The "I Love My Air Fryer" Easy Recipes Book: From Pancake Muffins to Honey Balsamic Chicken Wings, 175 Quick and Easy Recipes

 

The "I Love My Air Fryer" Easy Recipes Book is a very well written and curated recipe collection by Robin Fields. Released 23rd April 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is part of the "I love my" cookbook series and shares a format with the other volumes. For readers already familiar with the format, the information and recipes here are arranged the same way (making it easy to find and access the info).

A short introduction covers techniques for using and getting the most from the air fryer. The recipes are arranged thematically: breakfasts, appetizers & snacks, side dishes, chicken main dishes, beef & pork, fish & seafood, vegetarian, and desserts. 

The recipes are varied and appetizing and are not fancy, fussy, or difficult. They're everyday comfort family food and will find a welcome place in the family kitchen. The recipes are provided with an introduction and information/background followed by an ingredients list in bullet form. Ingredients are listed with imperial (American) standard measurements only. There is a conversion chart in the back of the book. None of the ingredients will be difficult to source at a moderately well stocked grocery store anywhere in North America. 

Nutritional info: calories, fat, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugar, and proteins are listed in the recipes. Some convenience/premade ingredients are used in the recipes such as worcestershire sauce,  premade pie crust, and puff pastry sheets. 

The book is not abundantly photographed; roughly 20-25% of the recipes are accompanied by a photograph. Serving suggestions are appetizing and appropriate. The food which is photographed is professionally styled. This is a well written cookbook with tasty recipes and fits into its niche in the series very well.

Four stars. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home kitchen use, or gift giving (a housewarming gift bundled with some kitchen tools, perhaps).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Beer-Can Chicken: Foolproof Recipes

Beer-Can Chicken is a tutorial guide with recipes by Steven Raichlen. Originally published in 2002, this reformatted, revised second edition is out 23rd April 2024 from Hachette on their Workman Publishing imprint. It's 208 pages and is available in paperback format. 

The basic idea is that supporting chicken on a beer can while cooking will end up with a bird which is crispy on the outside, well moistened and tender and flavorful on the inside. A simple internet search will turn up thousands of recipes. It's become a favorite all around recipe from the jaunty presentation to the no-fail tenderness and flavor.

The book's introduction covers basics such as grill options, tools, supplies, ingredient choices, and general instructions. The following chapters contain the recipes, arranged thematically: beer-can chicken (multiple recipes), beerless birds (coke and other canned drinks), other bird options (surprisingly many), non-can chicken prep methods, sides (lots of options), and desserts.

Recipes contain a description and background introduction, ingredients in a bullet list, and step-by-step cooking instructions. Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) measurements.  The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients.

The photography is well done and abundant; many, but not all, of the recipes are illustrated with photographs which are clear easy to understand.

This is a nice collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep grilling fans going for ages. These are simple "everyday" recipes which are anything but boring.

Four stars. This is a solid recipe book which will be used. It would make a superlative housewarming gift to a friend or family member who enjoys grilling.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Vegan Candles: 21 Soy and Plant-based Candles for Beginners

Vegan Candles is a tutorial/crafting guide with recipes for vegan friendly candles by Delphine Reposeur. First published in French as Bougies vegan: Recettes à faire soi-même, this English language translation from Rowman & Littlefield on their Stackpole Books imprint is 80 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a beginner-accessible tutorial book with step-by-step guides to 21 different projects and recipes for vegan friendly soy-based candles with lots of scents and uses. It has a logical and easy to follow layout, with a very short history of candles and uses, an introduction with a survey over the available plant based materials options and necessary tools, and the general tutorials and specific project tutorials (including candles of course, but also wax melts and other projects).

Each tutorial has an introduction, bullet list of ingredients, step by step instructions and multiple color photos. Ingredient measures are provided in imperial (American) measurements with metric in parentheses (yay!). Small background info tidbits and tips and tricks are provided in highlighted text boxes throughout the book. 

