Book Review: Nursery Rhyme Delights

Katie November 26, 2013 0 Comments

Nursery Rhyme Delights has 6 different nursery rhymes featured in it (Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, Little Miss Muffet and Hey Diddle Diddle) The book is made up of mixed media illustrations done by Kristi Abbott, inspired by her favorite childhood nursery rhymes.  They kind of look like really, really intricate scrapbook pages for the nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty was about 5 pages long and looks AWESOME!  Certainly very inspiring for a crafter and probably very interesting for a child who is reading the book or looking at it at bed while having it read to him or her by mom or dad. All the other nursery rhymes are amazing as well and it certainly gave me a lot of ideas for my scrapbook but I am not sure that I have the patience to actually follow through with it.  This was no doubt a ton of work to put together but it looks absolutely amazing!

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

About the book

Nursery Rhyme Delights is an artistic children’s book designed to help children learn six well-known nursery rhymes in a fun and interactive way. It combines original hand collaged illustrations, playful typography and an interactive memory game.

Additional downloads are available from Kristi Abbott’s website (www.kristiabbott.com) to promote further fun and learning.

The series of six illustrations used in the book were inspired by Kristi’s favourite nursery rhymes as a little girl. When creating the art works, memories and visuals came flooding back to her from childhood. The fun, the giggles and the quirky twist of images have been captured through beautiful collaged papers and mixed media. Those early years spent sitting with her grandmothers looking and listening to bedtime stories, nursery rhymes and fairytales have had a lifetime impact.

About Kristi: From early childhood, Kristi has spent her life travelling between Sydney, Australia and Saint Paul, Minnesota. She was seldom without a book, a Barbie doll and a set of colouring pencils. Later after graduate degrees in Design and an MBA she rose to be the CEO of an online simulation company that merged visual imagery with complex teaching material. In 2012 she decided to ditch the corporate life for one where she could focus on her passion – to become a living artist. She currently lives in downtown Saint Paul in an artist’s cooperative with her dog Disco – from whom she is constantly inspired!

This is her first illustrated book – hopefully one of many to come.

Book Review: In the Secret Service

Katie November 24, 2013 0 Comments

As a boy, Jerry Parr watched a movie staring Ronald Reagan about the secret service.  Years later, Parr was a member of the Secret Service protecting President Reagan.  While that seems to be the selling point of the book, it is really only a small portion of the story of Jerry and his life in the Secret Service.  I thought this book was incredibly interesting and the Secret Service always seems so mysterious to me so it was nice to read about them from an insiders perspective to see just what goes on when you are protecting the president.

This book is just under 200 pages and is an easy read but incredibly interesting and insightful.  You don’t have to be in to History or Politics (I’m not big into either) to enjoy this book.

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

About the Book

Meet Jerry Parr. In 1981, he was the agent standing next to Ronald Reagan when John Hinckley, Jr., stepped out of the crowd, intent on killing the president. In the Secret Service is an adrenaline-filled ride through the life of the agent who saved Ronald Reagan’s life. Jerry spent much of his life as a silent eyewitness to history, with a gun at his fingertips. What motivates a man who is ready at a moment’s notice to step into the path of a bullet? In In the Secret Service, you’ll also follow Jerry’s inner journey. That journey led him from the halls of the powerful to the streets of the poor in Washington, D.C., to the mountain passes of war-torn El Salvador to help orphans.

You won’t want to miss this insider’s perspective on the Secret Service and a look into the heart of a man who was—and is—ready to sacrifice himself for another. At times heart-pounding, at times heartrending, this richly textured memoir of a Secret Service Agent will first move you to the edge of your seat, then to the depths of your soul.

Book Review: My Little Pony: Pony Tales Vol 1

Katie November 23, 2013 0 Comments

Pony Tales Volume 1 contains six different graphic stories about the My Little Ponies.  I’m really not sure why I continue try and read these – for 2 reasons.  A) Graphic Novels always come up too tiny to read the text on my nook. B) I can not get over how the re-vamp of the ponies has completely RUINED them from the ponies that were around when I was a kid.  Those were adorable. These are weird looking and have huge eyes.

Despite the fact that I hate how the ponies look, the stories are always fun (even if I do need to magnify each page and it takes me a bit longer to read than it should) There is always a lesson taught in the stories and they are usually full of action, drama and adventure and are a great way to get girls into the graphic novel genre that they otherwise might not be interested in checking out.

About the Book

Six spotlights focusing on everyone’s favorite Ponies! Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack each get a whole issue devoted to them.

Book Review: A Tale of Two Daddies

Katie November 22, 2013 0 Comments

A Tale of Two Daddies is a super adorable book about a girl who has 2 Daddies – Poppa and Daddy.  She is with a boy in the park who has all sorts of questions – which one would build your house in a tree? And which dad helps you when you skin your knee? And the girl answers each one with Poppa, Daddy, Neither or Both!  The book is all in rhyme which makes it even more fun.

I think this is a great book to teach other kids about families that have two daddies – they’re no different than any other family – they still make birthday cakes and give lots of love!

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

About the Book

A Tale of Two Daddies is a playground conversation between two children. The boy says he heard that the girl has two dads. The girl says that is right. She has Daddy and Poppa. True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow. “Which dad helps when your team needs a coach? / Which dad cooks you eggs and toast?”
To which she answers: “Daddy is my soccer coach. / Poppa cooks me eggs and toast.” It becomes clear that the family bond is unburdened by any cultural discomforts.

Book Review: A Tale of Two Mommies

Katie November 21, 2013 0 Comments

A Tale of Two Mommies is about a little boy who has two Mommies – Momma and Mommy.  He meets up with a couple of other kids at the beach who ask him all sorts of questions about which of his mommies does things for him.  The boy answers with either Momma, Mommy, Neither Or Both!  Everything is in rhyme so it has a bit of a sing-song feel to it and is super adorable.

I think this is a great book to teach other kids about families that have two mommies – they’re no different than any other family – they still are there for you when you have a bad dream or skin your knee and give you lots of love!

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

About the Book

A Tale of Two Mommies is a beach conversation among three children. One boy asks another boy about having two mommies. A young girl listening in asks some questions too.
True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow. “Which mom is there when you want to go fishing? / Which mom helps out when Kitty goes missing?” To which he answers: “Mommy helps when I want to go fishing. / Both Mommies help when Kitty goes missing.”
A Tale of Two Mommies is intended for 4-8 year olds.
This book lets us look inside one non-traditional family, a same sex couple and their son. As the children talk, it’s clear this boy lives in a nurturing environment where the biggest issues are the everyday challenges of growing up.