Miniatures

Since I started experimenting with polymer clay, I've grown familiar with miniatures. But after I got a good deal on some inch tall glass vials, I found myself trying out micro-miniatures. I've got a notion these might make good pendants for necklaces at my next craft fair.
 

Graphic novel spotlight - Castle in the Stars

Castle in the Stars: The Space Race of 1869 by Alex Alice

If you're big on atmosphere, this is the graphic novel for you. Especially if you're also a fan of steampunk. The art style is fantastic, soft and incredibly detailed. Adding to the appeal is the highly innovative plot. It's a tad on the wordy side, relying heavily on narration even more than dialogue. With a little patience, though, it's a delight.

Non-fiction book review - The Booth Brothers

The Booth Brothers by Rebecca Langston-George

It can be challenging to present a familiar event in a fresh and engaging way. Langston-George accomplishes this feat. Most of us know quite a bit about the assassination itself. What makes this book interesting is its focus on the rivalry between John and his brother, the ideological differences that separated them all their lives, and the long term affect on the lives of those that knew him, involved in the plot or not. And she does all of this while keeping the book quick and easy to read. A great choice for young middle-graders.

Custom phone case

I tend to be thrifty, so when I decided I needed a case for my phone, I shopped at the dollar store. I found an understated black case with a textured back. Once I started using it, I discovered that the texture was actually a piece of adhesive backed fabric that started fraying almost immediately. So I pulled off the fabric, leaving me with a rather boring case.

I can't leave well enough alone, so I painted the back of the case. By painting it a solid color I had a canvas for customization with a Sharpie. 

Pick 6: Art

Have you ever noticed that characters in novels tend to have the same hobbies. They're either athletes, aspiring writers, or musicians. For this list, I gathered titles where being an artist plays an important role in the plot. Here are six books published in the last six months focused in some way on art and artists.

6 new books about artists

1. Zenn Diagram by Vendy Brant

2. Love and Vandalism by Laurie Boyle Compton

3. It Started With Goodbye by Christina June

4. Antisocial by Jillian Blake

5. Glow by Megan E Bryant

6. The Mosaic by Nina Berkhout

Non-fiction book review - Engineered!

Engineered! by Shannon Hunt

While each section of this book is brief, its packed with information. We're given a brief overview of each type of engineering and examples of how they are used in our daily lives. It's a great choice for young readers with any interest in math and science.

Book review - Mighty Jack and the Goblin King

Title: Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
Author: Ben Hatke
Genre: graphic novel/fantasy
Similar books: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
                      The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
Rating:

delightful

Summary (provided by publisher): Like a bolt from the blue, Jack's little sister Maddy is gone—carried into another realm by an ogre.
When Jack and Lilly follow Maddy’s captor through the portal, they are ready for anything . . . except what they find waiting for them in the floating crossroads between worlds. Even the power of their magic plants may not be enough to get them back to earth alive.
Alone and injured, Jack and Lilly must each face their own monsters—as well as giants who grind the bones of human children to feed their “beast” and a fearsome goblin king in the sewers down below.
But when Jack finds himself in a tough spot, help comes from the most unlikely person: the goblin king!

My opinion: Hatke never disappoints. This is a great follow-up to what begain as an exiting series. Now, Mighty Jack has a slightly more mature look and feel than Zita the Spacegirl and as such it may not resonate with the same readers. Zita was more of an elementary series. Jack skews more towards middle grade. I was a little unsure of this series at first, in part because I so dearly loved Zita, but it has grown on me over time especially as I began to notice the thematic parallels. In this series, Hatke uses familiar stories as a broad framework but truly makes the plot his own. If you have even a slight interest in fantasy and fairy tales, give this series a look.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.