Malala: Activist for Girls' Education -- A NetGalley Review

 The first part of the book is a book for young readers to learn who Malala is, what happened in her life, and for what she stands.  The second part of the book is a more detailed timeline of her life and some of her quotes. 
This is a simplified story of Malala's life, but does not fully shy away from the most tragic events in her life.  The talk about the Taliban and what they did to her, how she was afraid when she woke up, in a strange country, without her family. 
Malala is an important figure for children and young women.  She shows that you should always fight for what you believe!

Thank you Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the digital ARC so I could give an honest review.

Abigail the Whale -- A NetGalley Review

Abigail goes to swimming lessons and believes that they are calling her a whale because of her size.  (This is typically how I felt, when kids would say things to me.)  Her swim instructor gave her a way of trying to see things differently.  She finds out that when she looks at things differently, others will see her differently.  In this book, Abigail finds out that her classmates are calling her a whale because of how good of a swimmer she could be. 
Abigail reminds me of, well, me.  Being larger in frame makes it hard, sometimes, to trust in ourselves and others. Several teachers tried to do similar things for me, but just one perceived hurtful thing can lead those with little self-confidence back to where we once were.

Thank you OwlKids Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC for me to give an honest review!

I am Josephine -- A NetGalley Review

A simple book, for preschool or kindergarten aged minds, to teach what humans are to the world.  We find out that humans fit into several categories, but are extremely different from those that are also in the category.  For example, humans are animals, but so are  deer.  If care and attention are taken, while reading this book to a child, it should be emphasized that we all have similarities, but we are all different in our own ways, and that it is the way we are meant to be!

This honest review was able to happen due to a digital ARC via OwlKids Books and NetGalley!

2017 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

 

Today I joined the 2017 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge hosted by Bookish Things & More.  Even though I am starting at a month in, I can still post all the Netgalley books I have done this month. If you have a Netgalley or Edelweiss account, why not join today to help get your review ratios up.  I know that my addiction to clicking the "review" or "read now" buttons are hurting my review ratio (currently at 10%)!

I really hope to get to the Diamond  Level (explained below), which would be 100 books for the year!  I just turned in 11 books for January!  To get to that 100, I better get to reading!

Haven't joined Netgalley or Edelweiss, but love to read, why not join today? Then join the challenge!  Guidelines and Levels copied from Bookish Things & More.

Challenge Guidelines

• The challenge will run from Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017.
• Anyone is welcome to join. You do not need to be a blogger, just post your reviews and come back every month to link them up.
• Any genre, release date, request date, length, etc. counts so long as it came from Edelweiss or Netgalley.
• At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews.
• If you forget to link up one month it’s not a problem just add your reviews next month.
• If you would like to move up or down levels that is completely fine and at your discretion.
• If you have any questions tweet me @BookishThings or e-mail katrina@bookisthingsandmore.com!
• Hashtag: #NGEW2017

Levels

Bronze – 10 Books

Silver – 25 Books

Gold – 50 Books

Platinum – 75 Books

Diamond – 100 Books

 

Porcupine's Picnic -- A NetGalley Review

What an interesting book to learn about what different animals eat.  We are exposed to 22 animals and what they would prefer to eat at the picnic.  The book has a very "exciting" ending when a tiger shows up.  A great way to introduce herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores to children of a young age!

Thank you Millbrook Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC that allows me to give my honest opinion!

Rails Across Britain -- A NetGalley Review

 I love trains!  When one is going through town, I will purposefully go stop at the tracks!  While I am in the United States, I still enjoyed this book!  It was exciting for me to look at the different styles and colors of trains and cabs for the British rail system. The pictures are usually clear and crisp to see what the description is wanting you to zoom in on! Personally, I think there could have been more of a description of each picture, but it works for the purpose of the book.  I am glad to see the pictures in chronological order, rather than based on design or use.

Thank you for the digital ARC Pen & Sword and NetGalley to give an honest opinion.

Beastly Monsters -- A NetGalley Review

Ever wonder if dragons or other mythical creatures are/were real?  Learn more about a few kinds of beastly monsters with this book. This book describes the monsters, how they could have been made, and evidence of the monsters.  This book describes the griffin, dragons and the chupacabra.

Thank you for a digital ARC for my honest opinion, Lerner Publishing Group and NetGalley.

The Best Mistake Mystery -- A NetGalley Review

Do you overthink things?   Well, Stephen Noble does it every day, by counting his mistakes.  His need to think everything to the end is kicked into high gear when two crazy events happen only a few hours apart from each other.

When going to school was there a person that was really annoying, like smart annoying?  Do you think you could become friends with them? Stephen gets teamed up with that person, Renee, unexpectedly.  Renee turns to Stephen when her brother is being questioned about the events.

 What would you have done, when you were in grade 7, if you started getting threatening texts?  Do you keep them a secret?  Do you try to figure out who they are coming from?

Read "The Best Mistake Mystery" to find out if Stephen, with Renee's help, can solve the crimes!  I did not want to put it down!

