE and ACCEPTANCE in the comments (pls).

I hope everyone continues to be safe and well this week both physically and mentally. It has been hard on so many people in both ways. I have been saddened to see such racism in our country (STILL), am still shocked by the numbers of infected growing in the pandemic, and confused about how both are being handled so poorly.

This is not a political blog or post by any means, but those of you that are here reading know that I share my opinions and life on this blog, so I wanted you to know where I stand. I stand with all those being oppressed and who need help now, and that is the black community. 

Here are some things the bookish community (and anyone) can do: Read black authors, buy from black owned bookstores and other stores, and donate when and where you can. I know that not everyone agrees, but we can all agree that people have been treated unfairly and we need to do something about that. It is more than just prayers that are needed now.

On to other things - 

A few weeks ago I mentioned putting our house up and moving... well we put the house on the market on a Thursday and got an offer first thing on Friday 😲. We accepted and are awaiting the results from the inspection and to make sure financing goes through and then we are actually headed to FLORIDA!  We are packing everything, and donating and purging the things we don't want to take, it is INTENSE. 

[As a book lover... well... you probably understand - there are SO many boxes of books - my husband might kill me when we are done.]

I am finishing another class up this week and on to the next! I finally get into my concentration classes so I am SUPER excited about that. And I am pushing through review books and other great reads to keep up the content [insert heavy breathing - so much to do].

What are you reading this week? How are you feeling?

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi

 

Current Giveaways



Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez and Illustrated by Julie Maroh (YA, GN)

Recent Reads: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon (MG, Audiobook)

Recent Reads: The Flying Flamingo Sisters by Carrie Seim (MG, Audiobook)

Books Received Recently...

       

Primer by by Jennifer Muro (co-author), Thomas Krajewski (co-author), Gretel Lusky (Illustrations) - From DC Comics for review.

Time for Bed's Story by Monica Arnaldo - from Netgalley and Kids Can Press for review.

Plastic Soup by Judith Koppens - from Netgalley and Clavis Publishing for review.

Have you missed anything lately?

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway! Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (YA)

Early Readers Review: I Left the House Today by Cassandra Calin (GN, Adult) - 5 stars

Monthly Re-Cap: May 2020

Early Reader Review: Happily Ever After & Everything In Between by Debbie Tung (GN)-5 stars

Early Reader Review: Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA, GN) - 3.5 stars

Recent Reads: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning (YA) - 4.5 stars

Recent Reads: Violent and the Trail of Trauma by Janina Scarlet (MG, GN) - 3 stars

Recent Reads: The Beginner's Guide to Canning by Diane Devereaux (Cookbook) - 4 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: The Beginner's Guide to Canning by Diane Devereaux

Source: From Callisto Publishers Club and Rockridge Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

The Beginner's Guide to Canning: 90 Easy Recipes to Can, Savor, and Gift by Diane Devereaux
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Publication Date:  May 5, 2020

 

Format:  Paperback

Rating:









Goodreads Synopsis: 

The can-do guide to water bath and pressure canning for beginners
For many people, canning conjures memories of cozy kitchens filled with fresh flavors. Whether you’re picking up this time-honored tradition again or just starting out, The Beginner’s Guide to Canning teaches you everything you need to know about water bath and pressure canning, with plenty of recipes for jams, pickles, vegetables, soups, and more.

This beginner’s guide starts your canning journey with an easy primer laying out all the essential information about pressure and water bath canning. In the first chapter, you’ll find several easy, sure-fire hits, like Low-Sugar Berry Jam and Dilly Beans, including step-by-step illustrations. From there, try your new skills with any of the 90 comforting classics and new twists that are sure to tickle your taste buds. 

The Beginner’s Guide to Canning includes:

• Safe & practical―Explore the nuts and bolts of canning, including a look at the necessary equipment, ingredients, and fundamental rules of safe canning. 
• Savor the seasons―With dozens of delicious, easy-to-follow recipes, you can preserve seasonal flavors to enjoy all year round, like Apple-Peach Butter and Simple Spaghetti Sauce. 
• Spread the love―A whole chapter is dedicated to delicious, giftable treats, like Rhubarb Chardonnay Jam, Raspberry-Chocolate Ice Cream Topping, and Pepper Jelly.

Can you preserve it? Yes, you can with The Beginner’s Guide to Canning. 

Review: 

Please note this is a read-only review. I have not tried any of the recipes at this time. 

