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​book reviews

An interesting Interview with a Cockroach:       an inaccurate retelling of American history          by Nathaniel Gold

5/28/2018

0 Comments

 
Author and illustrator, Nathaniel Gold introduces us to his book, An Interesting Interview with a Cockroach:
Did you know that Cockroaches can speak?

While eating lunch in the park one day I looked down at a cockroach and he looked up at me and spoke. I was terrified but then I got to know him. His name was Ralph and he let me interview him. He came to America on the Mayflower and was there for almost every important moment in history. Come with me and see the history of the United States of America through the eyes of a cockroach.
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This unassuming book deserves far more attention than it’s getting. It is highly original and offers a great deal of entertainment on more than one level.
Ralph, a 400-year-old cockroach, has participated in and witnessed many of the profound historical moments involved with the birth of the then New World, the American Revolution, the founding of the United States of America and so much more.
Ralph offers many witty and penetrating insights into so many historical events and the people behind them. He is funny and quite erudite.
You are going to love this book!
I loved this book! An Interesting Interview with a Cockroach gets a score of 5 Stars! 
​You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/interesting-Interview-Cockroach-inaccurate-American-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39752074-an-interesting-interview-with-a-cockroach
https://www.amazon.co.uk/interesting-Interview-Cockroach-inaccurate-American-history-ebook

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/NGoldArt
http://www.jessianpress.com/

Tags: humor, humorous history 

​​Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction 
0 Comments

The Basket of Seeds                                                     by Ska St. Julian                                                            illustrated by Eugenia Cameron

5/19/2018

35 Comments

 
Children’s author, Ska St. Julian, introduces us to her debut book about sleep, The Basket of Seeds:
Spend a year in a magical forest where humans, birds, cats, orangutans, and even extraterrestrials live together happily, and enter a dream world where the Secrets of Sleep ensure restful nights for all. Life is busy as the seasons change and the forest kids experience adventures, games, creativity, friendship, and love. Meet Baby Bud, a wee birdie who's never too sleepy for a bedtime story; Füzzy, a shape-shifting Secret of Sleep; Celeste, a charming tabby; and Goldenbeak, a tiny space alien who wants to hang out with the big humans. Come to the studio as the sleep jockeys prepare a midnight broadcast. Revel in the festivities as the Mystery Cats are sworn in. And don't forget to get your sleep order in now--the sleepy train awaits!

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This book is a gem! It took me by surprise and it owns me. I would never have thought a kidlit book about sleep would be so fascinating. Cute doesn’t begin to describe The Basket of Seeds, it is written in language easy for children to relate to, and describes so many different attributes of sleep that children will want to enjoy them all.
Using the language of colors and textures associated at times with seasonal variations and different animals, children of all ages won’t be able to keep from smiling and enjoying this gem of a book.
For myself, I couldn’t read it in one sitting; I kept falling asleep, even when I wasn’t tired. It has a unique rhythm to it that made me so sleepy.
​
I give The Basket of Seeds a score of 5 stars! It is so unique and delightful!

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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Basket-Seeds-Ska-St-Julian
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Basket-Seeds-Ska-St-Julian-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19505928-the-basket-of-seeds

You can follow the author:

https://twitter.com/MysteryCatSleep

​Tags: children's literature, dogs, fantasy 
​
​Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction 
35 Comments

Into the Hearth, Poems-Volume 14                    (The Traduka Wisdom Series)                                by Wendy E. Slater

5/13/2018

72 Comments

 
Multi-volume Poet, Wendy Slater introduces us to her 14th volume of poetry Into the Hearth (The Traduka Wisdom series):
After a 20-year hiatus from writing poetry, Wendy composed 20 volumes of spiritual poetry which began during a trip to Scotland in 2001. This series of spiritual poetry awakens one to the Truth within as we walk the Path, the journey, and wake from the slumber of separation from parts of self and step into full union with self and divinity. The resulting self-forgiveness allows one to step forward in wholeness without the false archetype of perfection. When blame and self-judgment are transformed, healed, and cease to be, we have reawakened without the myth, the mythos, of separation. We are One.

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Poetry is mysterious to me. Poetry hides and teases, it cajoles and flirts. All the time promising hidden delights, if I am willing to look for it. Wendy’s work is no different, it looks straight at me, staring into my eyes and my heart; then with a quick kiss and wink, it leads me in a direction I was not prepared for.
I have enjoyed this book a great deal, I find myself drawn to it again and again. I find something new each time.
I award Into The Hearth 5 stars!

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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Into-Hearth-Poems-Traduka-Wisdom-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-into-the-hearth-poems-volume-14
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/into-the-hearth-poems-volume-14
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Into-Hearth-Poems-Wendy-Slater
 
You can follow Wendy:
https://twitter.com/WendyESlater
https://traduka.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Wendy-E-Slater-Poetess-Quantum-Healer-1415277638795044/ 

​​
Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction
72 Comments

The Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough: The City of Smogg                             by Michelle Path                                                           illustrated by Hannah Purkiss

5/7/2018

40 Comments

 
Multi-volume children’s author Michelle Path introduces us to her latest in the Circus series The City of Smogg:
Smogg is a concrete jungle devoid of plants and animals. The city’s inhabitants live a mundane life and have never even ventured outside of the city walls. However, when Calvin Callioni and his Most Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough come to visit, Smogg’s citizens soon discover that their leader has been suppressing them. They begin to question what lies beyond the city gates and start to rebel, spurred on by the larger-than-life ringmaster and his merry troupe of circus performers and animals. Will the citizens finally wake from their reverie after all these years?

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I really enjoy the books for children that Michelle Path writes. She works hard to make sure kids will love them and the books are made to encourage conversation between child and parent. Many good lessons can be explored in the conversations.
There are many colorful illustrations that highlight the story quite well. The story has humorous and sad aspects. The citizens of Smogg are a very sad lot. The circus brings much more than a few short-lived moments of excitement. The citizens of Smogg find freedom and a new sense of life they hadn’t enjoyed before.
I give The Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough: The City of Smogg a score of 5.0 Stars!
I have reviewed several of Michelle’s books including the first Circus of Starzborough: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/-the-most-splendidly-spectacular-circus-of-starzborough-by-michelle-path
​
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You can buy this paperback book:
https://www.amazon.com/Most-Splendidly-Spectacular-Circus-Starzborough-City-of-Smogg
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Splendidly-Spectacular-Circus-Starzborough-the-city-of-smogg
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34638698-the-most-splendidly-spectacular-circus-of-starzborough-city-of-smogg

You can follow Michelle Path:

Twitter: @mimilovesu
http://michellepath.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/Michelle-Path
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Michelle_Path

​​​Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction 
40 Comments

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