Probably one of the most controversial topics still in the book publishing industry is the idea of an author (or publicist) paying for a review of their book. It’s an offshoot of the self-publishing versus publishing industry argument that comes from the old vanity presses of the past. A vanity press, for the younger readers, […]
In a world where there are so many online links and published books about crochet generally and amigurumi specifically, Vincent Green-Hite’s book stands out. The basics of crochet, including choosing yarns and full-color stitch directions, start the book off similarly to others, but then it digresses. While most books feature general animals or foods or […]
Opening Bite-Sized French Pastries for the Beginner Baker is like opening the door to a world of marvelous, mouth-watering desserts. The first thing that caught my attention was the gorgeous color photos that accompany each recipe. As someone who loves to bake and has baked since childhood, French pastries are something I have never dabbled […]
In After Meat: The Case for an Amazing, Meat-Free World, Karthik Sekar makes a strong case for the likelihood of humanity eschewing animal technology (i.e., the use of animals for food, clothing, medicine, or cosmetics) in the relatively near future. Rather than animal products, it will be possible to rely on food stuffs and goods […]
“Harnessing the gifts of neurodiversity promises businesses in different industries a leading edge in innovative and creative problem-solving. Dismantling groupthink is especially important in an increasingly competitive economic landscape. Dunne shares a compelling case for sustaining inclusive, supportive work cultures that embrace a strengths-based approach to cognitive diversity. Companies will benefit from enhancing their organizational […]
As a French journalist with Polish forbears, Piotr Smolar’s memoir details his peripatetic career, serving as a reporter for years in Moscow, in Washington, and as the Le Monde senior representative in Jerusalem. Most recently, he writes from Gaza, providing a forceful, emotional new introduction, voicing strong disapproval for Israel’s right-wing action. Hersh Smolar, his […]
With its inviting title, I was looking forward to reading a condensed, hopefully enriched treatise on learning to appreciate and further understand art. Unfortunately, this sample is disappointing. In a conversational text style with lots of irritating but supposedly clever quips in the script, the book starts off on a solid basis. First defining what […]
I’ve loved the Peanuts comic strip ever since I was a child, This graphic novel added laughter to my day as I remembered the shenanigans Snoopy and the Peanuts gang would get themselves into. Snoopy’s Beagle Scout Tales is a compilation of five stories plus four Classic Peanuts comic strips from Charles Schultz. From food […]
In the second book in the delightful The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class series, we meet Rohan, another engaging third-grader with big dreams. When Mrs. Z announces a school fundraiser for a new garden, entrepreneurial Rohan sees his chance to launch a pet-sitting business. But there’s just one issue: he’s never actually taken care of […]
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan is a good book, but also kind of confusing to younger readers. A young Native American girl named Summer goes to spend her summer vacation with her mother’s family in Canada on the reservation. Along the way, she encounters an old woman and starts to have strange dreams. These dreams […]
Action-packed, exciting, and full of surprises, Lizard Larson and the Time Keeper by Gary Natoli is an excellent book choice for middle school and early teenage readers. Told from the perspective of Elizabeth Larson, otherwise known as Lizard, readers are in for a memorable adventure through multiple universes and dimensions of time! Fourteen-year-old Lizard is […]
