kailey_luminouslibro's Reviews (3.79k)

"To the world, you are a dad. To our family, you are the world." - Unknown

This book compiles quotes, sayings, and jokes all about fatherhood and parenting. There is one for every day in the year to inspire and encourage fathers.

There are quotes from Albert Einstein, Brad Pitt, John F. Kennedy, Frederick Douglas, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and Will Ferrell. It's a mishmash of famous people from history; poets, comedians, musicians, presidents, actors, authors, singers, athletes, and politicians. There are also famous proverbs from all over the world about parenting and fatherhood.

I loved that some of the quotes are serious, some are funny, and some of them are emotional and heartfelt. There really is something for everyone, whether you have a goofy dad, an intellectual dad, or a dad with a tough exterior but a heart of gold.

The design is really beautiful with colorful photos of dads and their kids. This makes a wonderful gift for Father's Day! I'm giving it to my brother for a Father's Day gift this year.

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.

Spacekid iLK is stranded on Earth, where Emilio is now in charge and has started a contest to be declared king of the world. iLK is forced to attend a boarding school. He tries to "make friends" by "recruiting" his fellow students to fight back against the evil Emilio, who has taken over the planet. When a mysterious bubble-shaped alien race show up, they seem friendly so iLK asks them to help him win the election to become king of the world.

I thought this second book in the series was hilarious! The writing is so clever and silly, and the plot is really imaginative. I loved the world-building with the aliens, and their culture of invasion and world domination. I especially enjoyed the complex family dynamics between iLK and his parents.

iLK himself is a wonderful main character. He's sassy and grumpy. He has such a disgruntled teen attitude, and it's wonderfully ridiculous. He's a lovely complex character, who is selfish and generous by turns, always changing and growing.

I loved the whimsical illustrations and cartoon drawings. It's not set up in panels like a comic or graphic novel, but more like a continuous stream of text and pictures down the page. It's very easy to follow, and I loved the dialogue and action within the artwork.

This is such an entertaining book! I enjoyed the positive messages about taking responsibility and doing the right thing even when there are obstacles. Spacekid iLK learns that things cannot be solved with violence. It is worthwhile to take time to get to know people and appreciate their unique talents.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author 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 mysterious robot boy crash lands in a city, and soon his programming detects a threat. The programming goes into combat mode, attacking bystanders and accidentally destroying a grocery store greenhouse. But when a little bird is hurt, his programming seems to awaken a consciousness and the boy becomes aware of his actions. He looks around and realizes that the devastation is his own fault. He tries to make amends and rebuilds the greenhouse. He is adopted by a sweet lady, who he begins to call his grandmother. Gradually he learns to be human and fit in with society. But there are those who would use his robot programming for their own selfish ends.

This graphic novel is so cool! The characters are very emotional and complex. I love that there is a background for each character which is gradually revealed through the story. Everyone has a secret in their past that has some kind of connection to what Machine Boy is dealing with in the present.

Poor Machine Boy is quite innocent and he has difficulty understanding some of the nuances of human behavior. His heart is generous and kind, but there are people who will never accept him and others who will try to use his powers for their own gain. It was fascinating to see how he tries to navigate these different relationships. While discovering the truth about the people around him, he also discovers the truth about himself.

The plot is really exciting! There is plenty of mystery and action and adventure and funny moments.

The setting on this earth-like planet is so imaginative and wild! I'm not sure if it is futuristic Earth, or some other planet. There are dog-people and bear-people and bird-people and regular human people. Apparently there is some sort of magic energy that can be harnessed to provide power for the city, but individuals can also manipulate it if they have the skills. The whole setting of this city is so weird and cool.

The artwork is amazing! Every page is so colorful and full of energy. I appreciated that the action scenes are clear; you can tell exactly what is happening through each panel. The designs for the characters are really unusual and whimsical. I love it!

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.

Bea loves all things cute and sweet. Her greatest wish is to be a superhero, so she can help her friends. She even has her sidekick dog, Woofs. But she doesn't have a superhero costume. She tries a cape and maybe sunglasses or a mask, but nothing seems right. Bea helps a hurt bunny and discovers that being a superhero is about more than just the perfect costume. It's about being a super friend.

This is so cute and adorable! It is a complete overload of pink and fuzzy coziness and tiny heart stickers on the cover of your pink notebook where you write with pink glitter pens. I love it!

I can't decide if this is a picture book or a comic book, because the age range would be for the picture book kids, but the style is with panels like a comic. Either way, the artwork is fabulous! I love the colorful designs for each character and the cartoon style.

Bea is such a sweet character. She really just wants to help and make a difference for her friends and little animal pals. I fell in love with her right away!

There are a couple of weird directions that the story takes. Like in the beginning, I assumed that animals don't talk in this world. The dog, Woofs, doesn't talk. The bunny doesn't talk. And then suddenly near the end, the bunny starts talking, and Bea is all like, "What? You can talk?" So little bunny was just choosing not to talk all that time? And why doesn't Woofs ever say a single word? Seems suspicious. I'm not really sure what happened there.

