Book Review - Bots and Bods: How Robots and Humans Work, from the Inside Out

About the Book

What do humans and robots have in common? Find out in this intriguing illustrated nonfiction book that encourages kids to discover their inner robot.

Bots and Bods is an illustrated guide for kids looking to explore anatomy and technology and how they're related. How do we both move or sense the world? How does robot intelligence compare to our own? Middle-grade readers will find these answers and more among the four sections:

Body structures
Muscle and movement
Senses and sensors
Thinking and feeling

An accessible guide with exciting illustrations, fun facts, and special feature spreads about robots in the real world explains why “bots” can sometimes do a better job than “bods” and vice versa.

 

My Take on the Book
This is a great book that allows you and your child to learn together about how their body works but also the way in which a robot works too. This book makes complex topics easy to understand. The book uses fun illustrations to help people to better understand the concepts too. Overall, if your child is interested in how their own body works, this book will compare and contrast in a great way, and your child will come out much better educated in the end!

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Book Review - Baby Montessori Boxed Set

About the Book

A Montessori-inspired series of board books for your baby’s first year, specifically designed to nurture infant visual development using black, white, and red shapes.

Combining the latest science with Montessori theory, this beautifully illustrated series follows babies as they grow and change during their first year of life. Each book in the set—Big or Small?, The Garden, Animals, and Follow Me!—explores a different theme using shapes and colors friendly to babies’ developing eyes and minds. Children from 0 to 12 months can discover plants and animals, learn to distinguish objects by size, and practice tracing paths with their fingers!

 

My Take on the Book
This is a great book that brings together amazing images. There are no words in the book, but images, shapes and patterns that allow a child to see and experience the items in different ways. The books allows parent and child to connect and interact with the book itself and allows them to talk, describe and help the child to engage in a whole new way.

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Book Review - How to Draw a Bunny and Other Cute Creatures with Simple Shapes in 5 Steps

About the Book
Anyone can learn to draw an adorable bunny and other cute Spring creatures using simple shapes in five easy steps.

This book will show readers how to draw quirky, kawaii (super cute) spring characters in a wonderfully easy and inspiring way. Step by step, illustrator Lulu Mayo explains how to draw various creatures by using simple shapes—such as circles, ovals, rectangles, and triangles—and how to personalize them by adding your own adorable details.

The book contains 30 of these doodling exercises, featuring a bunny, sloth, llama, chick, lamb, turtle, duckling, and kawaii Easter eggs! Its easiness, simplicity, and quirkiness will resonate with animal lovers, artists, and doodle enthusiasts of all skill levels and ages. Absorbing and fun, it will ignite a doodler’s curiosity and inspire them to experiment creatively.

My Take on the Book
If you or your child loves to draw, this book is a great one that walks you step-by-step on how to creat some very fun characters. My daughters love to draw and she loved this book because it made drawing so easy! This is a great book for any budding artist!

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Book Review - Breathe Deep, Little Sheep: A Calm-Down Book for Kids

About the Book
A kid-friendly introduction to self-soothing and mindfulness with adorable animal friends. A child’s “very first step” into mindfulness where the story’s short rhymes can be used as soothing mantras, paired with delightful illustrations of baby animals working through anxious situations. This book does double duty as a self-help story providing great comfort beyond the pages.

 

My Take on the Book
This is a great book for kids that will allow you and your child to process and understand stress but also coping mechanisms that will allow you to to help your children to cope with stress, fears and more!  The illustrations are colorful and interactive, this is a great book that your children will really connect with!

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Book Review - ArkhaManiacs

About the Book
ArkhaManiacs is Art Baltazar and Franco providing their unique, cartoony take on a certain apartment building (Arkham) in Gotham City and the people (mostly!) who live there.

There's an apartment building in Gotham City full of life: kids with special powers, pirates in the swimming pool, even a croc (or two!). Young Bruce Wayne is drawn to the fun and excitement he sees going on at the Arkham Apartments, but to Wayne Enterprises, it's just another property they own. Bruce is determined to find out why this apartment building is full of so much fun and laughter. What exactly is going on over there? Time to sneak over when no one is looking...even though it's like the house is laughing at him! HA HA HA!

With ArkhaManiacs, Art Baltazar and Franco return to the DC Universe and provide their unique, cartoony take on a Gotham City quite unlike any we've seen before!

 

My Take on the Book
This is a fun look at some very well known "super" characters. You will get to see some well known villains as kids getting into some strange situations. The graphic novel has great illustrations that will draw you in from beginning to end and you will love seeing what happens when all of these characters are together (I know I did). All-in-all, if you are a DC Comics fans, you will not want to miss this book!

