The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes

The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to the publisher I got a chance to read this book with my girls before it was released.

I am a gardener at heart and my middle child loves to join me in the garden and planning what we are going to plant next.

This book ignited that desire this winter, with the beautiful illustrations and a cute story of a little gardener trying to grow his own garden. This hard work and determination inspires others to grow there own gardens.

Many thumbs up in my opinion.

I received this book from the publisher for this review. All opinions are my own.

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Black and White by Dahlov Ipcar

March 23, 2015

9781909263444, 1909263443

$17.95 USD, $19.99 CAD

Discount Code: Juv Hardcover

Hardcover Picture Book

Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs

Ages 3 to 7, Grades P to 2

This 1960's Civil Rights inspired book uses rhyming and wonderful illustrations to keep the younger children's attention. This book shows us that black and white can be as beautiful as any other color. Dahlov uses these two colors to introduce children to the world around us by telling a story of two dogs, their friendship, dreams and adventures. Returning to the shelves in March 2015 this book not only teaches preschoolers the colors black and white, it also shows them the world around them a little different and is a piece of history to add to any child's library.

I recieved this book for this review. All my opinions and review is all my own.
I enjoyed reading this book to my two daughters and the historical element of this book quite intriguing. Espeically after I watched this video about Dahlov Ipcar's paintings .

The Water and The Wild By K.E Ormsbee

The Water and The Wild

By K.E Ormsbee

Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 14, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1452113866
ISBN-13: 978-1452113869

Rating: MUST READ

A beautiful mix between the magic of Harry Potter by J.K Rowling and the mysteries of another world of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Lottie Fiske is out of place in her island home, just like the apple tree in Thirsby Square. Her only friends are her best friend Eliot and the mysterious letter writer that sends her special gifts on her birthday. When Lottie finds out that her best friend is diagnosed with an incurable disease she feels lost, helpless and useless. That is until she finds this mysterious girl in her closet and a magical door in her apple tree. Lottie's world is turned upside down when she is introduced to the magic of the world that she is also apart of. Can she save this new world and Eliot?

A spellbinding book for all ages. 

I recieved this book for free for this review from Edelweiss. All my opinions are my own.
 

Finding Lost Kids with Supernatural Abilities

“My name is Rylee and I am a Tracker.” 

When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I’m the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot.

I’m on the FBI’s wanted list. 

I have a werewolf for a pet, a Witch of a best friend, and have no need for anyone else in my life. 

But when a salvage starts to spin out of control, help comes from a most unexpected direction. One that is dangerously dark, brooding, and doesn’t know a thing about the supernatural. 

One whose kisses set me on fire.

Priceless by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was torn between giving this book a 3 or a 4 star rating. I enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. But if you want to look at it analytically there were definite parts that seemed forced. It seemed that every other page you were meeting a different supernatural being that was standing in the way of the over all mission. It seemed that the author was trying to fit every possible supernatural being into the 200 some odd pages before the whole story came to a conclusion.
The base of the story and the two main characters were an amazing idea but the feeling of being jerked from on area to the next, one character to the next, took this book from a 5 star to a 3 star. That being said I really did enjoy the bases of the story, I was on chapter 8 and the next thing I knew I was on chapter 21. I was focused on how things were going to turn out that I never even paid attention to what chapter I was on.
I also found the description of the book produced by the prodecer/author not to do the book its self any justice. I didn't pick up the book because I was skeptical of me liking it. If it wasn't for this To-Be-Read challenge to read the books on my shelf this year I don't think I would have picked up for some time.

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Carpe Librum TBR Challenge of 2015

So, not only do I read and write what I think about books I also follow or at least visit other book blogs. I came across this one CARPE LIBRUM GIRLS TBR CHALLENGE

Last year (2014) I focused on ARC (advanced reader copies) and my TBR pile (To Be Read) grew to over 300 books. Though I will be doing ARC reviews through out this year (2015) I am going to join this challenge and attempt to dwindle down my TBR pile. 

