Children's Book Review: Animal Planet Animal Bites Farm and Wild Animals Books

ANIMAL PLANET: FARM ANIMALS
Animal Bites Series

By: Laaren Brown, Animal Planet

Published: June 21, 2016

Publisher: Animal Planet

Non-Fiction

After reviewing POLAR ANIMALS and OCEAN ANIMALS from Animal Planet in April, I was thrilled to check out their newest books. In fact, our family just visited an aquarium and some of the facts I read in the Ocean Animals book made that visit even more interesting for me. You can see my review, HERE.

I grew up on a farm and am a sucker for farm books. They are usually the ones I am drawn to when choosing books as gifts for new babies or my nieces and nephews. My family raised sheep, beef cattle, horses, and chickens while I was growing up and my sister lived on a hog farm, so I was around farm animals all the time. Even though I no longer live on a farm, I am still drawn to them and love baby farm animals, especially.

From ducks to goats, to dairy cows, to horses, to turkeys, to alpacas, no farm animal was left out. Each page offers vivid photos of farm animals in their environment. A globe and fact bubble show where the animals can live and their approximate size in relation to an item the child would recognize like a school desk, guitar, or sail boat. Various information is shared regarding what they eat, what they can do for farming, and about their babies. There are so many cute photos of mommas and their babies I could look at the pages over and over again.

There is an especially fun page that shows all the different breeds of chickens. My parents' neighbor raises chicken and has some of these featured on this page. The Buff Polish and the Silkie just make me laugh.

I even learned things about farm animals including baby ducks can swim immediately once hatched, but it takes them about eight weeks to learn to fly. Did you know goats, just like humans, have 32 teeth? This book is a wonderful resource to teach your children about farming or for farm kids to enjoy!

The publisher also has offered a link to some great flash cards to use with your children while reading the book.

Just click this link to download and print these free cards.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/313296164/Animal-Planet-Animal-Bites-Fun-Fact-Cards

ANIMAL PLANET: WILD ANIMALS
Animal Bites

By: Laaren Brown, Animal Planet

Published: June 21, 2016

Publisher: Animal Planet

Non-Fiction

Since June is National Zoo Month, it's the perfect time to share Animal Planet's newest book in the Animal Bites series, WILD ANIMALS.  Just like the other books featured in this series, it is full of our favorite zoo animals as well as some animals I've never even heard of. Each page is full of National Geographic quality pictures and facts that will interest kids and parents.

Each animal page features a globe showing where they live and factual information related to that animal. Since the book is a soft cover, it makes it lighter for kids to hold and easier to handle.

There is a whole page dedicated to the Regal Jumping Spider. I found this information interesting because we had just had an incident with a jumping spider biting a student on a trip last week. So, this page gave me a lot of interesting facts and before last week, I never even knew they existed.

Did you know that giraffes hum at night and that females have hair on their horns while males do not? Even though tigers are a member of the cat family, they actually like to swim and can scrunch up their face to swim under water. So many animals are talked about in this book, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

There are fact cards to use while reading this book as well. Just click the link below the photo to download and print these cards.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/313296164/Animal-Planet-Animal-Bites-Fun-Fact-Cards

If your family is planning to visit a zoo this summer, I highly recommend reading this book to prepare you for all the neat characteristics each animal has that make it unique.


To purchase a copy of these ANIMAL PLANET books, click the photos below:

I will be linking this post up on Saturday with Booking Mama and other bloggers. Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts Kid Konnection which features posts related to children's and YA books. To see those posts, click HERE.

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Thanks to the publisher for sending these books for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the books through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

More Recipes from LuLu's Kitchen by Lucy Buffett

Last month I shared my review of Lucy Buffet's new cookbook, LuLu's Kitchen. See it HERE.

I have the opportunity to share a couple more recipes from the cookbook with you. Buffett's recipes are full of flavor and look as good as they taste. I'm still working my way through the recipes and am anxious to try them this summer, imagining that I am listening to the ocean waves while savoring every bite.

Enjoy these recipes and be sure to let me know if you try them!

