A Net in Time

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The Story of a Butterfly

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Story of a Butterfly) 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. 🙂

I don’t know about where you live, but here… butterflies!  Butterflies are always around in the summer, and as much as people say to kill the worms and caterpillars… I like seeing the resultant butterflies and moths despite the damage they do!   Since children often exclaim (like I do) over the presence of butterflies don’t you think they would be enchanted by The Story of a Butterfly? 

The Story of a butterfly

The Highlights of The Story of a Butterfly

The Story of a Butterfly was put together by Margaret Rose Reed.  A simple nature book helping young children understand the butterfly lifecycle and what they need to survive.  The focus is on the the life cycle and habitat of the Painted Lady Butterfly.  The picture book’s 32 pages are beautifully illustrated by Manu Montoya.  Preschoolers and kindergarteners will love the butterflies, flowers, and teaching to found within the pages. 

I am reviewing an ARC softcover edition for Raincoast Books. 

I adore letting children ask questions and then giving them the answer.  In this informative picture book, a child asks the questions filling your child’s mind.   I think it’s fantastic how each question is in large, easy-to-read font, and the answers are in a professional font. 

The explanations range from short and sweet to more lengthy.   Proper terminology is used.  This makes it a handy reference when answering questions from the nature studies you do with your children.

Natural progression is shown in the answering of questions, with the children eventually asking why they don’t see butterflies at school.  This leads to a whole new community project where we wordlessly get to watch it all come together.  

Don’t you just love the good use of colour throughout?  Even on the “summing up what we’ve learned page” you’ll find lots of colour!  It’s great to have a page that pulls all the learning together. 

Is this picture book worth your time?

Oh, I think so.  The Story of a Butterfly does a good job of telling us about the Painted Lady Butterfly.  It gives us many details about the life cycle and habitat needs of this particular butterfly.  If you learn how to take care of this one, you’ll take care of other butterflies as well! 

A good book for young children to help them learn more about butterflies, and a decent primer for older students just getting a start on a new unit study.   I enjoyed the use of colour and the details added to each page.  This provides good talking points when reading with a young child. 

Into the Windwracked Wilds

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Into the Windwracked Wilds) 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.  🙂

I find myself in a bit of a conumdrum having finished Into the Windwracked Wilds this morning.  The story intrigues, but the method of telling left me feeling a bit left behind. Let me see if I can explain it to you in this review.

into the windwracked wilds

A brief overview of Into the Windwracked Wilds

Reading the third in a series of the Up-and-Under, we have Into the Windwracked Wilds by A. Deborah Baker.  A whimsical way of telling a story with four main protagonists: Zib, Avery, Niahm, and Crow Girl.  They are found traveling the improbable road until they annoy it and it dumps them off into the ocean.  You’ll discover a variety of fantastical creatures, and an odd system of governments…both good and bad. 

I am reviewing a softcover ARC edition on behalf of Raincoast Books.  The publisher is Tordotcom Books.

Just what do you get?

Simple ornamentation decorate the chapters.  Consistently a set of crowns. 

A chapter book, it’s classified as a dark fantasy book.  It’s not a light reading book.  Based in a dangerous world where one needs to be careful with the words you use. Monsters abound and rules don’t make a whole lot of sense.  It has a very ‘dream-like’ quality in the writing style.

I want to say it’s a middle school read, but it’s not really focused on that.  It’s not a difficult read by any means, just very ethereal? Not even sure that’s the right word to use.  The main characters have a goal in mind but side stories, and the characters they meet often side-track them. Everything it seems is very dangerous and being extremely careful serves them well. 

Should you read?

Unless you have read books 1 and 2, I don’t know that I would recommend Into the Windwracked Wilds.  Some series do an excellent job at tying different books together, this one does not. You’ll get a bit of allusion to events, but nothing that really explains how the protagonists got together or even what the whole real point is. 

And if you have read the first two in the series, you know the whimsical style of A. Deborah Baker and will then enjoy reading Into the Windwracked Wilds. 

Take a Chance

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So the words Take a chance on me kinda flew out of my fingers today as soon as I saw Miss Kate’s word prompt.  I grew up singing this song with my older sister.  🙂  Her favourite band would belt them out and so… we’d sing along.  Did I always know the words perfectly… NOT A CHANCE.  But it didn’t really matter back then anyways.  Two teens having fun.  🙂   Served as inspiration for the poem below. 

