Dad of Divas' Reviews: March 2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Book Review - Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers

Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers



About the Book

Packed with high stakes mystery and tons of heart, this first installment in a new series introduces Kazu Jones-a spunky, scrappy detective who's this generation's Harriet the Spy.

When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can't stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors' beloved pet is taken because of her gigantic mistake.

With the help of her gang-including her best friend and expert hacker, March; and her ginormous, socially anxious pup, Genki-Kazu uncovers evidence that suggests the dognapping ring is bigger than she ever imagined. But the more she digs, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. The dognappers are getting bolder, and Genki could be next...



My Take on the Book
This was a great mystery that has great characters and a plot that really draws you in from beginning to end. I loved reading this book with my daughter and you will love the main character as she becomes the detective of the book as she investigates the dognapping. The book has suspense and action and this keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The book is a ton of fun and the mystery keeps you guessing until the end!

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Book Review - Whatever After: Spill the Beans

Whatever After: Spill the Beans



About the Book

My brother Jonah's dream has come true. We have FINALLY landed in his favorite fairy tale: Jack and the Beanstalk!

It's a lot of fun meeting Jack. But then we accidentally mess up his story, which means Jack can't climb up the magic beanstalk to find the giant's riches. It's time to take matters into our own hands.

Now we have to:
- Make a deal with a sneaky trader
- Climb a beanstalk into the sky
- Try not to get eaten by a giant
- Find the goose that lays golden eggs

Otherwise, Jack won't get his treasure, and our troubles will be GIGANTIC . . .



My Take on the Book
My daughter is a big fan of this series and she is always looking forward to a new book when they are released. This book brings forward a little bit of a change on the overall Jack in the Beanstalk story. We loved seeing how you are transported into the story through the dream of Jonah. What was fun about the book is that by being transported into the story they actually mess up the story. My daughter said she loved the idea of being dropped in a fairy tale like this. The story truly transports you into the world and the characters make the world even more real for the reader. Overall, if you have loved the other stories in this series and you love fairy tales, get ready to love this book as well!
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Book Review - Whatever After: Two Peas in a Pod

Whatever After: Two Peas in a Pod



About the Book

I've landed -- along with my brother, Jonah, and our dog, Prince -- in the fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea! When I can't fall asleep on top of a hundred mattresses, the kingdom decides I must be the princess they're looking for. Talk about royal treatment -- I'm suddenly being waited on hand and foot. Plus, I get unlimited ball gowns, sparkly jewelry, and ice cream.

But can we find a REAL princess to run the kingdom?

Now we have to:
  • Hold a princess contest
  • Defeat an obnoxious prince
  • Escape hungry alligators
  • Make it back home
There's no time to snooze -- may the best princess win!



My Take on the Book
My daughter is a big fan of this series and she is always looking forward to a new book when they are released. This book brings forward a little bit of a change on the overall Princess and the Pea story but in the end that made the story even better. My daughter said she loved the idea of being dropped in a fairy tale like this. The story truly transports you into the world and the characters make the world even more real for the reader. Overall, if you have loved the other stories in this series and you love fairy tales, get ready to love this book as well!

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Book Review - Prosper Redding: The Last Life of Prince Alastor

Prosper Redding: The Last Life of Prince Alastor



About the Book
Three hundred years ago, fate bound Prosper Redding and Prince Alastor of the Third Realm together. Now the human boy and fiend heir to the demon kingdom must put aside a centuries-old blood feud to save everything they love.

Alastor will guide Prosper through the demon realm-under one huge condition: Prosper must enter into a contract with the malefactor residing in him, promising eternal servitude in the afterlife. With Prosper's sister in the clutches of the evil queen Pyra, Prosper has no choice but to agree.

But when they arrive in Alastor's deliciously demonic home, the realm is almost as alien to Alastor as it is to Prosper-the lowest fiends have dethroned the ruling malefactors, while an unfathomable force called the Void is swiftly consuming the realm. The desperate fiends cling to the one person who says she can stop it: Pyra.

As Prosper embarks on a perilous rescue mission to the Tower of No Return, he can't help but feel for the demons losing their home-even Alastor, who lives by a set of rules that have vanished in a new world.

With the fates of humans and demons at odds, the battle lines are drawn. Long ago, Prosper's ancestor Honor Redding proved that humans and demons could never be friends. But is Prosper like his ancestor? And is Alastor the same demon who was betrayed by the one human he cared for?