LuLu's Seafood Gumbo - submitted photo

LuLu's Summer Seafood Gumbo

Excerpted from LuLu’s Kitchen: A Taste of The Gulf Coast Good Life (Grand Central Life & Style; April 2016) by Lucy Buffett 

Makes: 25 Cups

Ingredients

3 pounds medium shrimp, heads on

2 pounds claw crabmeat, picked for shells

4 crab bodies, if available

4 large ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped in their juice

2 large onions, coarsely chopped

2 green bell peppers, coarsely chopped

1 medium head celery, coarsely chopped including leaves 

2 ½ pounds okra, fresh if available, cut in ¼-inch pieces, or frozen cut okra, thawed

¾ cup vegetable oil or bacon grease

1 cup all-purpose flour

8 cups shrimp or seafood stock, heated

2-3 teaspoons salt, or to taste 

1 tablespoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons dried thyme

4 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

2 tablespoons LuLu's Crazy Creola Seasoning™ (page 14)

2-3 tablespoons LuLu's Perfect Pepper Hot Sauce™

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 cups green onions, finely chopped

½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Dehead, peel, and devein shrimp. Reserve heads and shells for later use. Pick through crabmeat carefully for shells. Refrigerate shrimp and crab until ready for use. 
2. Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Drop tomatoes carefully into boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and let cool. Skins will slip off easily. Remove cores and coarsely chop tomatoes over a bowl to retain as much juice as possible. Set aside. (If using canned tomatoes, I cut them up in eights.) 
3. Place chopped onions, bell peppers, celery, and okra in separate bowls. Set aside. 
4. To make the roux, heat vegetable oil or bacon grease in a 10-quart heavy stockpot over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, gradually add flour, whisking continuously. Continue to whisk roux , adjusting heat as necessary to keep from burning. This may take 25-35 minutes or until your arm feels like it is about to fall off and the roux is a dark mahogany color. Be careful; if the roux burns, you will have to start all over again! 
5. Carefully add chopped onions to roux and continue stirring with a large wooden spoon for 2 to 3 minutes. Onions will sizzle and steam when they hit the hot roux so caution is advised. Seasoned gumbo cooks have roux battle scars on one or both arms. 
6. Add bell peppers and continue stirring for another 2 to 3 minutes; add celery continue to stir constantly for another 2 to 3 minutes. The mixture should now resemble a pot of black beans. 
7. Add tomatoes and stir well. 
8. Slowly add the heated stock. 
9. Add salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, bay leaves, oregano, basil, Creole seasoning, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well. Bring gumbo to a boil and continue boiling for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer, uncovered, for about 1 hour. 
10. Add okra and bring back to a boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat again to maintain a slow simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or a day (until okra has lost its bright green color and is cooked down like the other vegetables). If gumbo gets too thick, add a little water. If too thin, continue to simmer uncovered. 
11. At this point, you can cool the gumbo. It's always better the day after it has been cooked, although I've never had a complaint when I served gumbo the day I made it. Remove from heat and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then place pot, uncovered, in an empty sink. Fill the sink with water and ice around the stockpot. Stir gumbo every 15 minutes to move the liquid to facilitate cooling. Gumbo will spoil if cooled improperly. (At the restaurant, we have cooling cylinders that look like baseball bats that are frozen and placed in the middle of five-gallon stockpots.) When completely cool, refrigerate it, uncovered, for a couple of hours before placing it in an airtight container. 
12. Reheat gumbo slowly to simmering. Thirty minutes before serving, add green onions, parsley, and lemon juice. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add shrimp and crabmeat. Mix well. Cover and turn off heat. Let sit for at least another 15 minutes while seafood cooks. It will stay hot for a long time. Adjust seasonings and serve over cooked white rice with French bread and butter. 

