Even the Dog Knows by Jason F. Wright

Meg left her husband and told him where she was going (to live with her sister) and she left him the dog.  Gary didn't like being alone.  It was too easy to think of his daughter who died in an airplane collision.

Shadow Mountain Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 8th.

Moses, the dog, misses Meg.  Just like Gary.  But Gary is not alone long.  His son moves in.  And when he decides to take the bus he owns on a trip to meet Meg, he gets even more passengers.

This is a story of grief over the death of their daughter and mixed emotions over relationships.  The only one that really knows what is going is Moses, the dog.  He loves everybody even if the people don't.

This is a dysfunctional family that works out their problems and comes back together before the story is over.

Mt favorite part was the dogs...

The Legend of the Dream Giants by Dustin Hansen, Dustin Hansen (Illustrated by)

The giants were not just a legend, they actually existed.  But the people were afraid of them so they didn't have the best life.

Shadow Mountain Publishing and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 8th.

Berg is an orphaned giant.  His mother gave up her life for him.  Now he's all alone and he wants a friend.  There is an adult giant but he smells bad and there are stories about him.  Whether or not the stories were true, the people believed them.

Berg meets a girl who wants to be friends with him.  They get along well and meet at night.  Then the Mayor gets to be friendly with him.  That's fine until the Mayor turns out to be an enemy instead of a friend.

The adult giant gives Berg food to eat.  They don't talk much and they don't see each other that much.  But when the Mayor captures Berg in a cage hidden by a tent, he wants Berg to act like the rumors going around about giants.  Berg says no but the Mayor threatens the girl who is his friend.  

Will Berg give up?  He can't break the cage.  What will happen next?

The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White

Nola had a hard childhood, so she decided to move to New Orleans and start over.  She loves refurbishing houses and has found the perfect one.  She can even afford it.  But the owner doesn't want to sell it to her.  It has a for sale sign out front.  Why not sell it?

Net Galley and Berkley Books let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 29th.

She realizes that ghosts are in the house but she has decided to ignore them.  As if having a dilapidated old house that needs to be refurbished isn't a big enough challenge, she has two men she's interested in.

She thinks she's falling in love with one but he has a girlfriend.  Then the other man shows up and they have a lot in common.  She starts dating him.

It's a challenge to get the ghosts to go away.  She still isn't sure which man she really wants.  But as she gets the house remodel going and then focuses on the men, she gets a surprise.

At the end of the book, there's another surprise...

All Because of the Tail by Maria Luisa Di Gravio

He's a mouse but the park is filled with squirrels and they get all the nuts.  He seems to scare people.  He decides it is because of his tail.

Sunbird Books let me read the book for review (thank you).  It will be published in April.

He decides he'll go find a wig that can cover his tail.  He succeeds and then goes back to beg for nuts.  What he doesn't notice is that his wig fell off.  But a little girl shares a nut, comments about his worm looking tail and he realizes she's not afraid of him.  He's found a friend!

Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor

This is a graphic novel with bugs.  Sir Ladybug has a sword and goes on quests.  His friends gather around him and sing out his virtues.

Balzer & Bray and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 29th.

Sir Ladybug hears someone asking for help.  He goes to save them.  It's a caterpillar a bird wants to eat.  The bird says it's hungry but Sir Ladybug saves the caterpillar.  Then one of the bugs suggest Sir Caterpillar make his special cake.  He does.  And then they offer a piece to the bird.

Will the bird like it?

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

An ogress lived in the woods on her own.  When she found a rundown farm, she decided to settle there.  She created a periscope so she could look at the town.  That's how she found the orphanage and the children who lived there.

Algonquin Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 8th.

The Mayor of the town was a dragon who took on a human skin and pretended to be human.  He caused a lot of problems.

The ogress baked, cooked and shared her food she grew on her farm.  It was appreciated by everyone.  But when one of the orphans decides to leave so there will be enough food for the others, she gets lost.  The ogress finds her and returns her to the orphanage.  The Mayor says she stole the child and gets the people in town to go against her.

