To get into the spirit I went through my stack of Grug and Clifford books to see which one would be most suitable for Mum today. I came across Grug Learns to Cook and thought there was a chance Grug would learn to cook pie š„§ so went with that one.
Grug tries three recipes from his Bush Food Cookbook: tea-tree soup, gum-leaf rolls and carrot cake. So no pie, but itās the thought that counts, right?
It turns out Grug is as good at cooking as I am and he likes to sample cake batter too. Grug gets an āAā for effort. The results? š¤
Well, besides the batter splatter which results in my favourite illustration, Grug does wind up with some edible ingredients, if not edible cake. Which brings me to my favourite part:
āGrug baked the rest of the mixture, but it came out burnt and black. He put carrots on the top to make a carrot cake.ā
In context and with the accompanying illustration this bit earned a giggle from me. Iām fairly confident that my culinary masterpieces were the inspiration behind Grugās marvellous food creations in this book. At least Cara hadnāt been invited over for dinner. Iām not sure there would have been enough left at the end of the lesson to feed two.
Youāve got to give Grug credit. Heās always willing to try new things, he tries his best at everything and when things inevitably donāt go quite to plan he doesnāt get upset. He makes the best out of the situation, salvages what he can and goes to bed so he can be ready for his next adventure. I canāt wait to find another excuse to give Mum another Grug book soon! š
āāāāā
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Try some scrumptious gum-leaf rolls prepared by Grug!
This classic Aussie hero is back from the bush to enchant a new generation of youngsters!
You know those books that leave you without words? I donāt, which is why this review has been so hard to write. Iām one of those people that has so many opinions that Iāve got opinions about my own opinions. Seriously!
I finished reading Written on the Body: Letters from Trans and Non-Binary Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence almost two weeks ago and the stories have been resonating within me ever since. I started this book thinking about my own experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence.
I wondered if I would have the courage to write a letter to one of my body parts. What body part would I choose? What would I want or need to say to it? Would I have the courage to write the letter anywhere but in my mind where no one could accidentally stumble across it? If I did manage to write that letter who would I trust to show it to? Regardless of your history Iād encourage you to think about those questions for yourself. Itās really quite a daunting prospect, isnāt it?
I thought about experiences shared with other sexual assault and domestic violence survivors over the years and how weāve connected over shared thoughts and feelings, regardless of the legal terminology of what was perpetrated against us. The survivors Iāve had the opportunity to share with so far have been cis women and men, and theyāre some of the bravest people I know.
I wondered if I could ever claim to understand what a trans or non-binary sexual assault or domestic violence survivor has experienced. While Iām fairly confident thereād be aspects of their story that I could relate to based on my own experiences, as a cis woman I canāt and wonāt claim to understand what itās like to be trans or non-binary. To be trans or non-binary in todayās society and then compound that with (in so many survivors) countless experiences of abuse by multiple perpetrators? I canāt even begin to imagine.
We need books like this one to open our eyes to the pain of those whoāve experienced the unthinkable and the incredible ability people have to overcome what was intended to destroy. While you can never really walk in someone elseās shoes, by reading this book you have the honour of being granted permission to truly see aspects of people that are usually hidden by faƧades.
Youāll likely feel practically everything in your emotional range while reading and due to the content Iād advise against reading it all at once. Different writing styles and content provide varied reading experiences throughout the book. Some letters were poetic. Others were visceral. Thereās so much heartbreaking trauma content, yet thereās also so much strength and hope.
āCourage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences – good and bad.ā
To the survivors who have contributed to this book, there are so many things I want to say to you, amongst which are ā¦ I hear you. I believe you. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am in awe of your courage. You are extraordinary!
If I could choose just one really powerful quote from this book:
āWhat they didnāt know is that Iām trying to heal from what happened to me; Iām not trying to heal from who I am.ā
Lexie Bean
How do you rate a book like this? I donāt think you can rate someoneās experience so instead Iām rating the courage, the heart, of the people who have not only looked within themselves to come up with words that reflect their experience but have also had the bravery to shine a light on them. To me that deserves nothing less than āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I feel honoured to have read it.