Excerpted from LuLu's Kitchen: A Taste of The Gulf Coast Good Life by Lucy Buffett (Grand Central Life & Style; April 26, 2016)

LuLu's Rum Punch - submitted photo

LuLu's Rum Punch

Excerpted from LuLu’s Kitchen: A Taste of The Gulf Coast Good Life (Grand Central Life & Style; April 2016) by Lucy Buffett 

Makes: 1 drink

Ingredients
1 ounce Captain Morgan ® Original spiced rum
½ ounce Myer's ® dark rum
½ ounce coconut rum
2 ounces sour mix
1-ounce pineapple juice
1-ounce cranberry juice
Splash of grenadine, optional
Cherry and fresh tropical fruit to garnish

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Add spiced rum, dark rum, coconut rum and sour mix to glass.
3. Add equal portions of pineapple and cranberry juice.
4. Add a splash of grenadine if you like it a little sweeter.
5. Stir well.
6. Garnish with a cherry and fresh tropical fruit, such as orange, lemon or lime slices, or pineapple wedge.

Excerpted from LuLu's Kitchen: A Taste of The Gulf Coast Good Life by Lucy Buffett (Grand Central Life & Style; April 26, 2016)

I've been wanting to try this beverage since I received the cookbook and finally this week I had my favorite bartender (my husband) make it for me. It was just the right amount of sweet and so refreshing on a 90° day! Be aware that with three types of rum, it packs a punch! 

To purchase a copy of LULU'S KITCHEN, click the photo below:

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Book Review: Musical Hugs By Larry V. Dykstra

MUSICAL HUGS
Succeeding Through Serving, One Song at a Time

By: Larry V. Dykstra

Published: March 3, 2016

Publisher: Inspire on Purpose Publishing

Memoir

When I heard that my neighbor’s brother had written a book, I told her I was interested in reading it. After she gave me a bit of background I was quite certain that I was going connect with it on a number of levels. Since I used to be a social worker and spent some time working in Hospice, I found myself relating to his different types of therapy used to soothe or bring comfort and joy to children in the hospital.

Dykstra is a former business manager turned volunteer. After his corporate job was eliminated, he needed to find a new focus for his life. His love of music and his faith led him on a journey he never expected. His book offers a collection of short stories during his time as a volunteer for Hugworks and as a volunteer hospital chaplain. In these stories he shares connections he made with patients and their families, lessons on healing and ultimately, he learned that it is more rewarding to be defined by serving others than what did in his career.

Hugworks is a non-profit organization that offers “musical hugs”, expressions of love and caring in the form of a song. Members travel through pediatric wards in hospitals stopping by rooms and offering a lullaby or a joyful song to bring a smile to the child’s face, relieving a bit of stress for the parent. Since Dykstra was a self-trained musician and loved picking up his guitar, he believed this may just be his calling.

After auditing a college course on Music Therapy and interning at the hospital he was ready for his first solo patient. His stories share the varied reactions to his music from a young man who seemingly wasn’t paying attention until Dykstra noticed a slight tapping of his fingers along to the music. Or a young girl with an incurable disease that found a way to laugh with her mom again through the lyrics of a song. Not all of his moments singing in a hospital room were remarkable, but the power of music can leave lasting notes.

When Dykstra decides to follow his faith and learn to be a chaplain at the hospital, his stories become tragic and heartbreaking. During these eight months, his faith was tested and music took a back seat. Even though he didn’t continue in this area, the time spent with families in their darkest moments still help him offer comfort and support while singing a tune.

These stories will make you stop and reflect on what’s important in your life. What talents do you have to offer those hurting or suffering? It may not be through a song, but could be in a way you least expect. Dykstra warns that exploring boundaries, continually trying new ideas and making adjustments will be frustrating and possibly make you want to give up. But, when you ultimately find that “sweet spot” where caring and compassion become natural, then it’s what you are meant to do. 

Here is a brief video of Larry Dykstra sharing a bit about Hugworks:

Musical Hugs by Larry Dykstra from ExpoSkill on Vimeo.

Larry Dykstra currently resides in Dallas, Texas. MUSICAL HUGS is his first book. For more, check out his website, HERE. 