At first glance, this is a great starting point for canning beginners. The first chapter is an overview of the the history of canning, and the various types of tools and techniques that can be used with a focus on both water bath and pressure canning. In the following chapters there are 90 recipes to use these new skills trying.

The recipes are divided pretty evenly with about half for water bath canning and the other half of pressure canning, I would say that it probably leans more heavily on the water bath technique. I have in the past tried water bath canning and it has worked very well. It is a less scary type of canning, I think personally. Pressure canners freak me out a bit. 

Some of the beginning recipes include images to assist with how to fill and seal up jars, however many of the illustration are confined to that first information chapter. Other images in the book are the Chapter header pages with photos of pickled and canned goodies. As much as I really like these images, I always love to see an image of the recipe I am trying to see if it looks the same, and this book does not have that.

What I did like was the fill time it takes for each recipe, which is broken down into prep, cook, and processing time, then the total so you know how long you are looking at. Canning can be a long and tedious process and timing means a lot for some things, so it is great that this is here on each recipe. They also include the yield number in pints, half-pints and quarts so you know what jars you will need. 

Overall this seems like a great beginners book, it has a lot of great information all in one place so you don't have to scour the depths of the internet for something you might need - which is what I did when I started. 

I really cannot wait to try some of these recipes, but don't have the time to right now (sadly).

 

Recent Reads: Violent and the Trail of Trauma by Janina Scarlet

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers Program and New Harbinger Publications in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Violent and the Trail of Trauma by Janina Scarlet
Series: Dark Agents #1
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications, Instant Help
Publication Date:  March 1, 2020

 

Format:  Paperback

Rating:








Goodreads Synopsis: 

This spellbinding graphic novel follows the adventures of Violet—a young witch whose parents were murdered when she was a child. As she wages war against necromancers and demons, Violet learns to overcome her internal monsters as well. 

In this groundbreaking comic book for teens and young adults, we meet Violet—a witch whose parents were murdered by an evil necromancer when she was only six years old. Running from country to country, as well as from herself, Violet never gets a chance to fully process her traumatic experience. 

When she turns 19, Violet begins training at the Underworld Intelligence Agency (UIA) in hopes of becoming a Dark Agent—someone tasked with keeping the balance between the world of the living and the world of the undead. During her training, Violet hopes to finally overcome her fear of death and take control of her emotions, but instead she finds that mindfulness, vulnerability, and acceptance are the skills most necessary to help her succeed. 

Blended seamlessly throughout the story are elements of a powerful and evidence-based treatment called acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Whether or not you’ve experienced a traumatic event like Violet, you’ll find valuable skills you can apply to your own life to help you conquer your demons and hone your unique superpowers.

Note for therapists: Dark Agents presents the core skills of ACT in a fun, narrative format to appeal to teen readers. In this comic, teens will learn all about mindfulness, defusion, self-compassion, and values-based living. The book doesn't feel like a therapist recommendation—which is exactly what makes it perfect for your teen clients!

Review: 
This is a very interesting concept for a young adult graphic novel, it is a fantasy tale about a young witch that has been through a lot of trauma, so the main focus of the book is also about that trauma and how to deal with and overcome it. So the below review is focused on the fact that this book is to be used as a teaching tool, probably for therapists and the like. 

Violet is a witch who has lost her family to an evil Necromancer who is stealing souls of powerful witches, she has also been in his line of fire (literally) as well. She is determined to avenger her family and find the Necromancer, so she is enlisted in training for the Dark Agents, the FBI/CIA of the supernatural realm of this book. The book combines mythology with other supernatural characters as well as a teen drama, it is a fun little package. As Violet learns to cope and understand her emotions she becomes better equipped to take on her new life as a Dark Agent and try to help then track this notorious killer.

The overall theme of helping was very prominent. Full spreads on mindfulness and grounding yourself in order to better understand and pull back your emotions in order to center or recenter yourself. The book notes that this is called ACT - acceptance and commitment therapy. I found it to be very insightful and believe that this book will be a good teaching tool for counselors, therapists and the like. It is done in a way that works well with the plot of this story and the characters, but I think that the teens that read it might also need a nudge in order to use the methods discussed in the book.

At times the methods used seemed to disconnect the reader form the plot (at least that was my feeling). I think that it could have been embedded better but in the overall story they seem to make sense. 

Some overall thoughts, as a book not focused on emotional trauma, it was not that wonderful. It seemed a little throw together AROUND the therapeutic elements. However, as I mentioned, as a teaching tool this might be a very helpful type of read for young adults dealing with emotional issues, trauma, or that just need this type of therapy.