APRIL 2020 Reading Wrap Up

Isolated April Wrap Up

April feels like it flew by now that it's over. I honestly can't think of a single defining moment of the month. It's almost like every day has just blended into the next. It's cool though. I'm an isolation pro.

I've been focused on yoga and meditation, gardening, and my late-night writing project, as well as trying to maintain normalcy for my five-year-old through all the changes we've had to make in our own home. Luckily, she's a smart cookie and we had previously learned all about the human body as well as germs and how they affect us, so moving on to viruses was easy and she was understanding of the new precautions we have had to take.

We gave in this week and got the new Animal Crossing to play together. It's actually quite fun and educational. My Little loves that she can do what she already loves to do in real life like catch and observe bugs, fish, and run around in nature! You can even collect fossils and she has always loved dinosaurs. It's great for our rainy days when we have to stay inside and has fueled her love of learning!

I did not get to read much more than I did in March but my concentration was better and I enjoyed everything I read.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was my favorite read of the month. I couldn't put it down.

Books I Finished in April 2020

Chapter Books I Read Aloud:

Books I Started But Haven't Finished:

APRIL REVIEWS

Picture Books:
Bo the Brave by Beth Woollvin
Dewdrop by Katie O'Neill
My Ocean Is Blue by Darren Lebeuf
Crocodile's Crossing: A Search For Home by Yoeri Slegers
All Around Bustletown: Spring by Rotraut Susanne Berner
That's Good, That's Bad by Joan M. Laxau
How to Catch A Unicorn by Adam Wallace

Children's Nonfiction:
My First 100 Science Words by Chris Ferrie
RHS Get Growing: A Family's Guide to Gardening Indoors and Out by Holly Farrell

More reviews:
To Kill A Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel by Fred Fordham
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
What Stars Are Made Of by Sarah Allen (MG)
Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis (graphic novel)



CHALLENGE PROGRESS

ABC Challenge
March: 10 / 26

Back the Beatlist / Tackle My TBR
March: +3
April: +
Persepolis
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Black Moon 

New Release Challenge
March: 0
April: +1
What Stars Are Made Of

PopSugar Reading Challenge
March: 7/50

April: +1 = 8/50
A book recommended by your fave blog, podcast, or online book club or A book with a book on the cover: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek 

Read Harder Challenge
7/24
April: +1
Persepolis

1001 Books to Read Before You Grow Up__/1001
April: +1

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells




April Music:
I love music. Music heals.
I'm always on the lookout for something new that speaks to me and here's what I listened to the most this month.
 links to youtube

River of Darkness by The Midnight

Needed by Rhye
Pretty Lady by Tash Sultana
Lover Chanting by Little Dragon
Timesink by Lorn


GOODBYE APRIL!
How was your month, readers? How many books did you read and/or what was your favorite read?!

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How to Catch A Unicorn by Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton (Children's Picture Book Review)

How to Catch A Unicorn

Written by Adam Wallace
Illustrations by Andy Elkerton
Published by Sourcebooks Wonderland
on March 15, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Try to catch one of the world's most elusive mythical creatures--the unicorn! Filled with zany traps and lots of rainbow unicorn fun, this is the unicorn book of the year!

Can you catch the unicorn?
You'll have to use your brain,
So set your traps and prep your team
To pet that rainbow mane!


Our Thoughts:

This magical addition to the 'How to Catch' series is perfect for unicorn lovers!

A magical unicorn rides into town on a rainbow with plans to visit the zoo, but will have to dodge the dedicated group of kids that are prepared to catch their very own unicorn and their collection of crafty traps! 

Told in rhyming prose, this book is a fast-paced chase told from the unicorn's point of view. There's lots of glitter and sparkle (especially on the hardcover!) and a rainbow trail throughout, plus lots of cute and zoo animals!

Also in the 'How to Catch' series:

How to Catch A Dinosaur

How to Catch A Dragon

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That's Good, That's Bad by Joan M. Lexau & Aliki (Children's Picture Book Review)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

That's Good, That's Bad

Written by Joan M. Lexau
Illustrated by Aliki
Published by Prestel Junior
on March 24, 2020
(First published in 1963)

Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 3 - 7 years

Goodreads | Amazon  | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
This vintage children's classic about the power of storytelling is filled with eye-catching new reproductions of Aliki's iconic illustrations. 

