A North Country Life Tales of Woodsman, Waters, and Wildlife by Sydney Lea

Here's a chance to take a walk through the memories of the Poet Laureate of Vermont while he thinks back over the years when social media was time spent with friends and family and the only "connection" you had was with the woods, water, trees, animals and nature as a whole.

Skyhorse Publishing sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It is available now as a hardcover or as an ebook, so you can purchase whichever format you prefer.

I came from a family of hunters and this author is the age of my husband, so I could relate to his stories and to his eulogies for his friends who have gone before him.  He writes with such love about those who taught him so much that it's not a sad book.  It's a tribute to those influenced his life.

He talks about how hunting has changed in time as the wild animals disappear, tells tales about fishing and the big one that got away, and he shares his love and loss of dogs.  I was pleased to see he still has one; it's good to have an animal friend when you get older.  (I have two Bengal cats that check on me and share my life.)

While what he talks about are the good old days of the past, he is sharing his experiences and treasured friends and animals along the way.  This book makes you feel "full" when you're done reading it.

I'd love to see this done as an audio book.  Mr. Lea points out that you can't hear the accents in the written word.  I think adding the country twang to an audio would be special.

Why not get a copy of this book, put a comfortable chair in front of the fire place, get a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and begin reading.  You can pretend you're sharing a campfire with the author and he's regaling you with tales around the fire; just like some of the stories he has heard and will be telling you about.

Happy reading.    

The Golem and Jinni by Helene Wecker

This title caught my eye and all I could think what was:  "What do a Golem and Jinni have in common?"  The answer is nothing except that they are both in New York in 1899.

Harper sent me an uncorrected proof copy of this book for review (thank you).  It will be available to purchase on April 23rd, so check with your local bookstore then for a copy.

A Golem is a Jewish fantasy character made of clay.  A Jinni that can come from a lamp is really a creature of fire but can also take the shape of a man.  It takes magic to bring the Golem to life and to destroy it.  The Jinni can only be contained by iron and can be killed by water.  Ms. Wecker provides a background story for both creatures and tells you the tale of the wizard who is now trying to find them again.

A chance meeting in a park and some conversation started a strange friendship between the Golem and the Jinni.  The Jinni began coming to the lamp post under the Golem's window on assigned nights and going on regular walks with her each week.  They are both "different" and they find common ground with that realization.

This is a wordy story with lots of detail.  I felt like it could have been more succinct, but really found nothing to cut.  All the detail comes together at the end and the pieces fall into place magically.  I couldn't imagine a happy end to this story, but the author ended it quite well.  It's not perfect, but creatures like them never have a perfect life; they'll be content with it.

I enjoyed this read.  If you enjoy fantasy and adventure, or enjoy Jewish and Arab folk mythology, this book will speak to you.  Give it a try.

Happy reading.    

Bad Boy, Good Boy by Kay Chorao

Poor Sam.  He's not trying to do anything wrong, he's trying to do things right.  The adults in his life see the wrong things first, unfortunately.

Abrams Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It's been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

One of the things that caught my eye about this book was the beautiful illustrations.  They are very colorful and quite whimsical.  They bring the story to life.  Then I noticed the author/illustrator had taken classes from Edward Gorey.  His drawings tended to be dark and dreary, but you can see a touch of the influence of style in these illustrations, which are much brighter and joyful.

Sam helps his grandfather cook a snack at night.  He's not allowed to cook but when grandfather can't see well and asks for help, what can he do?  Mom tells him he's a bad boy and takes him back to bed.  When he explains, she tells him he's a good boy and they'll both clean up the kitchen in morning.  This one of the four stories in this book.

There are a lot bads and just a few goods in these tales.  I think they are to demonstrate a point, but I hope you never emphasize "bad" that much.  Children respond much better to praise and parents should know the whole story before they make judgements.

Sam is a creative free spirit and that causes him problems everywhere.  But he's a  good kid who cares about those around him, so how can you not like him?

Looking at those illustrations again, I think they also remind me of Mercer Mayer's style.  Why don't you get a copy of the book and see what you think?

Happy reading.

Pantone: Color Cards

I'm familiar with flash cards and how they are used but I've never seen any like these!  These are big, the colors are vibrant and their purpose is to teach children about tones in colors.

Abrams Appleseed sent me a copy of this set for review (thank you). It's been published, so you can get a copy at your local bookstore now.