My Take on the Book
This is the concluding tale of the Last Life series. You have the same cast of characters working to rescue Prue. The book continues the great characters relationships that you have seen in past book. You also get a great story that includes an adventure that draws you in from beginning to end. The book brings a great conclusion to the overall story as well. As you read this you will truly love the relationship that you see with characters. I particularly loved the relationship between Alastor and Prosper. They share gibes between each other and even insults as well. We loved seeing the witches in this book as they added a lot to the story. You get magic throughout and you learn a ton about them as well. In the end I could not have asked for a better conclusion of the series!

 

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Book Review - Undaunted

Undaunted



About the Book

First love is the most dangerous game in this fast-paced conclusion to the Inhuman series, perfect for fans of Marie Lu, Veronica Roth, and Sarah J. Maas.

Lane McEvoy barely survived her first journey to the Feral Zone -- the forbidden, overgrown landscape east of the Mississippi River that was abandoned when a virus spread through the United States. But Lane has crossed the quarantine line, and she knows the truth. There are survivors in the zone -- people who have gone feral, whose bodies have warped and evolved to display a variety of animal traits.

Six months after the events of Inhuman, Lane ventures back into the Feral Zone on a humanitarian aid mission. But she also has a darker, secret purpose: The one she loves, Rafe, has become more beast than man -- and she promised to put him down if he ever goes feral. Now, Lane fears the time has come to carry out her vow...



My Take on the Book
This was a very unique book with a world that was unlike many I have seen before. The book was suspenseful and really kept you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The author has created a world that will draw you in further and further with each page. One of the things that I loved was that the book created a dystopian future that was much different that our own world. The author does a great job of bringing together a great fantasy world that you will not want to see end!


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Book Review: The Mutts Summer Diaries

The Mutts Summer Diaries



About the Book
Put on your swim trunks and hit the beach with Earl and Mooch—the dog (and cat) days of summer are here!

It’s summertime, and the living is easy, the ice cream is cold, and the temperature is so hot your brains will melt right out of your head. Mooch and Earl are eager to make the most of it, lounging in the backyard pool, building sandcastles on the beach, and exchanging knock-knock jokes with a dolphin. From whales and tsunamis to lemonade and Bermuda shorts, this Mutts collection is packed full of summer fun!


My Take on the Book
My daughter is a big fan of Mutts and every time that a new book comes out she is always trying to be the first to read. She read through this new book quickly and found that it was another great book with not only great characters but also a great plot. The illustrations draw you into the story and you will find that there is humor and more in this great book!  

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Book Review - Kitten Kingdom: Tabby and the Catfish

Kitten Kingdom: Tabby and the Catfish



About the Book
Princess Tabby is no scaredy-cat!

The day of the Peace Parade has finally arrived, and Princess Tabby can't wait to ride on the Royal Boat! But when King Gorgonzola steals the Torch of Peace, Tabby and her brothers must go underwater to find it.

While in the lake, the Whiskered Wonders find the Torch -- and catfish! The creatures just might be able to help. Will Tabby and her new friends be able to bring peace back to Mewtopia?




My Take on the Book
Another great addition to the Kitten Kingdom series. We loved reading the last book in the series and to be honest we loved the characters within the series. This book allows you to meet back up with the characters that you have come to love and also to meet up with some new characters and also have a new adventure. This book is a book that simply draws you in from beginning to end and is a quick read because of the adventure that you are taken on.

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Book Review - How the U.S. Government Works: …and how it all comes together to make a nation

How the U.S. Government Works: …and how it all comes together to make a nation



About the Book

This updated, easy-to-read book for children explains the federal system as it works in the United States today. It also discusses why the framers of the Constitution created the U.S. government in the 18th century and the purposes it was designed to serve. Described are the Legislative branch, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives; the Executive branch, headed by the President with the Cabinet members; and the Judicial branch, comprised of the Supreme Court of the United States and the lower federal courts throughout the nation. This edition has been revised for classroom and home use with more curriculum-aligned vocabulary and an expanded glossary; discussion questions; and a new resource guide. Young readers will learn how officials are elected or appointed and the work various government agencies do for the people's benefit. A complex process is explained in interesting terms that young readers can comprehend.




My Take on the Book
What a great book to help kids better understand how government works. This book really allows you to read together with your kids and help them understand the intricacies of the government which is not something that is always easy to understand, even for adults. This book does explain things in a way that kids can understand. The book is short but definitely packed full with great information!

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Book Review - There Was An Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon!

There Was An Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon!



About the Book

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon. I don't know why she swallowed the moon. It happened at noon.

Scholastic's bestselling OLD LADY returns in this adventure series with a nonfiction twist that will make you laugh AND learn! In this spin-off, the OLD LADY turns into an OLD ASTRONAUT who travels through space, swallowing a moon... along with a star, a planet, a comet, a meteor, a rocket, and a satellite... Why? Well, it went down just right, that bright satellite!

