Non-fiction book review - Dinosaurs Can Be Small

 

Dinosaurs Can Be Small by Darrin Lunde

Hooray for new dinosaur books! The appeal of this one is strong, starting with the cover. The cartoony, almost friendly, dinosaurs on that cover make you want to pick this book up. The text is fascinating as well. First Lunde presents us with a large dinosaur, typically one familiar to us, and gives a couple of facts about its size and advantages. Then we learn about a small dinosaur that shares some of its features, like horns or being carnivorous, and how being small presents its own advantages. While the text is simple it is compelling and will likely lead to repeat readings.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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What are you currently reading?

Giddy Barber Explodes in 11 by Dina Havranek - Giddy's life is carefully controlled, centered on taking care of her siblings and getting perfect grades to secure her future. She barely has time to sleep or figure out why she is so desperately unhappy. A random blog post has her looking for a reset and trying new things for the first time. In just 11 days she'll either fix things or completely blow up.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum - The daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, Yoyo has always known who she is and what is expected of her. But when her best friend breaks the rules and is sent away, Yoyo finds herself questioning her community and the interpretation of her faith.

What do you think you'll read next?

HappyHead by Josh Silver

Non-fiction book review - The Science Behind Vampires, Witches, and Ghost

 

The Science Behind Vampires, Witches, and Ghosts by Joy Lin

Based on the title you might expect this book to be a science based defense of the idea of monsters. It is certainly more skeptical than that. Each section begins by establishing a few agreed upon "facts" about a monster and then examining what that would mean scientifically. For instance, we establish that a vampire has fangs. First we look at the form and function of fangs in the natural world. Then we apply the knowledge we gain from observation to the monster in question. The result is a simple and creative way of encouraging kids to think critically about thew world and the stories they are told. This is a fun way of celebrating spooky season while also educating.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Stash-buster shrug

I had an idea to make a knit project in a random striped pattern and settled on a simple shrug, made by knitting a rectangle and sewing a simple cuff at the ends. I picked four colors of yarn, not knowing if I'd have enough of just two to finish the project. For each stripe I rolled a 10-sided die to determine the number of rows.

Non-fiction book review - Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice

 

Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice by Jacques Pasquet

Maybe you've wondered where spices come from. Even if you haven't, this book is surprisingly fascinating. It doesn't delve especially deeply into the origins or history of any individual spice but it does provide a brief overview. This includes region, varieties, and historical trivia. The text is easily understood with an accessible vocabulary, making it interesting for young readers and parents alike. And because each section is fairly short you can read it all at once or in fits and starts without difficulty. For anyone with an interest in food or culture, this book is worth a look.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

Tangleroot promises a tale of a girl unraveling a town's racist past and her mother's expectations. It could be thrilling and thought-provoking. Let's find out.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera - Kavi gets the opportunity of a lifetime - to move to the city and attend an exceptional school. She doesn't mean to lie to her new classmates but in order to make herself more interesting she does just that.

What did you recently finish reading?

Find Her by Ginger Reno - It's been five years since Wren's mom went missing and Wren hasn't stopped looking. Scouring message boards and following her mom's case has made her skilled at finding things. Now she's using that finding skill to discover what is happening to animals around town

What do you think you'll read next?

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum