Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web, by Lucy Brownridge, Hannah Abbo (Illustrator)

 

Publication Sept. 5, 2023

We're all interconnected, even trees. Although I've actually read a few things on this topic, it was interested to see this idea being set forth for children in such an interesting, easy to understant way. I couldn't help glancing out my own window and wondering what my spruce and birch trees might be talking about, so to speak, as I sat all nice and cozy in my warm home. I know I shed a tear or two when storm damage took down one of my majestic spruce trees, so I pondered what messages it may have been sending to its fellow trees as it ended its life.

I won't try to explain how trees communicate and collaborate since the author, a professor of Forest Ecology in Canada, does such an excellent job making it understandable to all ages. Well, okay, maybe with adult assistance for younger readers but you get my drift. Bottom line, a tree-in-need puts out a call through the web. No, not the World Wide web. The Wood Wide Web. It's all rather fascinating, actually. 

More importantly, while teaching how trees communicate and help each other, Brownridge subtly sends the message of the importance of human interaction and collaboration. It's even noted that when Little Tree was finally healthy and able, she returned the favor Paper Birch did for her. It's all told with lovely illustrations, with what I'd dub saturated colors, darker than I'm used to in most children's books, showing the world in what appears to be the depths of a forest as well as the intertwined roots, ie web below. 

There should be ample learning moments inspired by the illustrations alone. How are the trees shown alike and different? What sounds might you hear in the forest? What animals might live there? What animals/things do you spy as you look at the pictures....and many more. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #IvyKids for taking me for a walk in the forest. We really are never alone, a good thing to remember.

Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz, by Luca Debus , Francesco Matteuzzi

 

Publication August 29, 2023

As a long time Charles Schulz fan, I found the concept behind this book intriguing. Take a look at Schultz's life and work via the comic strip style. I've read quite a few words on Schultz and expected to enjoy a few laughs. 

Parts of it were rather interesting and I don't recall knowing his interest in golf, but for the most part I came away feeling rather sad. Whether Schultz really did suffer from almost crippling anxiety at times or it was just the author's choice to tie the real Charles Schultz to his perpetually inept, anxious Charlie Brown or just my own interpretation, I am on the fence. In any case, that sense of "poor Charlie Brown....er, poor Charles Schultz" never quite left me. As tributes go, I guess I was just expecting more "Yes!" for his triumphs, which were really many, without them being dampened by negative thoughts from both Schultz and those about him, let's say. That said, we’re told upfront that it's a tribute, not a biography, with dialogue mostly imagined and situations simplified.

Bottom line, while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, either. There is a lot to take in here of Schultz's life and it's a good introduction to the origin of much of the foundation of the Peanuts strip characters/events. People are complicated, creative types perhaps more-so than many, so it was an interesting if slightly downer of a learning experience. But, hey, the little red-headed girl called him. I also like how they used two other favorite cartoonists of mine, both now largely retired, to basically chat about life as a cartoonist and retirement with Schultz.

A solid 3.5 for me, rounded to a 4 star for the obvious care and research that went into the book and the list of sources, even documentaries, provided at the end.Thanks #NetGalley and #IDWPublishing - #TopShelfProductions for this time travel back to a time when the comic strip was my sole reading choice in the newspaper. Who'd have ever thought we'd still be reading Peanuts all these years later. Happiness is definitely a warm puppy, so was glad to see the tribute to the dogs in Schultz's life.

Must Love Flowers, by Debbie Macomber

 Publication July 11, 2023

First off, welcome back Debbie Macomber. I'm glad you un-retired. You've been missed. And, what a lovely book to make your first post un-retirement. "Must Love Flowers" works on so many levels. 

I'm finding myself more and more drawn to books that are character driven. In this one that is so very true. Main character Joan is just emerging from four long years of mourning her late husband and her emergence sweeps not just her but many others into growth and changes, too. I immediately liked Joan and would love to have her as a friend. She opens the story feeling as if she has no incentive to even get out of bed in the morning since her husband's unexpected death four years ago. She found comfort in the isolation of the epidemic, using it as both an excuse to shun human contact and simply isolate herself. Then, suddenly, events bring about a change in Joan. Her sister Emmie has repeatedly told her that the key to opening up again is to focus on doing something for someone else and, boy, does she ever.

Of course, it takes more than her sister's increasingly not-so-gentle prods. Would you believe a warning from her HOA? Seems she's allowed her property to go-to-seed, so to speak. Looking outside, particularly at her flower beds that were once her pride, she suddenly decides to hire lawn care. Then she uses her sister's gift, a salon visit, for a haircut. Next thing you know, she's taking in a boarder, Maggie, not to mention a puppy her son more or less forces on her. And then there's the grief support group which, contrary to her fears, provides more laughs and human support than expected. It also brings her back into contact with Phil, the man she hired to bring her neglected lawn back to bloom. 