The book includes a short FAQ section for some troubleshooting help, but no index or links/reference lists. The ingredients will likely be obtainable from any large retail crafting outlet in North America, or from the internet. 

The translation work is not 100% seamless; there are a couple awkwardly translated lines, but nothing egregious and it doesn't interfere with comprehension at all. 

The book has an honest emphasis on non-GMO, vegan friendly, earth friendly ingredients and a sustainable aesthetic which will appeal to the target reading audience. 

Four and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, for the home crafter's library, maker's groups and similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Greatest Hits

Greatest Hits is a retrospective collection of 19 shorts by Harlan Ellison. Released 12th March 2024 by Union Square & co, it's 496 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

There are respectable scholars whose special field of research is speculative fiction. Harlan Ellison was a titan of SF, and not just SF, but a master of the short form. He was, simply, a fantastically gifted writer whose sometimes incandescent prose changed people. Scratch any middle-age+ SF fan and there will be a story about sitting thunderstruck by something Ellison wrote. 

He won more awards than anyone really has managed to enumerate. There were Hugos, Locus (Loci?), Nebulas, Lifetime Achievement awards, grandmaster awards... he won for short fiction, essays, novelettes, screenplays, scripts, novels, anthologies, and the list is almost neverending. Everyone who knew him in any capacity knew he could be irascible, difficult, reclusive, and volatile. He changed the world and he changed the people around him.

This collection is a wonderful primer of some of the better known and a few lesser known short works. “Repent, Harlequin,” Said the Ticktockman is there as is I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. Most of the selections are from his early/middle years of production, though How Interesting:
A Tiny Man (which won the Nebula 2010 in the short story category) is included as well.

Fabulous collection of stupendous fiction. Much of it is *challenging* and all of it is wonderfully well crafted. 

The foreword and introductions are touching, expect to sniffle. 

Five stars. This is an important collection. Well worth acquisition for public or secondary school libraries, home reference, and for science fiction fans. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Where Should We Camp Next?: Budget Camping: A 50-State Guide to Budget-Friendly Campgrounds and Free and Low-Cost Outdoor Activities

Where Should We Camp Next?: Budget Camping is a super resource for readers looking for budget friendly camping and activities in every US state, written and curated by Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi. Released 2nd April 2024 by Sourcebooks, it's a solid 464 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

The profiles for camping and outdoor activity locations in all 50 states are arranged geographically from the New England to the West. Each area is further divided into specific campgrounds and attractions both inside and outside the boundaries. Most of the profiles include contact links and online resources and a short description. Tips and extra info are provided in highlighted text boxes throughout, such as places to boondock (park RVs for free overnight), source budget gear, and much more. 

Graphics are spare, monochrome, and mostly simply drawn. There's no photography.

The info provided is pithy, correct (as far as info available at time of publication), and has a welcome family friendly vibe. My fondest memories of my childhood are of RV travels with my paternal grandparents, and this book brought so many good memories back to me from campgrounds and parks we visited. I was delighted to see some of the actual campgrounds I visited as a kid are still there and in operation *decades* later. 

Five stars. Invaluable resource for travelers in and to the USA. It would make a good choice for public library acquisition and home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Investigating the Mary Celeste

Investigating the Mary Celeste is an interesting partly fictionalized account of possible solutions to the perennial mystery of what happened to the unlucky crew of the Mary Celeste, written by D. Lawrence-Young. Released 26th March 2024 by Cranthorpe Millner, it's 290 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The author has written an interesting mix of fiction alongside the factual recreations and recorded historical information which is extant from records of the time. It's possibly not as effective as if he'd stuck to one or the other, facts or fiction, and not presented them as a blended story. It's not a dry historical record; it's not annotated and there are no chapter notes. 