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Book Review - We Found a Monster

About the Book
Kirk Scroggs (The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid) brings you a new type of best friend!

Casey has always loved monster movies; in fact, he considers himself something of an expert in monsters. He spends his day doing normal kid things, like attending school and riding his bike around his town of Serena Mar--and filling his journal with helpful ways to take care of the various monsters who live all around them...whom no one else seems to know exist.

But as Casey delves deeper into the history of his spooky friends--or are they fiends? --he uncovers more than just skeletons in the closet. Turns out there's a Frankenstein and maybe a werewolf tucked in there, too! And he's just starting to wonder if it's possible that his new friend, Zandra, has a secret of her own, as well...

We Found a Monster is a fun, funny, and fast-paced tale about learning what true friendship is, and respecting the secrets we all have inside.

My Take on the Book
This was a great graphic novel that  brings you inside of a monster's notebook which was such a unique idea and concept. The book brings forth friendship, monsters and more. The illustrations were fun and on each page you get a fun story that you will not want to out down! All-in-all this was a book I did not want to put down and neither will you!

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Book Review - Second Star to the Fright

About the Book
Second Star to the Fright, Book 3 of the all-new Disney Chills chapter book series, tells the tale of a kid who finds he's hooked far more than he can handle when Captain Hook creeps out of Neverland and into our world.

With shuddersome spooks and blood-curdling frights, readers should grab their night-lights and prepare to be chilled!

 

My Take on the Book
Another great addition to the Disney Chills series. My daughter loves this series as it brings forward your favorite villains and brings them into our world. This is made for kids in upper elementary, but really, any Disney fan will love this series too! You get the best of Captain Hook, but also some chills and thrills too! 

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Book Review - Mira, Royal Detective Undercover Princess

About the Book
To solve her next case, Mira has to go undercover . . . as a princess!

Queen Shanti has an important case for the newest Royal Detective of Jalpur: there's a rumor that jewel thieves are planning to steal the Gem of Jalpur at a royal ball. To solve this case, the queen asks Mira to go undercover at the party-as a princess!

After learning the ins and outs of royal life from her friend, Prince Neel, Mira trades in her detective coat for a princess disguise. But not even a fancy party will distract Mira from solving this case!

This 8x8 storybook comes with stickers for even more fun with Mira and her friends.

My Take on the Book
Another case that Mira is on. What I love about this is that Mira is a strong female character and as a father with daughters, I love my girls being able to see girls accomplishing whatever is set in front of them. In this book you get to see the same great characters, but you get another great mystery/adventure and you get to see Mira undercover as a Princess this time. As in the first book, your kids will love getting the extra fun stickers that are included in the book! Looking forward to the next adventure! 

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Book Review - Mira, Royal Detective The New Royal Detective

About the Book
Before Mira became the first young girl to be Royal Detective of Jalpur, she was just a townsperson with an eye for detail who liked helping her friends. Mira uses all her senses—eyes, ears, and sometimes nose!—to find clues that others might have missed. One day, Queen Shanti happened to observe Mira find a missing baby goat, and she was so impressed that she appointed Mira to be Royal Detective. With her new detective coat and magnifying glass, Mira has the tools and the skills to help people all over Jalpur. Mira is on the case! 

 

My Take on the Book

This was a fun book that lets you get to know Mira and go along with her on a fun mystery. Each page is filled with amazing images and the characters and the story are a ton of fun. My daughters loved the stickers that came with the book as well. I will also say that the author did a great job keeping you engaged from beginning to end and wondering what would come next! Whether you know Mira or not, this is a fun book for all!

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Book Review - Frozen 2: Dangerous Secrets: The Story of Iduna and Agnarr

About the Book

Sixteen-year-old Iduna harbors a dark secret. On the surface, she is an Arendellian village girl, an aspiring inventor, and the best friend of Prince Agnarr, but she is also secretly Northuldra.

Ever since the day the forest fell, Arendellians have despised and distrusted Northuldra with a vengeance. No matter that the Northuldra-along with some of Arendelle's own-have been trapped in the Enchanted Forest behind an impenetrable wall of mist since the day of the battle.

Iduna doesn't know why the mist refuses to part, or why it descended to begin with. The only clear thing is that she must keep her identity from everyone, even Agnarr. Her life depends on it.

Fortunately for her, Agnarr doesn't know that Iduna is the Northuldra girl he saw seemingly flying on a gust of wind all those years ago, the day of the celebration turned disaster. The day Agnarr lost his father, the king. The day Agnarr himself almost died.