To purchase a copy of MUSICAL HUGS, click the photo below:

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Thanks to my neighbor, Jan, for loaning me her copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Children's Book Review: If You Were Me and Lived in...Egypt By Carole P. Roman

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...EGYPT
A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

By: Carole P Roman

Illustrated by: Kelsea Wierenga

Published: February 27, 2016

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Non-Fiction

Carole Roman is continuing her series of informational books for children that introduces them to countries and cultures all over our world. I have shared many of the books in this series with you and you can see them all by entering IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN in the search box to the right.

This book shares the many wonderful pieces of heritage and culture from those who live in Egypt. There is so much to share about this country's history from it being one of our oldest nations to the ancient pyramids. It is hard to fathom how many years the pyramids have stood and been visited by millions.

 Food is very much a part of their culture and the unique dishes might make children curious about what is delicious and a treat to children in Egypt. I found their national holiday of Sham -al-Nessim to resemble one of our family's favorite holiday traditions. I wonder if that is where we got it from.

The illustrations seem very accurate to the culture and are sometimes placed over actual photos of the land or scenery of Egypt. The expressions help tell the family's story as we travel through some of their favorite parts of living in Egypt.

Roman has not left anything out and opens the doors of yet another interesting culture, introducing readers to the language, the food, and the uniqueness of Egypt. Another wonderful addition to the series.

Carole P. Roman

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband. Her most favorite job is being a grandmother to her many grandchildren. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband. Carole has written several books for children including the IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...series as well as a fiction series for children, CAPTAIN NO BEARD involving lots of fun adventure and imagination. For more on Carole, visit her website, caroleproman.com. You can see all of Roman's books by clicking, HERE.

To purchase a copy of IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...EGYPT, click the photo below:

 

I will be linking up this review with Booking Mama's regular Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. Her feature offers bloggers a place to share their posts related to children's and YA books. To see all these posts, click HERE.


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Thanks to the author for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Books that Came My Way in May 2016

I wasn't expecting May to be as busy as it turned out to be. Out of twenty days that we had school, I subbed fourteen of those days, when at the end of April I was only scheduled for five. The end of the school year is also busy with concerts, track meets, banquets, and grad parties on the weekends so May just flew by. I hardly spent any time in my office and just did the bare minimum that I needed to get done.

I have several reviews to write as I did finish a few books while participating in BOUT OF BOOKS 2016. Sometimes it is just as hard to find time to write the review as it is to find time to read...maybe even harder. I try to take notes while I read so that when I do find time, I can recall what I wanted to say.

As summer is officially here for our family, I am looking ahead to lots of time on my back porch or patio with a book (or eReader) in my hand. The blog will be quiet next week since we will be chaperoning the Band trip to Canada. But, I will have reviews ready for when we get back.

I have some great reads to share with you.  As you can see, a majority of them are children's books again, but they are so incredible, I can't wait to read them myself. I read seven books in May with two of them being a children's book, so as busy as I was, that is pretty good.

I'm only going to read books that I am interested in. If it isn't working for me I'll move on. I can't get to every book that comes my way, but at least I can share them with you here. I hope to review them just as soon as I can.

If you would like to purchase any of these books, 

clicking on the photo of the book will take you directly to Amazon.  

If you choose to purchase, I will receive a small commission 

without you having to pay any more for your purchase.  

I appreciate your support of SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

I'll be linking up with The Deliberate Reader 

to share our stacks of books for May. 

To see her Stack of Books as well as other bloggers' Book Stacks, click HERE.

BOOKS FOR REVIEW

FLIGHT PATTERNS
By: Karen White
Published: May 24, 2016
Publisher: NAL
Format: Paperback

I've read and loved Karen White's writing in two books where she collaborated with other authors, THE FORGOTTEN ROOM and GRAND CENTRAL: ORIGINAL STORIES OF POST WAR LOVE AND REUNION.

Georgia Chambers has spent her life sifting through other people’s pasts while trying to forget her own. But then her work as an expert of fine china—especially of Limoges—requires her to return to the one place she swore she’d never revisit...

It’s been thirteen years since Georgia left her family home on the coast of Florida, and nothing much has changed, except that there are fewer oysters and more tourists. She finds solace seeing her grandfather still toiling away in the apiary where she spent much of her childhood but encountering her estranged mother and sister leaves her rattled. 