Two new characters lead the reader through this hilarious adventure while exchanging some awesome facts about outer space for a light take on nonfiction that's perfect for this age. With expanded back matter about the solar system and a search-and-find game at the end, this OLD ASTRONAUT definitely shoots for the stars!



My Take on the Book
Another great addition to this series. This old lady keeps eating things that she should not be eating, but this is another fun story. The cadence of the book is fun and engaging and what this old lady eats definitely makes me laugh. The book is a great addition to a library at home and it will definitely bring a smile to your kids' face.

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Monday, March 25, 2019

Book Review - Trapped in a Video Game: The Final Boss

Trapped in a Video Game: The Final Boss



About the Book
Kids who love video games will love this fifth and final installment of the 5-book series about 12-year old Jesse Rigsby and the wild adventures he encounters inside different video games.

Jesse and Eric have ten minutes to save the world. In those ten minutes, they’re supposed to dive into a massive video game universe, track down an all-powerful madman, and stop his evil plan before it’s too late. Sound impossible? It’s super impossible. There will be fire-breathing pterodactyls, angry green giants, and unicorns that shoot lasers out of their hooves. If Jesse and Eric are going to survive long enough to fight the final boss, they’ll need to rely on each other like never before. Do they have what it takes? The clock is ticking.



My Take on the Book
This is the final book in the "Trapped in a Video Game" series and after reading all of the books I have to say that this was a very good read! The thing that I have loved about these books have a great mystery within it and from beginning to end you are left wondering what would happen next. This book brought together everything that happened in the past and in the end they even confront the Final Boss.

The great thing about this book is that the author seems to know the world of RPG gaming. The author really seems to do a great job at creating an adventure that really draws you in but you can also tell that the author understands RPG gaming too. This book leans heavier on RPG than other books and that makes the adventure plot fall to a wayside a bit but that does not mean that the book is not a powerful one.

The characters are still a ton of fun and throughout their adventure you will be drawn further into the book. I am sad that this is the last book in the series as it has been a fun ride along the way. The series is great for any middle school aged reader and if they love gaming, you definitely will want to share this and the rest of the books with them!

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Sunday, March 24, 2019

Kumana Avocado Sauce: Spicen Up Your Life




About the Sauce
Inspired by a beloved Venezuelan staple that is traditionally served on grilled meats, sautéed veggies and sandwiches, Kumana is an avocado hot sauce that’s crafted from veggies and fruits such as avocados, fresh onion, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic and just a splash of vinegar. . . Whether it’s mac ‘n cheese, chicken noodle soup, or a hearty chili, add punch with a drizzle of Kumana. Want something lighter? It makes an AMAZING salad dressing as well! Kumana is available in three palate-awakening flavors:

  • Be Original: Truest to the Venezuelan avocado sauce that inspired the Kumana line. 
  • Be Mango: Blends in mango puree which adds a hint of sweetness. 
  • Be Hot: Takes a splash of mango and finishes it off with just the right amount of habanero heat..

My Take on the Sauce
I love to cook and I love trying new sauces to be able bring out flavor in the food that I am eating or that I am sharing with my family. My family love avocados and we had never tried an avocado sauce before. In trying this sauce each of the three was a bit unique and the flavor was unique as well. Each sauce has a bit a kick in its' own way. I tried the sauce on a few different things such as a sandwich and oven baked chicken. With both of these I found that the sauce really extenuated the flavor. This sauce offers such a unique flavor that if you love avocados, you will love this as well. 

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Book Review - Draw Like an Artist: 100 Faces and Figures

Draw Like an Artist: 100 Faces and Figures



About the Book

Featuring 600+ sketches depicting a vast array of human expressions, movements, and more, Draw Like an Artist: 100 Faces and Figures is a must-have visual reference book for student artists, illustrators, cartoonists, urban sketchers, and anyone seeking to improve their realistic drawing skills.

Designed as a contemporary, step-by-step guidebook for artists who are learning to draw the human form, Draw Like An Artist: 100 Faces and Figures features an inclusive array of faces, figures, and poses, all shown from a variety of perspectives. Each set of illustrations takes you from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing.

Author Chris Legaspi is a leading figure illustrator and popular workshop instructor whose clear and elegant drawing style will make this a go-to sourcebook for years to come.



My Take on the Book
This is a great book for anyone wanting to get a better picture of how to draw faces and figures. These are not always the easiest to draw but this book does a great job of walking you step-by-step on how best to shade and create amazing images for the future. This is a great book that I would recommend to anyone that loves art and wants to hone their craft further.