I won't detail the plot further aside to say that it contains everything we've come to expect from Debbie Macomber: family, friends, romance, struggle, hope, and, yes, even a darling puppy. Is it easy? Are all their problems fixed instantly? Of course not. 

There's even an alcoholic father whose seemingly combative relationship with Maggie makes you want to hug and encourage Maggie's push to become a nurse. If this makes the book sound depressive, far from it. Despite the realities of life intruding, the tone is largely uplifting, with the hope of a wonderful future for all hovering above as you read. From near recluse to mother-hen to....what? Joan makes strides toward a happy future that, yes, allows others into her world and reminds us to have meaningful conversations, not just idle chit-chat. 

Bottom line, I loved every minute of "Must Love Flowers", even the tenser ones. Some may roll their eyes at the idea of happily ever after but as long as Debbie Macomber continues to take us there through her writing, I'm there for it. Thank you so much #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup - #BallantineBooks for allowing me to bask in the virtual warmth of Joan's friends. Welcome back, Debbie Macomber.

Rufus The Flying Dog: Adventures Unbound, by Mr David Michael McCune Jr

 

"In the realm of dreams, there's always more."

That might be the theme of this book, creating memories and the bonds that come from that. This highly imaginative and fun books takes Rufus the dog around the world and into fantasy realms and beyond. Oh, my, Rufus gets around. A good use of color and design depicts each place visited, whether Ancient Greece of the realms of unicorns and rainbow ponies. 

I'm not going to detail the places shown/visited as part of the fun is seeing them for the first time with Rufus. I'll simply say the illustrations are well done, full of life and color, and things to see. I can envision adults reading this with children and seeing what else they can spot besides Rufus and his plane. Rufus is definitely a magical dog, like all dogs, but one who dreams big. Readers are encouraged to do the same. Cliche or not, "the sky's the limit" and I don't use the word sky by accident, hint-hint. 

Not only is Rufus magical, but so is the world about us. Readers may be inspiried to dream about travel and find out more on their own. Start you engines, fasten you seat belt, and dream away. Thanks #NetGalley and #IndependentlyPublished for letting me fly high with Rufus. What a fun series. My Daisy dog gives this one four paws up and a tail wag.

The Adventures Of Rufus The Dog, by David McCune Jr. (and Rufus)

 

Rufus could be every-dog. While the illustrations portray him as a medium sized, flop-eared dog, he's just nebulous enough to fit into almost everyone's memory of a beloved dog in their life. In other words, Rufus is perfect. He touches many lives and is happy, loving, and magical. Aren't all dogs magical in a way? Mine sure is. Now, true, Daisy doesn't climb trees like Rufus or dive into wells, but she makes me happy and that's quite a chore. Rufus definitely makes people happy.

As the story opens, Rufus has adopted a human named David. David's son authored this book, so Rufus obviously left a huge paw print on that family's heart. The book is short, full of colorful illustrations of Rufus' adventures. Not all are good, I must point out. Let's just say, Rufus' encounter with a car leads to a trip to the vet and shows readers another aspect of pet care. Rufus was fine, of course, and went on to share his love and enthusiasm for life with many others. 

Rufus' special bond with not just his humans but others, whether children playing in a park or hospital patients is heartwarming. Dogs do make our lives better and brighter simply by, well, being dogs. Not only that, he teaches us to dream big.

Thanks #NetGalley and #IndependentlyPublished for allow me to share Rufus' world for a moment. I read it with my own Daisy dog at my side, making it all the more perfect.

For The Love of Dog, by Pilley Bianchi

 

Publication August 22, 2023

Why haven't our dogs given up on us? I mean, after reading this book I feel like I've seriously underestimated my dog's potential. True, she's not a driven-to-please Border Collie like the amazing Chaser and does know words, many of which she chooses to ignore based on whatever her mindset is at the time. Seriously, Chaser was one seriously smart dog, trained by a savvy owner, but, honestly, I think I'll just leave my dog as she is. After all, she's downright perfect as she is, as are all dogs. Isn't yours?

I won't detail the text as it tends to be an odd combo of whimsical and practical, mixed with history, mythology, and and interesting illustrations. Maybe just my mindset as I read but it did seem to jump around quite a bit, not to mention it wasn't quite what I was expecting. This one is more, oh, what word to use? More educational? Maybe. The amount of info shared is solid in its attempt to help us understand what it's like to be a dog, so to speak, and how to help their short lives be full. So, if you're going into it expecting a short, cute look at lots of doggie photos and bits of info, be forewarned. It's actually got that but more in depth, with illustrations by New York Times illustrator Calum Heath. 