Seeing them after all this time makes Georgia realize that something has been missing—and unless she finds a way to heal these rifts, she will forever be living vicariously through other people’s remnants. To embrace her own life—mistakes and all—she will have to find the courage to confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets she was forced to keep.




A FATHER'S BETRAYAL
A True Story
By: Gabriella Gillespie
Published: July 25, 2014
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Format: Paperback

I have a feeling this won't be a happy read, but I'm drawn to it.

Muna and her three sisters were happy children, growing up in Newport South Wales with their English mother and Arabic father. But in 1972 her mother disappeared, setting in motion a chain of events which would forever shatter her seemingly loving family.




CASCADIA
By: H. W. "Buzz" Bernard
To Be Published: July 11, 2016
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Format: Paperback

I read Buzz's first book and he was my first author interview. He is charming and his books deal with weather since he used to be a meteorologist for The Weather Channel. See my review of  EYEWALL HERE, and interview, HERE.

Dr. Rob Elwood, a respected geologist, has studied the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a dangerous fault off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, for years. Now he’s having repeated nightmares of a massive earthquake and tsunami striking the region. Knowing he’s placing his reputation and career at risk, he goes public with his premonitions.

The quake fails to occur and Rob fears he’s lost everything. But the disaster does strike, just not when expected, and Rob finds himself not only vindicated, but hurled abruptly into a life-and-death rescue mission with his private aircraft.

Rob’s story intersects with several others, including that of a retired fighter pilot attempting to make amends to a woman he jilted twenty-five years earlier, and another of an elderly black man searching for legendary buried treasure along the rugged Oregon coast.




SINCE SHE WENT AWAY
By: David Bell
To Be Published: June 21, 2016
Publisher: NAL
Format: Paperback

I've been drawn to mysteries lately and this one sounds so intriguing.

Three months earlier, Jenna Barton was supposed to meet her lifelong best friend Celia. But when Jenna arrived late, she found that Celia had disappeared—and hasn’t been seen again. Jenna has blamed herself for her friend’s disappearance every single day since then.

The only piece of evidence is a lone diamond earring found where Celia and Jenna were planning to meet, leading the national media to dub Celia “The Diamond Mom.” And even though Jenna has obsessively surfed message boards devoted to missing persons cases, she is no closer to finding any answers—or easing her guilt.

But when her son’s new girlfriend—who suddenly arrived in town without a past—disappears, a stricken Jenna begins to unwind the tangled truth behind Celia’s tragedy. And as long-buried secrets finally come to light, she discovers how completely lives can be shattered by a few simple lies.




THE CAKE THERAPIST
By: Judith Fertig
Published: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Paperback

I was supposed to receive this book last year, but it never arrived. So, when I was asked to review Fertig's newest book, THE MEMORY OF LEMON, they sent me both! Don't the covers alone make you want to read them?

Claire “Neely” O’Neil is a pastry chef of extraordinary talent. Every great chef can taste shimmering, elusive flavors that most of us miss, but Neely can “taste” feelings—cinnamon makes you remember; plum is pleased with itself; orange is a wake-up call. When flavor and feeling give Neely a glimpse of someone’s inner self, she can customize her creations to help that person celebrate love, overcome fear, even mourn a devastating loss.

Maybe that’s why she feels the need to go home to Millcreek Valley at a time when her life seems about to fall apart. The bakery she opens in her hometown is perfect, intimate, just what she’s always dreamed of—and yet, as she meets her new customers, Neely has a sense of secrets, some dark, some perhaps with tempting possibilities. A recurring flavor of alarming intensity signals to her perfect palate a long-ago story that must be told.

Neely has always been able to help everyone else. Getting to the end of this story may be just what she needs to help herself.



THE MEMORY OF LEMON
By: Judith Fertig
To Be Published: June 14, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Paperback

The author of The Cake Therapist returns with another sweet and emotional tale featuring Neely, the baker with a knack for finding exactly the right flavor for any occasion...
 
A crisp tang of citrus that is at once poignant and familiar, sharpening the senses and opening the mind to possibilities once known and long forgotten...
 
