Florence Nightingale

author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.52
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/04/28
date added: 2022/04/28
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Florence Nightingale' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Kelsey Garrity-Riley tells the story of Florence Nightingale in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series.

Florence was British but named after the city she was born in. She was lucky enough to get a good education, but always gravitated towards the hospitals and the sick and injured. Her family didn't want her to be a nurse, but, thankfully, she persisted.

It's another stellar entry in a jewel of a series. The illustrations are classic storybook perfect this time around.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Gloria Steinem

author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/28
date added: 2022/04/28
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Gloria Steinem' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Lucila Perini is another entry in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series.

Gloria Steinem grew up in Ohio with an older sister. Her family travelled around in a trailer and she learned that people were equal, no matter what their gender was, but found that the world didn't think the same way. She was inspired by the women in her life who came before her to become a reporter.

As ever, this series never fails to impress. The art choices almost always seem to be spot on for the prose and that goes for this title as well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Bountiful Garden TPB

author: Ivy Noelle Weir
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/28
date added: 2022/04/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Bountiful Garden' by Ivy Noelle Weir with art by Kelly Williams is a graphic novel about a deep space exploration with a team of teenage scientists.

A group of deep space explorers, referred to by their job title, is suddenly awakened out of deep sleep by their ship stopping near a planet. The crew has to fix their stalled ship, but also they want to explore the nearby planet. As seems to be the way in these stories, things don't go well.

I liked this creepy story of space exploration. The characters are decent, but not deeply explored and serve their roles fairly stereotypically. The art has a quality that is not my favorite but does work fine for the story at hand.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Mad Cave, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Telemachus 1. In Search of Ulysses

author: Kid Toussaint
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/24
date added: 2022/04/24
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Telemachus 1: In Search of Ulysses' by Kid Toussaint with art by Kenny Ruiz is a graphic novel for younger readers about the son of Ulysses.

Ulysses is a great warrior, but not the best father. Now he is off on the Odyssey and his son Telemachus thinks he is in danger, plus things at home are getting weird with suitors showing up to woo his mom, so he decides to go find his father. Along the way, he picks up some interesting companions to help him out.

This is a fun, adventurous story and has some good art. A young reader might even accidentally learn some things about the Trojan War along the way.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Hiccups: Fun Stories Vol. 1

author: Miguel Martinez-Joffre
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/24
date added: 2022/04/24
shelves: childrens, graphic-novels
review:
'Hiccups: Fun Stories' by with stories and art by Miguel Martinez-Joffre is a graphic novel full of fun stories.

In different stories featuring pairs of friends, we meet characters like Sheriff Rattatan and Deputy Pancho on the case of the missing nacho. Luz and Sato are a young witch and her ghost dog finding a missing ingredient for Luz to make a love potion.

These all feel like decent pilot ideas for cartoons and work fine for kids comics. The nacho story ran a bit too long for me, but the stories and art would be a fun read for kids.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Action Lab Entertainment, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Unicorn Selfies: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure

author: Dana Simpson
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/20
date added: 2022/04/20
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Unicorn Selfies (Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventures)' by Dana Simpson is another collection of great comics in this series.

This time around Phoebe learns what it's like to live without a shadow. Marigold is nervous about an impending family reunion and takes Phoebe for support. Phoebe also learns that some unicorns think she and other humans are a myth.

This series has maintained a consistent quality over sustained time and I commend the author on that. The art and humor are great and there are always new original ideas.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Bear and the Whisper of the Wind

author: Marianne Dubuc
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.70
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/19
date added: 2022/04/19
shelves: childrens
review:
'Bear and the Whisper of the Wind' with words and pictures by Marianne Dubuc is a picture book about a bear with a seemingly idyllic life who feels the need to find more.

Bear is happy in his home with his friends and eating strawberry pie. That is until the day the wind whispers to him and calls him on. He isn't sure what he is looking for and even finds new friends, but he knows he will know it when he finds it.

I liked this very different story for children about understanding yourself enough to trust your instincts. It has a wistfulness that is quiet and contemplative. The illustrations are very nice and fit the mood and flow of the story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Princeton Architectural Press and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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My Life in Smiley (Book 2 in Smiley series): I Got This!

author: Anne Kalicky
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.67
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/19
date added: 2022/04/19
shelves: childrens
review:
'My Life in Smiley Book 2: I Got this' by Anne Kalicky is the second book in the middle school series about Max and his friends.

Summer vacation has ended and Max is now in seventh grade. He has a crush on a girl, and he's making new friends. His best friend Tom, is acting strange. Can he find a way to get the girl to like him, start a new business with his new friend and figure out what's going on with Tom in the space of a school year?