Readers looking for a deeply researched historical record won't find it here. Likewise, readers looking for a fictional story won't be satisfied either. The concluding chapter with the different scenarios and their likelyhood was logically laid out and accessible to laymen. 

The author/publisher have included a bibliography for further reading.

Three stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, as well as for readers interested in naval history and nonfiction.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Rhythm and Clues - Record Shop Mystery #3

 

Rhythm and Clues is the third book in Olivia Blacke's record shop storefront cozy series.  Released 26th March 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. The first two books in the series are also currently available for subscribers to borrow and read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

This series features a trio of sisters who are running their family's vinyl record store with collectible records along with a cafe and coffee shop on the same premises. The dialogue is witty and sometimes snarky (they're sisters, and it's in Texas) but generally good humored and supportive. Their family vibe is close and functional and despite the occasional spats, they really do care for and protect one another. It's also nice to see a cozy series featuring protagonists of color who are intelligent, well spoken, and female and not tangential to the plot. Representation is important.

The writing is engaging and the author has a solid feel for plotting and dialogue. Some of the eccentric small-town secondary characters were a bit archetypal and "trope-y" but they weren't overly intrusive or only there as window-dressing, and readers won't be yanked out of their suspension of disbelief by their overdone quirkiness. The climax, denouement and resolution are satisfying. 

This story has a cool closed circle of suspects setup (the town is isolated by a storm, and there's a murderer on the loose). It's a neat classic trope and the author does a good job with the story progression and resolution.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 54 minutes and is well narrated by series narrator Nicol Zanzarella. She has a well modulated alto voice and does a good job with a large cast of characters and manages to differentiate all of them well enough that they're easy to distinguish and never monotonous or confusing. Sound and production quality were high throughout.

Four stars. Readers will enjoy the musical trivia and word play throughout. There was some repetition but all in all, it's a fun shopfront cozy. With three books published, it would be a good choice for a short weekend binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Magical Elements of the Periodic Table Presented Alphabetically by the Elemental Dragons

Magical Elements of the Periodic Table is an engaging, whimsical, and beautifully illustrated introduction to some of the real-life elements from the periodic table written by Sybrina Durant. Released 9th March 2024, it's 44 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, The Metal Horn Unicorns (same idea, with unicorns presenting the metallic elements), is also currently available on KU. 

Each of the pages has info about the conductibility, ductility, physical properties, weight, name, number, and other "real life" physical info for the included elements as well as "magical" dragon info about their special powers and abilities (which are cleverly related to their element's actual physical properties). All the pages are colorfully illustrated in cartoon style, and for clever producers out there, talks should get underway for the unicorns and dragons to make their debuts on cartoon Saturdays (is that still a thing?). 

This would make an excellent tie-in for classroom units on physical chemistry, nature science, etc. The target audience is 9-12 years, but all ages will enjoy the cute illustrations and creativity. It would make an excellent choice for public and school library acquisition, home use, and gift giving. The author has included an info/reference online page for background and further reading. 

Five stars. Very fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Off the Air

Off the Air is a standalone mystery (first volume in a series?) featuring a local reporter in the main role by real-life reporter Christina Estes. Released 26th March 2024 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

The longstanding advice to authors to "write what you know" is certainly applied here. The author is an Emmy award-winning journalist in real life, and the depth of background and verisimilitude are impressive. At some points, there might be a bit too much nuts-and-bolts description of getting the news to viewers, but overall it's interesting and engaging (mostly). There's a *lot* of backstabbing, competition, and elbow jabbing taking place between competing reporters for exclusives and sources which is exhausting to read (and undoubtedly to live as a day job also). 

Most of the main character's colleagues are whiny, superficial, catty, and unpleasant. She's not a whole lot better in some ways, and her main police background source was an unpleasant rude boor (and should be punched in the face). The constant mistakes and frustrating coincidences were distracting and largely unnecessary.

