When a famously rare diamond is discovered in an unlikely place, only Holmes and Watson can solve the clues of how the diamond was stolen by thieves and subsequently lost.

This Sherlock Holmes mystery is retold and simplified for children ages 7-13. The story follows exactly the same story line as the original book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with much of the same dialogue and narration. Holmes and Watson are the same beloved characters that we know, and the mystery is just as suspenseful and thrilling as the original.

I loved how the writing style is simple, but is still vivid and energetic! The text is large, and there are a few definition boxes that explain terms or historical items that may be unfamiliar.

I loved the black and white illustrations that pop up every few pages. The cartoony style of the drawings is just right for this type of children's retelling, and gives an added flair to the story. The artwork is sometimes humorous and fun, making the story a little more lighthearted for young people.

I can't wait to revisit more Holmes stories in this children's series! This is an excellent way to introduce classics to elementary and middle grade readers!

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.

A lost Indian treasure, an old man on his deathbed, and the prisoners who seek revenge against him. Only Holmes and Watson can unravel the history of the treasure and track down the clever murderers who will do anything to steal the treasure of the Rajah.
I especially like this mystery, because Watson falls in love in a sweet and subtle little romance.

This Sherlock Holmes mystery is retold and simplified for children ages 7-13. The story follows exactly the same story line as the original book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with much of the same dialogue and narration. Holmes and Watson are the same beloved characters that we know, and the mystery is just as suspenseful and thrilling as the original.

I loved how the writing style is simple, but is still vivid and energetic! The text is large, and there are a few definition boxes that explain terms or historical items that may be unfamiliar.

I loved the black and white illustrations that pop up every few pages. The cartoony style of the drawings is just right for this type of children's retelling, and gives an added flair to the story. The artwork is sometimes humorous and fun, making the story a little more lighthearted for young people.

I can't wait to revisit more Holmes stories in this children's series! This is an excellent way to introduce classics to elementary and middle grade readers!

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.

Seraphin and his friends are trapped in the aethership along with the king, rising steadily into the ether and approaching space. There is only one chance for them to get home safely, but the ether is more powerful than they bargained for.

I loved this second volume in the series! The artwork is truly beautiful, and I love the expressive lines and colors. The story is imaginative and emotional, and I loved the character development in this one!
Such a great series!

This book covers everything you could ever want to know about tea from the rich history of tea to how to brew it properly. There are chapters about the different types of teas, the pros and cons of teabags vs. loose leaf tea, how to determine the flavors and aftertaste of a tea blend, and how to brew the perfect cuppa.

There are excellent instructions on how to store tea, how to determine the caffeine content, and how to calculate the correct temperature and steeping time.

One of the details that make this book special is the inclusion of Asian tea ceremonies and traditions, along with fun things like a tea pet, which is a small unglazed clay figurine that can be saturated with the tea and takes on a beautiful patina and aroma of the tea. There are also tea ceremonies from Russia, Tibet, Britain, Turkey, New Zealand, India, Morroco, and a dozen other cultures. There is a section about the newly popular "bubble tea" from Taiwan, and it has inspired me to try it! But I was especially delighted to see a section for Southern Sweet Tea native to my own Southern United States.

I learned about types of tea I had never heard of before, like the rare yellow tea which undergoes only slight fermentation and has a more mellow taste than green tea. There is also a small separate section about tisanes, or herbal tea, which are not true tea since they don't include actual tea leaves.

There is an entire chapter with instructions for hosting your own tea party. It includes things like how to choose a theme, design a menu, and try your own tea blends. You can make your own tea bags, put together DIY sugar cubes, and there is a recipe for traditional scones. There is also a small section on throwing a children's tea party.

My only complaint is that I wish there were more photos or illustrations demonstrating the different types of tea, the types of Eastern tea pots, and styles of brewing and serving tea.

This wonderful book has given some great ideas to try for my next cup of tea!


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.

Sweet, poignant story.

Ben and his friends are determined to follow the river on the night of their Autumn Festival. Every year thousands of lanterns are floated down the river, and legend says that the lanterns float up to join the stars. Ben makes a pact with his friends to find out the truth about where the lanterns go, and they hop on their bikes to follow the lanterns. But the weird kid, Nathaniel, follows them, and when everyone else turns back, Nathaniel and Ben discover the true magic that surrounds the lanterns.

This book is so beautiful and whimsical! I was enchanted from the very beginning. The lovely artwork, the imaginative plot, the emotional characters, and the engaging dialogue kept me entranced through every page.

