Book Review: From Tadpole to Frog Prince

Katie October 17, 2022 0 Comments

Another STEM Fairy Tale I just couldn’t wait to read.  Again, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineer and Math and I truly believe this all needs to be introduced to kids at an early age to get more of them interested in it.  This time Dr. Gnome-It-All tells us a story “From Tadpole to Frog Prince”.   This time we start out by learning about a fable and that our story will end with a moral.  We also learn about the life cycle of a frog – hence from Tadpole to Frog Prince – a retelling of The Frog Prince, with its STEM twist.

Another really funny and informative read and I can’t wait to see what other STEM Fairy Tales there are for me to explore…

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

About the Book

A fresh look into the classic tale of The Frog Prince from a scientific point of view. Explains STEM concepts as they appear in the story and gives readers a new perspective on an old favorite fable. Includes a glossary and bibliography for further reading.

Dr. Gnome-It-All is host of the most popular internet show found on the World Wondrous Web—STEM Stream. In graphic-style format, he teaches his audience about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while entertaining them with adaptations of timeless fairy tales. STEM Fairy Tales explains science concepts as they appear in the story and gives readers a new perspective on favorite fables

Book Review: The Goats Gruff and the Baa-dly Built Bridge

Katie October 17, 2022 0 Comments

When I saw there were STEM Fairy Tales I was ALL IN on reading them.  If you’re not aware, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and I am all about young kids (especially girls!) learning all they can about STEM early.  This book is a retelling of The Billy Goats Gruff with a STEM twist. (Did I mention this book is narrated by a gnome? Can it get any better than that?)  In between the story about the goats, the gnome fills us in about bridges and gives information about them from an engineering standpoint but in an easy to understand way.  There’s also a list of his favorite bridges which makes me feel better because I have a list too! This story was really funny in addition to being really informative and it is never too early to get your kids into engineering!

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

About the Book

A fresh look into the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel from a scientific point of view. Explains STEM concepts as they appear in the story and gives readers a new perspective on an old favorite fable. Includes a glossary and bibliography for further reading.

Dr. Gnome-It-All is host of the most popular internet show found on the World Wondrous Web—STEM Stream. In graphic-style format, he teaches his audience about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while entertaining them with adaptations of timeless fairy tales. STEM Fairy Tales explains science concepts as they appear in the story and gives readers a new perspective on favorite fables.

Book Review: Find Your Magic: A Journal

Katie October 17, 2022 0 Comments

Find Your Magic is a journal to help you create the magical life of your dreams through intention setting and following your path to joy.  The book begins in Spring and starts with a prompt for rebirth, which seems fitting if you’re looking to recenter yourself and connect with nature and yourself.  Each prompt throughout the journal gets you to think about yourself – things that may be in your way, things that make you happy, etc. Some of the answers come easy and others you have to dig deep and really think about yourself and sometimes about how others perceive you in order to complete the journal entry.  The journal ends in winter with a lot of reflection on yourself in the past year, finishing off with your top 5 shining moments of the year and what they say about you.

I think this journal will help you learn a lot about yourself and ground you.  Just reading through it and not doing any of the prompts, it really made me think and reflect on myself.

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

About the Book

Reflective meditations and thoughtful journal prompts for every season help you connect with nature and the magic of the world around you on the path of mindfulness and self-care.

Brimming with rituals, wishes, and enchantments to encourage spiritual growth, the Find Your Magic journal is an illuminating guide to harnessing the Earth’s power for personal reflection. Featuring beautiful illustrations, it reveals how magic can be used as a force for good that protects and promotes our well-being, attracts abundance, and brings about prosperity.

Touching on topics like personal self-care practices and the importance of finding your place in nature, Find Your Magic is organized by the seasons and features meditations and prompts like:

For Spring
In many cultures and spiritual traditions, the cleansing bath is not just for the sweat and dirt of your skin, but it’s a spiritual purification as well. Think of it as cleansing your spirit, energy, or aura. The most important part of the ritual bath is what you bring to it yourself: your magic. Imagine clearing out stagnant energy from your body, washing off the energy of others, and emerging fresh from the ritual.