The length is surprising for a modern mystery, and immersion isn't overall even throughout. The writing and dialogue are very good, the author can definitely write. Her descriptive prose is spare and smooth; her characterizations are well rounded and believable, and the dialogue is rapid fire and not clunky. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 30 minutes and is capably narrated by Marcella Black. She does a good job of delineating the large cast of characters which span a range of ages, both male and female.

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of journo-mysteries.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Batcat, Vol. 2: Sink or Swim!

Batcat Sink or Swim is the second graphic novel featuring everyone's favorite BatCat hybrid by Meggie Ramm. Released 16th April 2024 by Abrams on their AbramsKids imprint, it's 96 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a delightful mystery adventure appropriate for all ages. When Batcat visits the Mermaid Lagoon, he finds the residents very upset. Their tails are losing their shiny rainbow colors and turning grey! They promise to give Batcat their world-famous fish tacos if he can get to the bottom of the mystery.

Batcat's adventures continue through an exciting and satisfying denouement. 

The format is a modified 4 panel comic/graphic novel page setup with clear and *very* colorful and appealing art and easy to read dialogue bubbles. For such simple characters, the author/artist does an amazing job with expressive facial and body emotions. 

Although it's the second book in a series, it works perfectly well as a standalone and doesn't need to be read in order.

Four and a half stars. Really wonderful. This would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Container Gardening―The Permaculture Way: Sustainably Grow Vegetables and More in Your Small Space

Container Gardening―The Permaculture Way is a tutorial and informational guide to sustainable and restorative gardening in small areas by Valéry Tsimba. Originally published in French in 2021 as Mon balcon nourricier en permaculture, this reformat and re-release in English translation from The Experiment is 160 pages and is available in flexibound and ebook formats. 

This is a well photographed and accessible record of the author's tiny (2 x 22 feet!) balcony garden and her experiences and challenges utilizing the space with permaculture techniques to provide edible fruits and vegetables in her very urban (Paris) area. 

The book has a logical and easy-to-follow format. She covers permaculture and restorative agriculture in the introduction, gives a good how-to overview of container gardening including setup and planting, followed by a short almanac of examples of what to plant and when to plant it, and a nice chapter on community and sharing the information and love of gardening with others. 

The author/publisher have included an abbreviated links list and bibliography for further reading, and a cross referenced index. 

The translation work is seamless, and it doesn't read like a book which was translated.

Four and a half stars. The author's philosophy of restorative gardening and "do what you can with what you have where you are" resonate very deeply. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisiton, for makers' groups, gardening/allotment/community garden libraries, for suburban and urban gardeners, and for gift giving (maybe bundled with some seeds and simple tools).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Fermented Vegetables, 10th Anniversary Edition: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 72 Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs in Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Kimchis, Krauts, Pastes & Relishes

Fermented Vegetables, 10th Anniversary Edition is an updated and reformatted 2nd edition of the classic volume by Kirsten & Christopher Shockey. Released 16th April 2024 by Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's an encyclopedic 440 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a truly encyclopedic volume. Everything from arugula to zucchini is covered. The authors have included a deep dive into microbes and fermentation which can be pored over -or- skipped straight to the recipes (and they are legion). The layout is logical and easy to use. Information is arranged with page numbers by type of vegetable in the frontspiece, as well as by thematic chapter: introduction (brines, tools, etc), basics (kraut, condiments, tsukemono, pickles, and kimchi), an A to Z listing of vegetables to pickle and ferment, and sample meal ideas to use the ferments (including breakfast to dessert (!! yes, really)). 

The volume is beautifully photographed throughout and the photos are clear and easy to understand. Recipe ingredients are mostly relatively easy to source at any well stocked grocery store in North America. The recipes are written with an introduction and description, ingredients in a bullet list, and followed by step-by-step preparation instructions. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units, with metric units in parentheses (yay!). 

This is an encyclopedia and reference and belongs on every kitchen shelf. It's also a very *useful* volume full of delicious healthy recipes. 

