This book gives short bios on more than 100 amazing women who were (and are) leaders of nations, artists, inventors, revolutionaries, writers, athletes, scientists, designers, and shapers of their culture. Even fictional queens and mythical women are included, as figures of our imaginations that have influenced the way we think about women in power.

Each short biography shows how each incredible woman came to gain fame and renown for her accomplishments and position. Every page includes beautiful photographs and illustrations, showcasing the history of the era in which these queens lived.

The book is broken into sections and chapters about Empire Builders, Women of Action, Revolutionary Rulers, Culture Shapers, Monarchs of the Arts, Legendary Leaders, Queens of Knowledge, and Queens of Adventure.

There were many names that I recognized, but even more that I had never heard of before. I was delighted to discover all these incredible women who fought, taught, and sometimes suffered for the good of their people. There are so many accomplished women whose contributions to history are barely remembered today, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their stories.

There are also the villainous queens included as cautionary tales about how power corrupts and becomes a weapon of evil in the wrong hands. And then there are the ladies who fall in the middle; they did some good, but they also did some bad. They united their country, but they had a lot of people killed. I like how the book writes about all the queens in a balanced way, stating the facts, and letting the reader decide for themselves.

This book is wonderfully inspirational, and even includes an afterword that talks about the qualities of a good leader, and encourages the reader to carefully consider what they should do with their power as they get inspired to lead and break new boundaries.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Masters Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book gives short bios on more than 100 amazing men who were (and are) leaders of nations, artists, inventors, revolutionaries, writers, scientists, astronauts, and shapers of their culture. Even fictional kings, comic book heroes, and mythical men are included, as figures of our imaginations that have influenced the way we think about men in power.

Each short biography shows how each incredible man came to gain fame and renown for his accomplishments and position. Every page includes beautiful photographs and illustrations, showcasing the history of the era in which these kings lived.

The book is broken into sections and chapters about Empire Builders, Military Masterminds, Revolutionary Rulers, Kings of Change, Lords of Legend, Kings of Knowledge, and Kings of Creativity. There are actors, musicians, pioneers, naturalists, architects, and athletes all included.

There were many names that I recognized, but even more that I had never heard of before. I was delighted to discover all these forgotten men who fought, taught, and sometimes suffered for the good of their people. There are so many accomplished gentlemen whose contributions to history are barely remembered today, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their stories.

There are also the villainous kings included as cautionary tales about how power corrupts and becomes a weapon of evil in the wrong hands. And then there are the fellows who fall in the middle; they did some good, but they also did some bad. They united their country, but they had a lot of people killed. I like how the book writes about all the kings in a balanced way, stating the facts, and letting the reader decide for themselves.

This book is wonderfully inspirational, and even includes an afterword that talks about the qualities of a good leader, and encourages the reader to carefully consider what they should do with their power as they get inspired to lead and break new boundaries.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Masters Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

The everyday things around us have fascinating histories of genius, inspiration, happy accidents, tradition, and ancient legends. How were zippers, scissors, candles, velcro, pockets, skateboards, hair dye, and chewing gum invented, and how have they changed over the years? This book tells the incredible origin stories of hundreds of everyday items, holidays, games, foods, and sports.

The colorful photos and illustrations bring each entry to life, as the reader dives into the history and legends of common-place items. The colors are bright and energetic, and draw your attention. The design of each page is calculated to spark the reader's interest!

I was fascinated by the history laid out in the book! It's really interesting to see how a single item will evolve through the centuries and be adopted by different cultures around the world.

The writing is broken up into short paragraphs, easy to read and the perfect length for young readers. The narrative style is creative and accessible, making history come alive!

This would really capture the attention of children and teens who are curious about the world, and love to learn weird facts from history. It certainly made me look at ordinary items in a new light!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Have you ever wondered how much mucus your sinuses make every day? Or what types of insects various cultures around the world consider to be delicious cuisine? Or how much pee rodents are leaving in the walls of your house? Wonder no more, because this book covers a multitude of disgusting and disturbing facts about the gross things of the world.

With sections about rats, toads, plants, insects, germs, food, mold, skunks, mummies, and dozens more, this book will definitely gross you out! Heed the warnings, and do NOT read it before eating!

Each two-page spread give facts and history about something nasty, including colorful photographs and illustrations that will make you nauseated if you look at them too long. And each entry has a Yuck-o-meter that rates the item as "Ewww, Gross, Nasty, or Disgusting" depending on the level of nastiness.