āāāāā
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Written by and for trans and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, Written on the Body offers support, guidance and hope for those who struggle to find safety at home, in the body, and other unwelcoming places.
This collection of letters written to body parts weaves together narratives of gender, identity, and abuse. It is the coming together of those who have been fragmented and often met with disbelief. The book holds the concerns and truths that many trans people share while offering space for dialogue and reclamation.
Written with intelligence and intimacy, this book is for those who have found power in re-shaping their bodies, families and lives.
Iām not quite sure how this happened but I made it through my entire childhood without reading a single Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. I began to rectify this glaring hole in my bookish experience two years ago when my library bought the first few Nancy Drew books. I read and enjoyed the first two before getting distracted by another book. Here we are two years later and Iāve been distracted by so many other books that I havenāt read the third book or beyond. Iām yet to read a Hardy Boys book.
I was excited to have the opportunity to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie but when I tried to get into it the first time I was concerned that my lack of inside information about this trio would mean I would be lost before I started. I neednāt have worried. Finally giving up on getting to know Nancy better and the Hardy Boys at all first I dove into this graphic novel today and it was surprisingly awesome!
When I originally met book Nancy she came across to me as fitting a tad too well in the āpractically perfect in every wayā box but I loved her character in this noir graphic novel. This story shows Nancy, Frank and Joe with an edge that Iām guessing they never had in the novels.
In this story we find ourselves in postcard perfect Bayport. The Hardy Boys are suspects in their fatherās murder and together with childhood friend and fellow mystery solver Nancy Drew, they need to find a way to clear their names and identify the real murderer. Along the way there are fist fights, suspicion thrown around some shady and not so shady characters, police brutality, flashbacks, meetings in the middle of the night and a good olā fashioned secret passageway left over from the Prohibition era.
Iām not sure how people who grew up loving Nancy, Frank and Joe will fare with what appears to be a hardening of their characters and a less innocent bunch of mystery solvers. I enjoyed the grittiness of the investigation and it probably says something about the feel of the graphic novel that in my head the male narrator/voice over had the same voice as Mickey Rourkeās Marv in Sin City.
I loved the front cover image, combining the trio and providing a hint of whatās to come. The illustrations matched the style of the story; dark, murky at times, with plenty of shadows to add to the ambience.
While one part of the mystery is solved in this graphic novel thereās an overarching mystery that remains to be solved another day, and it will definitely be a follow up Iāll be looking out for.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dynamite Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Volume collects issues 1-6.
A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery unlike any other you’ve ever read! When the teenage brothers Frank and Joe Hardy are accused of the murder of their father – a detective in the small resort town of Bayport – they must team up with Nancy Drew to prove their innocence (and find the real guilty party in the process) in a twisting noir tale, complete with double-crosses, deceit, and dames.Ā
Writer Anthony Del Col (Assassin’s Creed, Kill Shakespeare) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Batman: Detective Comics, House of Mystery) bring the iconic teen detectives into the modern age, and redefine noir for a new generation of readers!
Kim Reaper Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings combines the first four issues of this fun new series. Becka and Kim are both studying fine arts at university but Beckaās crush on Kim, which consists of staring dreamily at the back of her head in class, is the sum total of their interaction. Beckaās friend Tyler finally convinces her to ask Kim out so after class she follows Kim, who disappears into a portal in the corridor.
Naturally this is a job for social media so Becka gets ready to capture this moment for internet posterity but then her phone and Becka both get sucked into the portal. It turns out that Beckaās crush has a part time job to help pay her way through uni and to fund her expensive goth clothes. Kim is ā¦ š„ ā¦ a reaper ā¦ of animals because she hasnāt been promoted to reaping people yet. š
What follows is a process of the two girls getting to know each other, visiting each otherās favourites places and a few other fairly typical getting to know you scenarios, like encountering a cat hoarding gym junkie energy drink addict hulk, zombies š§āāļø š§āāļø, bed cookies, ghouls, and going to hell via the employeeās entrance.