Claire “Neely” Davis is no ordinary pastry chef. Her flavor combinations aren’t just a product of a well-honed palate: she can “taste” people’s emotions, sensing the ingredients that will touch her customers’ souls. Her gift has never failed her—until she meets a free-spirited bride-to-be and her overbearing society mother. The two are unable to agree on a single wedding detail, and their bickering leaves Neely’s intuition frustratingly silent—right when she needs it most.
 
Between trying to navigate a divorce, explore a new relationship, and handle the reappearance of her long-absent father, Neely is struggling to make sense of her own conflicting emotions, much less those of her hard-to-please bride. But as she embarks on a flavorful quest to craft the perfect wedding celebration, she’ll uncover a family history that sheds light on both the missing ingredients and her own problems—and illustrates how the sweet and sour in life often combine to make the most delicious memories.




THE ANTI-AGEING FOOD AND FITNESS PLAN
By: Rick Hay
Published: January 18, 2016
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Format: Paperback

I love learning about foods that offer amazing benefits.

An inspired but easy-to-follow twelve-week healthy eating plan that unlocks the remarkable power of superfoods, and high-intensity exercises, for all fitness levels.




ASKING FOR LOVE
Stories
By: Roxana Robinson
To Be Published: June 21, 2016
Publisher: Open Road Media
Format: eBook

I've really been loving short stories. They offer a big impact in just a few pages. Sometimes I only have time to read a few pages, so I get the satisfaction of completing something too.

Short stories set in the old-guard WASP enclaves of Manhattan, Connecticut, Long Island and Maine and in the UK, peopled with women and men whose loves are in various stages of repair or disarray, and with their children and teenagers struggling to find rules and identities in their lives.




THE FRENCH WAR BRIDE
Wedding Tree
By: Robin Wells
To Be Published: August 2, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eBook

WWII and Paris? I'm in.

At her retirement home in Wedding Tree, Louisiana, ninety-one-year-old Amelie O’Connor is in the habit of leaving her door open for friends. One day she receives an unexpected visitor—Kat Morgan, the ex-fiancée of her late husband, Jack.
 
Kat and Jack were high school sweethearts who planned to marry when Jack returned from France after World War II. But in a cruel twist of fate, their plans were irrevocably derailed when a desperate French girl overheard an American GI’s confession in a Parisian church. . .
 
Now, Kat wants to know the truth behind a story that’s haunted her whole life. Finding out how Amelie stole Jack’s heart will—she thinks—finally bring her peace. As Amelie recalls the dark days of the Nazi occupation of Paris, THE FRENCH WAR BRIDE reveals how history shapes the courses of our lives. . . for better or for worse.

THE NICKEL NUISANCE
The Coin Chronicles - Volume 1
By: Veola Vazquez
Published: March 12, 2015
Publisher: Double Letter Press
Format: Paperback

I'm always looking for good middle-grade novels to recommend at school and this series sounded interesting.

Jake is tired of feeling like a loser. Failure at baseball, feeling like a wannabe at school and facing bullies like a weakling, that’s his life. He’s starting to wonder if things will ever change or if even God can fix his problems. It’s not until he comes across a rare nickel with an intriguing story that life really starts to look different. But will things get better? Or will Jake end up feeling like an even bigger loser than before? 




THE PENNY PREDICAMENT
The Coin Chronicles - Volume 2
By: Veola Vazquez
Published: May 7, 2016
Publisher: Double Letter Press
Format: Paperback

What would a 12-year-old boy do to help save his family from financial ruin? In Jake King’s case, he’d do just about anything. But uncertainty sets in as his plans go awry, his friendships start to fail and his faith takes a few hits. Finding a rare coin worth a fortune might be the answer. But what if it’s not real? Will Jake lose his best friend and his family’s future at the same time? Only God knows and, hopefully, he’ll let Jake in on it.




IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...COLONIAL AMERICA
An Introduction to Civilizations throughout Time - Volume 4
By: Carole P. Roman
Illustrated by: Sarah Wright
Published: April 28, 2016
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Format; Paperback

Seriously? What can't Carole Roman do? She is so talented and I have loved every one of her books. This new series that takes us back in time is sure to be a hit!

