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4 Stars
Sparky is a little hamster that teaches Tina and Rory about the harmful effects of digging and processing crude oil. The book talks about the need to use electric cars that run on electricity made from renewable energy sources.
The story is in a rhyming verse and makes it interesting for kids. It is informative and engaging to read. The illustrations alter better bright and dark, depending on which part of the story is being shown. It’s a good storybook for kids to start teaching them about nonrenewable and renewable energy sources.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Mascot Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#SparkysElectrifyingTale #NetGalley
Sparky is a little hamster that teaches Tina and Rory about the harmful effects of digging and processing crude oil. The book talks about the need to use electric cars that run on electricity made from renewable energy sources.
The story is in a rhyming verse and makes it interesting for kids. It is informative and engaging to read. The illustrations alter better bright and dark, depending on which part of the story is being shown. It’s a good storybook for kids to start teaching them about nonrenewable and renewable energy sources.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Mascot Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#SparkysElectrifyingTale #NetGalley
4 Stars
Calypso is a little puppy that chases a rat into a boxcar and ends up in another city. He meets different animals and people, some who like and help him, others who shoo him away or want to hurt him.
His adventures take him to different places in the city and back to Maple Falls, where he lives with his owner, Dylan. His quest to find Audrey, another cutie doggie owned by Cressida, helps him get back to his own home and Dylan.
The story is cute and fast-paced with a lot of action. The book is probably for older kids as it’s full of text and no illustrations. Guess it’s what parents read as a bedtime story and teachers read in school.
It shows the importance of having good friends and forming friendships with those who are different from us. The book also deals with self-belief and not giving up at the slightest discomfort.
Overall, Adventures of Calypso is a nice and sweet book for kids who like animals.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#AdventuresofCalypso #NetGalley
Calypso is a little puppy that chases a rat into a boxcar and ends up in another city. He meets different animals and people, some who like and help him, others who shoo him away or want to hurt him.
His adventures take him to different places in the city and back to Maple Falls, where he lives with his owner, Dylan. His quest to find Audrey, another cutie doggie owned by Cressida, helps him get back to his own home and Dylan.
The story is cute and fast-paced with a lot of action. The book is probably for older kids as it’s full of text and no illustrations. Guess it’s what parents read as a bedtime story and teachers read in school.
It shows the importance of having good friends and forming friendships with those who are different from us. The book also deals with self-belief and not giving up at the slightest discomfort.
Overall, Adventures of Calypso is a nice and sweet book for kids who like animals.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#AdventuresofCalypso #NetGalley
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4.2 Stars
The first word that comes to mind is aww! This is a cute little book about a girl who wants to build the best, biggest, and a most wonderful library. It’s full of imagination and fun with giants, dragons, teeny faeries, and whatnot.
There are books for everyone, stacked so high that you’ll need tall ladders. There’s unlimited ice cream to eat, a playground to play in, and just about anything a kid would want.
The illustrations are lively, cheerful, and warm. There’s really isn’t a story per se. It’s more of an ode (of sorts) to booklovers and libraries. Still, it’s a delightful book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Capstone Editions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#SoYouWantToBuildaLibrary #NetGalley
The first word that comes to mind is aww! This is a cute little book about a girl who wants to build the best, biggest, and a most wonderful library. It’s full of imagination and fun with giants, dragons, teeny faeries, and whatnot.
There are books for everyone, stacked so high that you’ll need tall ladders. There’s unlimited ice cream to eat, a playground to play in, and just about anything a kid would want.
The illustrations are lively, cheerful, and warm. There’s really isn’t a story per se. It’s more of an ode (of sorts) to booklovers and libraries. Still, it’s a delightful book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Capstone Editions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#SoYouWantToBuildaLibrary #NetGalley
3.7 Stars
Daisy is an excited big sister. She brings toys and arranges them for her little brother Miles. She wants to play with him and make him smile. Miles, however, has other ideas. He smiles and laughs when mom and dad play with him but doesn’t smile when Daisy tries to do the same.
Daisy keeps trying, finding new ways to entertain her little brother. Finally, she succeeds. But in a surprising way. The story is simple and endearing. It’s not uncommon to see the little ones go all moody and refusing to play with their sisters/ brothers. Miles is no different. However, Daisy doesn’t give up and wins him in the end.