To be honest, this is the type of book I struggle to rate. It wasn't what I expected but was at times full of whimsy and humor, particularly the illustrations, and gives you tons of info. I definitely liked that it emphasized that dogs learn through play, not stern discipline, with the author giving examples of how Chaser learned more than a thousand words. I even learned a bit of lore/myth that I hadn't heard, such as the myth of one of the dogs on Noah's Ark. Since I have another book on my tbr stack focusing on the power of a dog's nose, I was definitely interested on reading and storing away in my mental  memory the section on their incredible noses shared. And, the illustrations were both fun and informative. 

So, bottom line, although I found myself zoning out a few time, I'm going with a 4 star based on the pluses and me being a sucker for cute dog illustrations and me being a sucker for cute dog pictures. Thanks #NetGalley and #Princeton'sArchitecturalPress - #ChronicleBooks for sharing Chaser's story and ideas on how to better understand your dog and help them understand us, not to mention the ample doses of lore, history, and reminding us that no matter what country dogs are from, unlike we mere humans, they all look and sound/bark alike. Now I'm off to ponder life while walking and chatting with my own Daisy dog.

Case of the Ice Cream Crime (Corgi Case Files, #18), by Jeffrey M. Poole

 

I've followed this series from book one and loved every entry. I took some time to try to figure out why I've so enjoyed it, well, aside from the corgi connection, this time around. First, the author obviously knows corgis. I chuckled when the book mentioned Sherlock giving the, oh, so disdainful, disapproving side eyed look that lets you know you haven't lived up to expectations. Been there. Gotten that look. Special abilities aside, they are dogs, not super dogs. Second, the characters. Poole has created an intriguing cast of characters, all centered about Zack Anderson, or, Zack and the dogs, and it's like spending some time with ol' friends and family. Heck, we even get to know a bit more of the backstory on corgi Sherlock this book. And, finally, the setting. Pomme Valley sounds like a lovely, small town to live in. One where everyone seems to know everyone else and, more importantly, care about each other. The scene evolving around the town's overnight efforts to provide assistance to the homeless is particularly telling of both human and town character.

As for the mystery, it begins with robbery. But, seriously, who'd rob a place just for its ice cream? Not only that, but one specific kind. Zack and Jillian hear about her shop being not just robbed but trashed as they are heading back from Sitka, Alaska. Then, another robbery of, yep, ice cream. And, then....yep, you guessed it. Another ice cream heist. In the midst of all this, two bodies are found. What's going on? What's the connection? Why? Who?

The humans are frustrated but Sherlock and his female partner in crime solving, Watson, are on the case. I won't detail the plot further as the fun is in imagining the humans' bewilderment at the seemingly random, unconnected clues the dogs point out to them. How? Well, basically by, yes, stopping, sitting, ,looking and then looking back at Zack until it finally dawns on him to take a picture. Picture taken, they seem to figure they've done their job and more on. It's up to the humans to decipher what the various clues mean. I always find myself grinning as Zack's friends and associates come together to try to figure out what the dogs have so neatly laid out in front of them. I mean, did they want Zack to take a picture of kids? Was it about kids, their back packs, the bus, or were they simply implicating a group. That's how confusing the corgi clues are for the humans. Yet, the fun in watching the group try to sort it all out is both fun and satisfying. You'll find yourself going, "Of course. How obvious". Of course, obvious only after it's been figured out. 

Seriously, I love this series. I could ramble on but, well, just read the book. Even if you're new to the series, you'll find all the background info you need to feel at home quickly. Well, except for "How do they (the dogs) do it?" Even Zack hasn't figured that one out yet.

Wally Takes a Weather Walk: A Storybook with Fun Science Facts, by Bree Sunshine Smith, illustrations by Floss Pottage

 

Publication August 29, 2023    

Deceptively simple, "Wally Takes a Weather Walk" is full of info and should be a great prompt for discussion between children and adults. Heck, adults can learn a thing or two, too. Why do leaves fall? What shape is a rainbow? Why does the lightning flash? Why are our shadows longer or shorter from season to season? Oh, so many questions, all answered in an easy to understand way.

I liked that the various scenes were repeated in different seasons, making it clear that the weather does have an impact on our daily lives and neighborhood. As an Alaskan who has grown accustomed to our long, cold winters with lots of snow and cold, it was fun to read the discussion of why it snows, not to mention see the uniqueness of snowflakes discussed. The former teacher in me sees many a snowflake making activity (among many others) to come. And, rather appropriate since it's been raining outside my window, good info on the colors of the rainbow and how they bend light. Light prisms are amazing! 