Join Carole P. Roman and travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history in the first four books of her new series. Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient Greece, the clothes you wore in 15th century Renaissance Italy, what your name could be in Elizabethan England, and what Colonial American children did for fun. If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture. So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you. 



IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN....RENAISSANCE ITALY
An Introduction to Civilizations throughout Time - Volume 2
By: Carole P. Roman
Illustrated by: Silvia Brunetti
Published: May 6, 2016
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Format: Paperback





IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND
An Introduction to Civilizations throughout Time - Volume 3
By: Carole P. Roman
Illustrated by: Paula Tabor
Published: March 21, 2016
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Format: Paperback




IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...ANCIENT GREECE
An Introduction to Civilizations throughout Time - Volume 1
By: Carole P. Roman
Illustrated by: Mateya Arkova
Published: March 17, 2016
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Format: Paperback




ANIMAL PLANET: WILD ANIMALS
Animal Bites Series
By: Animal Planet - Laaren Brown
To Be Published: June 21, 2016
Publisher: Animal Planet
Format: Paperback

I loved these kinds of books as a kid and still do now. I can't wait to share these with you!

With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of lions, giraffes, ibexes, flamingos, hippopotamuses, and many others, ANIMAL PLANET WILD ANIMALS is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite wild animals. Arranged thematically with a focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of life in the African savannah and Amazon rain forest.




ANIMAL PLANET: FARM ANIMALS
Animal Bites Series
By: Animal Planet - Laaren Brown
To Be Published: June 21, 2016
Publisher: Animal Planet
Format: Paperback

With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, llamas, and many others, ANIMAL PLANET FARM ANIMALS is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite farm animals. Arranged thematically with a focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of life in on the farm and at the petting zoo.



ANIMAL PLANET: ANIMAL ATLAS
By: Animal Planet
Published: May 24, 2016
Publisher: Animal Planet
Format: Hardcover

Animal Planet's definitive atlas of animal life takes readers on a continent-by-continent and habitat-by-habitat passport to adventure!

What is a habitat? How is the North Pole's animal life different from the South Pole's? How and why do animals adapt to their environment? Is a food web different from a food chain? ANIMAL PLANET ANIMAL ATLAS answers all of these questions and much more. Through detailed maps, fun infographics, simple charts, and Find It! Fact boxes readers can track their favorite animals across the globe, learning about how animal habitats are affected by climate, food and water availability, migration, and human environmental impact.



TIME FOR KIDS: AWESOME AMERICA
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the History, People, and Culture
By: Katy Steinmetz
Published: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Time for Kids
Format: Hardcover

Just flipping through the pages of this book, I can tell you it's fabulous. What a great way to share our great country with your kids!

Discover what makes America unique in this comprehensive timeline and photographic overview of American history--pre-Columbus through the present--highlighting the milestone events and important people that have made America awesome. 

Perfect for both dip-in reference and longer-form reading, Awesome America is organized into thematic sections, each comprised of bite-sized articles, engaging factoid sidebars, colorful charts, graphics and interactive quizzes to help make learning about American history interesting, interactive, and fun. From America's early history all the way to present day, kids will learn about what it was like to grow up in the 1700's, 1800's, 1900's and today and discover the inventions, innovations, and important social movements great American's have created over the years.

BOOKS I PURCHASED

ALL ABOARD! NATIONAL PARKS
A Wildlife Primer
By: Kevin and Haily Meyers
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Format: Board Book

I love the Baby Lit books and have given them as gifts including SECRET GARDEN and THE WIZARD OF OZ. When I saw they were doing one on the National Parks, I knew I had to get them as gifts.

From the creators of BabyLit®: Every area of the world can be mapped out for adventure, and brilliant babies love the sophistication of traveling by train.

This new board book series written by the husband and wife team of Haily and Kevin Meyers and illustrated by Haily, celebrates the unique qualities of each city while employing a fun primer element to tell the story. These books will have you and baby seeing the world by train and will turn story time into a globetrotting event. Perfect as a souvenir or as part of a geography collection for brilliant babies, the All Aboard! series will be pulling into your station next!