Take a Chance

Take a chance

Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down…

ABBA sang these words
and they were my sisters’
favourite band so in my teenagehood
I heard these words so very many times.

Take a chance on me……

Actually don’t.
Don’t take a chance on me
I’ll let you down, time and again.

But I know someone
that you should take a chance on
I was reminded today that he’s very human.

He’s also very God.
He’s full of emotion (in a good way)
it means he has them, and that things MATTER.

And you could be one of those
that matter to him.
One who will understand your
tears, anger, joys, and indecisions.
He understands it all.

Doesn’t that tempt you even a bit?
To know that God, born into man,
ascended as God/man gets you.
and wants to care for you and
being your leaning post.

He wants for you to
take a chance on him
well.. maybe more than take a chance.
He wants to you trust to him completely,
thorough, through and through.

And as you do, he’ll mind you full-well.
Because you see
He’s already taken a chance on you.

He died for you.
And he died for me (shocker I know!!!)
But not only did he die, but
He rose up from the dead
beating death,
beating Satan at his game.

What a comfort and joy
knowing this.
You should know this
comfort and joy as well.

So come on
Take a chance on me (Jesus)
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you’ve got no place to go, if you’re feeling down

Take a Chance

God’s word spoken for you

1 Peter 5:6-9

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune) 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.

A simple rhyming story about a Baboon who figures out her tune.  Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune by the Docherty’s is meant to be part of a night-time story for young children.  Bright colours, simple lyrics, and lots of fun images make it an easy read with children.

Blue Baboon finds her tune

The Basic Details

I received a softcover ARC edition of Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune from Raincoast Books.   Children from 3-6 years of age will enjoy the bright colours and simple lyrics of this 32-page bedtime story as they prepare for bed. Helen Docherty is the author with Thomas Docherty illustrating. Published by Sourcebooks, Jabberwocky. 

Looking more closely at Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune

Helen Docherty provides simple rhyming lyrics for young children.  Simple lyrics provide a soothing rhythm to help restless minds settle to sleep.   There is really nothing too complicated in the rhyming couplets offered in this colourful picture book. 

For parents looking for more than a soothing rhythm, lots of talking points are provided within the images provided by Thomas Docherty.  From city lights, to musical instruments, wild weather and balloon rides.  So many elements to bring to the attention of your youngsters and to talk about.  

Colour fills the pages from start to finish, with the font large enough to easily read with a group of children.

I won’t give away the surprise ending, suffice it to say that it’s important the blue baboon took the bassoon along for the ride. 

Share with your children?

I tend not to be crazy about simple rhyming books.  I tend to think the best children’s books interest the adult readers as well.. at least a little bit!  Otherwise, why would we want to read them to our children? 

That said, I enjoyed the surprise ending!  I DID!  

Will your children enjoy the surprise ending?  Probably, you might too, or you might even see it coming. 

Either way, it’s a quiet book.  Perfect for a bedtime story for luring children to settle down for a well-needed rest.  So give Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune a look should you see it at your local library. 

Inspiration Post: 4*4*4 #1

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Welcome to my Inspiration post: 4*4*4 #1 

[Prompt: Look around and choose 4 things within 4 ft. of you and 4 minutes to write about them.]

One sentence each

Inspiration from: https://thecollective257774336.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/4-4-4/

Well actually it was from some other site that pointed me BACK to that site as the original originator.  I don’t know if I’ll stick with this format or if I’ll change it to suit my needs/desires a bit more.  Hoping every week, but might be every other week that I do this. 

Inspiration Post: 4*4*4 #1

Inspiration Post: 4*4*4 #1

  1. Peace Tea Snow-berry flavour.  89 cents at my local independent.  Cheaper than buying a cooler and suits my mood precisely when looking for a relaxing special to me drink. 
  2. Pile of Review Books.  I love giving my opinion on books though I hate it when I meet a book that I simply can’t find any redeeming value in and simply can’t recommend at all. 
  3. Moth Traps.  My sweet man works at a feed mill.  Even though he currently works in the office, it doesn’t stop the mill moths from hitching a ride and creating havoc in our household. 
  4. Dragon Touch Tablet.  This has, for the past 1.3 years been my favourite tablet but it’s currently having major issues and only works if constantly plugged in rendering it useless as my night-time reading mechanism.  (provided my amazon affiliate link)

One add-on:

A reminder was received this week.  God is always with us.  In good times and in hard times.  We must never forget his ever-presence. 