But it's still a super-cute book, and I enjoyed it!

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.

Only 13 pages in, the author said that "goblins" are found among the LGBTQ+ community, among artists, introverts, nature lovers, etc... and are noted for being anti-capitalist.
I don't get this. What does your sexual preference, or personality type, or your political ideas have to do with the premise to "get cozy, embrace imperfection, and thrive in the muck"? It has nothing to do with the subject of this book, so why bring it up? It gets on my nerves when people use any and every excuse to drag their political ideology into things. Seems like although the author claims that the goblin community is so inclusive and welcoming, they just alienated half their audience.

Also she uses the word "capitalism" when she actually means "materialism", which are two separate things. She says, "...they're also anti-capitalist icons. ... Being a goblin isn't about spending lots of money on new things..." She obviously intended to say 'anti-materialistic', but instead said 'anti-capitalist'. I don't understand why someone who lacks knowledge of basic economic terms is commenting on economics in a book that is NOT about economics.

I picked up this book because it looked fun, but now I'm just annoyed. Why can't they stick to the subject!?

And it continued on and on with the same inane political references to capitalism on every other page!
Goblins "... are devoted to this fun, feral aesthetic that has a surprising amount of meaning and power in this late-stage-capitalist world."
"Spending time outside is a radical act of anti-capitalism..."
"If you can, visit a park or some other natural area. Take up space! Take your own Instagram photos! Be an anti-capitalist troublemaker!"
"Capitalism loves to categorize, so it's not surprising that most people have been conditioned to view nature through such a narrow lens."

None of that makes any sense. It is pure gibberish. Taking an Instagram photo is anti-capitalist? My main reaction is pity for this poor author who is so obviously confused to the point where she can't put together a coherent sentence.

There is also a lengthy section about how the imagery of traditional goblins from fairy tales is actually promoting antisemitism, and how "white America" has portrayed different groups "as being unclean". Nothing in that section made any sense either.

At one point the author literally refers to this book as their "manifesto". I guess that explains the constant political references. They didn't write a cute and cozy book. They wrote a political manifesto disguised as a cute and cozy book.

And then the profanity started. And that is when I gave up. I made it to page 37. I really wanted to like this book, but alas, it was not to be.

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 collection of folk tales follows Bear, Fox, and Wolf as they attempt to sow a field of wheat by clearing a space in the forest. Fox is always trying to get out of doing his share of the work, and he tricks his friends and neighbors. The Rooster at the nearby farm has a terrible premonition that the end of the world is coming, and he spreads a panic among the animals. The Hare is terrified at some strange monster creature in the woods, but no animal is brave enough to get close enough to find out what kind of creature it is. In each tale, Fox is a prominent character, always sly and clever.

I love these animal tales! Some of them have a simple moral message, like folk tales usually do, but some of them are just funny or clever.

The writing style is charming! It really captures that old-fashioned style that you see in old fairy tales or fables. I like that the writing takes the time to set up the characters and the setting and the problem they are facing, and then right when it seems that the characters are going to be in big trouble, we get a funny one-liner that finishes off the tale with style! The structure of each story is excellent, and I enjoyed it very much.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful! I was completely in awe of this gorgeous artwork. Every little brushstroke is so delicate. You can clearly see the fur and feathers of each animal. I like the muted woodland colors of the full-color illustrations, but there are also some lovely ink sketches.

This whole book is so pretty! The hardcover edition that I have has a ribbon bookmark and pretty endpapers, and it's little details like that which make this book so special.

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 beautiful book has postcards, stickers, small posters, removable journal booklets, and a dozen other adorable things included! You can write lists, read poetry, make a collage, write in your thoughts, or make a paper flower. There are articles about slowing down, treating yourself with compassion, finding meaning in your life, and enjoying solitude.

There are inspirational stories, beautiful artwork, and famous quotes. You'll find common sense advice about how to connect with nature, how to take time to do nothing, how to be vulnerable and connect with others, how to navigate the ups and downs of life, and how to be more grateful.

You can sketch or doodle, cook up a new recipe, send a postcard to a friend, or take a photograph. There are dozens of activities that you can choose from!

There are so many opportunities for writing in this book. There are lists, journal prompts, questions, and a whole bunch of space for writing in your thoughts. I especially love the removable journals, little sticker puzzle, and postcards and little banners. Each one of these is like a special treasure that you discover as you flip through the pages!

I adore the lovely designs in this book. There are a lot of different styles of artwork, but it's all colorful and peaceful. There is a nostalgic and retro feeling to the art that I really like. There are also some truly gorgeous photos in big page spreads that really catch your eye.

I am so impressed with the design and content of this sweet book. It's really positive and fun! The writing is encouraging, and you can jump around to the different activities depending on what interests you.

It sort of feels like a magazine with all the articles, but it's also like a craft book, and a journal, and a quote book. This book has everything!

