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The Lost Library

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for The Lost Library through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Oh my, my, my…. The Lost Library.  I was so uncertain when I started reading it.  Ghosts?  Talking cats who liked mice?   A little free library?   What in the world was I reading?   But then I got hooked.  I wanted to follow the boy Evan in his sleuthing.  By the end …. I smiled.    Come along, see why you might smile too!

The Lost Library

The Basic Details of The Lost Library

Title: The Lost Library
Author: Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 224
Intended Audience: 8-12 years
Genre: Children’s fantasy, children’s mystery, cat books, Children’s detective
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio
Received: softcover, advanced readers copy

The Lost Library

About the Book and Author

The Author

Rebecca Stead is a New York Times bestselling author. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Rebecca lives in New York City where she grew up.  Working as a lawyer she decided one day to devour all the children’s books she loved as a child, then she started to write.    

Wendy Mass has written more than 25 books and has landed on the the New York Times bestselling list.  She and her family live in New Jersey.  Some of her hobbies include geocaching, virtual reality, and magic tricks.

The Book

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.   and so the story unfolds….

Digging Deeper

You will get the story from several different perspectives: Mortimer (the cat), AL (the librarian), and Evan (5th grade sleuth).  A good depth was provided for each of these characters, we even got to understand the mice!  (what fun!)

The writing is clear, the chapters are short, the action believable.  It was so fascinating to watch the free little library grow.   Al started to develop clientele!  The library becomes instrumental in solving the mystery of the town’s library fire. 

My Recommendation

As I stated in my intro, The Lost Library started very slowly, and I kinda wondered what I was getting into with the bouncing around of perspectives.   But gradually, once the backstory is established, interest in what happened and is happening now grows. 

Evan is a very determined 5th grader with a mystery to solve!  What will the end result be?  You’ll have to check it out.  The ending was not quite what I expected, but in a good way.  

Do I think middle schoolers will like it?   Some will, some won’t.  (like with anybook eh?)

I think they will love Evan and Rafe, real boys with their own unique personalities.    Al is a complicated character, and everyone else feels like real people.    The cat and the mice are fun additions.  The mystery is personal to Evan and it teaches him more about people and his family. 

In a Moment

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This morning before heading to work I read the Five minute Friday word prompt.  Moment.  It’s not the first time she’s chosen the word moment, and you can read about that here.  Anyways, immediately the expression, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye came to mind.  As I went through my dad I continued to ponder what in a moments I could come up with. 🙂 

For two years my lad has been NOT working on getting his G1 (like a beginners) … reasons like covid (and making appointments), no strong need to drive, and his “but I don’t know enough pass” thought processes.   So for him to finally get it and do well… it’s a lovely step in the right direction.  It’s one of those moments to savor you know? 

In A moment

In A Moment

Knowing this that in a moment
in the twinkling of an eye
Before you know it,
in a moment
life can change.

for instance
Christ could return
no more sorrow or pain
or uncertainty.
Just the glory of his
return and everything being made new.
I can’t really fathom it you know?
What will it mean to see everything
around me changed to reflect the true
glory of God himself?

In another moment,
Life can change.
An 18 year old can go from not
having his G1 to
having the joy of passing a test
he repeatedly thought he wasn’t
ready for and would never pass.

Or gather up another moment and
consider the disappointment of a
hoped for hire, who has instead taken
a position elsewhere….

Imagine if you would a moment,
a moment where you thought one
thing would be and then something else
completely different happened!
Like this very small moment of…
taking a break at work
and coming out expecting to restart
your job and then a Pineapple Sundae
from Dairy Queen awaits.

I learned today of the devastating hurt
it causes if a dad learns that the child
he thought was his own is the result of his
wife’s infidelity with some other man.
Two moments, well, perhaps three moments,
life changing…trust vs deception,
and innocence of a child loving a parent,
and yet Dad needs to figure how to handle it all.
Moments that change lives.

What might happen
in your next moment?

Cold Pursuit

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for Cold Pursuit through Nuts About Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

The love of a well written mystery fills my bones, I hope it fills yours too.  Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl walks into an interesting cold-case which turns out to be not so cold afterall.    Can River and Tony solve this cold case and bring some answers to a grieving mother?   I won’t tell you the result, but I will urge you to give it a go!

Basic Details for Cold Pursuit

Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl

The Basic Details for Cold Pursuit

Title: Cold Pursuit
Author: Nancy Mehl
Series: Ryland & St. Clair, book 1
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 336
Intended Audience: Adult fiction
Genre: thriller, murder mystery, cold case, FBI, serial killer, Christian mystery, Christian Suspense, Christian mystery romance
Reviewed for: Nuts About Books
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, softcover, Audio
Received: softcover

Cold Pursuit

About the Author and book

The Author

Nancy Mehl is the author of more than fifty books, a Parable bestseller, and the winner of an ACFW Book of the Year Award, a Carol Award, and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She has also been a finalist for two Carol Awards and the Christy Award. Nancy lives in Missouri, with her husband and their puggle.

Other books by this author that I have reviewed: Night Fall, Mind Games, and Fatal Frost. 

