Book Review - Gustavo, the Shy Ghost

About the Book
Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye scream or making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can’t see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves? With fancifully detailed artwork and visual humor, debut picture-book creator Flavia Z. Drago’s vivid illustrations tell a sweet and gently offbeat story of loneliness, bravery, and friendship that is sure to be a treat for little ghouls and goblins everywhere.

My Take on the Book
This was a very sweet story that was filled with amazing illustrations as well as characters that you will love. What I loved about the book is that it looks at the idea of making friends from a very shy ghost that has to show courage to go outside of his comfort zone to make new friends. The story was a wonderful one to share with kids, especially this time of year, but even more than this, the story stands the test of time and really has a message that is good year-round. 

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Book Review - Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Mind Blown

About the Book
A Believe It or Not! is something incredibly hard to believe, but undeniably true—something that totally blows your mind! Mind Blown!, the 17th book in the bestselling series from Ripley's Believe It or Not!, is filled with unbelievable stories and images that will do just that. You'll be blown away by this all-true, all-new collection of incredible facts, unexpected stories, and stunning photography.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mind Blown! is sure to amaze and astound children and adults alike with thousands of strange stories, unusual feats, and hair-raising oddities from around the world. Discover how one woman can crush apples with her biceps and read about the spider that lives underwater—yes, it’s all weird and it’s all true! Bursting with vibrant and eye-catching photos, as well as submissions from our dedicated readers, this book is a must-have for every curious mind.



My Take on the Book
My daughter is a HUGE Ripley's fan and this book brings you the most strange items in one place. As this book says, get ready to have our mind blown and the book does just that. This book was filled with shocking pictures that draw you further into the book. The information was also so complete and thoroughly researched. If you have loved Ripley's in the past, this book takes strange to the next level. Get ready to have a ton of fun reading this with your kids!

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Book Review - Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks

About the Book
This deluxe jacketed hardcover is visual storytelling at its best. Almost 1,900 photographs (two-thirds of them taken just for this book) showcase Disney's key locations filled with special holiday menu offerings, the biggest parade and stage productions and nighttime spectacles, the tiniest decorating details from amazing artists and designers, and, of course, the most significant historical holiday events.

A harmonic trio of researchers, writers, and photographers logged more than 180,000 miles visiting every Disney park and resort across the globe, personally documenting the holiday installations through eighty thousand photographs and, wherever possible, meeting the talented and endlessly passionate artisans behind it all.

With twelve theme parks and dozens of resort hotels, plus numerous cruise ships, dining and shopping districts, and more than six decades of holiday experiences, there are a lot of pumpkin treatments and ornate trees to reflect upon. (The smallest holiday tree at a Disney property is just four inches high, while the very tallest reaches up to seventy feet.) Every parade or show requires dozens (sometimes hundreds) of creative magicians both onstage and off. And each decoration is chosen carefully to fit within a story and is expertly placed on its tree or garland by craftspeople backstage. The decor is installed onstage, maintained, and, ultimately, disassembled by technicians before it is once again cleaned, prepared, and stored in vast warehouses . . . till next year's event. The stories and contributions from so many unsung Cast Members (often hard at work at hours of the night when others are asleep) fill these pages, along with the joys of Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year celebrations. Time to join the party!

 

My Take on the Book
If you love Disney then you know that at every holiday period Disney turns their parks into a truly magical place, even more so than it usually is. This book provides you an inside look into the holiday traditions at the parks and how they are able to turn the park into the places that they become. This is the perfect coffee table book with beautiful images that will capture your imagination and make you want to go and visit the parks during these times in the year or at least it made me want to visit! No matter what time of the year you read this book you will love reading and experiencing the magic that is Disney!

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Book Review - Disney Eats: More than 150 Recipes for Everyday Cooking and Inspired Fun

About the Book

The kitchen is a great place to make memories. And Disney Eats will inspire you to prepare food that's not just fun but also tasty!

From healthy snacks like a Minnie Mouse-inspired crudité platter and savory dinners such as Mulan's Blossom Stir-Fry to Disney-character-themed bento box lunches and easy-prep treats such as Frozen Banana Dalmatian Pops, author Joy Howard shows that the creative possibilities are endless.

With an introduction by beloved baker Joy Wilson and more than 150 dynamic full-color photographs, Disney Eats will not only spark more delight in the kitchen, it will also lead to more memorable and creative success in your cooking.