The illustrations are very cute. I like the ones where Daisy dances and does cartwheels. A full page of Miles crying has to be the highlight of the illustrations. I chuckled at that one. This is a heartwarming little book, showing the love an elder sister has for her baby brother.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#ClavisPublishing #NetGalley
Daisy is an excited big sister. She brings toys and arranges them for her little brother Miles. She wants to play with him and make him smile. Miles, however, has other ideas. He smiles and laughs when mom and dad play with him but doesn’t smile when Daisy tries to do the same.
Daisy keeps trying, finding new ways to entertain her little brother. Finally, she succeeds. But in a surprising way. The story is simple and endearing. It’s not uncommon to see the little ones go all moody and refusing to play with their sisters/ brothers. Miles is no different. However, Daisy doesn’t give up and wins him in the end.
The illustrations are very cute. I like the ones where Daisy dances and does cartwheels. A full page of Miles crying has to be the highlight of the illustrations. I chuckled at that one. This is a heartwarming little book, showing the love an elder sister has for her baby brother.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#ClavisPublishing #NetGalley
Now What? How many times have we asked ourselves this question as kids? No matter how many games we play, we end up bored sooner than later and want to try something else.
The book illustrates a similar story of a little girl who is bored of playing on her own and with her little dog. She takes different activities and meets another girl who has just moved into the neighborhood. Together, they start playing and creating new games whenever they are bored.
Now What? Shows us how our imagination and creativity are the best tools to have fun and stay engaged throughout the day. The illustrations are cute and attractive. This is a good book to teach kids that they don’t need smartphones to play games and entertain themselves.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Notable Kids Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NowWhat #NetGalley
The book illustrates a similar story of a little girl who is bored of playing on her own and with her little dog. She takes different activities and meets another girl who has just moved into the neighborhood. Together, they start playing and creating new games whenever they are bored.
Now What? Shows us how our imagination and creativity are the best tools to have fun and stay engaged throughout the day. The illustrations are cute and attractive. This is a good book to teach kids that they don’t need smartphones to play games and entertain themselves.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Notable Kids Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NowWhat #NetGalley
4.2 Stars
My Pet Cloud is a cute book about Max who finds a stray cloud and adopts it as his pet. Since his mom says no to have regular pets due to her allergies, Max delights in having Fluffy, the cloud, as his new pet.
However, taking care of a cloud is not easy, and Max learns it the hard way. He then decides to learn how to care for Fluffy, and soon, his mom realizes how good it is to have a cloud at home.
But a sudden thunderstorm separates them, and Max is sad again. No amount of searching across the lands helps them. Will Max ever find Fluffy again?
Since it’s a kiddo book, you can easily guess what happens at the end. The storyline is interesting, and so is the presentation. The illustrations looked soft but slightly dull to me. While the expressions and moods were perfect, the overall color scheme wasn’t vibrant as I thought. The illustrations are on the same lines as the cover picture.
The best part of the book is those cute adoption cards for different types of clouds. It’s a great way to teach kids about clouds.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Capstone Editions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#MyPetCloud #NetGalley
My Pet Cloud is a cute book about Max who finds a stray cloud and adopts it as his pet. Since his mom says no to have regular pets due to her allergies, Max delights in having Fluffy, the cloud, as his new pet.
However, taking care of a cloud is not easy, and Max learns it the hard way. He then decides to learn how to care for Fluffy, and soon, his mom realizes how good it is to have a cloud at home.
But a sudden thunderstorm separates them, and Max is sad again. No amount of searching across the lands helps them. Will Max ever find Fluffy again?
Since it’s a kiddo book, you can easily guess what happens at the end. The storyline is interesting, and so is the presentation. The illustrations looked soft but slightly dull to me. While the expressions and moods were perfect, the overall color scheme wasn’t vibrant as I thought. The illustrations are on the same lines as the cover picture.
The best part of the book is those cute adoption cards for different types of clouds. It’s a great way to teach kids about clouds.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Capstone Editions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#MyPetCloud #NetGalley
4.5 Stars
Oddball is a cute collection of illustrations and the fourth installment of Sarah's Scribbles. I recognized the lead character (the artist herself) from posts shared on social media and got the ARC.
The book deals with a lot of themes ranging from cats (can never get tired of them) to witches to being comfortable in our own skin, and the life of an introverted artist.