A boy is sitting on a rock in the jungle when a tiger approaches him. "Run!" says the tiger, "or I will eat you!" But the boy is too tired to run and in order to avoid being eaten, he tells the tiger a story. What follows is a thrilling tale that will captivate young readers just as thoroughly as it captivated the hungry tiger. Kids will enjoy waiting breathlessly for every flip of the page as the boy tells his story involving a rhinoceros and a crocodile. Originally published in 1963 and out of print for many years, this book by award-winning illustrator and author Aliki features fabulous vintage-style illustrations. This new edition preserves the vivid colors of the original book while introducing a new generation of young readers to a skillfully told story-within-a-story with a surprising and satisfying end.


Our Thoughts:

When Boy is approached by a grinning tiger that asks him why he doesn't run, Boy tells him a long and fascinating story about an angry rhino that he had just escaped. With each spin of the tale, the tiger listens raptly and declares, "That's good," and "That's bad!" Tiger discovers just how bad it is when the boy has finished his tale and the angry rhino appears!

This classic children's story, originally published in 1963, has recently been reprinted for young generations to discover and enjoy. It features the original artwork by Aliki in bright and vivid colors with lots of textured background fauna.

Young readers will love the danger of telling a hungry tiger a fascinating story and the tiger's changing facial expressions throughout. The overall lesson of the story within a story will have kids thinking outside the box and ready to use their own quick wit! This children's book shares the true power of stories in a fun and interesting way! 

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The Sunday Post - 2020 Week 17 - Nature & Books!

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

and is a chance to share news, both new and old!

Hey there, bloggers!

I wish I had more to report this week, especially since it was Earth Day, World Book Day, and then Arbor Day, all of which are some of my absolute favorite days of the year. But it stormed a lot this week and I ended up with a debilitating migraine for a few days so it hasn't been as fun as I would have liked. I wasn't entirely unproductive though. I got some masks finished for local essential workers and new fabric prepped to make more this week.  I'm still fitting in as much gardening and yardwork as possible. I even got some reading done this week!

How my garden grows:
We have a single baby squash this week, lots of itty bitty pole beans, and a few cucumbers that are big enough to pick already! The tomatoes are all still a lovely green. I'm really contemplating fried green tomatoes! We now have pumpkin seedlings planted in a bed so I'm hoping those do well and the sunflowers we planted forever ago finally sprouted!

It stormed all day on Arbor day so we waited until sunny Saturday to dig up the baby crepe myrtles that were growing out of the bottom of my older potted crepe myrtle. It turned out to be three babies so we planted all three in separate pots. I'm looking forward to their dark red flower clusters!


I hope you are all doing well, staying safe, and getting in lots of reading! Or just existing. That's great too!

Currently Reading:

I'm determined to actually read my ebooks this week instead of staying up late to write so hopefully you won't see The Invisible Man or The Black Moon on here too many more times.
The Nebula Secret is the first in a fun middle-grade adventure series that I received from the publisher and exactly what I need right now since I can't get out on my own adventures right now.

Recently Finished:

I absolutely loved this! Review coming soon!
If you've read this, I would LOVE recommendations for similar books if you have any!

Recently Posted Reviews:

We reviewed All Around Bustletown: Spring by Rotraut Susanne Berner, one in a fun and interactive seasonal quartet, for the publisher. We read and reviewed The Boreal Forest: A Year in World's Largest Land Biome by E.L. Carmichael & Josee Bisaillon for Netgalley on Arbor Day.
Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis is a middle-grade alternate historical fiction graphic novel that was really fantastic. Definitely recommend!

What I'm Watching:
Is it weird that I haven't watched any tv lately?
Oh, I did put Netflix's 'The Wildling' on as background light the other night. It was weird.
What are you all hooked on right now?

What I'm Listening To:

"Timesink" by Lorn
This one is wordless with an interesting and timely music video.


New to our shelves:
Nothing new in the mail but here are some of the great Kindle Freebies we've grabbed this week! I'm so grateful for these because we can't visit our library and our Overdrive hasn't added any children's books in months!