I wasnāt quite sure what I expected from this collection. I was sucked in purely based on the wonderful cover image and its implied promise of purple tones throughout. I got the purples I was looking for along with a beautiful soft colour scheme. All of the illustrations were really sweet and I was impressed that both girls actually had curves.
The stories were interesting and the budding relationship between Becka and Kim was cute, with arguments along the way before their first kiss. Aww! š While the language used came across as a bit too young for the characters, I was entertained for the entire ride. The strange occurrences in the stories took me deeper into this world instead of the jarring effect I sometimes experience. I had no problem believing anything was possible in this world and I look forward to finding out whatās next for this cute new couple.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Part-Time Grim Reaper. Full-Time Cutie!
Like most university students, Kim works a part-time job to make ends meet. Unlike most university students, Kim’s job is pretty cool: she’s a grim reaper, tasked with guiding souls into the afterlife.
Like most university students, Becka has a super intense crush. Unlike most university students, Becka’s crush is on a beautiful gothic angel that frequents the underworld. Of course, she doesn’t know that.
Unaware of the ghoulish drama she’s about to step into, Becka finally gathers up the courage to ask Kim on a date! But when she falls into a ghostly portal and interrupts Kim at her job, she sets off a chain of events that will pit the two of them against angry cat-dads, vengeful zombies, and perhaps even the underworld itself. But if they work together, they just might make it ā¦ and maybe even get a smooch in the bargain.
Iāve been fascinated by sharks ever since I first watched Jaws when I was too young to know he couldnāt come through the shower head in pieces, magically reform and attack me while I showered (true story! š¤Ŗ), so naturally this is my type of non-fiction kidās book. Thereās enough information to maintain your interest but not so much that you get bored or succumb to information overload.
Itās the sort of book I would have used for school projects in primary school and would have enjoyed reading it just for fun as well. Besides all of the cool shark facts there are plenty of quality photographs of the various sharks and the layout is eye catching. While thereās plenty to look at on each page it doesnāt look overly cluttered.
Of the over 400 types of shark, Creature Files: Sharks provides information and photographs of twenty. I personally learned a lot while reading this book and the facts below are only a snippet of what youāll discover.
š¦ Great White Shark – My mate Bruce from Jaws is probably the most famous Great White. These sharks can have up to 300 teeth!
š¦ Bull Shark – These are the sharks most likely to attack people and have been found with strange objects in their stomachs including licence plates!
š¦ Mako Shark – The Fastest Shark award š goes to the Mako.
š¦ Sand Tiger Shark – A sand tiger shark in a New York aquarium lived more than twice as long as the average wild sand tiger shark.
š¦ Nurse Shark – Nurse sharks live at the bottom of the ocean.
š¦ Cookiecutter Shark – The bellies of these sharks glow in the dark.
š¦ Tiger Shark – Tiger Sharks have the nickname āgarbage can of the seaā.
š¦ Greenland Shark – The Slowest Shark award š goes to the Greenland Shark.
š¦ Spiny Dogfish – These sharks have been overfished and are in danger of extinction.
š¦ Lemon Shark – Their eyesight is poor so they need to rely on other senses to find food.
š¦ Sawshark – Their prey include shrimp, worms and shellfish.
š¦ Basking Shark – They form groups (schools) that can range from a couple up to 100 sharks, unlike most other sharks who are loners.
š¦ Frilled Shark – Rarely seen alive by humans, Frilled Sharks live at the bottom of the ocean.
š¦ Blue Shark – World travellers, these sharks swim about 1000 miles (1609 kilometres) each year.
š¦ Wobbegong Shark – They have flat bodies and are a type of carpet shark.
š¦ Leopard Shark – Groups of leopard sharks are social and are known to hang out with other types of sharks.