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public library, homesteader/smallholder, home cook, as well as for gift giving. It's a definitive reference classic.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Feline Fatale: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery - Mrs. Murphy #32

Feline Fatale  is the 32nd book in the Mrs. Murphy mystery series by Rita Mae Brown (& Sneaky Pie Brown). Released 16th April 2024 by Random House on the Bantam imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is another one of those anthropomorphic animal cozy mystery series which is like a visit with an old friend. It's a perennial, long running series (since 1990), and always like a beloved sweater; comfortable and warm. Happily the series quality has always been good, and unlike most decades long series, it's never felt "phoned in" or stale. There certainly is a soothing quality to the plotting and the returning characters; it's safe and escapist reading, something that is therapeutic and necessary given the current state of the world. This one sees the animal and human crew delving into politics to solve the death of a page/assistant to the state delegates.

The language is clean, the murders are bloodless, the denouement and resolution are satisfying and well done. Everything that readers could want from a cozy mystery. Yes, it's a known quantity, and that is a positive benefit.

The monochrome illustrations by Michael Gellatly give a sweetly nostalgic feel to the book. This is the same artist who illustrated earlier books in the series.

Four stars, I love Ms. Brown's work, and her ability to combine deep social commentary with humor and wit is always a joy to read. For readers who are new to the series, nearly all of them work very well as standalone reads, with the codicil that the characters develop over the series and their relationships change, so there may be spoilers if read out of order.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Art of Morgana and Oz: Learn to draw your favorite characters from the popular webcomic series with behind-the-scenes and insider tips exclusively revealed inside!

 

The Art of Morgana and Oz is a tutorial technique guide for drawing the characters from the very popular webcomic in their familiar style. Released 9th April 2024 by Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 96 pages and is available in paperback format.

The layout has a fresh and unusual (for Walter Foster) format. It's set up very much like a webcomic, with breakaway panels and a comics layout and flow. An beginning chapter introducing the characters in colored panels is followed by a surprisingly thorough step-by-step tutorial section.  There's also a QR code which links to online content/the latest episode of the webtoon.

The author/publisher have included colored full page panels with the hexadecimal values for the shades used in the pictures to help with color selection. The tutorials are moderately advanced, but do-able for a determined beginner, and will give artists enough accomplishment to keep going, which is the most important part.

This is a beginner to advanced booklet but full of good technique for anime style art/cartooning and will provide some useful takeaways for the majority of readers/artists who are interested in the style. The pages (and there are many) dealing with positioning, emotional expressions, and facial features are especially detailed and useful (not just for drawing these particular characters). 

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, activity/makers' groups libraries, home studio, or gift giving, maybe with a sketch pad and markers/pens.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Mystery of the Hidden Fortune

 

The Mystery of the Hidden Fortune is the first book in a cozy series by Christine McHaines. Released 3rd July 2023 by The Book Folks, it's 245 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The followup books in the series, are also currently available on KU. 

This is a lightly humorous cozy featuring a hapless, honestly unlikely and rather unlikable anti-hero. He's a bit shiftless, a huge underachiever, not terribly honest, and lazy into the bargain. His parents decamped Britain for the Antipodes (at his father's insistence) to try to force him to grow up and stand on his own two feet. He inhabits his late great aunt's house (rent free) and when he almost literally trips over a hidden treasure, his immediate response is to dip into the unexpected windfall for his own benefit. His natural antipathy to animals (especially a cat) didn't make him more appealing, either; not precisely -cruel- but not nice, either.

The mystery itself is competently plotted and the action was reasonably well paced, but the dialogue and characterisation are often hard going. The language is clean, there are a few instances of "bloody" and nothing worse. There are also a few lightly described consensual sex scenes. 