Have a great week! Happy reading!

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Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis (Middle-Grade Graphic Novel Review)

I received a copy of this beautiful book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Queen of the Sea

by Dylan Meconis
Published by Walker Books
on June 25, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction
Length: 400 pages

Ages: 10 - 14 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary. 

When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelations of the island's sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor's life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself. 

My Thoughts:

Young Margaret knows she was sent to live at the convent on the island when she was just a baby. She knows this because she asked all of the ten people that were there when she arrived; the nuns, the servants, and even the old, sleepy priest. When a woman named Eleanor is brought to the island, Margaret comes to understand that the place that she has called home for so long is nothing but a prison for exiled enemies of the crown. She vows to help Eleanor and finds her place in the world.

This beautifully illustrated middle-grade graphic novel is an alternate history based on Queen Elizabeth I's early life. I've read a few books about Queen Elizabeth I in the past so I did pick up on the similarities with the family history between the royal half-sisters and the subsequent exile. While this may not be an accurate retelling, it is written and illustrated in a way that really delves into the monarchy, religion, and way of life at that point in time.

Aimed toward young readers that may or may not have encountered this historical time period before, the book does a fantastic job of explaining life in a convent and its religious purpose, from the different orders of nuns to the unique roles that each of them took on and what was expected in order to survive on a remote island.

I'm a big fan of traditional illustration and absolutely loved the artwork that makes up this graphic novel. I really enjoyed that when Margaret was telling a story about her past or the 'Queen of the Sea', the illustrations looked a little bit more childish, as if she were illustrating her memories for us in a juvenile way while the main plot is beautifully illustrated and watercolored.

This book is a bit on the lengthier side, with nearly 400 pages, but absolutely worth it! I flew through it and then read it again to my daughter and enjoyed it immensely both times. I would recommend to anyone that enjoys historical fiction or sequential art!
 

Many thanks to the author/illustrator, publisher, and Goodreads for this fantastic graphic novel!

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The Boreal Forest by E.L. Carmichael & Josee Bisaillon (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Boreal Forest:
A Year in the World's Largest Land Biome

by L.E. Carmichael
Illustrated by Josee Bisaillon
Published by Kids Can Press
on April 7, 2020
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction,
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
The vast boreal forest spans a dozen countries in the northern regions like "a scarf around the neck of the world," making it the planet's largest land biome. Besides providing homes for a diversity of species, this spectacular forest is also vitally important to the planet: its trees clean our air, its wetlands clean our water and its existence plays an important role in slowing global climate change. In this beautifully written book, award-winning author L.E. Carmichael explores this special wilderness on a tour of the forest throughout the four seasons, from one country to another. Evocative watercolor and collage artwork by award-winning illustrator Josee Bisaillon provides a rare glimpse of one the world's most magnificent places.
Our Thoughts:

Happy Arbor Day, readers!
At the top of planet Earth, there is a vast forest that stretches across continents, like 'a scarf around the neck of the world'. The Boreal Forest is one of the largest land biomes in the world, home to countless creatures that call it home, some all year long and some only seasonally. The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World's Largest Land Biome shares everything one might want to know about this northern forest and its inhabitants.

Taking us to different continents and countries around the world, this beautifully illustrated children's book shares insights into the forest and its inhabitants throughout the different seasons. 

Winter in the Boreal Forest is especially cold, plunging down into the negatives. Only the hardiest critters survive the winter and this book shares how some of them make it through the frigid temperatures.

Spring is the time of rebirth, the forest reawakening, and continuing a cycle that has lasted for over eight-thousand years.  With summer comes the wet months and a plethora of bugs. 

There's tons of great information in this book, from the different regions the forest grows in, to the animals and other creatures that inhabit it, to life cycles, soil,  temperatures, and more. It focuses on animals specific to the northern regions and how they survive, thrive, and migrate, including mammals, birds, and even insects. 

This gorgeous nature book is packed full of useful and interesting facts paired with fascinating illustrations and would make a wonderful addition to any children's nonfiction library!