š¦ Great Hammerhead Shark – Their favourite food are stingrays but will also eat sharks, including other hammerheads.
š¦ Goblin Shark – Only 50 Goblin Sharks have been seen since they were first discovered in the late 1800ās.
š¦ Megamouth Shark – Megamouths are filter-feeders.
š¦ Whale Shark – The Largest Fish in the Sea award š goes to the Whale Shark.
Each shark file provides āfast factsā which include the length of the shark and a picture showing the size comparison of that shark and a person (in feet and metres), how much the shark weighs (in pounds and kilograms) and a world map highlighting where it lives. I love that each shark file contains a Shark Bite that explains what that type of shark eats, what its teeth look like and for the majority of sharks an accompanying close up photo of its smile.
Included with the book are three replica teeth that kids can identify using their new knowledge and they can make a shark tooth necklace with the cord thatās also included. I wouldāve loved wearing that necklace as a kid.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – becker&mayer! kids for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Peek intoĀ the jaws of 20 of the ocean’s most dangerous predators with the next title in theĀ Creature FilesĀ series!Ā Creature Files: SharksĀ features photos, facts, and maps that provide up-close tours ofĀ some of the most terrifying sharks in the seas.
Did you know that a shark can grow over 20,000 new teeth in its lifetime? Or that some sharks will eat anything, from tiny fish to license plates from cars?
An incredible amount of information about sharks can be revealed by examining the teeth and jaws of the 20 jaw-snapping species covered here, inĀ Creature Files: Sharks. From aggressive sharks like the great white to the truly weird ones like the goblin shark, this book is packed withĀ awesome photos and fascinating factsĀ about the ocean’s most amazing predators. Ā Ā
Three specially molded replica teethĀ are included in the front cover, so you can feel the power of a shark’s real bite – and deduce which sharks the teeth come from using your new shark-bite expertise.
This book also includesĀ a breakaway cord toĀ make your own shark-tooth necklace!Ā
Wrapped Up Volume 1 features Milo, a twelve year old mummy whoās passionate about pizza and skateboarding. If you want to embarrass him just call him āBeetleā. Milo lives with his mummy Mum, archaeologist stepfather Henry and older stepsister Jill. For some reason poor mummy Dad lives with this blended family and no one seems to be weirded out by this. The next door neighbour is a wizard that has no name and is friends with Milo.
Iām not sure how this works but mummy Mum and mummy Dad wound up with a mummy son, even though, being mummies, theyāve been dead for quite a while. This is one of those graphic novels where you need to suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow. For example, in the introductory story a gorilla interrupts the familyās pizza dinner by crashing through the wall and then falls in love with Milo.
In Night of the Pizza Knight Milo wishes he could have pizza every day and No-Name-Wizard who appears perpetually drunk and/or stoned (potions are mentioned) grants Miloās wish. They hadnāt counted on the arrival of the Pizza Knight or the ire of a cheesed off (sorry!) pizza delivery guy.
In Mummy vs Wild Jill asks Milo to meet her at the zoo. Amira, who we havenāt met until now, tags along with Milo. Once at the zoo the three split up and all of a sudden Milo is being chased and crawled over by zoo animals. This was my least favourite story in the collection.
In The Babysitterās Flub Miloās mummy Dad is going on a date and has arranged for Milo to have a witch in training babysitter that is younger than he is. This story features a chocolate milk cow and a psychotic pizza.
In The Ewww-y Decimal System Miloās mummy Mum has a job for Milo at the library where she works. She needs him to locate the book that someone shelved after vomiting in it as the smell is (obviously) bothering the customers.
In Killer Cats and Mummy Wraps the wizard next door is certain that evil cats are trying to kill him.
In Keep It Down Milo canāt sleep because of the teenage jock frogs having a party in the back yard.
In Hungry, Hungry Kaiju itās up to Milo to save the day when a ravenous monster causes havoc.