THE SHEEPOVER
Sweet Pea and Friends
By: John and Jennifer Churchman
Published: December 8, 2015
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Format: Hardcover

I can't resist books about sheep. My favorite book as a child was THE LITTLE LAMB which I read over and over again. My parents raised sheep and I was always in charge of feeding and caring for the lambs so I have a soft spot for sheep stories. When I saw this pop up on amazon, I knew I had to get it. I haven't decided yet if I am keeping it or will give it as a gift this Christmas.

One cold winter night, Sweet Pea the orphan lamb becomes very sick. Everyone in the farmyard is worried about her! Under the watchful care of Farmer John, Laddie the sheepdog, and Dr. Alison the mobile veterinarian, she slowly recovers. Dr. Alison tells Sweet Pea she can have a sleepover to celebrate as soon as she is well again. When the day finally comes, her closest friends Sunny, Prem, and Violet join her in the greenhouse for a fun and imaginative "SheepOver" celebration. 

This charming story of caring and friendship by farm owners John and Jennifer Churchman, brought to life with John's entrancing photo-illustrations, will enchant readers young and old. In the words of one of her many fans, "Sweet Pea brings a calming, authentic joy to my life that makes me laugh, cry and gives me hope that all is well in the world. . . . Everyone needs a little Sweet Pea in their lives!"




A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT
By: Linda Urban
Published: April 6, 2009
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format: eBook

I purchased this as a Kindle Daily Deal for our daughter. It sounded like something she would like.

Ten-year-old Zoe Elias has perfect piano dreams. She can practically feel the keys under her flying fingers; she can hear the audience's applause. All she needs is a baby grand so she can start her lessons, and then she'll be well on her way to Carnegie Hall.

But when Dad ventures to the music store and ends up with a wheezy organ instead of a piano, Zoe's dreams hit a sour note. Learning the organ versions of old TV theme songs just isn't the same as mastering Beethoven on the piano. And the organ isn't the only part of Zoe's life in Michigan that's off-kilter, what with Mom constantly at work, Dad afraid to leave the house, and that odd boy, Wheeler Diggs, following her home from school every day.

Yet when Zoe enters the annual Perform-O-Rama organ competition, she finds that life is full of surprises--and that perfection may be even better when it's just a little off center.




BEFORE THE FALL
A Novel
By: Noah Hawley
Published: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: Hardcover

When I heard about this book and that the author was the creator of the TV show, "Fargo", I knew I had to get it as a gift for someone. She has a summer birthday and I just hope she doesn't buy it before I can give it to her!

On a foggy summer night, eleven people-ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter-depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs-the painter and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family. 

With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the crash and the backstories of the passengers and crew members, including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot-the mystery surrounding the tragedy heightens. As the passengers' intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it merely by dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations. And while Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage. 

Amid pulse-quickening suspense, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.




DEVOTIONS FOR THE BEACH AND DAYS YOU WISH YOU WERE THERE
By: Thomas Nelson
Published: May 21, 2012
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Format: Hardcover

Even though I love my home and living in Iowa, the beach is certainly my happy place. There are times, especially in the winter, where I ache to be there.

Dig your feet in the sand and let the water cool your toes as you escape into the beauty of God s seaside creations, and hear His voice more clearly than perhaps anywhere else.

There s nothing quite like the warmth and relaxation of the beach away from the stresses of the world and into a place of peace and refreshment. "Devotions for the Beach" is the gentle breeze that takes you there, to see the majesty of God and to open your heart and soul to the One who created it all. These ninety devotions explore the parallels of life with the elements of the shore to help you see God, to find hope, to draw strength, and to rest in the comfort of His arms throughout your day. Included are striking photographs with a fresh, contemporary design for timeless appeal.

Every woman will want a copy of this book as a gentle reminder of days at the beach and the call of God s love.

Phew! That is a lot of books for this month. I am absolutely looking forward to lazy days reading on the porch! Be sure to let me know if you pick up one of these books!



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