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All Around Bustletown: Spring by Rotraut Susanne Berner (Children's Picture Book Review)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All Around Bustletown: Spring
by Rotraut Susanne Berner
Published by Prestel Junior

on November 12, 2019
(first published 2004)

Genre: Children's, Picture Book 
Length: 14 pages 
Ages: 2 - 5 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
It's springtime in this charming, busy town and there is a lot going on! A house gets a top-to-bottom spring cleaning and farm fields are being prepared for planting. People are shopping, commuting to work, constructing buildings, and meeting friends. If you look closer, you'll recognize the same characters appear on every page, each with their own story. There's Wilfred the jogger slipping on a banana peel and his friend Erica who comes to help him. Three cheerful nuns shop, chat, and share a snack at the cafe. A stork surveys all the activity from the sky while a mischievous fox scampers through the streets. In the tradition of Richard Scarry and Where's Waldo, this book encourages kids to return again and again to each spread, following along with the characters and inventing their own stories. They'll recognize parts of their own world, while also learning about the endless ways we live, work, and play in the spring.

Our Thoughts:

Spring has come to Bustletown and all of its inhabitants are eager to be outside! It's no wonder with all the beauty of blooming trees and fields of flowers. Some stroll, some run, some have a destination, and others enjoy the day and wander. From rural farmlands to the bustling town center, you can follow the many characters through the pages of this book and see all that is going on in Bustletown!

The All Around Bustletown quartet is a unique look-and-tell board book series that spans from season to season in one bustling little fictional town. These illustrated books are wordless but the back of the book prompts you to meet some of the people within the book and tells you what they are doing so you can follow their story throughout Bustletown! 

These books are quite unique, being a mixture of a look-and-find and a chance to create your own story kind of book depending on who you choose to focus on and follow throughout the pages. Both human and animal characters can be found with their own stories, sometimes crossing paths with the other characters. There's no end to the fun you can have with these books!

The illustration style is tons of fun with plenty of detail on each page to get lost in even if you aren't searching for or following the characters. There are cutaway buildings that give us a peek into all the inner workings of the homes and businesses, which reminds me of the old Richard Scarry books so much. There's also a lot of depth to each page, with plenty of characters and buildings in the forefront but if you look beyond, you will see a whole world progressing around this quaint little town!

This cute and original series will keep you and your children busy for hours. They are the kind of books that you can come back to time and time again and still find new little details to amaze and interest. This is a great introduction to the world around us, how it works, and the types of people in it as well! Even better, you can learn about the people of Bustletown throughout the four different seasons! 

Be sure to check out the entire series!

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The Sunday Post - 2020 Week 16 - Veggies & Stuff

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

and is a chance to share news, both new and old!

Hey there, bloggers!

I can't believe it's already Sunday again.

Anyone interested in how my garden is growing?!
 It's really all I have to talk about.
I have blossoms on my pole beans, peppers, and squash. There's a variety of green tomatoes and baby cukes at the moment and I think my radishes are ready to pull! We successfully started some pumpkin seedlings this week as well.
Other than the veggies, my 8yo hibiscus is blooming a few flowers a day and the star jasmine is covered and smells lovely. We've been in a drought but had a nice heavy storm the other day so we've had a few wild lilies pop up in the yard! I'm really looking forward to them blooming!

On the covid front, I'm still trying to figure out how to tackle the extra workload and keep my active and social 5yo entertained all day long, as usual. Everything else seems to fall to the sides and I try to pick it up at night when I should be sleeping. I really need more time in the day.

Memes that seem appropriate:



Currently Reading:

I've been in a bit of a slump lately and decided to dig into this book that I see recommended constantly in my women's book groups, and was hooked from the start! It's a fantastic read!

Recently Finished:

This was my graphic novel choice of the month and I'm kicking myself for not reading this sooner! I really enjoyed it.

Recently Posted Reviews:

I reviewed My Ocean is Blue by Darren Labeuf and Crocodile's Crossing: A Search For Home by Yoeri Slegers for Netgalley and What Stars Are Made Of by Sarah Allen was a Goodreads Giveaway win about a 12yo girl with Turner Syndrome! 


What I'm Watching:Nothing, not even as background noise. 

What I'm Listening To:

Move On by Milosh


I hope you're all staying safe and reading all the things!
Have a great week!

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