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Book Review - Super Sons: The PolarShield Project

Super Sons: The PolarShield Project



About the Book

Jon Kent and Ian Wayne are opposites in every way except one--they are the sons of the World's Greatest Heroes, Superman and Batman! To uncover a global conspiracy, this unlikely duo will need to learn to trust each other and work together to save the Earth. But who is the mysterious Candace, and what secrets does she hold that could be the key to everything?

The polar ice caps have nearly melted away, causing devastation to coastal cities. Erratic, deadly weather forces everyone inland, tearing families apart. Earth is facing its greatest crisis--and Superman and Batman are nowhere to be found.

From New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson (Kingdom Keepers) and artist Ile Gonzalez comes the first book in an epic new series that follows the Super Sons of Superman and Batman as they struggle to find their place in a rapidly changing world!




My Take on the Book
This is a great book that brings together some great characters that might get lost behind the shadows of their more famous fathers. I thought the the illustration was solid and the writing was strong as well. The book is a quick read and by the end you are left wondering what happens next. While I do like a cliff hanger, I do hope that the next book will come soon as I also tend to like some conclusion in the books I read and this one definitely left you hanging a bit. The graphic novel does rely on you making some educated guesses to who the characters are and does not spend much time setting up the characters themselves. For some of these characters if might be fine if you already know the characters, but if you have no concept to who they are you might start to wonder as well. I have read other books by this author and have always been impressed and to be hones, for his first graphic novel, this was a great start to what I hope is many graphic novels to come in the future!


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Saturday, March 23, 2019

Book Review - The Pepper Party: Picks the Perfect Pet

The Pepper Party: Picks the Perfect Pet



About the Book
Meet the Peppers.
Funny runs in the family.

Annie Pepper has her heart set on adopting a Chihuahua in need. But none of the Peppers can agree on the perfect pet, and they're not above sabotage to get their way. Soon they end up with a heartbroken lovebird, the tarantula that ate San Pimiento, a prissy French kitty, and a house full of chaos! Who'll win the clash of the creatures?



My Take on the Book
This was a very funny book that will keep you reading from beginning to end. The book was a quick read, but it was the characters and the chaos that really draws you in. Plus, you will keep wondering what pet will be the perfect pet for the family. All-in-all this was a truly wonderful book and by the end my daughter was asking for more books with this fun family.
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Book Review - Pokémon: Detective Pikachu: Case Files

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu: Case Files



About the Book

Want to help Detective Pikachu solve the case of the missing Pokémon? Then you gotta have this in-world guidebook, which includes exclusive stats and facts about the Pokémon in the movie... as well as Detective Pikachu's notes on the case.

Includes exclusive color CGI images from the new movie!




My Take on the Book
In this book you will learn a ton more about the Pokemon in the movie. The book has fun notes from the Detective and you will learn a ton from the notes given from the Pokemon. If you are a big Pokemon fan, you will want to read this great book!


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Book Review - Pugs in a Blanket: A Wish Novel

Pugs in a Blanket: A Wish Novel



About the Book

When Sam comes home one day to find two mystery pugs left on her porch, she's sure it's destiny. She's always wanted a dog of her own, even though her parents say that their catering business keeps the family too busy for a pet -- let alone two!

But Sam has to take in the sweet, abandoned pups . . . at least until their real owners turn up. Only, she's not quite prepared for how hard it is to wrangle two frisky dogs, especially when she sneaks them into the parties her parents cater. Thankfully, cute new boy in town, Jai, whose dad works at the same events, is on hand to help when the pugs start wreaking havoc.

Sam and Jai are also determined to find just where the pugs came from, and they start posting about the pups online. But if they solve the mystery, and the dogs' owner does come forward, will Sam have to give up the pugs she's fallen in love with?



My Take on the Book
This is a book that has a lot of heart. The book itself was a ton of fun and had a great plot. The characters were real and once you meet these troublesome pugs you will love them too. The book is one that really has some mystery along with themes of friendship, humor and heart. If you love dogs and a fun story that will engage you from beginning to end and you will love this book!

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Friday, March 22, 2019

Book Review - The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!



About the Book

Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn't like it? What if the teacher doesn't like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?!

Ask not for whom the school bell rings; it rings for the Pigeon!



My Take on the Book
This is a fun way to let go of some of the scariness of going to school. Reading this with your pre-school soon to be student would be a great way to help them get ready with the idea of going to school. Pigeon goes through all of the fears and more when it comes down to having to think about and actually go to school. The illustrations and the message are so fun and even as an adult I get a kick out of how the author has shared this message with all!

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