The comic book is in black and white and can be read either in 15 mins or in 15 days. The choice is yours. I opted for the former. ;)
There isn't much to say except that I fully enjoyed most of the illustrations and related to quite a few of them. Grab a copy when you are feeling a bit low and sit with a cup of hot chocolate. It should cheer you up rather well.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#Oddball #NetGalley
****
Read the full review.
Oddball is a cute collection of illustrations and the fourth installment of Sarah's Scribbles. I recognized the lead character (the artist herself) from posts shared on social media and got the ARC.
The book deals with a lot of themes ranging from cats (can never get tired of them) to witches to being comfortable in our own skin, and the life of an introverted artist.
The comic book is in black and white and can be read either in 15 mins or in 15 days. The choice is yours. I opted for the former. ;)
There isn't much to say except that I fully enjoyed most of the illustrations and related to quite a few of them. Grab a copy when you are feeling a bit low and sit with a cup of hot chocolate. It should cheer you up rather well.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#Oddball #NetGalley
****
Read the full review.
3.7 Stars
Nina and Zac move into a ground floor flat in Mistletoe Lane. The house is charming and near a beach, a perfect choice to settle down and grow roots, Nina feels. The couple has been in a relationship for five years and considers this move a way to add to their happy relationship.
Zac is busy with his plumbing business, and Nina is running an online fashion store. They interact a little with the neighbors, and life seems to go on fine more or less. However, the couple upstairs causes mixed feelings in Nina. Why is Chris always rude? Why doesn’t Vanessa talk much? What are those sounds in the middle of the night? Why can’t Zac see what she notices?
As if that’s not enough, her business starts to collapse. Bad reviews are affecting sales, and the arguments between Zac and Nina have escalated. Someone is doing this on purpose. But who and why? What do they get by ruining Nina and Zac’s lives?
The premise was intriguing, and the story maintains a good pace. There were quite a few characters introduced, and not all of them are important. Since the note down the names, it wasn’t an issue to remember who was who.
Though I wasn’t thinking of the twist, I figured it out pretty soon. The ‘why’ was a mystery, though I had a slight inkling. It was fun to read and discover that my guess was right, even if the reason seemed a little too far-fetched and melodramatic. But then, people do all kinds of things, and worse has happened in real life.
The author did a good job of keeping my interest intact. However, the reveal and the subsequent drama fell flat to me. It was over too soon, followed by a lengthy summary of the events. The solid buildup went for a toss here.
I also have a few issues with Nina and Zac’s relationship. Yeah, the book is narrated by Nina, and I’m bound to take her side. But it did seem like Zac wasn’t really worth all the stress, and he sure didn’t handle things well (despite being matured).
Considering these issues, the rating fell to 3.5. Still, I could finish it sooner than planned, and the story didn’t feel boring anywhere. So that’s plus 0.2 stars.
I remember reading The Wife by the author and thought that ending diluted the book. Looks like the same has happened here (at least for me). Some readers loved the ending, so likely that I’m the odd one out (won’t be a first).
To sum up, The Couple Upstairs is a decent thriller with a great pace and light twists. Don’t worry about figuring things out in advance. The story is still gripping enough to keep you interested.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #TheCoupleUpstairs
Nina and Zac move into a ground floor flat in Mistletoe Lane. The house is charming and near a beach, a perfect choice to settle down and grow roots, Nina feels. The couple has been in a relationship for five years and considers this move a way to add to their happy relationship.
Zac is busy with his plumbing business, and Nina is running an online fashion store. They interact a little with the neighbors, and life seems to go on fine more or less. However, the couple upstairs causes mixed feelings in Nina. Why is Chris always rude? Why doesn’t Vanessa talk much? What are those sounds in the middle of the night? Why can’t Zac see what she notices?
As if that’s not enough, her business starts to collapse. Bad reviews are affecting sales, and the arguments between Zac and Nina have escalated. Someone is doing this on purpose. But who and why? What do they get by ruining Nina and Zac’s lives?
The premise was intriguing, and the story maintains a good pace. There were quite a few characters introduced, and not all of them are important. Since the note down the names, it wasn’t an issue to remember who was who.