The ogress gets her feelings hurt and goes home.  The children in the orphanage try to cheer her up.  And soon they work on the townspeople.  Desserts put them in a good mood and they didn't want her to leave now.

There are crows, cats, and sheep in the story.  The ending is great.  This was a good read.

MY MAGICAL CHOICES : Deluxe Jacketed Edition by BECKY CUMMINGS, Zuzana Svobodova (Illustrated by)

This is a wonderful book.  It takes the negative aspects of life and shows your child how to make them positive.  By doing so, they are using their magical choices.

Free Kids Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 1st.

It walks your child through various situations and shows how to respond.  They will meet things in the world that are in the book.  Knowing how to respond is a good thing and will lessen their anxiety.

I really liked this book.

Piatti for Children by Celestino Piatti

This is a 216 page book for children.  What I reviewed was the alphabet so I can't speak for the whole book.

NorthSouth Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

I can say that the alphabet is a very nice chapter.  The illustrations are very colorful and each letter had a poem to go with it. It was a pleasure to read and should be an easy way to introduce your child to the alphabet.

Climb On! by Baptiste Paul, Jacqueline Alcántara (Illustrated by)

An ambitious little girl wants to climb to the summit of the mountain.  She talks her dad into it.

North South Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be on February 22nd.

It's not an easy climb and her dad follows her up the mountain, sometimes complaining a bit.  As they go up the mountain, look at the pictures and make note of what you see.  At the story end, they show all the animals that were in the pictures.

The illustrations are colorful.  Just watching the little climb made me tired...

Piper and Purpa Forever! by Susan Lendroth, Olivia Feng (Illustrated by)

Piper got a hand-me-down sweater that was purple.  It started out as too big for her.  She couldn't say purple, so she called it purpa.

Yeehoo Press and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on February 22nd.

As Piper grows, she wears her favorite sweater.  Soon, she has grown out of it.  The adults try to recycle it but she retrieves it and hides it.  Maybe she can't wear it but it is still her favorite.

Then she gets a present.  It's a koala.  And it's just the right size to wear the sweater.  She's happy now.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, Caroline Hickey, Teresa Martinez

This is the story of Black Beauty adapted for young readers.

Starry Forest Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on February 22nd.

Black Beauty went through many owners.  Some were very kind and some were mean.  As you read the story you will see why sometimes Black Beauty despaired. 

The illustrations are beautiful and you see how Black Beauty was treated.  The good news is the last place that bought him had a familiar person taking care of the horses.  It's a nice ending after he had been so mistreated by some of his owners.

Who is it, Whoodini? by Roman Yasiejko, Gustavo Ramos (Illustrated by)

Two owls are sitting in a tree when they see a big bird go thump in another tree.  They want to find out what kind of bird it is, so they fly down to the farmyard.

Yeehoo Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

The farm animals give them hints on what they saw.  Then the little girl cries because she lost her bird, so her grandfather takes along and goes to retrieve it.  

He does but there is a surprise.  Can you guess what it is?

Dodos Are Not Extinct by Paddy Donnelly

This is a fun read.  The dodo shows how he hides, and then takes you on a tour of other "extinct" animals.

Yeehoo Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Some of the disguises aren't much.  But there are others.  Remember the wooly mammoths?  They shave off their hair and become elephants!

Imagine how many animals may be hiding from you...

Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold

Harriet doesn't always tell the truth.  She doesn't want to get in trouble.

Walden Pond Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Her mother is going to have a baby and is put on bed rest.  Her father takes her to her grandmother's bed and breakfast because it will be a couple of months before the baby is due.  Harriet likes staying there but not for that long!

She takes her cat with her.  Grandmother's dog is not enthused.  They fight until Harriet stops it.

Harriet asks if she can clean out the shed.  Grandmother says yes.  As she's cleaning, she finds a key.  She spends a lot of time trying to find out what it goes to.  She doesn't tell anyone she found it.