I didn't read the first book, but I enjoyed reading this one and remembering what it was like to be in 7th grade, and this book seems to capture it in a fine way. The story is told like a journal and the pages turn quickly.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Batman: The Detective

author: Tom Taylor
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/04/13
date added: 2022/04/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman: The Detective' by Tom Taylor with art by Andy Kubert is a graphic novel about someone out to prove something to Batman.

Batman has saved a lot of people in his time as the Dark Knight, but when a tragedy in London turns out to be related to the people that Batman has saved, he decides to investigate personally. He finds someone who wants to reset equilibrium in Batman's world, but can they be stopped.

This is an older Batman who is set in his ways and has even less people around him. He is a bit more reflective, but no less lethal. I really liked this story and the absolutely amazing art by Andy Kubert.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2

author: Chris Samnee
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.54
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/13
date added: 2022/04/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2' by Chris Samnee and Laura Samnee is a graphic novel that continues the adventures of Jonna and Rainbow as they try to find their father.

The girls find a weird hidden city and don't find it hospitable. Jonna gets captured, caged, and finds herself fighting monsters (which she is good at). Meanwhile, Rainbow tries to find Jonna and food, but not necessarily in that order. This volume also includes a flashback to the time right before everything changed.

This is a fun series with really great art. While there is less of Jonna doing what she does best this time around, it was nice to have some focus on Rainbow.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Marsupilami: The Beast

author: Zidrou
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/27
date added: 2022/04/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Marsupilami: The Beast' by Zidrou with art by Frank Pe is a graphic novel about a really strange animal and the small boy who finds it.

The story takes place in 1955 in post-war Belgium. A strange unseen animal with a really long tail terrorizes a cargo ship and ends up stranded. It is found by a small boy who collects animals of all types, including a beer drinking horse. Will this new creature get along with the others or will it make them all a meal?

I am familiar with drawings of the original Marsupilami, but I never read the comics. This is a reboot that seems pretty different than those, but I found the story engaging and the characters were good. The art was kind of a caricature style, but I liked it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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101 Video Games to Play Before You Grow Up: The unofficial must-play video game list for kids

author: Ben Bertoli
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/04
date added: 2022/04/04
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:



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Doris' Dear Delinquents

author: Emma Ward
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/04
date added: 2022/04/04
shelves: childrens
review:
'Doris' Dear Delinquents' with story and art by Emma Ward is an alphabet book about a mother with 26 unruly children.

Doris is a gharial crocodile who is busy with her misbehaving hatchlings. In alphabetical order and full of alliteration, we learn that Avery at the goldfish, Bella bit mom and so on.

This was a fun take on the alphabet and the illustrations are great. I like the look of the gharial crocodile with the extra long snout.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Clavis Publishing and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Vol. 1

author: Fumi Yoshinaga
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/04
date added: 2022/04/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Volume 1' by Fumi Yoshinaga is a manga about cooking and romance.

Shiro is a lawyer who likes to cook for his boyfriend Kenji. Shiro is frugal but manages to put together good meals. Kenji works in a hair salon with a cast of characters. Shiro's parents don't know how to act around him since he's come out, but one thing is for certain, Shiro can cook.

This was a sweet manga and I liked the characters. I also liked the practical tips on cooking and the recipes.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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Smurfs Village Behind the Wall #2: The Betrayal of SmurfBlossom

author: Peyo
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/02
date added: 2022/04/02
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Smurfs: Village Behind the Wall: The Betrayal of SmurfBlossom' with story and art by Peyo is a graphic novel that takes us back to the hidden village filled with different Smurfs.

When a contest reveals that a river is drying up, it leads the Smurfs to discover why. It leads them to the answer but solving it may be tough. It's made even tougher when one of the Smurfs tries to cover something up.

These are fun stories, and I like the addition of more female Smurf characters. The story is good and the humor and action are solid for younger readers.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from papercutz and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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World Class

author: Jay Sandlin
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.69
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2022/04/02
date added: 2022/04/02
shelves: graphic-novels, young-adult
review:
'World Class' by Jay Sandlin with art by Patrick Mulholland is a graphic novel about a young man from Columbia who has dreams of making it big in football.

Adrian Molina loves to play soccer and dreams of playing for Nottingham. When he gets a chance to join Regents United, he is hesitant because he can't afford it, but a talent agent arranges it all for him. Going to a new school in a new country is hard enough without the current star on the team, Titan Evans, giving him a hard time, but with hard work, Molina may just make it work.

This is a mostly paint by numbers sports story that telegraphs every surprise. The agent seems important, then fades into the background, and the cultural stereotypes are embarrassing. The art is fine, but the soccer matches are just like those close fight scenes in movies where you can't actually tell what is happening. This could have been better.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Maverick, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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