Anyway, lots of info with both direct and subtle suggestions of how to expand this information in various way. At times the book itself asks simple questions, like how many bees are buzzing around in one illustration or more directly in the author's after note reminding us that going outside is a great way to learn. A link is given for more information, btw. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #Zeitgeist - #ZKids for allowing me to don both my own quizzical nature once again as well as allowing my mind to zone in on practical ideas to expand the information within. Fun offering and children should enjoy the simply, yet fun illustrations.

Catch Me If You Candy: Bakeshop Mystery #17, by Ellie Alexander

Publication August 23, 2023

First, loved the cute cover. This series is a favorite of mine, so I was eager to dive in and fully enjoy my visit to Ashland, Oregon, with Juliet Montague Capshaw, aka Jules, and her family and friends. As the main character's name might suggest, Ashland is rather a haven for Shakespearean buffs from all around the world. Ol' Willy Shakespeare doesn't play a major role in this story but the theater is central.  I mean, it's almost worthy of Shakespeare to have a story centered around two feuding stars, well, sorta. Make that two dogs, who don't seem to be feuding but, oh, my, their humans are. Then, their dog trainer, dressed as a dragon, is murdered. Jules and husband Carlos have the misfortune of finding his body outside Torte, Jules' bakeshop, as they exit after a day of Halloween fun spread throughout the entire town. Given that Jules' step-dad, a Shakespeare fan himself, is heading the investigation, it's no surprise that Jules finds herself investigating, er, just asking questions. Who killed the dragon guy?

Mystery aside, make sure you eat before you start reading. If you go into it hungry, you're bound to work up an appetite. Lots of food/baking talk, not to mention coffee brewing. Jules and Carlos used to be chefs for a cruise ship and their experience with international styles and blends is obvious. They've also assembled a top-notch crew who we also get to know a bit more about as the story progresses. There's even romance in the air. And, oh, my. That Halloween parade would be something to see. The author does an excellent job of making you feel like you are there. What costume would you be wearing? The various costume choices are both a hoot and revealing of character.

But, on to the murder. I'm not going to detail the plot as others will, but a few teasers. Will Carlos' son Ramiro continue to be an easy fit into the family? How strong must a coffee named Burial Grounds be? Is Jax the ultimate stage-dog mom? If so, she would win the annoyance award. What does King George think of it all? Did you know they make a special doggie nail polish? What does Mahjong have to do with anything? What's going on with Lance? And, oh, never mind. Seriously, you just need to read this one. It's fun and will not only make you think but make you hungry. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for letting me spend Halloween with Jules' and the gang. They're all people I feel like I know and, hmm, all those not so subtle hints about the future at the end. Can't wait. 

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (Salem B&B Mystery, #7)m by Traci Wilton

 Publication August 23, 2023

The cover is what drew me to this new-to-me series/book. Having not read previous books in the series, I went into it blind but had no trouble sorting out who was who and the relationships quickly. Now, true, I rather wished I knew more about how the ghostly Jack came to be not just there but visible to Charlene Morris but, hey, something tells me I'll be delving back into this series to play catch up soon. As it was, simply knowing he was there, no one else could see him, and he had been a doctor when alive were enough to satisfy me. As for Avery, her sheer energy pretty much wore me out. Ah, youth. Toss in some fun guests, one of whom found out fishing isn't always a leisurely activity, all of whom we're nicely introduced to, and you'll feel right at home.

The mystery itself was intriguing. Who killed Elise during the theater's reopening bash and showing of Lon Chaney's "The Wolfman"? And what's with all the talk of werewolves and ghosts? Well, the story is set in Salem, so such talk is perhaps not that unusual but, whoa, where is all that anguished howling coming from? How could an evening of popcorn and old movies go so wrong? Could the bouquet of wolf's bane have somehow been the weapon? The spouse is always the obvious first suspect, which Darren surely doesn't help with his insistence on opening the theater up again asap. Why is he so secretive about his past? A worker in fear of losing their job? Oh, so many suspects, not to mention red herrings. Charlene, with her seemingly unstoppable need to help others, has her work cut out for her if she hopes to help Sam, the detective, figure out what's going on, not to mention subtly share herbal knowledge Jack is somehow able to find. Did you know ghosts can use computers? 

Bottom line, although it took me a bit to fall into the rhythm of the book, especially since the viewpoint seemed to switch periodically, I enjoyed my intro to this series. I mean, who doesn't love a spooky mystery? Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me to spend some time at Charlene's B&B. I'll be back.