*Review* Big Sister, Long Coat by Nelly Buchet

 Genre: Children's 4-8 years

Published: March 5, 2024

Pages: 40

Big sisters are the best! Neither rain nor a series of setbacks can put a damper on a young girl’s day spent with her big sister. A picture book that captures the love between siblings!

A young girl is thrilled to spend the day with her big sister, but things don’t go as planned. It’s so hot outside—legs-stick-to-the-seat hot—that her ice cream melts and then it rains. Their plans must change, and then change again as the library closes just before they arrive. But big sister knows just what to do next—even if it’s nothing besides splashing in puddles and looking at the stars. The day isn’t anything like little sister expected . . . it’s better.

For fans of Oge Mora's Saturday, this picture book about the power of sibling friendship comes from award-winning author Nelly Buchet and Salvadoran illustrator Rachel Katstaller.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This story was told more through pictures than words. In fact, the words were very short phrases making this feel a bit more like a board book than I was expecting based on the age range, but maybe it was designed for early readers. The words tell us what the little girl is thinking while the pictures show us what she's doing. 

Because of the dearth of words, I think I would probably struggle to read this more than a few times, because although that makes it short, which can be a good thing, I still want some dynamism from the books I read, even to children. The illustrations were very colorful. 

Overall I give Big Sister, Long Coat 3.4967 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Nelly Buchet is the author of ALA Notable Book and Irma Black Award winner Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family (PRH, with art by Andrea Zuill, 2020), the four-board book “Can't Do” series (Bonnier UK, with art by Pau Morgan, 2021), and How to Train Your Pet Brain (Beaming Books, with art by Amy Jindra, 2022). She has taught nonviolent conflict resolution in schools and created a nonprofit project that brings picture books to refugee children through orphanages and libraries. She divides her time between Berlin, Germany, and the US. @nellybuchetbooks

Rachel Katstaller is an illustrator from tiny tropical El Salvador. After attending the Summer Residency in Illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2014, Rachel decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a children’s book illustrator. Since then, Rachel has relocated to the Austrian Alps along with her cat, Hemingway.

*Review* A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney

 

Genre: Erotic Romance

Published: November 7, 2022

Pages: 373

With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.

This is a very spicy, adult, fantasy romance retelling of "The Nutcracker" fairytale with dark themes and scenes.

Trigger and content warnings are available on the author's website and in the front matter of the book.

This was the December book selection for my smutty book club and it definitely delivered on the smut factor. This is my honest review. 

I typically enjoy retellings of classic stories and this book was no exception. From my experience, this was a unique blend between The Nutcracker and ACOTAR, where Drosselmeyer is just as much a villain as the rat king. In this tale, Clara and Louisa travel to another fairy realm to help the Nutcracker regain his true form and save his kingdom. But it's not as straight forward as it seems.

There was an element of ridiculousness to several aspects of the story, such as how the sugarplum fairy, who is a dude, has deliciously flavored ejaculate that tastes different every time. And like, my husband would get head way more often if he was just a little more like the sugarplum fairy. 

Even though there were areas where things felt absurd, the progression of their quest felt fairly plausible within the bounds of the story. And I felt invested in the outcome. 

Overall I give A Court of Sugar and Spice 4.3872 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and retellings, including the Gilded Monsters series from Sourcebooks Casablanca. "Beautiful Villain" (Gilded Monsters #1) is a spicy Southern gothic retelling of The Great Gatsby with vampires, set near Asheville, NC. "Charming Devil" (Gilded Monsters #2) is a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, set in Charleston, SC. Books 3 and 4 of the series are Southern gothic retellings of Wuthering Heights and The Phantom of the Opera.

Rebecca's most popular indie books include the Wicked Darlings series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the Merciless Dragons series (dragon shifters), the Dark Rulers series (standalone fantasy romance novels in a shared world), and the Beloved Villains series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy (The Vampires Will Save You), a demon romance duet, a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney

*Review* Dino-Earth Day by Lisa Wheeler

 Genre: Children's 5-8 years

Published: March 5, 2024

Pages: 32

The world needs help to keep it clean. / It's Dino-Earth Day . . . let's go green!

Upbeat rhyming verse from Lisa Wheeler and playful illustrations from Barry Gott present many different ways to take care of the planet. The dinos ride bikes and scooters, clean up a park, plant an urban garden, visit a recycling center, and more. Celebrate Earth Day with your favorite dino friends!