In Children of the Night Jill is having a picnic with her vampire friends one night in the cemetery (as you do). They realise theyāve been caught and have to bail, leaving their snacks behind š¢, but the person behind the torch light isnāt who they thought it was.
In Night of the Creepy Kewpie think Chucky but itās a Kewpie doll instead and itās decided Milo is its father.
In Halloween Treats Milo and the Wizard-With-No-Name learn what becomes of the discarded Halloween candy that nobody likes.
My favourite character in this strange family is Jill. She rocks awesome purple hair, loves vampires, has great clothes, jewellery and makeup, and works in a comic book store.
There were several artists involved in this collection. My favourite artwork was by Scoot McMahon and would have preferred it had they illustrated the entire book. There wasnāt anything wrong with the other artistsā work. I just really liked Scootās style.
My favourite panel features a gigantic purple cat doing a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man impersonation by reaching for Milo and Wizard-Man who are on the roof of a building. The awesome thing about this gigantic cat is that itās actually all of the cats joined together to form the shape of the āman-catā.
This collection was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were a couple of stories I wasnāt a fan of and I felt the others needed to be fleshed out (apologies again!) some more. I enjoyed the stories more once I stopped questioning everything that didnāt make sense to me and let them flow over me instead. The series itself has potential and Iām interested to see where it goes from here.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, Lion Forge and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
āāā
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Milo is just your average twelve-year-old boy. His loving parents are mummies, his best friend is an old wizard, and his babysitters are witches. When Milo isn’t busy at school or visiting the comic book store, he loves to hang out with cool teen vampires, play with magical kitties, feed a hungry kaiju, and avoid a love-crazed gorilla at all costs. You know, typical kid stuff.
When I saw the cover photograph of Under Dogs and read in the blurb the comparison between this book and previous favourites like Underwater Dogs and Shake it was a no brainer for me. I had to have this book and start it immediately!
Iāll admit it. Iām a dog person. I also love cats that are happy to hang out on your lap for hours while you read and cuddle them but the pets who have always owned me have been dogs. I practically melt each time a dog comes up to me and deems me worthy of giving them a cuddle. I met the most adorable 14 week black labrador on the beach yesterday. His name is Jet and heās at the soft puppy fur, slightly nippy but surprisingly well behaved stage.
He came right up to me for a cuddle and I considered dognapping him on the spot. He was so big and brave when a big dog came to say hi until the big dog got too close and little Jetās bravery ran out. He ran to me, put his front paws on my knees, leaned against me and asked without saying a word for me to protect him from this scary giant.
Incidentally the scary giant was actually a grown lab and so placid and adorable itself, but this puppy didnāt know that and he trusted me, a stranger heād met less than 5 minutes earlier, to protect him. Aww! š Why did I tell you that story? I donāt know. I guess looking at the photographs in Under Dogs reminded me of the most recent canine Iāve fallen in love with.
Andrius Burbaās photography is gorgeous! While itās very difficult to take a bad photo of a dog regardless of your skill level, Andriusā perspective and composition was wonderful. I loved the stark black background as there was nothing to distract me from the sweet, quirky and interesting expressions on the dogs.
There are fluffballs with feet, dogs who couldnāt care less that thereās a photographer and/or camera equipment beneath them and others who are peering down with bemused, intrigued or dorky looks on their faces. There are a couple who look to me like they have fear in their eyes and I can only hope if this is true that someone was there to cuddle them in my absence after their photo was taken.
I have two favourite dogs in this book. The first is a Basenji who looks a little like itās been jumping on a trampoline and is currently midair. Itās got the cutest little tummy wrinkles and head wrinkles. Its pads are still mostly new puppy pink with the beginnings of the darker patches that come with experiencing the world. The look on its face is one that appears to be a mix of curiosity and a wary concern about whatās going on beneath their feet. With a shiny black nose and eyes that seem all pupil, this is the dog I most wanted to cuddle and borrow forever.