Want to join in? It would be neat to see what is, and perhaps what isn’t, important in your life… and even to see what a possible add-on might be for you.  🙂 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Shall I Propose?

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Today Miss Kate proposes we write a post for her. The question is, after a busy day getting things for my lad as he has a camping trip to prepare, as well as celebrating my hubby’s birthday, do I have the where-with-all to rise to the challenge?  So what then, shall I propose? 

should I propose?

Shall I Propose?

I read a book
A history tale
in Which some young men
and women regale each with tales
of Indians, goodness, and faith
and mixed within romance
and some of the men wonder
Shall I propose?

A story runs through
my mind, where oft I live,
of boss lady and
a spoiled boy turning
man, encouragement needed,
wondering
should I propose
a change of venue
for this young man?

One considers
a change to be made
how to present
his heart’s desire to
a people unwilling
Should I propose a way
to help the unwilling hear?
Yes, one who can speak
in ways that I cannot.

should I propose?

And so on we live, books, imagination, and God, speaking in ways that sometimes… we have a hard time hearing.  He always finds a way, a way that leads us back to his heart, time and time again.   Listen well.

Consider, what might God be doing?  Is he proposing a new way for you to listen?  A new way for you to act, to think, to be, to do?  He sent his son after ALL the other ways of being he’d worked through.

He came as a still quiet voice, a voice raised in anger, a being seen as cloud and fire, as a ram caught in a bush and a voice staying STOP! As the one moving behind a lad sold as a slave and then saving his very own people.   If you just take a moment to stop and see, to stop and LISTEN to the God of ultimate proposals… it would blow your mind.  So take a moment, and listen. 

Hillary and the Ladybug Butterflies

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Hillary and the Ladybug Butterflies) through Ascot Media Group.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂 

Hillary is back!  This time in a full-length storybook!  Follow Hillary and Tiny Tim as they go on an adventure.  Will they run into trouble?  Who are these Ladybug Butterflies?  Are they dangerous and if so why?  What will happen on the risky journey they must undergo.

Hillary and the ladybug Butterflies

Basic Details

You may recall my reviews of Hillary the Little Ladybug and Fly Patrol.  I thought I would see what a larger book would look like and so today we’re looking at Hillary and the Ladybug Butterflies.  This book is 146 pages and was published by Jongleur Books.  Once again you’ll find images with characters laid over them.  Lots of white space make this a spacious 6 chapter read.    William Dandurand is the photographer and Illustrator.  Authorship is shared between Mary Cohen, and William Danderuand, along with Elisabeth and Gary Revel. 

Looking Deeper into Hillary and the Ladybug Butterflies

Chapter headings are simple.  I like how straightforward it all is.  As you can see there is a lot of white space provided.  I tend to think this book would be less bulky if some of this white space was removed.  As I’ve thought about it, I can see children being able to add their own pictures to the book.   Don’t you think this would add depth and fun?  🙂 

I can’t say I’m crazy about the font.  Seems understated for the showiness of butterflies and ladybugs.  It is also a bit small for reading with a group of children and holding it up for them to see the pictures.  Yet, this no-nonsense script is very easy to read. 

I can’t say I’m crazy about the way the images were done.  Cartoons over photos.  It’s an interesting method don’t you think?    Almost all of these full-colour images are done in a mixed-media format. 

Some photos do stand on their own, kudos to photographer William Dandurand for how lovely they are.

The bold, bright cartoons stand out and show basic expressions like happy, sad, surprised, etc. 

Most good stories have a good side and a bad side.  The ladybug butterflies showed their bad side by imprisoning the ladybugs who searched them out.   But she was protecting her own people, and especially their children by doing so.  Was she really being bad though?  That’s a question I would ask if reading the story to a group of children. 

It’s great to have books to help you ask questions, even if you don’t always have the answers.  

Should you read it?

I actually like Hillary and the Ladybug Butterflies much more than I did the first two in the series.   I still don’t like all the wasted space.  This book could be much less bulky if the text and images were placed on the same page.  I didn’t notice any odd pausing in the sentences this time either. Reads much more naturally, as a reader should read. 

I think children will enjoy this read. Kindergarten through grade 2 I think.  A bit of a mystery, brave adventurers, and a great solution at the end!  What more can you want eh?Â