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.

Richard Hannay has retired to the English countryside with his darling wife, Mary, and their son, Peter John. But he gets roped into an adventure once again when he learns that a criminal mastermind has kidnapped three young people, one of them a young boy only 10 years old. The only clue is a mysterious poem with the imagery of a blind woman who spins thread, a curiosity shop run by a man with a dyed beard, and the cryptic phrase "the land of Eden." Richard must unravel the clues and trust his instincts to rescue the poor captives before it is too late.

I loved this mystery so much! The plot keeps moving forward, and just when you think they are discovering something at last, then another clue turns up and they have to start again in a new direction. The twists and turns go all over the place!

This mystery included plenty of action and adventure, but what really intrigued me was the mental warfare going on. The villain of the story turns out to be dabbling in hypnotism, and Richard has to play a dangerous intellectual game to lull the bad guy into a sense of safety and then spy on him to learn his evil plans.

I enjoyed the writing style very much. I like that we get to experience all of Richard's inner thoughts and emotions. The writing is so powerfully descriptive that the reader feels all of Richard's fear and elation as he escapes from danger.

In the last book, I complained that Richard and Mary's romance was too quick. In this book, I similarly complain that their relationship is taken for granted. Instead of getting to see how they learn to trust each other even more through this mystery, they are static characters. They already trust each other and rely on each other and understand the other person. There is no growth in their relationship. Of course in both books, the main focus of the story is not on their relationship; it's all about the espionage and mystery. But still, I would have liked to see more development for them.

Two warrior hares of Salamandastron set out on a journey to Redwall looking for adventure. When they find out that little animal babes and toddlers are being kidnapped from all around Redwall, they vow to help the Redwall creatures to find their missing children. The evil 'Quean' is hatching a horrible plot against all the good animals at Redwall, and her vermin army is closing in.

I just adore all the Redwall books! What an absolute delight! This book has everything that I love about Redwall books. Ravenous hares, wise old badgers, adorable moles, fierce shrews, and of course brave warriors ready to defend all good beasts. I especially loved the cute antics of the little babes in this book!

As with all Redwall books, I made sure to have a stash of snacks on hand since the characters are constantly eating the most delicious food. They have massive feasts and parties, but even a simple breakfast will make your mouth water with all the descriptions of pastries and fruit pies and cordials.

The action and pacing in this book are really excellent. The plot is always moving forward, but there are also scenes that take the time to show our characters grieving or resting or laughing together. It builds up the emotional components of the story, so that when you get to the big battles, we really care about what happens to the characters.

This collection of essays and letters from C.S. Lewis covers a wide range of topics, including Christmas traditions, miracles, vivisection, morality, dogma, and prayer.
He talks about how a God who is good can allow pain in the world, briefly summarizing concepts from his book "The Problem of Pain." He talks about the common man of his day and their objections or misunderstandings that keep them from believing in Christ. He talks about the decline of religion in Britain, and the Christian truths hidden in pagan mythology. He answers questions, refutes common mistakes of his contemporaries, and responds to criticisms from his fellow intellectuals.

Some of it felt like I was coming into a conversation after the people had already been talking for an hour. Because I didn't hear what the first person said, then I have little or no context for the responses. Since I have not read whatever article or essay was published by Dr. So-and-so, now I am lost reading Lewis' reply to them.
Other things were a bit confusing to me because I am just not familiar with the knowledge or traditions that were widely known in Lewis' day. Thankfully, some of the footnotes explained these things.

I don't always agree with Lewis in his theology, but I always appreciate that he makes me think deeply about a wide variety of subjects.

In many of these essays, he poses a moral question, dances all around it from every perspective, shows how the atheistic or political perspective is wrong, and then leaves it to you to find an answer for yourself. The only obvious option left at the end is Christ, because that's the only thing that makes sense. Lewis leads you right to the edge of the water, but it is up to you to take it that little extra inch and get a satisfying Christian drink of living water.

I skipped the last section of the book which is some of Lewis' letters, because I have already read a much larger compilation of Lewis' letters. I skimmed over them here, and did not see anything new, so I just skipped it for now.

I was annoyed that several of the essay topics repeat themselves. There is an essay about "The Pains of Animals" and another titled "Vivisection" which have almost exactly the same material. Lewis reuses many of the same illustrations for slightly different topics, so it got kind of repetitive.

However, I still enjoyed it because his writing is just so wonderful in every respect. His words are vivid and powerful. His logic just makes so much sense. He leads you clearly from one point to the next so that you can see each link in the chain as you go along.

There is something truly natural and elemental about his arguments. You can look around you at your own life and say, "Ah yes. He described it exactly. Yep, that is the way the world works. That is reality. What he is saying here is true. I can see it every day in our society around us and in how God works in people." It's not like he is spouting some kind of mystical spiritual mystery that I can never understand or observe. He cuts right into the heart of things and clearly shows you the inner workings behind the glitter of the world.