How will you intentionally cultivate your thoughts and goals while engaging in this mindfulness practice?

For Winter
This is the time of year where the Earth is at rest. Silence and stillness are fundamental to well-being, and they are often undervalued. The quiet—a kind of magical emptiness—is where our brains and bodies can rejuvenate and restore themselves.

When was the last time you cultivated a quiet moment, one without background noise, busy activity, or a time limit that you were rushing against?

Featuring the beautiful and introspective nature creations of Russian artist Selcha Uni (@selchauni, @stars_and_needles), the soothing, dark-toned illustrations will guide your mind to a place of calm awareness where you can develop your magical relationship with the world around you.

The Everyday Inspiration Journals series has a guided journal for every self-improvement journey. Whatever your personal goal, whether it is to incorporate more positivity into your life, or to slow down and find calm, or to hone your spell-building craft, or something else, you will find in this series an elegant journal in which you can record your thoughts, aspirations, and progress. With a simple, easy-to-follow structure, each journal is filled with powerful prompts and helpful trackers to illuminate your way.

Book Review: Twain Illustrated

Katie October 15, 2022 0 Comments

Twain Illustrated contains three stories from Mark Twain, will illustrations added.  The first is Emerson, Holmes, and Longfellow – which is also known as Twain’s December 17, 1877 Speech at the Hotel Brunswick in Boston. The second is The Facts Concerning The Recent Carnival of Crime in Connecticut and finally the third, Running for Governor.  None of these had been something I had read before, so getting to read them as well as have the illustrations worked in to break the text up was a nice treat.

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

About the Book

Twain Illustrated: Three Stories by Mark Twain, is a collection of three classic Mark Twain stories, illustrated by Marc Johnson-Pencook. All three stories, Emerson, Holmes, and Longfellow, The Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime in Connecticut, and Running for Governor, show why Mark Twain is recognized as a master of wild, American humor. But unbelievably, when Twain teams with contemporary-classic illustrator Marc Johnson-Pencook, his humor grows even wilder yet. For Marc displays his own brand of mastery depicting the outrageous scenes that shape each Twain story. Forty-three of his pen & ink illustrations are interspersed throughout this collection of stories, which is respectfully adapted and illustrated to capture and hold the attention of modern-day, middle-school readers. But these stories are not just for them! Modern-day adults love illustrated literature, too, especially when Mark Twain tells the stories that generate such wildly-imagined images. All readers will be pleased to discover that Mark the author and Marc the illustrator work perfectly well together, almost as if they share the same mind across the decades.

Book Review: The Witch’s Spellbook for Beginners

Katie October 15, 2022 0 Comments

The fact that I am reading a spellbook may be worrisome for some, and others probably think it is a good idea. The introduction states, “We all want to lead a magical life – one in which we are able to both shape and take responsibility for our destinies. This book reveals how, by simply casting spells that align with the cycles of nature and the universe, you too can begin to manifest your dreams.”

The book then goes into how to be a good witch and the solar and lunar cycles as well as some magic tools you may need for your spells. It also heeds the warning – what goes around comes around and ill intentions sent out may be visited upon you – usually threefold.  Something to keep in mind when you might be wanting to be a bit impulsive with the spell casting.

I will say, the spells in this book all have a positive vibe to them – so hopefully it won’t be creating any ill intentions for anyone!

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

About the Book

Manifest your dreams with easy-to-follow spells that align with the cycles of nature and the universe.

Magic can change your life and help you manifest your best self. Anyone with the curiosity and willingness can connect to the power of the natural and supernatural and to blend ancient practices in a modern context. Adapted from Sarah Bartlett’s The Witch’s Spellbook, this guide gives new and aspiring witches a simple path to the art of practical magic and the empowerment of magic spells.