I appreciated that the book gives scientific and historic facts, but also keeps the writing fun and silly. The subject material is definitely yucky, but never inappropriate for children. It's all good "clean" fun! haha!

This book would appeal to young people who are curious about the world and love to be grossed out!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Beginning with simple recognition of the alphabet and their sounds, this book moves into identifying the vowels and combining consonants to form short words. With word scramble games and coloring puzzles, this book is sure to engage the attention of young children!

There is a chart at the beginning where the child can track their progress through all the activities, and color in the star when they have finished each page. There is also a cute certificate at the end of the book proclaiming the child to be a "Phonics All-Star"!

The colorful illustrations make this book really special. The games, puzzles, connect the dots, and secret messages really make learning fun!

This is a wonderful workbook to get beginning readers excited about learning!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This cookbook is perfect for beginner bakers who want simple recipes! The cakes are easy to make, and look amazing. The instructions are simple to follow, and the cakes don't require a lot of fancy ingredients. Even though the recipes are uncomplicated, the cakes look rich and delicious!

There are sections for bundt cakes, loaf cakes, coffee cakes, little mug cakes, and even cakes baked in a skillet. With an entire section just for toppings like frosting, whipped cream, ganache, and glaze, this book has everything you need to create delicious cakes!

The best part about this cookbook is the instruction section at the beginning that gives invaluable tips on utensils, measurements, mixing batter, baking times, and types of cake pans. It includes advice on how to soften brown sugar that has gone hard, how to prep cake pans with flour, how to fold ingredients into batter, and how to tell if the cake is really done.

The recipes include an Orange Coffee Cake that I really want to try, and a Pecan Upside-Down Skillet Cake that sounds heavenly!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

James Rhodes writes about classical music and features seven revolutionary composers who changed the landscape of music forever. With chapters on Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Ravel, this book outlines how music developed over time, and how each of these extraordinary musicians overcame the challenges of their era to create beautiful music that still resonates with musicians today.

I was really intrigued by the wild and colorful artwork depicting each composer, with elements of their time and items representing their music pasted into a chaotic blend. Bach is depicted with grand church buildings behind him, and Mozart has angels, flowers, and sunshine around his head like a halo. Chopin has a flaming heart on his chest, and a piano next to him being destroyed by sledgehammers. Rachmaninoff has butterflies and tigers, along with a diagram of a massive hand. (He had really huge hands; the bane of all pianists who try to play his piano compositions.)

I was a little dissatisfied with the writing style, which is irreverent and flippant. I guess the author is trying to appeal to the modern person by comparing Beethoven to Kanye West, but I didn't appreciate it. And Mozart's incredible composing output is compared to Rihanna or Coldplay releasing six albums a year, to emphasize how much and how quickly Mozart was writing. The author is trying to create some kind of bridge to the modern world, but I would prefer to just hear the history and make my own conclusions about the modern-day influences of these composers.

One thing I did love about this book is the obvious enthusiasm of the author for these composers and their music. The book really inspires the reader to listen carefully to classical music, and appreciate the different emotions and styles and technical perfection of some of the greatest music ever written!

I really liked how the chapters are organized. We are given a short bio on each composer, including some elements of their time in history and personal relationship and family life that definitely influenced and inspired their music. Then there are two ground-breaking pieces that are analyzed and described, as you listen along with the playlist, showcasing the genius of the composer and telling why that piece in particular is so important.

"With the proper diet, medicine is of no need; with an improper diet, medicine is of no use."

This book explains the theories behind Ayurvedic medicine, and gives advice on eating for your body type or "dosha". The first section gives a little history about the origins of Ayurveda and how this system can stimulate the body to heal itself. Then the three "doshas" are introduced with a quiz to help you determine your type. Kaphas are sluggish and compassionate. Pittas are energetic and ambitious. And Vatas are restless and imaginative. They each also have physical characteristics and common health problems that result from their body type and personality type.

The next chapter gives advice for eating according to your "dosha" and how certain foods can worsen common ailments for your type or can heal those problems. Eating a healthy diet at regular meal times can balance the "digestive fire" and help your body respond well to food, embracing nourishment for every area of your health.

The six tastes are described as promoting energy or calmness, increasing digestion or slowing it down, as needed for each person. There are also 20 food textures and qualities such as crunchy, oily, rough, light, or heavy that are categorized as helping or harming your "dosha" type.