I just love the character development that Ben goes through as he and Nathaniel's awkward friendship begins to deepen. They meet a lot of weird and magical characters on their journey, and I loved those crazy characters! You never know quite what to expect, because ANYTHING could happen.
The two friends encounter difficulties, both physical obstacles that they have to overcome, and emotional obstacles that they have to work through.

The artwork is utterly amazing! The colors and graceful lines, and the expressions of the characters, and the magical action, and everything is so perfect!

I'm just so enchanted with this whole book! It's truly beautiful.

This book has simple instructions for easy origami patterns, and begins with the simplest of them all, a little paper house. Gradually the book moves from simple designs to more complex designs that require more folds. Everything is explained with detailed instructions and diagrams that clearly show each fold.

I love the cute designs! There are cats and birds and fish and butterflies, a teapot, a basket, a man fishing, a praying nun, and even a sphinx and a snail. The instructions for some of these are so simple that a child could do them, and yet they are still interesting for adults.

My favorite design is the origami for a little paper piano! I HAD to try it out immediately, because I am a pianist, and it turned out great! It was so easy to do, and I drew a little piano keyboard onto the paper with a pen. So fun!

You don't have to have "real" origami paper to make these. You can just cut some printer paper to be square and start folding! The diagrams are so easy to follow!

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.

When the SuperHero Girls are faced with a city-wide power outage, all electronics are dead and Batgirl especially suffers since none of her gadgets work and she is cut off from all her data and messaging. Only by working together can the girls solve the mystery of who stole all of Metropolis' power!

The best part about this story is the adorable friendships between all the super girls! Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Batgirl, Green Lantern, and Bumblbee; they are all so different, with different powers, abilities, personalities, and interests, but they love and support each other through everything, and not just in their crime-fighting missions. They really come together to inspire and encourage one another, and I loved the caring dynamic they shared.

I loved the cartoony art! It's really colorful and bright, with great action and easy to read dialogue. I loved the characters' style; their costumes, hair, and facial expressions really brought them to life. The art made it so easy to get lost in the story!

I love the action in the plot, and the mystery of how the power was stolen. Batgirl is at the forefront of this story, and she has to learn how to cope without her gadgets and technology. She begins to realize that she has other resources she can rely on to help her team, and that sometimes it can be good to slow down and unplug and appreciate your friends and family. Such a great story arc for Batgirl, with some great character development!

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 quilting book gives instructions for 35 gorgeous quilt designs. The illustrations and photographs clearly demonstrate each design, and the instructions are easy to follow through each step. There are some general instructions in the beginning of the book about how to choose fabric, cut shapes, add binding, and quilt by hand or by machine. This is excellent for beginners!

The quilt designs are divided into sections with "Fresh Colors, Vivid Colors, Bright Colors, Pastel Colors, and Primary Colors", but each design could be used with any color or pattern that the quilter desires. Each design is shown with 5 different options for fabric alternatives and color schemes that match or work well with the type of design.

I especially like the illustrations that clearly show each design. It makes it really easy to visualize how each piece in the quilt fits together. Each quilt design has several diagrams that show exactly how to piece together the seams and add decorative features.

The designs feel fresh and modern, but also get their inspiration from traditional quilt designs. Each quilt has something special about it that makes it different, like adding buttons, hearts, or brightly colored threads.

I enjoyed the friendly advice like "Remember, it's meant to be cuddly, not perfect!" This book makes quilting fun!

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.

Warren is the bellhop in a dilapidated old hotel, and although he is the heir to the hotel, his nasty uncle and aunt run the place. Warren's aunt spends her days searching the hotel for the mysterious and powerful All-Seeing Eye, rumored to be a magical object of great power. Gradually, more and more people arrive at the hotel to search for the All-Seeing Eye, and Warren must unravel the clues left by his ancestors to find it first!

I loved this book! The design is elaborate and the plot is mysterious. I loved the characters and the writing style. I flew right through the pages, and enjoyed the suspense and action in every chapter.

Warren is such a likable and interesting character! I really appreciated his curiosity, his resilience, and his love for the hotel. He feels connected to his parents and to his ancestors through their shared history in the hotel, and it gave the story a lot of depth to have that heritage.

I loved the puzzles and secret codes in this book! I loved the rich history of the hotel, how it was first built, and the mystery surrounding the All-Seeing Eye. The plot takes so many twists and turns, and I was surprised and in suspense right up to the last page.

The art design is incredible! There are only three colors, black, white, and red, but the artwork and designs are so elaborate and cleverly done that you barely realize that there are so few colors. There are full page illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, and smaller illustrations throughout the other pages. It really adds to the story, and immerses the reader into the world of the hotel.

I can't wait to read more books in this series!

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.