Book Review: Ladybugs have lots of spots

Katie August 24, 2013 0 Comments

Ladybugs Have Lots of Spots is a book about circles to teach young children. There are a lot of images in the book to help show what is a circle as well as some poems and key words to help children learn.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Circles can be fat or thin / There can be lot–or one / And round things can be big or small / And learning can be fun.

This innovative new picture book encourages children, through poetry and photographs, to explore the idea of what is round–from the spots on a ladybug’s back to a ring on a finger or a wheel on a bike. Using words such as “dot,” “spot,” “loop,” “hoop,” and “ring,” it shows that round things aren’t all alike, but can be anything!

A perfect companion to Zebra Stripes Go Head to Toe, the simple text and vibrant design of Ladybugs Have Lots of Spotsencourage children to look for and identify similarly shaped objects in their own environments.

Book Review: It’s Okay To Sleep With Him on The First Date

Katie August 23, 2013 0 Comments

This book dissects the “rules” of dating that I’m sure you’ve heard before – don’t sleep with him on the first date, men should always pay for dates, wait 3 days to call even if you’re interested, etc.  No one really knows where they originated from but they have somehow developed themselves into rules that some people actually try to follow.  It’s Okay To Sleep With Him On The First Date focuses on each of these rules and has both a male AND female perspective in the book.  There are also quotes from others at the end of each topic with their thoughts on the rules.

The book has a lot of great tips on ideas for first dates, conversation topics, etc. So if you’ve been striking out on dates lately, check it out and see if maybe you need to revamp your idea of “the rules”.  There is of course my favorite – men and women can not be friends without one of them being in to the other…

The book was definitely an interesting read and I came away from it deciding there really is no set of rules for dating.  Just do what seems to be the right thing for you and your relationship and hope it works out in the end!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Every Time You Go On a Date, you’re faced with 347 “rules” on how to act, what to say, when to call him, when to kiss him, and how to play “the game.”
These rules do more than just insult your intelligence: they spread anxiety, breed insecurity, make us all more cynical and, worse, when you follow the rules you might overlook your match.
In this empowering he said/she said guide, relationship experts Andrea Syrtash and Jeff Wilser help us take off the rules-colored glasses. The truth is men don’t care if you sleep with them on the first date. (If they like you, they’ll want to see you again.) How to find success in love? Don’t trust the rules; trust yourself

Book Review: Painted Landscape

Katie August 22, 2013 0 Comments

Painted Landscapes features tons and tons of photos of beautifully painted landscapes.  There are so many of the paintings that I just want to jump into and live there.  In addition to all the paintings, there is also a bit of an art history lesson throughout the book.  The book is separated by Eastern Views, Western Views, Southern Views and Urban Views.

There are so many talented artists featured and some of these paintings you would never believe they are paintings, they look like photographs!  Others are a bit more abstract but I think that is the beauty of art – you can all be looking at the same thing but see so many different things and meanings in it.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

This book explores American landscape painting today, its relevance in  the contemporary art world, and its historic roots. This volume profiles sixty individual living artists whose contributions distinguish  important aspects of the genre and address land use, nature  appreciation, and ecology through landscape painting. Encompassing every style from traditional realism (with a contemporary edge) to  abstraction and non-objectivity, these contemporary artists range from  today’s art stars to emerging or regionally recognized talent in the  eastern, western, and southwestern regions of the nation. An additional  chapter addresses urban landscapes nationally. The range of styles and  reputations presented creates an encompassing survey of the trends and  enduring elements in this genre of painting and the art market today.

Book Review: Mr Monk Helps Himself

Katie August 21, 2013 0 Comments

Mr. Monk Helps Himself is a book about Adrian Monk an OCD Detective. You may have seen the TV show that was on for quite some time called Monk. Same characters, new mystery.

Natalie is studying for her PI license and the two are trying to investigate all sorts of cases with the police department.  There are I think 3 cases that are going on all at the same time in the book that they are trying to figure out.  One is personal for Natalie – when she goes to a retreat with “Best Possible Me” the “cult leader” as Monk refers to her, Miranda, jumps off a cliff killing herself moments after chatting with Monk and Natalie.  Natalie is convinced that Miranda would not just kill herself and tries to get Monk to help her out with the case even though it is not official.