The diet plan warns readers to completely stay away from harmful food like deli meat, fast food, sugary drinks, hydrogenated oils, and white sugar. Spices, both cooling and hot, are encouraged both as a way to add flavor to recipes and for their healing properties.

This chapter emphasizes staying hydrated and drinking water at various crucial points throughout the day, such as first thing in the morning. The Ayurvedic diet plan also has instructions for eating seasonally, planning your meals with the weather and seasons in mind, and eating warmer foods in the winter, and cooling foods in the summer.

There is an entire chapter all about different healing foods and the ailments they alleviate, along with charts of the best types of foods for each "dosha".

One of the things I really like about this diet plan is that they encourage progress, not perfection. There are many guidelines with an Ayurvedic program, but the book gives the reader the freedom to make the best choices they can that still fits their lifestyle. Not everyone can buy fresh produce and find time to cook it everyday, so the book encourages you to buy frozen if you need to, and not feel guilty about it. Just make the best food choices you can with the time and energy you have available.

The rest of the book gives 90 recipes, each labeled for the "dosha" they strengthen. The recipes are divided by Drinks and Teas, Smoothies, Breakfast, Sides and Snacks, Lunches, Dinners, Desserts, and Condiments. Most of the recipes are good for two "doshas" or even all three "doshas".

Many of the recipes include super healthy ingredients like ghee, which is a butter with the milk solids removed, and mung dal, which is a yellow split mung bean. Readers are advised to find specialty ingredients online or at health food stores. There are a lot of rice dishes, salads, and veggie soups, all of which look delicious, but unfamiliar.

I think that if you are ready to try some new foods and recipes and are serious about getting your health under control, this cookbook is a wonderful place to start! The great thing about it is that you can take the advice for Ayurvedic eating and apply it to more familiar recipes, tweaking your favorite foods to be more healthy. There are so many options with the advice and healthy planning explained in this book, and you can apply it to many areas of life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This crafting book contains templates and cut-outs for gift tags, postcards, holiday greeting cards, decorative envelopes, bookmarks, small posters to frame, and scrapbook paper. The illustrations come in many different styles and colors, all with festive patterns, snowmen, gingerbread houses, Christmas bells, Santas, reindeer, mittens, and Christmas trees. There are even a few postcards you can color!

I love the colorful illustrations and styles. Each page is so bright and merry! The paper is thick and heavy, making it perfect for mailing the post cards or using as background for a photo book. Each page is double-sided, so for some things you would have to choose which side you wanted to use. The pages also have perforated lines that make it easy to tear out and use!

I guess I had expected that there would be more "crafting" involved, but the only thing to do is cut or tear out the pages. There is a craft tutorial for making tassels to attach to the bookmarks, and some instructions on how to fold the decorative envelopes. There is also a tutorial on how to make a fridge magnet with Mod Podge. But other than that, there is not much "crafting" to do. This is more of a book of useful holiday-themed paper to use in other crafts, rather than a book of craft lessons.

I can't wait to send out some of the beautiful cards, and create tassels for the bookmarks! I will definitely be using the little 8x10 posters to decorate the walls of my office for December!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Francois is a little boy with a big imagination. He is always writing down stories and telling them to his classmates and teachers, but the bullies in school make fun of his stories and his teachers are exasperated with him. He meets a mysterious woman who tells him that he has a magical power over letters of the alphabet and can command any book to do his bidding. An evil man has seized control of the letters, and only Francois can restore balance to the secret world of authors.


I loved Francois' character! He has a good heart and enjoys using his intelligence to fantasize about other worlds and magical creations. He makes up stories about robot teachers, a green fish that blushes gold, and a father who tells pretend adventures to his sick son.
I loved the artistry that Francois discovers inside himself as his natural talent for writing is revealed. He learns to have more self-confidence in his abilities, and embrace his true self.

The story line has some good suspense and action, but the real draw is the magical letters and the mystery of the author's secret society. The letters are sentient, and they spy on Francois and follow him around to determine if he has the budding magical powers to direct the alphabet to create stories. The plot is so interesting and imaginative!

I can't really comment on the artwork, since the e-file that I got from NetGalley was a little blurry. As far as I can tell, it looks colorful and fun, and I liked the design of the characters. Sometimes the action was a little confusing, and I wasn't sure what was going on in each panel, but that might have been the low quality of the e-file.

A fun and inventive book with a good story line!

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.