Persepolis: The Story Of A Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (Graphic Memoir Book Review)

Persepolis:
The Story of A Childhood
(Persepolis #1 of 2)

Written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi
Published by Pantheon
on June 1st 2004 
(first published in 2000)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
Length: 153 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Literary Awards:
Harvey Awards for Best US Edition of Foreign Material (2004)
ALA Alex Award (2004)

Synopsis:
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

My Thoughts:
This graphic memoir of Marjane Satrapi's early years, from age six to sixteen, focuses on the Islamic Revolution in her home country of Iran and her life in it.  Raised by outspoken parents, Marjane rebels against the regime early on, choosing to wear and listen to whatever she likes. As her country continues to change, with forced coverings for females and less tolerance of anything influenced by the West, Marjane finds herself rebelling more and more, to a point that her parents are quite worried!

This eye-opening autobiography gives us real-life memories of a child growing up during a pivotal time in Iranian history. Marjane is an open-minded, educated young girl with parents that taught her to think for herself and allowed her plenty of freedom at a young age. As a teenager, she has an openly rebellious streak that puts her in trouble's way more than once.

I went into this with a little bit of prior knowledge of Iran, having focused on expanding my knowledge of the Middle-East a few years ago after realizing how little I knew about the geography (or much else besides) there. While I've read plenty about the history and wars, I haven't read a lot about the youth or how they felt or reacted to these changes in history. I'm glad to have finally read this one and will try to get my hands on part 2 as soon as possible!

Setting:
Tehran, Iran

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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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