Will she get over lying?  Will she find where the key fits?  Will she get over being homesick?

The Happy Owls by Celestino Piatti

The animals in the farmyard are not happy.  They fight.  The peacock suggests they should ask the owls why they are so happy.

NorthSouth Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now. 

The owls tell them about the seasons of the year and how there are things to be happy about all the time.

Unfortunately, the animals don't understand and head back to the farmyard.

The illustrations are eye-catching.

You get to decide if you are happy or sad.  Why not be happy?

Autopsy: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell

Kay Scarpetta has come back to her old job.  She doesn't know most of the employees and she's not fond of the new secretary or her boss.

William Morrow and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Her first call out is to the railroad where a nude woman with no hands has been killed.  Then she finds out there was another death not far away.  That one was judged as an accident but Scarpetta doesn't think so.

Besides that, there is a space ship that has two dead on it.  The Russian made it home OK, but they have proof he murdered the other two.

As Kay and her husband, Benton, try to solve the railroad deaths, it gets to be very tough to find the killer.

Kay, herself almost died from a glass of wine she started to drink.  Who set her up?

There is plenty going on and Kay is in the middle of it.

She even gets fired...

The Easter Chick by Geraldine Elschner, Alexandra Junge (Illustrated by)

The chicken has a most beautiful egg, but it's not hatching.  Then the chick inside tells her it wants to hatch on Easter.

North and South Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can get a copy now.

The chick wants to know when Easter is.  The chicken goes to find out.  None of the other farm animals know but she gets referred to the owl.  The owl does know and she says she will call her with one hoot to give her more information.

There is more than one meeting and the chick gets involved.

This would make a great Easter present!

Elmer and the Talent Show by Danny Robertshaw, Ron Danta, Laura Catrinella, Crystal Velasquez

Elmer is a funny looking dachshund.  He had some physical programs and now his tongue hangs out.  He's very loving and happy dog, though.  When he gets adopted, he's very pleased.

Aladdin and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

Benny has trouble adjusting to new schools because he knows no one.  His mom is in the service and they move her around.  His dad tries to make him feel better, but it's Elmer who does that.

Then they join in a talent show.  He has met with a girl and her dog and after he apologizes for ignoring her, they work together on running the obstacle course.  Benny begins to think he should have chosen a smaller task for his dog, but it's too late.

They run the course.  Do they win?

Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space by Dominic Walliman, Ben Newman (Illustrated by)

This is a great way to teach a child about astronomy, the planets, and astronauts.  There are little quips of knowledge all through the book.

Flying Eye Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

You learn about how stars are formed and what kinds there are.  The sun is an amazing star that is very, very hot.  You even learn about the astronauts.  There are all kinds of facts about space.

If you have a child that likes to look at the stars, this is the book for them!  

Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti, Bethany Stancliffe (Illustrated by)

Unicorn Island is a magical place with a herd of unicorns and earthquakes, and a monster...

Andrews McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

The unicorns are losing their horns and will soon just be horses.  Sam and her uncle are trying to stop that.  Sam's uncle tells her not to go to the other side of the island.  But he goes and doesn't come back.She and her friend Tuck go looking for him.  They find him.

But there is a big odd-looking animal who comes out of the sand.  Everyone is scared but Sam suddenly realizes he's not after them, he wants to go home.

As they work on saving the unicorn and the monster, there are challenges.  Will they make it in time?

The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer

This is a tale of conspiracy, greed for money, and adultery.  It starts out tough and continues that all the way through.

William Morrow sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 8th.

There are a lot of people in this story but many of them die.  Nola doesn't hesitate to kill those she's after.  When someone kills her friend, she goes on the hunt for the killer.  There are military secrets, other killers, and people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

As you read along, you're not sure if Nola will survive.  Zig has the same dangers.

It's complex, gives you bits and pieces as you read.  This isn't a cheery book, but it is a good portrayal of how the military works.  It'll keep you busy for a while...