What Agnarr does know is that Iduna is a true ally in the face of his royal responsibilities and the expectations of an overbearing council and a well-meaning regent who will rule in Agnarr's place until he turns twenty-one and assumes the Arendellian throne.

As Iduna and Agnarr grow ever closer, however, friendship is no longer enough. If only falling for each other didn't mean risking their futures: Iduna's as a hidden-in-plain-sight citizen of Arendelle, and Agnarr's as imminent king.

But for a chance at true love, the risk might be worth taking

 

My Take on the Book
I am a big fan of the frozen characters and movies and that endeavors to bring forth a new story has big shoes to fill. As you get into this novel, the author has created a story that was a great read but also that tugs at the heartstrings. 

The author does a great job at bringing forth characters that reflect the characters that you know from the movie too. Going into this book I can say that outside of the limited times I saw Iduna and Agnarr in Frozen 2, I did not feel like I knew them as much until I read this book.

As you read this you will definitely come to love Iduna and Agnarr even more. You will follow along with their relationship and watch as their love grew. 

Overall, this was a great book that is definitely worth the read! If you are a Disney fan, this book will make you wonder if there will be more books exploring the origin stories of other characters like this!

 
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Book Review - The Mouse Watch

About the Book

You've heard of the Rescue Rangers. Now meet the Mouse Watch.

Around the globe, exceptional mice live in the shadows. Under the direction of famed mouse inventor Gadget Hackwrench, they work together as a team to solve BIG problems using SMALL gadgets. They are high trained. They are nearly invisible. And they love cheese. Their mission: save the world.

Bernadette is a small-but brave-mouse with a score to settle. Jarvis is a sensitive rat with a big appetite and unmatched puzzle-solving skills. Both are eager to prove their worth as the youngest, newest recruits to the Mouse Watch.

But before their first day of training is through, Bernie and Jarvis find themselves at the center of an evil plot orchestrated by the Rogue Animal Thieves Society (R.A.T.S.). Soon they are catapulted from new recruits into full-on action heroes, as they learn how to work together to save the Mouse Watch-and the world as they know it.

Mission Impossible meets "Mice in Black" in this action-packed middle grade adventure that will take readers on an epic thrill ride and leave them ready to join the Watch!



My Take on the Book
This was a great book that pulls in a character that I will say that I did not remember from the Rescue Rangers and places them in the limelight. You get a whole new organization, the Mouse Watch. This new organization is a ton of fun and the author has done a great job at setting up the new organzation but even more that that you also get to see and go behind the scene to see the background of the main characters and why they want to be a part of the Mouse Watch.

The book has a ton of action packed experiences and you will also be kept on the edge of your seat as you see and experience what is going to happen next. I loved all of the cool gadgets throughout the book, but even more was the characters.

This is a book you will not want to miss!

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Book Review - Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay

About the Book

Retaining top talent and making sure employees feel engaged and appreciated is a perennial concern for every business. With over 710,000 copies sold globally, comes the fifth edition of this bestselling book by Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans.

Since employees who walk out the door cost their companies up to 200 percent of their annual salaries to replace, retention is one of the most important issues facing businesses today. And with so many surveys reporting that employees are unhappy and not working up to their full potential, engagement is a second serious and costly issue.

The latest edition of this Wall Street Journal bestseller offers twenty-six simple strategies—from A to Z—that managers can use to address their employees’ real concerns and keep them engaged. The fifth edition has been revised and updated throughout and includes many more international examples, reflecting the fact that Love ’Em or Lose ’Em is available in twenty-two languages, from Albanian and Arabic to Thai and Turkish. Its message is truly one that spans continents and cultures.

My Take on the Book
This book is full of a ton of things that you can do (without spending anything) to be able to offer incentives to your employees and to motivate them to find success in their outcomes. The book is set up in a way that all can understand. It is filled with practical advice that can be put into action right away. If you manage people in any way this book is a must have as it will walk you step-by-step to the things you can do to be able to change the work environment for the better. 

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Book Review - Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling

About the Book

Communication is essential in a healthy organization. But all too often when we interact with people—especially those who report to us—we simply tell them what we think they need to know. This shuts them down. To generate bold new ideas, to avoid disastrous mistakes, to develop agility and flexibility, we need to practice Humble Inquiry.

Ed Schein defines Humble Inquiry as “the fine art of drawing someone out, of asking questions to which you do not know the answer, of building a relationship based on curiosity and interest in the other person.” In this seminal work, Schein contrasts Humble Inquiry with other kinds of inquiry, shows the benefits Humble Inquiry provides in many different settings, and offers advice on overcoming the cultural, organizational, and psychological barriers that keep us from practicing it.

