educational – One Chapter

Begin Again by Oliver Jeffers

4.5 stars

We all need to read this book. Oliver Jeffers brings together a lot of issues in this book that in my own country today we are facing head-on. Jeffers speaks of a “world” yet in my own country, this book even applies to us. We are full of strangers right now, a country divided but we are still the same, people who “like to feel warm both on the skin and in the heart.”

Our country is a divided one, a nation that has been built on a firm foundation is now cracking and it’s heartbreaking. Jeffers talks in his author notes why he wrote the book, and I suggest you read this also.

Where are we headed? What will happen? Great question as like Jeffers talks about, we’re all running, racing to the end. Pulling and competing with one another, choosing based on the concept that it’s “more important to be right over wrong than to be better over worse.” “WE ARE BLIND”

I totally agree with Jeffers, we have to keep an eye on the past and the present to be successful. We can’t forget what we have seen or experienced. WE must work together as a part of the crew for we are “no longer passengers on this ship, “ we are all part of the story. Great story but not for younger readers more for adults or mature readers. Read it slowly and think about it as your read. 4.5 stars

Butt or Face? by Kari Lavelle

5 stars Children’s Nonfiction

What a fun book. “Can you tell which end you’re looking at?” Animals have evolved throughout the years and it’s no surprise that animals use their bodies so that they can survive in their environments. Author Kari Lavelle presents readers with a variety of pictures asking readers to decide whether they are looking at a close-up look at the butt or face of an animal.

They are also asked what animal they think they are looking at. Turning the page, the reader is given the answer and a picture of the animal. The reader also gets some interesting information on that animal.

Most of these animals are not your typical animal, like a hippo or a giraffe. These animals are specific and unique. A Cuyaba dwarf frog, a star-nosed mole, or my favorite the Mary River turtle. I enjoyed reading all the interesting information about each animal and I loved how they covered different parts of the globe.

The different text fonts added a fun element to the book too. The vocabulary might be challenging for some younger readers, but it might also encourage younger readers also.

Advance words: delicacies, coincidental, deceptive, amplifying, parasitic, etc. I thought this was a great book and one that makes nonfiction learning fun. 5 stars

Butt or Face? Volume 2 Revenge of the Butts by Kari Lavelle

5 stars Children’s Nonfiction

What a fun book. Just like its predecessor, this book continues with the question: “Can you tell which end you’re looking at?” Animals have evolved throughout the years and it’s no surprise that animals use their bodies so that they can survive in their environments. Author Kari Lavelle presents readers with a variety of pictures asking readers to decide whether they are looking at a close-up look at the butt or face of an animal.

Most of these animals are not your typical animal, like a bear or an elephant. These animals are specific and unique. An Indian peacock, dugong, saiga antelope, or my favorite the spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. I enjoyed reading all the interesting information about each animal and I loved how they covered different parts of the globe. The different text fonts added a fun element to the book too.

The vocabulary might be challenging for some younger readers, but it might also encourage younger readers also. Advance words: intimidating, dependent, bodacious, regenerate, bulgy, etc. I thought this was a great book and one that makes nonfiction learning fun. 5 stars

Top 10 Spooky Mysteries: You Wouldn’t Want to Know About! by Fiona MacDonald

3 stars Children’s Nonfiction

I do like a good mystery, and spooky, yes that would make it extra special. This children’s nonfiction caught my attention at the library. This is a slim book consisting of only 32 pages. Those pages include 3 pages of introductions, two pages for the index and table of contents, and two pages for the glossary. In between all of that you have 10 pages of what the author believes are the Top 10 Worse Spooky Mysteries You Wouldn’t Want To Know About!

A mystery is a problem that hasn’t been solved yet inside this book each of the mysteries the author explains, they contain a “probable explanation printed upside down” on the pages of that mystery. As a reader, you’re supposed to try to solve the mystery before reading the upside “probable explanation.”

So let the countdown begin! Each of the two-page spread mysteries feature some vital statistics on the mystery: the name, place, date, the mystery, why you don’t want to know about it, and it’s “probable explanation.” The rest of the two pages are filled with information and illustrations. There are numerous paragraphs with separate titles describing the mysteries accompanying illustrations which are cartoon in nature. The illustrations take up about a third of the space on these pages.

From aliens to Curse of Tutankhamum to Mary Celeste to Dyatlov Pass incident, these mysteries cover ones that everyone should be familiar with and some that are not. I was surprised at the ones that made the list, and I welcomed reading something that I was not that familiar with.

After reading a short paragraph on the spooky mystery, I would read the vital statistics as that is how the book flowed for each of the mysteries. The supporting information followed as I read, and I was not a fan of how that additional information was presented on the pages. I tried different ways to read this information, but this information just felt disjointed, like some of the FYI Facts that someone had just plastered on the pages. I thought they did a great job with the various sizes and font types that were used on the pages, as they set the different sections of the information off from one another. I have mixed feelings about the illustrations that were used. They did a great job in creating the cartoon art for each of the mysteries but I’m not sure if humorous cartoon art was appropriate for this book. Again, this is just my own thoughts and preference. I give this book 3 stars as I was expecting to love this book but I didn’t.

I’m Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff

4.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Are you really sorry? Sometimes it takes some time to really be sorry for something you did. I think that is what really is happening in this children’s book which takes place in a classroom. The teacher is having Jack write a letter of apology to Zoe for something he did, and I don’t think he’s ready.