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a fun rhyming story about dinosaurs taking care of modern day Earth. It was really silly with a lot of ideas for celebrating Earth Day in the way it was intended. It would definitely be a good book to read with your children for Earth Day, and other times too, because the way we teach people to actually care about the Earth is indoctrinating them when they're young. 

The illustrations were colorful, bright and bold. Overall I give Dino-Earth Day 3.7924 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Barry Gott lives in Ohio and has illustrated many children's books, including all of the Dino-Sports and Dino-Holidays books.

Lisa Wheeler is the award-winning author of the Dino-Sports and Dino-Holidays books. When she isn't running around the country visiting schools, standing at podiums, and eating airport snacks, she resides in Michigan.

*Review* A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Genre: Classic

Published: 1843

Pages: 88

First published in 1843, “A Christmas Carol” is arguably Dickens’s most popular and accessible work. An instant success ever since its original publication, it is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold, bitter, old miser who despises Christmas and everything about it. When the ghost of Scrooge’s former business partner, Jacob Marley, visits him on Christmas Eve exactly seven years after his death, Scrooge is challenged to rethink his ways before it is too late. Over the course of the evening he is visited by three more spirits, the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. These visits help Scrooge to see the error in his ways transforming him by the end of the story into a kinder and gentler soul. Inspired by his experiences as a child, Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” highlights the plight of the lower class in 19th century England through an enduring and ultimately heart-warming tale. This edition includes an introduction by Hall Caine, a biographical afterword, and is illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

This was the December book for my Basecamp Books and Adventure bookclub. And although I've read the story before, and partake in many film adaptations, I've never reviewed this book. So this is my honest review. 

I think pretty much everyone in the western world is familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge by now. Even if you've never read the book, you've probably seen at least one movie inspired by it. And I'm here to tell you, that this is one of those rare instances where the movies just might be better than the book, or at least close enough to the book that you won't be missing much opting to watch rather than read. 

It has been a while since I read any classic English literature, so I'd kind of forgotten how archaic the language feels. And that definitely impacted my enjoyment of this story. I think if I'd been in a "classics" mood, it would have been a better experience. But it was a familiar story anyway, so the language wasn't a complete death knell for the book. 

Overall I give A Christmas Carol 3.2849 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 near Portsmouth where his father was a clerk in the navy pay office. The family moved to London in 1823, but their fortunes were severely impaired. Dickens was sent to work in a blacking-warehouse when his father was imprisoned for debt. Both experiences deeply affected the future novelist. In 1833 he began contributing stories to newspapers and magazines, and in 1836 started the serial publication of Pickwick Papers. Thereafter, Dickens published his major novels over the course of the next twenty years, from Nicholas Nickleby to Little Dorrit. He also edited the journals Household Words and All the Year Round. Dickens died in June 1870.

*Review* There Are No Dragons in This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner

 

Genre: Children's 3-8 years

Published: March 5, 2024

Pages: 32

In this book you are guaranteed not to find any dragons. . . .

A clever interactive picture book—sure to keep kids laughing as they look for dragons.

There are no dragons in this book! Wait, is that really true? There was one right here, wasn’t there? Was he hiding in the attic? What do you mean, he’s not alone? Come on, let’s give the book a good shake and see what happens!

Set in a community home with an ensemble of characters–both children and adults–Donna Lambo-Weidner's debut picture book filled with humor (and dragons) encourages close observation and discovery. Carla Haslbauer’s cheeky, scurrying illustrations are chock-full of funny details and metafictional allusions.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a fun story about various problems in a house/book that were very clearly caused by a dragon with claims that they weren't and possible other causes. Like the gaslighting is super strong in this story. At the end of the book we meet the one dragon that is left and he asks the reader to help him get his friends back, presumably from the spine of the book. 

This story had a bit of a There's a Monster at the End of this Book feeling to it, but in reverse. It was a fun read and I'd definitely be willing to read it a few times at least. The illustrations were soft and fun, and they really showed all the havoc wreaked by the dragons. 

Overall I give There Are No Dragons in This Book 4.3876 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Donna Lambo-Weidner was born in Germany and raised in New York. She completed her bachelor of arts degree at the Universität Tu¨bingen through Stony Brook University. She writes books for children about adventures laced with her actual experiences. There Are No Dragons in this Book is her first picture book. Donna Lambo-Weidner lives in California with her husband.

Carla Haslbauer was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and grew up in the small town of Bad Nauheim. She has worked as a freelance illustrator since graduating from the Lucerne School of Art and Design. As a member of the comic group Corner Collective, she also regularly creates comics. Her first book My Mother’s Delightful Deaths was nominated for various awards. Carla Haslbauer lives and works in Basel.

