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book reviews |
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Multi-volume author and renowned herbalist, Lesley Tierra introduces us to her book “A Kid’s Herb Book: For Children of All Ages”: A Kid’s Herb Book makes learning about herbs and plants fun and educational for children. They follow the friendly elf, Mr. Greenleaf, through the plant “kin-dom.” They learn various uses of plants and they learn to appreciate vital things that plants provide, such as oxygen, food, soap, wood, teas, and medicines. They will discover the differences between herbs, weeds, and spices. They learn to make products from herbs, such as natural toothbrushes and homemade cough medicine. They learn about the healing properties of specific herbs. And they learn enchanting stories that can be read aloud and that awaken the imagination. A Kid’s Herb Book includes delicious recipes for such culinary delights as “Basil Pesto” and “Rose Petal Jam.” Children and their parents are encouraged to grow their own herb gardens. Simple instructions are provided for outdoor gardens (when space is available) to smaller gardens (using a window box, a basket, or even a flowerpot!). To go completely natural, readers can learn to make and use compost as well.  What a marvelous and fun book! I enjoyed this book so much. It truly is written for children of all ages. The writing style is winsome and easy to read for almost any average skill level fifth or sixth grade reader and above. The black-and-white line drawing invite you to color them in and own the book. The page layout and fonts keep the information flowing in an easy-to-understand fashion. The creation-of-the-herb stories are fun and invite discussions between parent and child about important issues and character traits. There are recipes, songs and care guides that extend the reading experience and solidify the knowledge imparted. This is such an excellent and well-written book; it easily deserves to be awarded 5 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/a-kid-s-herb-book-for-children-of-all-ages-by-lesley-tierra https://amazon.com/Kids-Herb-Book-Children-Ages-paperback https://www.goodreads.com/A_Kid_s_Herb_Book You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/east_west_herbs https://planetherbs.com https://www.facebook.com/lesley.tierra# Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.
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Lifelong educator and new author, Scott Douthit introduces us to his debut book, “My Dyslexic Life”: “But Mr. D, you’ve graduated from college, written plays— you’re a great teacher with all these awards. You wouldn’t know what it’s like to have people make you feel stupid for being dyslexic!” “Actually, believe it or not...” Today, researchers estimate that between five and twenty percent of the population is affected by dyslexia. This growing awareness and understanding of different learning styles has changed the lives of tens of millions of people. When Scott Douthit was growing up in the 1960s, though, no one could explain why it was so difficult for him to succeed in the one-size-fits-all schools he attended. My Deslex Dyslexic Life: A Journey Out of the Shadows, a deeply moving account of Scott’s struggles and triumphs, invites the reader to consider new ways of overcoming barriers to accomplishment and understanding, both for themselves and others. At once entertaining and touching, it offers an intimate glance into the life, mind, and heart of a courageous individual. Scott’s story serves as a reminder that the norms, standards, and expectations of society are a work in progress, and that it is within our power to make them more humane and compassionate. A staggering 5 to 15 percent of Americans—14.5 to 43.5 million children and adults—have dyslexia, a learning disability that makes it difficult to read, write, and spell, no matter how hard the person tries or how intelligent he or she is. •It is estimated that 1 in 10 people have dyslexia •Over 40 million American Adults are dyslexic - and only 2 million know it •Dyslexia is not tied to IQ - Einstein was dyslexic and had an estimated IQ of 160 •Dyslexia in not just about getting letters or numbers mixed up or out of order •80% of people associate dyslexia with some form of retardation - this is not true •Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability or disorder that includes poor word reading, word decoding, oral reading fluency and spelling •Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels •Dyslexia has nothing to do with not working hard enough •20% of school-aged children in the US are dyslexic •With appropriate teaching methods, dyslexia can learn successfully •Over 50% of NASA employees are dyslexic •Dyslexia runs in families; parents with dyslexia are very likely to have children with dyslexia •Dyslexics may struggle with organizational skills, planning and prioritizing, keeping time, concentrating with background noise. •Dyslexics may excel at connecting ideas, thinking out of the box, 3D thinking, seeing the big picture •People with dyslexia excel or even gifted in areas of art, computer science, design, drama, electronics, math, mechanics, music, physics, sales and sports •Many famous people are dyslexic including: Orlando Bloom, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Spielberg, Kiera Knightley. Albert Einstein and Patrick Dempsey  This book was an eye-opener for me! While I have never struggled with reading, quite the opposite, actually. The stories of struggling in social situations and flunking a skills test in a physical education class resonated to the core of my soul. Having a serious stammering problem caused my school years to be full of social difficulties beyond the normal teen angst. I loved the writing, it was so meaningful and using the vehicle of vignettes from the author’s life provided perfect illustrations of the struggles faced by so many. Scott brings hope and humor into difficult situations. I greatly appreciate his passion for educating everybody about different styles of learning and how to appreciate those differences. I award 5 stars to “My Dyslexic Life” by Scott Douthit!  