My second favourite is an Italian Greyhound momma thatās sitting with her back left leg lifted in the typical āIām about to lick my genitalsā position. Iām sure Iām not the only one that makes up stories about whatās really happening in pictures I see and what I loved about this photo is the timing and the angle that shows her lifted paw directly in front of her eyes. Her head is turned to the left. You can almost imagine that sheās camera shy and is hiding her eyes in the most awkward way possible in an āif I canāt see you then you canāt see meā moment.
A couple of elements were missing in this book that Iāve appreciated in other dog photography books. While each portrait is accompanied by the breed of dog it features, at no point do we learn the name, age or any fun facts about any of the dogs. There also isnāt the introduction Iāve come to expect from the photographer explaining why they chose this perspective, how they accomplished it or any anecdotes about misbehaving or funny outtakes.
I expect this is going to be one of the more popular gift books of 2018 and I am almost positive Iāll be buying it myself once itās released. For those of you who arenāt dog people, Iāve found a cat version by the same photographer, Unter Katzen, that you may want to check out. I wouldnāt be surprised to see an English version of this one printed soon.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to be one of the first to adore this book.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
An adorable book of dog photography showing our furry friends from an unexpected perspective – from underneath.
In the vein of bestsellers likeĀ Underwater DogsĀ andĀ Shake,Ā Under DogsĀ is a heartwarming and unique look at man’s best friend. Photographer Andrius Burba’s striking images of dogs taken from below are by turns surprising and hilarious – providing readers with a little-seen view of the pets we love.
You know that book that makes you feel like your brain has liquefied and is slowly draining from your ears with every page you read and by the end you are fairly certain that you qualify for the Dumbest Person on the Planet award? I just finished it.
Do you want to know what this book of poetry is about? Me too! I donāt know why She Used to Be on a Milk Carton. Maybe she was lost, just like I was while I carefully read each poem trying to extract its meaning. I know what the blurb said and I know I was really interested in reading these poems.
There were a couple of poems where itās possible I may have cottoned on to the central theme but Iām afraid I needed someone to dumb it down for me. There was a girl in my English class who would write poems that she read to the class frequently. I never understood those either but my teacher practically fell over herself declaring their literary masterpiece worthiness.
I assume these poems were very well written and that people much smarter than myself will rave about how full of deep and meaningful ideas they were. Iām certain that English teacher could wax lyrical about every poem in this book. If you read these poems after checking out someone elseās review (preferably someone who can actually provide valuable feedback about this book) I really hope you love it.
Personally Iām going to go find a sponge to mop up as much of my brain as possible and hope I can find a way to reverse the liquefaction process.
Thank you to NetGalley and April Gloaming Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
āā
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Between body and spirit, place and soul, love and trauma, and logic and magic, Kailey Tedesco finds herself between two worlds in this stunning collection of debut poetry. Treading the line between the dual nature of our human spirit, this collection brings to light what our physical, and then spiritual, selves’ place is in the cosmos and the realm beyond our immediate sight.
Through images of Catholicism, heavenly bodies, caul births, dark magic, serpents, and God, Tedesco challenges what it means to be Woman in a world so clouded by opposing truths, illuminating herself and elevating our human experience.
After Dorothy learns sheās not in Kansas anymore, she follows the yellow brick road in the magical Land of Oz to find the Wizard of Oz, who she hopes will be able to help her return home. Along the way to the Emerald City she meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, all of whom could also benefit from the Wizardās help. After a long journey and some drama concerning flying monkeys and a meltable witch, the new friends are either granted their wish or learn they had the magic within them all the time.
Oh, wait. Wrong story. Let me start again.
Snitch lives in town and follows the purple moonlit trail on their way to see Father Time, who they hope to get help from. Along the way to Father Timeās place, Snitch meets the nasty old Witch. The two then form a line to wait for Father Time to open the door and help them. The One Who Was Rich then joins the line, followed by a good portion of the townsfolk, who make their needs known. While the nasty old Witch does look a lot like meltable witch from Oz, unfortunately there are no flying monkeys in this book. Finally the Wizard Father Time opens his door, offers some sage advice about the value of time and grants some their wishes. Others learn they had the magic within them all the time and make the necessary changes to their lives themselves.