The Book

Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case went horribly wrong. She’s start a PI business with her former colleague Tony. They’re soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son, who disappeared four years ago. 

But as they follow the boy’s trail, they find themselves in the path of a murderer. As River and Tony race to stop him before he kills again, a more dangerous threat emerges involving River’s past as well as her future.

Digging Deeper

Adult fiction with mystery and twists.  Light suspense without being too intense. I enjoy a good murder mystery that makes me wonder what is really going on.

Cold Pursuit is a faith based murder mystery.  Faith is an integral part of the lives of at least two of the characters, one a main character, the other a minor one.  River is challenged in her thoughts about matters of faith.  BUT faith issues are not central to the story…the story is predominately about the cold case and the need to solve it to bring closure to the mom.  

The writing style is easy, probably written at a high school/first year college level.  The trains of thought made sense with no odd leaps of logic.   A nice and somewhat suspenseful read at the beach mystery.  🙂  

My Recommendation

I have to admit, I wasn’t too surprised at what the end result of Cold Pursuit was… though the story in the shadows has me intrigued. 

A secondary part of the story is the behind the scenes threat…. which draws me in to reading the next book in the series to see if River and Tony can solve it before something horrible happens.   I want to know!  I DO I DO!   Nancy Mehl did an excellent job of drawing me in. 

You may find the story draws you in a well.  If you want an uncomplicated mystery with a suspenseful understory that makes you want the solution (ergo needing to get more in the series) read Cold Pursuit.  You might find yourself intrigued by the matter of faith as well.  Finding yourself asking deeper questions about forgiveness.  That’s not a bad thing either eh?  🙂 

Today as I Leave

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Tonight the three furballs that share my house were doing their best to drive me to distraction.  The one who likes to nibble, more gently now then when she first arrived, on skin if we don’t quickly understand her desires.   The youngest, becoming a brat, jumping on the counter to score the salmon juice left unattended.  The middle one, staring out the window, and then bolting off with a game of “catch me if you can” with the youngest in full pursuit…. things go flying at these times.   It reminded me of earlier today, with middle furball was somewhat demanding, disliking it when I left.  “today as I leave” speaks into the disquiet of one determined cat. 

today as I leave

Today as I Leave

Blocked
I stand at the door
a brown, furry body meows.
A HARD demanding cry that
rings through the front hallway.

“I want out!” his body demands
eyes peering out, voice piercing the quiet,
tension rippling through his body
as he prepares to zip through my legs.

Nine months old
determination seen in
those steady eyes, watching
for one small moments lack of attention.

and then POUNCE
he’ll be off, threatening
to spill over the body
through whose legs he speeds through
the goal, the underneath of the truck!
or if really lucky and fast, the
neighbour’s group of trees!

But today as I leave
I swing a door behind me
as a bag blocks all view of that
space between my legs.

Foiled, as I return to work,
after a brief stop at home to
feed said fuzzy beast and his
two companions, I see
two eyes, watching from the window.

Next seems the promise
next time that hole I’ll seize.

Today as I leave

I suppose if I would try hard enough I could find a parallel between my Benji cat and his desperation to be outside.  A place where we’d rather he not go as he’s very frightened of everything and tends to bolt without looking.  We’re on a busy road so traffic and a bolting cat aren’t the best combination. 

I suppose it’s kinda like me and my relationship with God.  I know in my heart he minds me and watches o’er my actions, because like a cat bolting into trouble happens!  He watches that I don’t, and places guards around me to help me to not be “a cat” with a curiousity to get myself into trouble.  Cause indeed my curiousity can lead me places it shouldn’t, and then I can get frightened, and well… you know… bolting happens!  But unlike my boy Benji…. I know exactly where to run back to!  🙂 

I guess perhaps the question I should ask…. is do YOU know where to bolt to when you are frightened? 

Meesha Makes Friends

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for Meesha Makes Friends through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Making friends can be really hard.  I remember my son asking me once “how do you make friends?  I don’t know how to do it!”    I gave him a good answer at the time, and kept him in my prayers, and now at 18 he has a nice core of friends who really care that he exists.  🙂   If he had been younger, Meesha Makes Friends is a book I would have shared with him as it points to truth.  Do stuff that you enjoy, and people that enjoy the same stuff will show up.  Be willing to talk with them, and before you know it, friendship happens. I can’t wait to tell you more.  🙂 

Meesha Makes Friends

The basic details for Meesha Makes Friends

Title: Meesha Makes Friends
Author and Illustrator: Tom Percival
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Pages: 32
Intended Audience: 4-8 years old
Genre: Friendship, Emotions, Big feelings, children’s book, Picture Book
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, softcover
Received: softcover

About the Author and book

The Author

Tom Percival is both the author and illustrator of Meesha Makes Friends. I found this website for him which lists some of the books he’s been part of.   He has written a number of children’s books and lives in Stroud, with his family, which is in the United Kingdom.

The Book

Meesha is a young girl who has a hard time making friends.  She finds them too noisy and chaotic and likes to spend time with her creations.  They aren’t noisy or chaotic or in any way confusing.   But she still wants to have friends.   In this story we see her taking a risk and making some friends. 