Though I wasn’t thinking of the twist, I figured it out pretty soon. The ‘why’ was a mystery, though I had a slight inkling. It was fun to read and discover that my guess was right, even if the reason seemed a little too far-fetched and melodramatic. But then, people do all kinds of things, and worse has happened in real life.
The author did a good job of keeping my interest intact. However, the reveal and the subsequent drama fell flat to me. It was over too soon, followed by a lengthy summary of the events. The solid buildup went for a toss here.
I also have a few issues with Nina and Zac’s relationship. Yeah, the book is narrated by Nina, and I’m bound to take her side. But it did seem like Zac wasn’t really worth all the stress, and he sure didn’t handle things well (despite being matured).
Considering these issues, the rating fell to 3.5. Still, I could finish it sooner than planned, and the story didn’t feel boring anywhere. So that’s plus 0.2 stars.
I remember reading The Wife by the author and thought that ending diluted the book. Looks like the same has happened here (at least for me). Some readers loved the ending, so likely that I’m the odd one out (won’t be a first).
To sum up, The Couple Upstairs is a decent thriller with a great pace and light twists. Don’t worry about figuring things out in advance. The story is still gripping enough to keep you interested.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #TheCoupleUpstairs
3.8 Stars
The book is about a little girl who is told she’s too small to have big adventures. She sleeps on the grass under the moon when a fairy tells her, “you’ve had the power all along…” (reminds me of The Wizard of the Oz). The girl has a day-long adventure, talking to animals, birds, bees, and the sun.
As night falls, the moon reminds her that she can have her adventures irrespective of what others say. She’s got to be kind, brave, and good.
The illustrations are rather cute, with vibrant background and whimsical lines as characters. The overall effect is eye-catchy. However, I’m not sure about the target age group. The text (apart from being printed too small) has words that would be hard for kiddos to understand. The writing flow is a bit choppy and unlike the usual children’s books. Maybe the book is for slightly older readers who are still young?
To sum up, Under the Sun, Moon, and Stars is a pretty decent book adults can read out to kids.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#UndertheSunMoonandStars #NetGalley
The book is about a little girl who is told she’s too small to have big adventures. She sleeps on the grass under the moon when a fairy tells her, “you’ve had the power all along…” (reminds me of The Wizard of the Oz). The girl has a day-long adventure, talking to animals, birds, bees, and the sun.
As night falls, the moon reminds her that she can have her adventures irrespective of what others say. She’s got to be kind, brave, and good.
The illustrations are rather cute, with vibrant background and whimsical lines as characters. The overall effect is eye-catchy. However, I’m not sure about the target age group. The text (apart from being printed too small) has words that would be hard for kiddos to understand. The writing flow is a bit choppy and unlike the usual children’s books. Maybe the book is for slightly older readers who are still young?
To sum up, Under the Sun, Moon, and Stars is a pretty decent book adults can read out to kids.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#UndertheSunMoonandStars #NetGalley
4 Stars
Isabelle is a shy little girl who’s afraid to talk to her classmates. She’s worried they might say no to her or dislike her. She spends time playing alone and collecting little treasures. When Aunt Nancy sends her a special button for her proud collection, Isabelle calls it the proud button.
Her mother sews it onto her favorite coat, and Isabelle finds that it’s not that hard to talk to others and make friends. She has the best day of her life and realizes that she won’t know what others will say until she asks the question.
The illustrations are really cute and playful. I love the leaves dancing in the wind and the special glitter of the proud button. I do wish the text size was a bit bigger.
To sum up, The Proud Button is a good book to teach kids that it’s okay to take that step and make friends with others.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#ClavisPublishing #NetGalley
Isabelle is a shy little girl who’s afraid to talk to her classmates. She’s worried they might say no to her or dislike her. She spends time playing alone and collecting little treasures. When Aunt Nancy sends her a special button for her proud collection, Isabelle calls it the proud button.
Her mother sews it onto her favorite coat, and Isabelle finds that it’s not that hard to talk to others and make friends. She has the best day of her life and realizes that she won’t know what others will say until she asks the question.
The illustrations are really cute and playful. I love the leaves dancing in the wind and the special glitter of the proud button. I do wish the text size was a bit bigger.
To sum up, The Proud Button is a good book to teach kids that it’s okay to take that step and make friends with others.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#ClavisPublishing #NetGalley