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/my-dyslexic-life-a-journey-out-of-the-shadows-by-scott-douthit https://smile.amazon.com/My-Dyslexic-Life-Journey-Shadows-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-my-dyslexic-life You can connect with the author: https://www.mydyslexiclife.com https://www.facebook.com/scott.douthit.1 Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Award winning, multi-volume, multi-genre author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to “The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls”: Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame. This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers. This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end. Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective. Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY. This book has received an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion!  What a wonderful telling of a long-lost story! The author has pulled off an exciting reconstruction of a tale filled with intrigue and menace for so many of the people involved. Mercedes uses a rotating-by-chapter, first person point of view to smoothly recreate the action and details of these events from over a thousand years ago. I love first person POV, it brings a level of familiarity that isn’t found in other point of views. Mercedes is so expert at bringing the culture and daily life of people born over a millennia ago to life. The scene setting leaves nothing to be desired, dialogue is wonderful and the characters seem so real and alive. You are going to love this book, there is action, intrigue, international politics, romance and horses. Something for almost everyone. I give “The Sons of Godwine” a score of 4.9 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Sons-Godwine-Great-Saxon-Earls-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-sons-of-godwine https://www.amazon.co.uk/the-Sons-of-Godwine You can follow the author: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorRochelle http://www.mercedesrochelle.com http://www.mercedesrochelle.net I have reviewed other books by this author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/godwine-kingmaker-part-one-of-the-last-great-saxon-earls-by-mercedes-rochelle https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-rivalry-by-mercedes-rochelle https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/a-king-under-siege-book-one-of-the-plantagenet-legacy-by-mercedes-rochelle https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-kings-retribution https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-usurper-king https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-accursed-king www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-agincourt-king Tags: history, biography, fiction, medieval, European, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Normandy, historical, biographical, Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-volume, multi-genre author and poet, Tolu’ A. Akinyemi introduces us to his collection of short stories about men, women and relationships, “Inferno of Silence”: The first collection of short stories by this multitalented author entwines everyday events that are articulated in excellent storytelling. The title story “Inferno of Silence” portrays men’s societal challenges and the unspoken truths and burdens that men bear, while “Black lives Matter” shows the firsthand trauma of a man facing racism as a footballer plying his trade in Europe. Stories range from “Return Journey” where we encounter a techpreneur/ Poet/Serial Womanizer confronting consequences of his past actions, to “Blinded by Silence,” where a couple united by love must face a political upheaval changing their fortune. These are completed with stories of relationships: “Trouble in Umudike” – about family wealth and marriage; “Everybody don Kolomental” where the main character deals with mental health issues; and “In the Trap of Seers” when one’s life is on auto-reverse with the death of her confidante, her mother, as she takes us through her ordeal and journey to redemption. This is a broad and very inclusive collection.  Reading these stories was very interesting. I enjoyed the vicarious involvement in the lives of primarily Nigerian characters in the stories. Other than a short hop from Spain, across the Straits of Gibraltar, to a small town in Morocco, I have never been in Africa. I know that experience does not represent the entire continent in any. I was surprised and not surprised to learn men face many of the same challenges around the world. I could relate to a lot of the experiences from my own life. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a good reading experience on multiple levels. I award 4.5 stars to “Inferno of Silence”.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Inferno-Silence-Tolu-Akinyemi-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-inferno-of-silence https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inferno-of-silence-tolu-a-akinyemi https://www.kobo.com/inferno-of-silence https://books.apple.com/inferno-of-silence You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/toluakinyemi https://www.tolutoludo.com/index.html https://www.facebook.com/ToluAAkinyemi/ https://www.instagram.com/tolutoludo/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/toluakenyemi Africa, Nigeria, Nigerian, men, women, relationships, technology, marriage, family, airplane, flying, business, religion Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction |
Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
March 2025
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