Digging Deeper

We learn who Meesha is, a quiet, creative girl.   She likes making things and people, well, people can be a bit hard.  And making friends… how does one DO that!?!?!?

The pages show her mood most clearly.  When Meesha is frightened or unsure the colours are darker with less brilliant colours. Whereas when she’s happy the whole page is lighter with lots of colour.   You’ll find the font is very easy to read. 

Children with a variety of skin tones are featured throughout. 

Making friends means taking risks…. is Meesha up for that?   Of course she is!   Teaching, seeing, working together, before you know it, a friendship can be built! 

My Recommendation

I hope you have seen enough of Meesha Makes Friends to peek your interest.   I think Tom Percival did a great job of showing two of the ways the people can make friends.  He does so in a way that is simple and easy and makes for a good story to read.   

A good book for children is one that parents/teachers/caregivers enjoy reading as well, and this one was well done. For parents how may be homeschooling children that are unsure about how to make friends, help your children see how it can be done. I find in my homeschooling journey that parents raising singleton children struggled with this the most, so help your children! Enjoy a good read while you do so. 

Watching a Blue Jays Game

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I’ve missed the last couple of five minute Friday posts.   One week I was on holiday and this past weekend I just could not get it together.   Life happens right?   I didn’t even find the time to read the post that others wrote…. Busy body I’ve been lately.   But tonight as I sit watching a Blue Jays game with my hubby I have time to consider a post. 

watching a blue jays game

Watching a Blue Jays Game

Watching a Blue Jays Game
I consider a word
Miss Kate has provided a
Friday word prompt
Watch.

I considered the phrase
Watch and wait, for
indeed the Lord will return.
We just need to watch for signs, and
be ready for him imminent return.

Thinking also of conversations
of the day. A gal with baby
fever ponders questions about
babies and more. She’s watching
those around her, thinking of the day.

A co-worker who watches those
around her at work, offering
“Good job” when she sees good
work ethic at play. A quiet girl
with a soft-caring heart.

A gal who gave me a hard
stare, that caused me a double-take,
seeing her stuffing items into
a shopping bag. Watching as she
made her way around the store
observing the going to the cash and
paying for what she placed therein.
Without the hard stare I would have
left her be.

Across the street
a long brown body waits,
poking up her head when she
hears my front door open.
A wag, a whine, and then a
soft bark if I take too long
getting the mail before scratching
a dachshund’s tummy.

All this I remember as I sit
Watching a Blue Jays Game, with
the man I love most, and
above all, watch the most.
His love for me amazes me and
exemplifies God’s love for his people.

Watching a blue jays game

God’s word

James 5:7-8

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Eph 5:25-30

5 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.

Can you Dance Like a Peacock?

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for Can you Dance Like a Peacock? through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Come along with me and dance!   Dance like dolphins, antelopes, bees, and of course peacocks!   Strut yourself through life showing off all your moves.  Learning new moves is always fun too don’t you think?   Isn’t it grand watching your children learning about different animals from all over the world while having fun?  It’s one of the nicest things!

Can You dance Like a peacock?

The Basic Details of Can you Dance Like a Peacock?

Title: Can you Dance Like a Peacock?
Author: Rekha S Rajan
Illustrator: Hannah Abbo
Publisher: Sourcebook Explore
Pages: 40
Intended Audience: 4-8 years old
Genre: Dance, Zoology, Birds, Animals, Picture Book
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle,
Received: Advanced Reader Copy, softcover

About the Author and Book

The Author

Dr. Rekha S. Rajan is a STEAM educator, musician, author and early childhood educator working out of Chicago.  She resides with her husband, children, and various critters.    Watching the native wildlife in her yard is one of the things she most enjoys doing.   Did you know she is also a classically trained opera singer and plays the mridangam (a drum from South India), the piano, banjo, ukulele, djembe, bongos, recorder, and a lot of other instruments.

The Book

Animals, birds and insects move and dance naturally to communicate with one another. Some for food, some to mate, some to exercise. In this interactive book, children will learn about the animals around them and be invited to get up and dance like the animals!

Digging Deeper

LOVE!   Just love the illustrations provided by Hannah Abbo.   The bright colours, and the accurate depictions of the different animals is just wonderful.   Can’t you just picture the beauty of a peacock as it struts across the forest floor? 

The font is easy to read with good variation in size.  Each of the 7 animals gets about four pages.  Two for description and two for the dance. 

At the close of this read you’ll find author notes telling more about the different animals, and giving suggestions on use in a classroom. 

My Recommendation

Dance, Dance, Dance!   Animals move in so many different ways, and we can choose to see it all as a dance.  Be inspired to dance like the animals around us.   How much fun would it be to have a group of  kindergarten to grade three dancing around in your backyard or on a gym floor?

This would be an excellent book to add to an animal study in a homeschool co-op or in an elementary class room.  An excellent way to get children up and moving as they think about the animals they just learned about.   I even learned a new word!  I thought antelope “pronk” when they jump.  Another word for the same action is “Stot!”.   Learning new words… EXCELLENT!  🙂