I am very impressed with opportunities these cards give the young ones to learn about how colors work and how they can be effective in art.  There are eighteen cards.  There two tones of nine basic colors.  You look at the front of the card which is solid with chosen color.  Then you turn the card over and attempt to find the one animal in a grouping who is exactly the same shade.  This is harder than it sounds because there are several animals and the shading and change is colors is discrete.  

I had trouble with the first one and then learned to look at it as if from a distance and pick out the one that stood out.  Whether it is lighter or darker, there is only of the right color.

Your child will never look at color again in quite the same way.  Why not treat them to a great set and see if you can find the hidden animal yourself?

Happy reading.     

Look What I Can Do! by Nancy Viau

Here's a book that will help your young one understand that you need to just keep trying and you will learn how to do it right.

Abrams Books for Young Readers sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It was published in March, so you can grab a copy at your local bookstore now.

Ms. Viau uses baby animals to demonstrate how it can be hard to learn life skills when you're small.  A young spider spinning a web has to take a nap.  A little snake can only win a race if they are going downhill.  With these sweet examples done by illustrator Anna Vojtech, they'll learn that trying new things can be fun and exciting.  Each overall illustrations shows a girl and boy playing and learning just like the animals in the forest.

I'm sure they'll want to read this one more than once so that they can celebrate the young animals success.  Don't forget to emphasize what your little one has improved in and learned to do.  That positive reinforcement will keep them trying.

Happy reading. 

Identity Crisis by Eliza Daly

Olivia's mother had died long ago from cancer.  It was a shock to have her father die suddenly, leaving her no time to make her goodbyes.  When the priest gives her a letter he had been holding for her from her father, she's totally confused.  When she calls the number in the letter, she gets an even bigger shock...


Ms. Daly and Goddess Fish Blog Tour gave me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  The book has been published and you can get a copy here:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, All Romance, eBooks.com, and Kobo

Livvy finds that she and her father were in the Witness Protection Program.  She knows her father taught her to be vigilant, to pay attention to what was going on around her, and they never stayed too long in one place.  She didn't know about the Witness Protection Program.  All of a sudden, her life isn't her life anymore!

When she hears someone in the hall of her father's home, she gets her pepper spray out and nails him with it and runs.  This is not a good start for developing a relationship with her very own Marshall that is protecting her under the Witness Protection Act...

I enjoyed watching a relationship develop between Livvy and Ethan.  They both have been wounded by a trauma in their past and they are very wary of caring for anyone.  When someone is trying to get something Livvy doesn't have and threatens her, Ethan is there and ready to do the transgressor harm. I also liked watching Livvy meet her family and trying to adjust to the thought that she had one. 

I couldn't figure out who was haunting Livvy, I found no viable suspects.  That's because the author puts an unusual twist in the story that makes it all come together at the end.

The words flow well, there's lot of action, and it's a gripping story.  You, too, should read this book and see if you agree with me.  It was an excellent mystery. 

Eliza will be awarding a one $20 Amazon or B & N Gift Certificates to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon or B & N Gift Certificate, winner's choice, to four (4) randomly drawn commenters during the tour. A $10 Amazon or B & N Gift Certificate, winner's choice, will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-super-book-blast-identity.html

Happy reading.

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote by Duncan Tonatiuh

Papa Rabbit and his friends head north to find work in the corn and lettuce fields.  Crops have failed in Mexico due to the drought and they need money to raise their families so they leave with a promise to return with earnings.

Abrams Books for Young Readers sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It will be published in May, so make a note on your TBR list to pick it up at your local bookstore then.

When his father doesn't return as scheduled, Pancho decides to go after him.  When he finds a coyote who tells him he knows a short cut, he's happy to follow his instructions.  Unfortunately, the coyote is only in it for the food.  (Just like the men who guide people over the boarder are called "coyotes" and are only in it for the money.)

We have a lot of immigrants here in Las Cruces.  There are big farms and ranches and plenty of field work for them.  They often don't get paid very much, but it's still much more than than they can earn or make in Mexico.

I like how this book was put together.  It's very simple for children to read, there is a glossary at the back for the Spanish words, and this can be opportunity for discussion about an issue that is receiving a lot of attention right now.  Be sure to point out that not all immigrants are Mexican; they come from other countries, too. This would make a good book to read aloud and discuss during classes or homeschooling, too.

Why not get a copy and travel along with Pancho and see what you think?

Happy reading.