Meanwhile, there is another case involving a clown – which is one of Monk’s major phobias (he has a list of 100 phobias and when he discovers a new one he has to be cured of one and combine two together so the list is never more than 100.)  Monk doesn’t want to take the case but ends up doing it anyway, despite his phobia.

Will they solve all the cases? Is Natalie right and Miranda was murdered and didn’t commit suicide?

If you liked the show Monk, or like murder mysteries then this is definitely the book for you.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

An all-new original mystery starring Adrian Monk, the brilliant investigator who always knows when something’s out of place….

Now that Monk and Natalie are both in San Francisco again, life is almost back to normal for the duo, with one exception: Natalie is studying for her PI license, the last step to becoming Monk’s full partner.

Before taking the plunge, Natalie sneaks off to Half Moon Bay for a retreat run by Miranda Bigley, charismatic leader of the Best Possible Me self-help program, whose philosophy has helped Natalie deal with her recent life changes. But her plans for a relaxing weekend away are disrupted when Monk tracks her down, determined to rescue her from the “cult.” Their argument is cut short when Miranda, in full view of everyone, calmly walks to the edge of a cliff and jumps off.

Even though Miranda’s death looks like suicide—especially when it’s discovered that she was on the brink of financial disaster—Natalie is sure it is murder. But Monk brushes her off to help the SFPD solve the murder of a clown, despite his coulrophobia, or fear of clowns—number ninety-nine on his list of one hundred phobias.

As Natalie and Monk begin their separate investigations, they are quickly caught up in many precarious situations, but if they want to figure out whodunit, they will have to find a way to become true partners…

Book Review: Not Quite The Classics

Katie August 20, 2013 0 Comments

If you know who Colin Mochrie is, then you know that he is GREAT at improv.  If you don’t know who he is, head over to YouTube and check out Whose Line Is It Anyway?  And thank me later.

The intro to the book “Not Quite the Classics” Colin writes that he doesn’t like to do work, with improv he doesn’t have to, he just has to show up and then goes from there.  So when he somehow ended up with a book deal, he didn’t want to write a book because writing a book was WORK!  However, he enjoyed doing “first line, last line” where you’re told the first and last line and then you have to improv everything in the middle. So Colin decided to take classic literature and put a little bit of a first like, last line improv twist on it and that is how we end up with “Not Quite the Classics”

There are a dozen “classics” remixed in this book and I think that you’ll get a kick out of it, I know I did!  And some of the stories – where the classics were in rhyme – also rhyme. Gosh Colin, how are you so talented?

The stories certainly take quite a different twist from their originals – I mean, The Cat in the Hat turned into The Cat and My Dad – and it’s a story about – ZOMBIES!  Moby Dick is about an actor going on auditions, named Ishmael (of course).  The first line Colin added to his work on A Tale of Two Critters (based on a Tale of Two Cities) had me laughing out loud.  Another one I enjoyed was “Twas Not Right Before Christmas” which was quite comical, and of course, entirely rhyming just as the original does.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Where the art of improvisation meets the art of literature.
Based on the improv game First Line, Last Line, Colin Mochrie of Whose Line is it Anyway? fame, puts a unique spin on works of classic literature. Taking the first line and last line from classic books and poems, Colin recasts these familiar stories in his own trademark offbeat style:
– A verbose coyote becomes the star of A TALE OF TWO CRITTERS- Ishmael is a struggling actor hunting for a good hair day in MOBY
– A rainy day at home becomes a zombie-killing adventure in THE CAT AND MY DAD
– Mighty Casey strikes out again in CASEY AT THE BAR
These stories, and many more, prove that no literary masterpiece is too big, or too small, for the improvisational comedy treatment.

Book Review: Made You Look

Katie August 19, 2013 0 Comments

Made You Look is a very interesting book geared towards kids about advertising and how it works, but I think that any consumer (or any person) can benefit from reading it to find out just how the companies go about getting you to want to buy things.  In addition to how advertising works now (TV, Internet, etc) it also talks about the history of advertising – which has been around for a long., long time.  Much longer than I would have expected but I guess that just goes to show how oblivious I am to the fact that ads are all around us!

