Gemma and the Giant Girl

author: Sara O'Leary
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/08
date added: 2022/03/08
shelves: childrens
review:
'Gemma and The Giant Girl' by Sara O'Leary with illustrations by Marie Lafrance is a picture book about a doll discovering the world is a lot bigger than she thought.

Gemma is a doll that lives in a forgotten doll house with her family until one day a giant girl finds the dollhouse and starts making changes. Gemma has a chance to see the world, but what will her reaction be?

I liked this gentle story about a little person who has to deal with some big changes. The illustrations are delightful.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/V16eoZu

The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills Cycle, #1)

author: Nghi Vo
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/06
date added: 2022/03/06
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'The Empress of Salt and Fortune' by Nghu Vo is the first novella in The Singing Hills Cycle and was the February pick for my online book club.

It's an engaging book and written well, but left me with more impressions of story than actual story. I liked the descriptions of objects and the storytelling nature of the book. The characters are interesting and I like the lesson of underestimating people.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/qXoPIlS

Marsden Hartley's Maine

author: Donna Cassidy
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/06
date added: 2022/03/06
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Marsden Hartley's Maine' by Donna Cassidy, Randall Griffey and Elizabeth Finch is an exhibit gallery focusing on the work centered in Maine by Marsden Hartley.

Marsden Hartley was a modernist painter and poet who came from Maine and eventually tried to become famous for that, but fame seemed elusive during his life. His painting has heavy lines and vibrant colors and the paint is layered on the canvas. Among the multiple essays includes one about his poetry as well as one investigating his painting style.

I confess to knowing little about Marsden Hartley before reading this book. His painting style is not one I find particularly interesting, but I have a new appreciation for his work and life after reading this book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Yale University Press, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/iXYxWyo

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/06
date added: 2022/03/06
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Ruth Bader Ginsburg' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Judit Orosz is volume 66 in the Little People, Big Dreams series for young readers.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an iconic role model and this book tells her story from when she was little to her rise to the Supreme Court. Her mother taught her to be independent and she excelled as a student and a law professor, but it is her role as a Supreme Court justice that she will be most remembered for.

I like the illustration style and this series. As always, included at the back is a series of facts and real pictures that are always just as interesting as the people featured in this series.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/5eOq0hv

Cranky Chicken

author: Katherine Battersby
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/06
date added: 2022/03/06
shelves: childrens, graphic-novels
review:
'Cranky Chicken' with story and art by Katherine Battersby is a graphic novel for young readers about a particularly grumpy chicken.

In this hilarious novel, we meet a cranky chicken who meets a worm and they become friends. The worm tries to understand what makes the chicken so cranky and the chicken finds less to be cranky about.

I think kids will get a kick out of this story and root for worm and chicken. The illustrations are simple but well done. I recommend it for young readers.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/K0OwtrH

Alabaster: Pale Horse

author: Caitlín R. Kiernan
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2014/10/05
date added: 2022/03/05
shelves:
review:
'Alabaster: Pale Horse' by Caitlin Kiernan collects a series of stories about her character Dancy Flammarion. There are illustrations throughout the book by Ted Naifeh.

Dancy is a young albino girl who is tasked by an angel to dispatch evil in the world. Specifically in the Southern U.S. She seems small and unable to perform the tasks. Her relationship with the angel seems vague, burdensome, and almost hallucinatory. Her travels find her on foot, being kidnapped by travelers, and in spooky places like abandoned buildings and dangerous gas stations. Throughout, she is threatened and unhelped, and yet she endures.

I liked the order the stories were presented in. The reader will have to discover that for themselves. Caitlin Kiernan provides some interesting history for where the character came from. The drawings by Ted Naifeh are a bit different from his work on Courtney Crumrin, but not wholly dissimilar. The stories are very much of a place, but I hesitate to use the term Southern Gothic to describe them. The stories are well written and this is a very interesting character. I enjoyed these stories and I'd like to read more by this author.

I was given a review copy of this ebook by Diamond Book Distributors, Dark Horse and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this really good collection of stories.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/J0xjSs1

The Legend of Brightblade

author: Ethan M. Aldridge
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/03/01
date added: 2022/03/01
shelves: graphic-novels, young-adult
review:
'The Legend of Brightblade' with story and art by Ethan M. Aldridge is a graphic novel about a young man finding his way in the world.

Prince Alto comes from a line of heroes, especially his own mother Lady Brightblade. The bard that fought by her side is training Alto, and that is what he wants to be. His mother does not approve and that forces Alto to run away. His journey finds him in strange new company, and he might even end up being a hero of sorts too.

I liked this story of striking out on your own to pursue the thing you are good at. I liked the odd characters the story brings along the way, and even though the story feels a bit predictable, I enjoyed the journey. The art has an interesting look to it also.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read https://ift.tt/VZ3ItmW