So, totally different story. Sort of.
Ignoring the fact that this story is essentially a reboot of a classic thatās over a century old and wasnāt ābrokeā in the first place, the rhymes are quite cute and the townsfolk learn valuable lessons or get what they want given to them. The Celtic font looks nice but Iām not sure itās the most sensible choice for young readers who may have trouble with the legibility of some letters.
The clock goes backwards between the Candlestick Man arriving and the Drummer who arrives later when itās significantly darker. Thereās also a picture where the clock is missing entirely. Father Time opens his door at midnight and then he starts his speech with āItās nearly midnightā. To emphasise this point the next illustration shows him pointing to the clock that was midnight previously and it is now almost 11:55pm. It looks as though the midnight illustration of the first half of the line up has been recycled which would have worked if the time had been changed. Harry, who was a shy guy and didnāt speak (probably because he had no mouth) is no longer a shy guy after seeing Father Time, possibly because Father Time gave him a mouth. Yes, I know Iām being picky about the attention to detail but kids pick up on stuff like that.
I was interested in this book because of the inviting cover design. I still love it, I liked the design of most of the characters and I enjoyed the rhyming. Overall though, it just wasnāt for me. There were other whinges I had as I went through the book a second time but Iām sure you get the idea by now. It did make me want to watch The Wizard of Oz for the billionth time though.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this book.
P.S. Iām in the minority with this one. There are a number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so please donāt just take my word for it. Check some of those out too before you decide if this book is for you or not.
Update
It turns out if you post a review on Amazon that this author doesnāt like they feel free to spew paragraphs of abuse at you. There was so much more I could have told you all that was negative about this book but I tried to find positives instead, like the fantastic front cover art. I guess the fact that I explicitly stated that I was in the minority and encouraged people to check out other reviews means nothing.
Once Upon a Blurb
Welcome to Moonwood, a modern day nursery rhyme about how to use your time wisely and be a better you!
Follow these quirky townsfolk in a beautifully illustrated picture book, as they gather outside the clock tower and seek Father Time’s wisdom on achieving personal goals, and getting along with each other in their magical community.
What will they discover? Time is the only true commodity. This story shows both children and adults, that we must use what little time we all have to be good to each other.
I love this book! Written with 4 to 8 year olds in mind but empowering for all ages, this warrior goddess is a young girl with gorgeous red flowing hair. The reader is taken through her day from morning when she greets the sun to bedtime.
Our warrior goddess is connected to nature and keeps her body and mind strong. Sheās loving and fierce. She helps others and is a leader. Sheās self reliant and confident.
My favourite illustration is of our warrior training her mind for battle in her school library. Sheās surrounded by books and is in her own world as she reads. She has this serene, blissed out look on her face that mirrors how I feel when Iām happily held captive by book world.
Favourite Sentence –
āI fill my heart with kindness, the most powerful weapon there is.ā
This is the type of book I wish Iād had in my grabby book hands as a kid. I would have wanted to read it every day. While there arenāt many words in this book theyāre awesome ones.
I particularly adore that this isnāt a āwhen I get older Iām going toā¦ā book. No. This book is about the here and now, about what kids can do today to make a positive impact in their world. I feel empowered after reading it and would recommend it to all warrior goddesses regardless of age.
āāāāā
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
You donāt have to be a grownup to be a hero! I Am a Warrior Goddess shows how in the empowering tale of a little girl with big aspirations. Through the clever play between illustration and text, readers see that each day is full of opportunities for little people to make a big impact with ordinary actions. As our heroine connects with the earth, takes care of her body, and finds strength in kindness, she discovers her inner warrior goddess and inspires young girls everywhere to do the same.
Schizanthus Nerd 