Jack’s first attempts at the letter are short and I mean short. He crumples that attempt and tosses it into the garbage. The next couple attempts at a letter include more words, but you can see that Jack is not really sorry for what he did. He is just making his teacher happy by attempting to write this apology.

Each page of this book shows Jack’s attempts of writing an apology note to Zoe and you can feel his mood start to change. By watching the illustrations in the book, you can also see how Jack watches Zoe and how he feels towards her. At first, he is mad but later he starts to miss his friendship with her, and he understands that he must apologize to be her friend again.

I like how Jack has to work through his feelings in this book and how Zoe watches his throughout the day. I liked how the teacher encouraged Jack and helped him throughout the process.

The illustrations supported the message the book tried to convey, and I liked the color-scheme that was used. 4.5 stars

What Kind of Car Does a T. Rex Drive? by Mark Lee

5 stars Children’s Picture Books

So, what kind of car do you think they can drive? Welcome to the world of Otto’s Used Cars. Otto is not selling any cars, and his niece and nephew are at the car lot to help him. Otto is having a summer sale with big savings, yet no one is coming to buy a car.

Finally …….someone stops in to buy a car. It’s a stegosaur! Never having sold a car to a dinosaur, Otto doesn’t know what to say. His niece Ava and nephew Mickey jump in to help with the sale and the stegosaurus leaves with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, in the back of the car lot, the kids see someone else looking around the car lot.

It isn’t long before other dinosaurs start to arrive, one-by-one, wanting cars. Each dinosaur is different, each of them having their own needs which Otto and the kids must consider finding the perfect car for them.

It’s a cute book for dinosaurs and car lovers. The illustrations are fun, bold, and the facial expressions are great. It’s fun trying to guess what type of car each dinosaur should get before turning the page and discovering the answer. Younger readers will enjoy the choices that they actually drive away in. The ending is super fun. 5 stars

The Hueys in None the Number by Oliver Jeffers

4 stars Children’s Board Book

Is “None” a number? It is “one less than one.” Nowhere in this book do they say that none is zero, which I thought was interesting. For some children, this maybe a new concept or a new word but none=zero. None is considered a number because it’s less than one.

A counting book from none to ten, this book has some interesting items when they count. On the 4 page: “Then FOUR. That’s how many tantrums Kevin throws every day.” On the 8 page: “Eight party guests trying to guess the gift.” I think this is an interesting take on a counting book.

I wouldn’t want it to be my first experience reading a counting book but I would include in with a collection of counting books for it’s definition of None, its unique stance and how they present the addition of the next number on some of the pages.

A board book, this book lacks the colorful pages that I typically see in board books. The text font is easy to read, and it does have some difficult vocabulary words. 4 stars

The Hueys in What’s the Opposite? by Oliver Jeffers

5 stars Children’s board book

A funny board book about opposites. I like how this book presents opposites. It’s a fun and entertaining way to look at them. When originally presented with a question, the character in the book can’t answer it. This prompts the beginning of the journey this book takes.

With simple illustrations that illustrate the opposites at hand, one of the characters in the story asks the other character “What’s the opposite of up?” Both characters are watching a nearby tree, which corresponds to the question at hand, when the respondent says, “down?” Excited with the right answer, his friend starts to ask him more questions about opposites.

The illustration corresponds to the text and the two continue with this game until the very end where we come back to the first question that was asked at the beginning of the book.

Simple text with great simple to read illustrations compliment the storyline. Great for young readers. 5 stars

Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers

4.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

I liked this! Each of the letters in the alphabet has a short story attached to it. This book is big and thick.

The illustrations are plain and simple, without much color.

Each story is short, but they are entertaining and fun. Covering a variety of subjects, these stories will make you think or laugh.

“C Cup in the Cupboard

(Illustration of cup in a bare kitchen cupboard)

Cup lived in the dark cupboard,

It was dark and cold in there

when the door was closed.

He dreamed of living over

by the window where he’d

have a clear view.

One afternoon, he decided

to go for it.

(picture of broken coffee cup)

Unfortunately, he forgot that

The counter was a long way

Down, and made of concrete.”

Cute example of the letter C. I liked how the letter C is used multiple times in the story, and the illustration compliments the story but doesn’t compete with the text for attention. Having to turn the page to get the last part of each story is a good cliffhanger and add to the drama. 4.5 stars

Creating Moments of Joy For the Person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia by Jolene Brackey

5 stars Nonfiction

This is a great resource for those who know someone or is caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer. I have read quite a few books, but this book was what I have been looking for. With short, direct chapters, each section dealt with specific topics which allowed me to skip sections. I liked the examples and real-world scenarios that were inside the book. The advice inside the book seemed practical and there were times as I read that I felt that either the examples or the advice offered is something I could relate to. The positive vibe that ran through the book was greatly appreciated too.

There is a table of contents at the beginning of the book so you can quickly get to a topic you want to explore. There is lots of practical advice inside this book. The book is broken into 3 sections: Powerful Tools That Create Positive Outcomes, Let’s Talk Communication, and Memory Enhanced Environments. Some of those topics include Remember Their Greatness, “I Want to go Home’, Stop Correcting Them, “Give Me That”, Playing Favorites, Magic Words, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Create a Safe Haven, and A Commercial About TV. It’s definitely a book that you should check out. I highly recommend it. I also think those working with these special individuals would greatly benefit from reading it and applying the information to their work environment. I bought a few copies and gave them to individuals who would benefit from them. 5 stars