 

My Take on the Book
If you are a fan of Disney, you will love this cookbook. This book is filled with amazing recipes that are all tied to Disney characters and movies. The book offers recipes that are easy to follow and ones that your whole family will enjoy. The book is broken down into categories and has a wide array of recipes in each section. This is a book that is a must have for all Disney lovers!

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Book Review - The Art of Figure Drawing for Beginners

About the Book

Mastering the human form for portraiture is one of the most challenging subjects for a beginning artist to learn. Packed with practical instructions, helpful tips, and fundamental techniques, this comprehensive, 144-page drawing book is your essential resource for learning to draw the human form and poses with ease.

The Art of Figure Drawing for Beginners features instruction for learning how to render the head, body, and extremities using very basic shapes, as well as drawing mannequins placed in a variety of configurations. The book's informative, easy-to-follow content covers figure drawing essentials, including:

• An overview of basic anatomy
• Natural variations in shape, texture, and proportion
• Helpful techniques for rendering humans in single and group poses
• Information for working with the tools of the trade.

Whether you are a beginning artist, art enthusiast, or serious fine art student, The Art of Figure Drawing for Beginners is a must-have reference.

The Collector's Series offers approachable, step-by-step art instruction for a variety of mediums and subjects, such as drawing, oil, acrylic, watercolor, cartooning, calligraphy, and more. Perfect for beginning artists, each title features artist tips for drawing or painting anything and everything from people, animals, and still life to flowers, trees, and landscapes.

 

My Take on the Book
This was a great book for anyone that wants to learn more skills to draw the human figure. The book is filled with great steps that everyone can take and learn from no matter what your skill level. While the book is written as a beginners manual, it is still filled with an amazing amount of practical advice that is even a great refresher for the seasoned artist too. This is a great book for any artist!

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Book Review: The Queen's Council Rebel Rose

About the Book

Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue-and a touch of magic.

It's 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress's curse, restoring the Beast to his human form as Prince Adam, and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it's only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.

Belle has always dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her roots as a commoner, and her future as a royal. When she stumbles across a mysterious, ancient magic that brings with it a dire warning, she must question whether she is ready for the power being thrust on her, and if being Queen is more than just a title.

Rebel Rose is the first in the Queen's Council series, an empowering fairy tale reimagining of the Disney Princesses-and the real history behind their stories-like you've never seen before.

 

My Take on the Book
This was a great book! If you love Belle, this gives you a look at what happens after she frees the beast from his spell. The book is a great story that pushes you to see Belle in a new way, especially in regards to her new role as royalty and whether she is ready for this. The book is a great start to the Queen's Council series as it really does a great job at drawing you into the story and the world and you come to truly care about all of the characters throughout the book. This book made me even more excited for future books in the series and I am sure that you will feel the same!

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Book Review - Up from Nothing: The Untold Story of How We (All) Succeed

About the Book
American opportunity is not dead. Bestselling author and entrepreneur John Hope Bryant outlines the mindset and practices that will allow us to achieve the American Dream, no matter what our current circumstances are.

Facing a challenging economy, too many Americans despair of improving their lives. But John Hope Bryant insists that America is still the Land of Opportunity. Up from Nothing revives the forgotten story of the American Dream. It's about our beginnings as a nation of go-getters who believed they were winners before they won.

Using the inspiring story of his own rise from humble beginnings, and that of his parents and grandparents, Bryant shows how individually we can change our mindset from survivor to thriver to winner and move beyond just getting by or being financially independent to becoming wildly successful. Collectively, we need to become a nation of winners once again.

By ensuring that every stakeholder in America has access to the Five Pillars of Success--massive education, financial literacy, strong family structure, self-esteem, and supportive role models--Bryant shows how we can fulfill the promise of America's greatness. But to do so, we must turn away from distractions--such as political in-fighting or racial and class divisions--and focus on what we can control. This is not a book of tips on how to get a better job or make more money. It's about adopting a new way of thinking that will do all that for us and more. Up from Nothing is the new (old) business plan to keep us winning as a country.

 

My Take on the Book
This was a great book that really challenged me in many ways. One of the things that I loved about the book was that it was filled with stories that the author shared. The premise in the book is that anything is possible if the person believes in herself. The book promotes that everyone has to work hard to reach your dreams. The author is authentic and open with the reader offering great examples that you can put into action right away. This is an amazing book that I would recommend to all! 

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