Following an introduction to the basics of witchcraft, The Witch’s Spellbook for Beginners holds an abundance of spells organized by concern—including your self, change, wishes, love, home and family, career, money, and protection. Whether you are looking to channel spirit guides and those who have passed over, need a protection amulet for you or a loved one, or manifest a new direction that aligns with your life’s desires, this spellbook will empower and inform your budding craft as a witch. Harness the power of the astrological elements, explore the lunar cycles and how they can enhance your magic, and embrace the seasons to amplify your spells and divination work.

The spells include:

• Find Your Life Direction
• Restore Holistic Health
• Make a Decision
• Manifest an Aspiration
• Ignite Desire
• Get Over a Breakup
• Change Careers
• Open the Door to Prosperity
• Banish Negativity

Plan your spellwork by date, season, and lunar phase, and identify spells that can be used any time, using the calendar index of spells at the back of the book.

Start your journey into witchcraft with purposeful and practical spells for every day and every event.

Book Review: I Saw Santa’s Underpants

Katie October 15, 2022 0 Comments

I Saw Santa’s Underpants is a cute rhyming story about what happens when Santa has a mishap at young Max’s home.  This is a really short quick read but it shows some quick thinking and impressive problem solving skills by the main character to help Santa out once he sees his underpants.

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

About the Book

When Santa has an unfortunate mishap, a young boy and his dog are shocked by what they see.

He will need ingenuity to figure out how to help Santa out of this embarrassing situation.

A laugh-out-loud funny children’s picture book that:

• Demonstrates problem solving at its best
• Provides opportunities for family bonding
• Utilizes fun rhymes to help children develop reading skills

Grab yours now and start a new Christmas tradition.

Book Review: The Official Amazing Race Travel Companion

Katie October 12, 2022 0 Comments

The Amazing Race is one of my favorite TV shows to watch. I just love to see them traveling the world and doing all sorts of fun and interesting competitions. The Travel Companion book contains a list of places to check out that were featured on past seasons of the race.  The book is broken down by continent and then the locations and also lets you know which season and episode of the race it was featured on.  There were only a handful of locations that I had actually visited myself and so many more I’d absolutely love to check out! It also was fun to see the recaps of the challenges, road blocks, uturns, etc that happened at the locations on the show and try to see how many of them I had remembered watching.

If you’re looking for places to see on your next vacation – definitely check out this book. Or if you’re just a fan of the show and want to relive some of the iconic destinations they have visited and find out some of how things work behind the scenes you’ll want to check it out too! A good services like Jettly can greatly help if you need assistance in traveling such as booking flights, requesting specialty foods, and even arranging ground transportation!

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

About the Book

Discover unique destinations and take your vacation plans to the next level with these travel ideas from the official companion to the blockbuster reality show, The Amazing Race.

For more than twenty years, The Amazing Race has introduced viewers to unique travel destinations in ninety-two countries across the globe. Pairing challenges with cultural touchpoints of the locations visited, The Amazing Race averages 10 million viewers per season.

This fanbook-meets-travel guide will cover six continents and thirty-two countries, including activities and places to visit at each destination. In addition to region-specific recommendations of destinations and activities from the show’s history, The Official Amazing Race Travel Companion will feature:

-A never-before-seen “behind the scenes” snapshot of how the show is made, who they hire, and how destinations are chosen
-An introduction by Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster, cocreators of The Amazing Race
-A foreword by host Phil Keoghan
-And many more fun surprises!

Perfect for the fan or avid traveler in your life, The Official Amazing Race Travel Companion will satisfy any craving for adventure while traveling!

TM Amazing Race Productions Inc. © 2022 Amazing Race Productions Inc. & ABC Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Book Review: I was a Teen Rock Star!

Katie October 7, 2022 0 Comments

I Was A Teen RockStar was a quick read and a bit of a roller coaster! Lanre is living with his aunt and wants to be a musician.  The book tells you to alway follow you dreams but also shows a bit of what can happen even if you do follow your dreams and they seem to come true – everything is not always what it seems.

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

About the Book

Sixteen year old Lanre Bandele finds solace in his music and dreams of being professional musician. Can dreams come true? Maybe.