Grumble, Yawn by Deborah Kerbel, ills. Jacqui Lee

This is a board book for small ones.  Each page has two words on it expressing how the little one feels.

Orca Book Publishers and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on the 15th of March.

The illustrations are bold, the child is crabby and Dad works on making it better.  

It was a fun read.

It's Me, Henry by Stéphanie Deslauriers, ills. Geneviève Després

This is a good story.  Henry is different from the other kids and it makes him sad.

Orca Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 15th.One thing Henry is good at is plants.  He even knows their Latin names.  

When the class goes to visit the botanical garden, he's excited.  He even gets to help with the presentation.  Suddenly he's got friends and life is better.

Coogie the Dumpster Cat by Lynda S. Gordon

Coogie wakes up in a dumpster.  He doesn't like it because it smells bad and there is nothing to eat.  Then big hands reach in and take him out.  It's a young man who knows a woman who finds good homes for stray pets.

Indigo River Publishing and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on March 29th.

The kitten is depicted as small with big eyes.  He's picture perfect.  I'd probably keep him if he showed up on my porch.

The woman starts looking for a family for him.  She finds a good one and tells him that but he's distressed.  Can you guess why?

Other Worlds Than These by Luke Bramley

Will is driving to his girlfriends with his parents in the back seat.  The road is slick and Will is trying to hurry.  Suddenly he loses control and they leave the road and fall in the river.  They are upside down and Will loses consciousness.  He gets rescued but his parents can't get out of their seat belts and drown.

The author shared his book with me for a review.

This is a story of fantasy and that keeps you reading because you don't know what is going to happen next.  Dead people come to life again.  There are people who can fly.  There are romances...

Even Will's parents appear alive again and he tries to find them.  Will gets married and they have a baby.  He has a good male friend.

There are adventures all the way through.  Will goes into a coma and Fay the baby daughter gets taken by an enemy.  They tell the wife that she can pick which one should die...

You never know where they will be or who will be with them.  It's a busy read and when you know the dead can rise again it gives you less worry about death.

It's a good read.

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

This story is creepy.  Nine people get a list with their name on it as well as the others.  Then they start to die...

William Morrow sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published March 15th.

As people whose names on the list die, the cops and the FBI get involved.  But it doesn't stop the deaths.  

While reading this, I was wondering who the killer was and how these people came to die.  They die in various ways with no time to talk.

At the end you get the motive, learn the name of the killer, and begin to understand that something that happened years ago was the motivator.  

I was glued to the book reading along trying to figure it out.  I can understand the motive but it was sad so many had to do die.  You won't be bored.

Other Worlds than These by Luke Bramley

This author has an active imagination.  He has created a story that is fascinating and keeps your attention.

It's a story of two worlds.  There is a bridge between them but it is falling apart.  You will meet a lot of characters.  Some people who have died come back to life in the other world.  You need to pay attention to what is happening closely so you don't get confused.

The author sent me copy of his book to read for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can get a copy now.

One of the main characters gets married and they have a child.  There is a character who has lied about his past and present life and threatens to kill the husband or the baby.  The wife can choose.  But she can't...

Get ready to go on a great adventure with lots happening and enemies in with the regular Joes.  You never know what is going to happen or how it will turn out...

It's not boring and keeps you reading.  Good and bad things happen but that's life.  It was a challenging read.

In the Ballroom with the Candlestick by Diana Peterfreund

Have you ever played Clue?  It's board game where you try to find out who the murderer is and in which room it happened.  This book's tale is based on the game.

Pique Beyond sent me a copy of this to read for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

This story is about a boarding school where murder is being done.  There are several murders and not everyone knows who has done it.

There is romance, twins, and several smart students.  But the murders put a damper on things.  Why are these teachers and students  dying?

As you read along secrets are given and you won't figure out how it all happened until the end.

The ending is a bit unique.  There are three endings and you can choose the one you like best.

It was an entertaining read and the endings are all different.