Three stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Making Fairy Garden Accessories: 22 Enchanting Projects for Your Backyard

Making Fairy Garden Accessories is a well written and appealing tutorial guide to creating whimsical fairy garden pieces written by Anna-Marie and Andrew Fahmy. Released 19th March 2024 by Fox Chapel, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Well written tutorials with step by step instructions and lots of clear color photos. The general vibe is very whimsical, fun, and full of nature-themed small pieces which will have all the local fairies clamoring to move in. 

The introduction covers tools, materials, and techniques as well as some style advice. The tutorial chapters are further divided thematically into: doors, houses, furniture, and accessories. Each of the tutorials tools and materials in a bullet list (measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric in parentheses) followed by step by step clear instructions. Every tutorial contains multiple clear color photos of the finished projects along with some process shots. 

The authors have included tips and tricks for customization and construction in highlighted text boxes throughout the book.There's also a color photo gallery for inspiration included as well (the projects in the gallery are not in the book, they're just for ideas and inspiration). 

The project tutorials are written in a manner which doesn't require template use, so templates are not included in the volume.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, makers' groups, activity/scouting groups, home use, and similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Once Upon a Murder - A Lady Librarian Mystery #2

 

Once Upon a Murder is the second book in the Lady Librarian historical cozy mystery series by Samantha Larsen. Released 20th Feb 2024 by Crooked Lane, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a charming historical cozy with an appealing protagonist who employs creative and intelligent solutions to counteract some of the harsher realities of Regency history (women often lived lives of tenuous and terrifying insecurity). She's smart and generally honest and clever as well, and easy to relate to. Although she's sworn off murder and investigation after the last time, she's now stumbled over the frozen body of a former footman of the estate of her patroness and employer, The Duchess of Beaufort, and must use her abilities and intelligence to clear her name and her love interest Samir.

The book is well written and the author has a firm grasp on the nuts and bolts of plot, setting, and characterization. It's a light cozy with a strong romance subplot and a surprising amount of effective humor. It's a bookish book, and there are book titles and period book/library trivia and title-dropping throughout. 

Happily, the author mostly ignores the more rigid realities of race, parentage, and class which would have precluded many of the interactions and relationships in the book.

Four stars. This would make an appealing short binge/buddy read, as well as a good choice for public library acquisition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

 

Lola Meets the Bees

Lola Meets the Bees is an adorable and information packed picture book for the youngest readers by Anna McQuinn. Released 9th April 2024 by Charlesbridge, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover format. 

Little Lola goes with her mom to visit a family friend who has beehives. Lola is fascinated to learn about bees and how they gather nectar and pollen. The whole adventure is illustrated very well by Rosalind Beardshaw. The pictures are colorful and detailed and show the life-cycle of the bees and a simplified explanation of what beekeepers do and how they help the bees. 

The text is written in simple and understandable free verse and will be understood by even very young kids. Lexile measure is AD560L (2-5 years). 

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, reading circles, or bedtime reading.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Norway: Land of Mountains and Fjords

 

Norway: Land of Mountains and Fjords is a well written and beautifully photographed pictorial tour of Norway by Claudia Martin. Originally released in 2020, this reformat and re-release by Amber Books out 14th April is  224 pages and is available in hardcover format. An earlier edition of the book was published in flexi-bound format. This is book 15 of the Visual Explorer Guide series. 

Norway is full of awe inspiring "pinch me" scenery and this book highlights the vast expanses of mountainous terrain, glaciers, fjords, wilderness, and urban areas beautifully contrasting austere ice-fields, charming small fishing villages, and big city night life side by side. 

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use/display, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Abandoned Towns

Abandoned Towns is a fascinating pictorial record of abandoned places documented by Chris McNab as part of a series of books with similar themes. Released 14th April 2024 in the UK and due out 11th June outside the UK from publisher Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a gorgeous coffee table book full of color photos and descriptions of international destinations which were once thriving and are now abandoned. Many of them are being slowly (or quickly) taken back by nature, and the dichotomy is striking. 

Four stars. A beautiful book. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and gift giving purposes. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.