An unexpected opportunity arrives and his journey takes him on an unforgettable experience. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic and filled with rhythm and colourful characters, this contemporary Nigerian story is about a teenager, his love for music and above all growing up.

Book Review: The Antiracist Kid

Katie August 16, 2022 0 Comments

I’ve often found that when there’s something I don’t quite understand and want to understand more, the best way to learn it in a way I can easily comprehend is to find a kids book about it. The past couple of years I have been trying to learn how to become Antiracist.  I’ve read several books on it. I get the general idea, but still wanted to know more.  I picked up The Antiracist Kid, a book geared at teaching young readers about being antiracist and about how identity works.  Almost immediately, I learned a new term, “person of global majority” and that wasn’t the only thing I learned.  If you’re an adult and want to learn more, and maybe how to explain racism to kids or if you have a young reader curious to know more about racism and being antiracist, I highly recommend this book.  It broke everything down into bite size, easy to understand and digest pieces and has some great illustrations in there to help as well.

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

About the Book

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of This Book is Anti-Racist, Tiffany Jewell, with art by Eisner-nominated illustrator Nicole Miles, The Antiracist Kid is the essential illustrated chapter book guide to antiracism for empowering the young readers in your life!

What is racism? What is antiracism? Why are both important to learn about? In this book, systemic racism and the antiracist tools to fight it are easily accessible to the youngest readers.

In three sections, this must-have guide explains:

– Identity: What it is and how it applies to you
– Justice: What it is, what racism has to do with it, and how to address injustice
– Activism: A how-to with resources to be the best antiracist kid you can be

This book teaches younger children the words, language, and methods to recognize racism and injustice—and what to do when they encounter it at home, at school, and in the media they watch, play, and read.

Book Review: Friend Me

Katie August 2, 2022 0 Comments

Friend Me is the 2nd book in the Synergy Novel series.  I did not read the first one, though based on the characters I think I have a good idea who the first one was about. (I’ll go back and read it eventually, though.) Not having read the first, I didn’t feel at all like I was behind on the story and it was easily read as a standalone.  As a software engineer, I probably would have started this book sooner had I known it was about a programming firm! I liked all the little programming jokes/notes injected throughout the story as well – and ironically enough was reading it on the plane on the way to a business trip. I told my coworker about it and was teasing that it was VERY niche – programming romance novels – and now she wants to read it as well.

To the story – Marlee is the executive assistant to Jackson at Synergy.  She’s great at her job.  She also has a massive crush on her coworker Cooper and has been scheming on how to be alone with him when her boss is off on his honeymoon by hiring a steady stream of crappy assistants for him.  To further put her plan into place, she needs a date for the wedding to make him jealous, because he has invited one of his good friends who is very beautiful and maybe a bit intimidating to Marlee.  Coworker and BFF, Tyler, steps in to aid her in her schemes and be her wedding date.  But is there maybe something more there?

Does her scheming work out? Will she end up with Cooper even though it may be against company policy? Or will she realize she is just being silly?

I read this book pretty much straight through once I started it, couldn’t put it down.  (I had to save the last 30 minutes or so for once I got to the hotel for my business trip – but definitely stayed up too late to make sure I finished it!) I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

She knows better than to think she’ll get a happily-ever-after like the romance stories she loves…until her nerdy work friend starts to act like Prince Charming.

Romance-reading executive assistant Marlee can’t show up to her boss’s wedding without a date. Not after her crush invites a beautiful, brainy Amazon. So when her best buddy, Tyler, offers to be her plus-one, she’s all in for a little jealousy-sparking fun.

Until a magical kiss on the dance floor makes her forget her own name and question who she’s crushing on. Suddenly their date doesn’t feel so fake.

Leveling-up their friendship is a risk she’s not ready to take. So is Tyler asking for more than she can give. She never meant to break up with her best friend. Especially when she suspects she’s falling for him.

Friend Me is a slow-burn-to-red-hot, friends-to-lovers, fake-relationship romantic comedy featuring a starry-eyed heroine, a sweet, cinnamon-roll hero, and a pair of cranky cats. It can be read as a standalone and is the second book in the Synergy series.