*Review* Amish Christmas Mystery by Samantha Price

 

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Published: December 2, 2016

Pages: 240

This festive season, Ettie finds herself hosting an unexpected Christmas dinner featuring guests promised a meal 'to die for.'

The dinner party includes some unexpected faces like Ettie's estranged daughter, Myra, and the retired Detective Crowley. But the holiday spirit quickly 'freezes' over when a man is found lifeless in Ettie's front yard.

With Detective Crowley declaring the man's demise as no accident, the chill of suspicion falls upon Myra. Could this frosty end be connected to the mysterious dinner invitations? Is the murderer hiding in plain sight, seated at the holiday table?

In "Amish Christmas Mystery," Ettie must 'unwrap' the truth before her daughter gets a one-way ticket to the slammer.

This Yuletide, the stakes are high, the snow is deep, and the mystery is as thick as a fruitcake.

Warm up to this intriguing cozy mystery that will keep you guessing 'til the last carol is sung!

I listened to the audiobook version of this book through my library. This is my honest review. 

I do not have much experience in the Amish genre of books, and I don't tend to find cozy mysteries more than mediocrely entertaining. So I'm not sure if my issues with this book were more to do with a lack of familiarity with Amish stories or general ennui for cozy mysteries, but this story just didn't do it for me. 

I borrowed this audiobook to meet a requirement in a reading challenge I participate in online every month. I needed a cozy mystery, and this one was short and available immediately. Had it not been an audiobook, I'm not sure I would have finished it in time, in spite of its brevity. 

I struggled with the old-fashioned speech patterns, but I recognize those are likely authentic to Amish life. I also have issues with these little old ladies being better detectives than actual detectives, although I can acknowledge they put more stock in some relevant testimony than the cops. 

Overall I give Amish Christmas Mystery 2.4875 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Samantha grew up in the Brethren community and has a deep affinity for the Amish way of life, which she has studied in detail during over a decade of dedicated research. Her stories radiate authenticity and heart, transporting readers into the peaceful and inspiring world of the Amish community. Samantha is also an animal lover. She shares her home with two spoiled dogs and a rescued cat who thinks she's also a dog.

Samantha loves hearing from her readers. Connect to:

SamanthaPriceAuthor dot com

*Review* Don't Touch That Oscar by Lois Hoffman

Genre: Children's 3-8 years

Published: January 31, 2023

Pages: 30

Will Oscar be able to wait?

It's the last day of school, and they're having a party! But can the excitable Oscar resist temptation and wait for the party to start? Don't Touch that Oscar is a story of friendship, acceptance, and embracing our unique gifts.

Join Oscar and his friends for an unforgettable day!

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

There is a party happening at fish school, but not quite yet. They're getting ready for the party and it's going to be so much fun. They've already got all the decorations and food out and that's a bit of a problem. It just proves a little bit too tempting for Oscar the octopus, and he can't resist touching. Everything almost falls apart when he sees the cake, but then he saves the day (that he almost ruined mind you) by juggling everything to keep it from smashing to the ocean floor. Those eight arms really came in clutch. 

I'd be okay reading this book a few times, because it was a fun read even though the only real message is that when someone tells you not to mess with things, you should really probably listen. The illustrations were very colorful. 

Overall I give Don't Touch That Oscar 3.7935 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Ezequiel Decarli is a designer and freelance illustrator based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.He started drawing when he was six years old and has created characters and scenes for many independent authors. He illustrated his first children's book called When Poke Woke (2019) and, subsequently, the sequel Poke's Toque (2021), both of which have been translated into Spanish.Ezequiel feels a special connection with children's book illustrations and enjoys coming up with designs for cute animals, monsters, and comics.In his spare time, he likes to ride his bike, read fiction, work out, and enjoys walking in nature.

Lois Hoffman is the owner of The Happy Self-Publisher and award-winning author of Write a Book, Grow Your Business, and The Self-Publishing Roadmap. Her online course, Adventures in Writing Nonfiction, challenges aspiring authors to imagine what is possible and helps them realize their vision. She is a book and author coach, speaker, workshop facilitator, and brings the joy of authorship to determined writers through personalized writing, publishing, and author services. She also elicits countless smiles as a professional juggler (really) along with her husband, Michael, who perform as The Juggling Hoffmans. Lois lives with her family in Newark, Delaware, where she juggles her creative pursuits with enthusiasm and joy. You can find her playing with words online at www.happyselfpublisher.com.