I also found it interesting how the wording that they use can make things sound SO different even though it essentially means the same thing – for example “4 out of 5 dentists recommend” essentially is the same as “1 out of 5 hates this” but one makes it sound awesome and the other not so awesome when they are basically saying the same thing.  Also another trick that they mentioned was saying that “nothing is better than our item” when in fact, when tested, all the items were equally as effective.  So, while technically, none of them WERE better – they were all the same but the wording makes it seem like their product is the best of all the competitors. Sneaky, sneaky!

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.About the Book

The kids’ survival guide to advertising, revised and updated for the digital age.

Ads are everywhere these days: they are trying to be your friend on Facebook, popping up in the background of your video game, and even in the neon signs you see when you walk by a store.

For ten years, Made You Look has been an essential self-defense kit for anyone trying to make sense of the complex world of advertising. Now fully revised and with a fresh new look, the book has been updated to reflect the modern ad landscape, from digital tracking and cookies to social media, viral videos, and reality television. From the earliest roots of advertising to the undercover marketers of the 21st century, this revealing book shows kids where ads come from, how they work, and why it matters.

Book Review: Heavenly Hydrangeas

Katie August 17, 2013 0 Comments

Heavenly Hydrangeas is A Practical Guide for the Home Gardener.  The book will help you select the right plants and where the plant them in your garden, different species of the flowers that are available, what species to get depending on where you live and what the climate there is, how much sun and shade they need, how big they will grow, how to get the color you want, how to care for them, when to prune them, etc.  In addition to including everything you could possible want to know – there are some gorgeous photos of the flowers throughout the book which was my favorite part! (I certainly do not have a green thumb, though I do think that hydrangeas are quite beautiful flowers!)

I did not realize that there were so many different colors and types and specific climates that you had to grow these in.  The book is really full of lots of great information and if you have a garden or are considering creating one at your home you probably want to check this out – especially if you want to have Hydrangeas included in the mix! You’ll know exactly what to do and everyone will be envious of your beautiful landscaping!

I also did not realize there were so many different colors and shades of blues and pinks and whites that you could have.  If the soil is acidic it can change the color of the flower! Science!

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Hydrangeas are booming in popularity as home gardeners appreciate their  long season of bloom, ease of maintenance, and dazzling variety of  flower colors and forms. This book reveals the best species for  landscaping uses and the best varieties for both fresh and dried flower  arrangements. Unique in their ability to change flower color depending  on soil composition, hydrangeas are the chameleons of the plant world.  Color mysteries are cleared up along with recommendations for achieving  the best blues, pinks, purples, and whites in the home garden. With more than 250 vivid color photos, the book offers clear and expert advice on planting, pruning, and providing basic care. Learn the best time to cut hydrangeas for fresh bouquets and when and how to harvest them for  dried flowers. With single-topic chapters and answers to frequently  asked questions, this is a handy and easily accessible guide for both  beginning and experienced gardeners.

About the Book: The Artist’s Guide to Success in the Music Business

Katie August 16, 2013 0 Comments

The Artist’s Guide to Success in the Music Business by Loren Weisman is a MUST READ for anyone who is in a band or is looking to be in a band and end up somewhat successful.  Which is not me, because I have no talent to be in a band, but anything on the music business is always interesting to me.  The book is over 400 pages but it is jam packed with absolutely everything you need to know about having a successful band.  How to choose studio musicians versus band members, how to keep fans engaged on twitter, how to deal with contracts  and what questions to ask when negotiating contracts.  Seriously, if I was in the process of being in a band (or even a solo artist) I would be well on my way after reading this book.

How to deal with other band members when you are on tour and tips and tricks to packing and making sure you don’t kill each other while on tour are all in the book.  This is all information from someone who has been in the business and has learned what it takes to be successful, which if you’re forming a band that is probably your goal, right? So check out this book.  It may take you a while to read it but you will be so knowledgeable that the time spent learning will pay off in spades.  Seriously.

I received a free e-copy of this book to review from the publisher. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

The Artist’s Guide to Success in the Music Business, 2nd Edition, is a detailed analysis of the subjects that all musicians should understand and apply to pursue a successful and sustainable career in music today. Full of practical advice, this music industry book provides comprehensive details on how to achieve self-empowerment and optimize your success in today’s music business. From production and performance tips to marketing and career-building advice, this music business book instructs and empowers artists on how to take the hard-earned lessons of a fellow musician and put them to work in their own careers.