My Take on the Book
This was a short read but it really brought in some great thinking from the author after many years of researching and presenting on the benefits of the concepts of humble inquiry. This book articulates his concepts of first, what humble inquiry actually is and then he goes further into how inquiry can be seen as both an art and science. 

The book is short but packed with great examples of what humble inquiry is as well as examples of  opportunities where this type of inquiry was missed. 

The book is written in a way that all can understand and the concepts are practical enough to allow all to start using right away. 

Schein shows you that humble inquiry is something that you do have to work at and build into your life. It is not something that comes overnight, but as he explains, it is an attitude that you also have to embody. 

The book is a great book. It is filled with great ways to start developing the attitude of humble inquiry as well as allows you to see the benefits of using this way of thinking in the workplace too. 

All-in-all this is a great book that really allows you to start making positive changes for the future.

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Book Review - Disney Baby I Love You, Mom

About the Book
Delightfully illustrated Disney characters are on hand to show some of the many reasons they love their moms. These messages of love come to life with this eye-catching die-cut board book, which also features chunky lift the flaps. Perfect for Mother’s Day, Shower Gifts, or any day, I Love You, Mom is a book of relatable moments sure to inspire bedtime kisses for baby to give Mom, time and time again.

 

My Take on the Book
This is a great book for parents to read to their young kids. It will bring forth some Disney characters that you and your kids know as they share messages of love for their moms. It is a book that places moms in the limelight and allows you to celebrate the moms in your own life too. The book has amazing images that you will love and the story is fun too!

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Book Review - Disney Junior Happy Valentine's Day!

About the Book

Celebrate Valentine's Day with three sweet stories!

Spread glitter and sparkles with Mickey and Minnie, trade ghoulentines with Vampirina, and party down with the baby animals at T.O.T.S.

Preschoolers will love learning about Valentine's Day traditions with their favorite Disney Junior friends!

My Take on the Book
This is a great book that brings together all of your favorite Disney Junior fans to let you explore some great Valentines Day traditions! The book has a ton of great characters and the story is fun as well. If you have a preschooler, they will love seeing their favorite characters in this great book!

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Book Review - Will You Be My Villaintine?

About the Book
So much for true love. . . Disney Villains do not like Valentine's Day! But what if their loyal sidekicks, the very ones who care about them the most, want to tell their masters just how truly cunning, magnificently wicked, and spectacularly nefarious they are? Why, send them Villaintines instead, of course! Featuring ten evil-doing teams everyone loves to hate--including Ursula and her eels, Scar and his hyenas, Maleficent and her raven, and many more--each spread features sidekicks ' laugh-out-loud Villaintines for their villains.

 

My Take on the Book
This whole book lets you get a picture of some of the most iconic Disney villains in a whole new light. You will get to know the friends (henchmen) of the villains and how much they "love" their connection to their villain friends. On each page you will get to see a fun valentine ode to each villain. Each are fun and filled with great images. You will also get a few valentines that you can share with others too! This was a fun book for all!

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Book Review - Minnie Minnie's Fixer-Upper

About the Book

Minnie builds a house in her signature style!

It's a Mixed-Up Adventure with Minnie!

After a day of building, painting, and shingling, Minnie and her friends learn that hard work makes good things! This novelty board book is die-cut to the shape of Minnie's fabulous vacation house. Little ones will get a grand tour of her new home in this latest adventure with Minnie and Daisy!

 

My Take on the Book
The book is a fun book that not only shows off the unique style of Minnie, but also the power of friendship. While the friends have some miscommunication, the book really shows how friends can come together to create something amazing. If you love Minnie and all of her friends, this is the book for you. 

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Book Review - Gravity Falls Gravity Falls: Tales of the Strange and Unexplained

About the Book
Perfect for fans new and old, this collection of Gravity Falls stories shares Dipper and Mabel's recollections of the adventures they shared visiting their Uncle Stan's Mystery Shack. The Gravity Falls twist? Each retelling is accompanied by a short "Grunkle Stan version of the same story written form his gruff, humorous perspective. Readers have the choice of reading the Dipper and Mabel version, the Grunkle Stan version. Designed to parody a classic bedtime storybook, fans will love the playful twist on bedtime storytelling delivered by Dipper and Mabel.

 

My Take on the Book
This book had so many great stories within it. If you are a fan of Gravity Falls these books will bring you back into the lore and stories of the original series. Each of the stories has a ton of great illustrations with images of your favorite Gravity Falls characters and the stories are a ton of fun. The book is broken down into individual stories so you can easily read the stories one by one or read a ton at once. This book is a ton of fun to read with your kids! 

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