THE RULES:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015. The sign up link below will remain open until January 10, 2015 at 11:30am PST.
2. Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, just as long as you review the book you've read. You can review on your book on your blog, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Instagram etc.
3. Any genre, length, or format of book counts as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your self for some time. Short stories and novellas do count! The only stipulations that the book must have been released in 2014 or earlier. No 2015 ARCs or 2015 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed.
4. On the 30th of every other month, she will post a wrap-up for the previous two months and will contain new linkys for you to add your own wrap-up posts.
5. THERE WILL BE 2 GIVEAWAYS! - IN July and December. Giveaway details will be explained once the giveaway post goes up. She doesn't want to overwhelm you with too many details now  :)
6. You don't have to follow her to join the challenge, but you do have to follow her to be entered in the giveaways on Instagram/Twitter at @carpelibrumgirl and on her Blog through Google Friend Connect ( on the side bar) or Bloglovin Link ( also on the side bar)  either one or will do!.

The Book Levels:

* Put this in your Sign up post or (Social Media Desription signup)*

(how many books you're planning to read for this challenge in 2015)

1-10 - A Friendly Acquaintance


11-20 - A Firm Grasp on My Pile


21-30 - Clearing it out


31-40 - I Got This!


41-50 - More Room on My Shelves!


50+ - I'm Married to my TBR Pile

So How Do I Join??

1. Write a post about joining the 2015 TBR Pile Challenge on your blog. If you don't have a blog, post about it on Facebook or tweet about it via Twitter or repost my IG Post on  your IG Page!. 
2. In your post, don't forget to include: the button/banner, link back to My Sign Up Page, the level you're aiming at and - if you want - a list of books you're hoping to read for the challenge.
3. Place the challenge button in your sidebar (please use the grab link at the Bottom of the post).
4. Link up in the linky below using the link to your post/tweet.
5. That's it! You're done! Welcome to the challenge, stay tuned for lots of fun! And most importantly, good luck with tackling your TBR Pile! 

 

My TBR Goal : 31-40 - I Got This!

I would normally aim for higher ( I read almost 60 books in 2014 including children's books I reviewed) but I am still going to be doing my ARC's, just not as many, and working for BTSeMag.com reviewing books. 

Candy Experiments 2 by Loralee Leavitt

Published: December 2, 2014

Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Paperback, 160 pages 

Candy Experiments 2 by Loralee Leavitt includes over 60 new science experiments using candy. 

Chapters include: 

Acid & Bases

Density

Light

Crystals

Melt

Dissolve

Just add (or remove) Water

Free the bubbles

and Just for Fun. 

There is also sections on experiment tips and candy experiment science fair projects. The author includes with each experiment the necessary information such as how long the experiment will take, skill level, what you will need, what to do and an explanation as to what is happening and why.She also includes cautionary notes when needed for experiments that are hot to the touch etc. so that no one gets hurt. Some of the experiments contain more candy experiment ideas to expand on what is being taught.

I found these experiments very informative. The author does an excellent job explaining why the kids are getting the reaction they are out of their candies well enough for the target age group to understand what is going on. 

The page's are laid out in such a way that it easily attracts the reader's attention and shows them how fun these experiments can be. This book will easily be a hit for any child interested in science and even those who aren't by making science fun.

Some fun experiments include making a Gummy Frog Swim, Bend a Straw without touching it and Bending Light. 

I received this book from Goodreads giveaway for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

A Spool of Blue Thread

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Spool of Blue Thread is Anne Tyler’s twentieth book she has written over her fifty years of writing. Some of her work has earned Pulitzer Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award and many have been New York Best Sellers.
The house on Bouton Road has housed two generations of Whitshank’s. It has now come down to Abby and Red Whitshank’s two daughters and two sons to figure out the best course of action for the future of the house and the best arrangement for their parents who are not getting any younger. Three generations of Whitshank family stories are shared, secrets revealed and magic of these stories are felt and forgiveness rendered.
The author uses the advantage of setting “A Spool of Blue Thread” in Baltimore, Maine which is where she lives, to make the platform for the story realistic. It’s off of this setting that she introduces the reader to the multitude and complex characters of this story. There isn’t a character or relationship in this story that the reader will not be able to relate to or be reminded of someone in their own family.
This is my first Anne Tyler book I have read. I enjoyed seeing the characters develop and how the title of the book played into the story. I look back on the cover of the book now and I get a different feel and sense to the book.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes family stories or stories that are based more on the characters then the plot.
I received this book for this review from Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.


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