Thank you Dundurn and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book to give an honest review.

The Green Umbrella -- A NetGalley Review

What could you imagine a green umbrella being?  Go on an adventure with elephant to find what his friends imagine the green umbrella could be.  This is also a great book to read to young children about sharing.

Thank you NorthSouth Books Inc. and NetGalley for the digital ARC to give an honest review!

Believarexic -- A NetGalley Review

Jennifer is finally tired of having the monster inside telling her that she wasn't good or skinny enough. She went to her parents that didn't believe that she had an issue, but went ahead and signed her in to a Eating Disorder facility. While there, she had to eat everything that was given to her, go to individual/group/family therapies, and deal with untrusting nurses. Jennifer has many realizations that deal with the individual, family, and friend relationships. This true fiction Young Adult novel, starts with her realizing that she wants help and ending when she leaves the facility. I do not feel qualified to review this book, as I have never been in any type of facility or therapy, and I don't mean this as bragging. Some of the insights that Jennifer comes to in the novel struck a cord with me on how my relationships have progressed or even came to be. JJ did her best to not give numbers or specifics of the disease, most to keep from triggering other people. I would recommend this book to parents of teens, and teens that may be struggling with some thing in their lives. This honest review was inspired by the free digital ARC given to me by Peachtree Publishers via NetGalley!

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Twilight the Unicorn's Sleepytime Quest -- A NetGalley Reivew

This is a story and yoga all rolled into one.  All children need to be read stories and have exercise, so why not let them help with the story by doing yoga poses that match what is happening.

In this Cosmic Kids story, we have Twilight the Unicorn.  She had a bad dream and now doesn't want to go back to sleep.  We learn that it is important to have sleep, because it helps us be strong.  We also need to know that no matter what our dreams are, good or bad, that we are safe.

Thank you for the free digital ARC for me to give an honest review, Watkins Publishing and NetGalley!

Sheriff Updown Turns the Bad Guys Good -- A NetGalley Review

This book brings together story telling and yoga.  It is important for children to get exercise and to be read to, so why not have them help tell the story with yoga poses!  When following the yoga poses, it is easy to understand how each pose is related to the person or thing that it represents.

As for the story, itself, I personally don't think that a weapon, like the Zappy Happy, is really the way to teach kids to share their kindness with others.  It is at the end of the book that we find that the Zappy Happy is all inside us, but do they have to use a weapon of any kind to spread happiness?

Thank you for the free digital ARC for me to give an honest review, Watkins Publishing and NetGalley!

See Your Way to Mindfulness -- A NetGalley Review

Simple ways to change your view.  Change your view, change your life.  Change your life, See Your Way to Mindfulness!

David Schiller gives 26 exercises to try.  These exercises are to help us gain mindfulness of the things around us.  When we have mindfulness, we can fell a sense of peace and gratitude.  Within these exercises, wonderfully beautiful pictures are matched to equally amazing quotes!

I feel that if I would have actually used the book and tried the exercises, I would have liked it much better than I did.  Just reading it to read it, doesn't do this book justice!

A special thank you to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the free digital ARC to be able to give my most honest opinion of the book!

Outcome: LGBT Portraits -- A NetGalley Review

What an amazing book!  It is great inspiration for all in the LGBT community, or those that haven't come out.  It is amazing  to learn that everyone can become what they want to be.  This book shows that no matter who you are, you can achieve whatever you want; become whatever you want!

Thank you Arachne Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC so I can give an honest opinion.

I Feel Worried -- A NetGalley Review

This is a wonderful book for children and their parents to use together to help reduce anxiety and worry.  The games could even be played by the children with a school councilor, social worker, or therapist for them to explain why their feelings more fully. 

This book helps explain ways to change though processes when worrisome events happen, or how to give yourself time to adjust to changes in the daily schedule.

 I personally think that this book would be good for anyone of any age to help with anxiety.  There are several ways to help or change thinking.  It is very good for helping to explain why a certain feeling is happening.

Thank you for the free digital ARC for my honest review, How To Make and Keep Friends, LLC and NetGalley!

We Are Still Tornadoes -- A NetGalley Review

Cath and Scott have been best friends and almost inseparable since they were 5 years old.  Now Cath goes on to college and Scott is left at home.  Scott has not cared about grades through high school and now has to go work in his father's men's clothing store.

This book is written in letters back and forth between Cath and Scott.  We can tell that they genuinely care for each other, and see the potential each other has.  In these letters, we can feel their teasing, heart breaks, and love.  The bad part of the letter format is that some letters will say, things similar to, "Thank you for the talk last night, I really needed it" or "I was really glad to see you" but we are clueless as to what happened during those phone calls or personal visits.

I could see this book for those nearing the end of high school or just entering college, late YA and New Adult.  With Cath and Scott's friendship, we can all learn that we always need someone to be there to help us through new adventures, dealing with the past, and family issues that may arise. 

Thank you St. Martin's and NetGalley for the digital ARC in order to give an honest review.