Our Library - Book Reviews

Last But Not Least Lola

December 19, 2018 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

This week Boo was introduced to Lola Zuckerman

Lola Zuckerman’s name is a big problem because she’s always Z-for-Zuckerman last.

Lola always seems to be getting herself into trouble despite her best efforts not to. She’s a love able character that will appeal to all youngsters who are just starting to read independently. Aimed at 7 to 10 years old the books have short chapters with fun illustrations.

We were sent three books to review.

Last-But-Not-Least Lola Going Green

Lola Zuckerman hates being last for everything. If only she were Lola Adams or Lola Appleby or anything but Z for Zuckerman. And she is having a particularly hard time right now. Her best friend Amanda Anderson is now her ex-best friend. Her grandparents have moved back to Texas, and her mother is launching a new career. Why is everything always changing? What would make things much, much better is if Lola were to win the Going-Green Contest at school and beat Amanda Anderson, who is determined to win first place too. How can Lola, who is always last, prove that she’s not least? This first book in the Last-But-Not-Least Lola series is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming, and intensely satisfying story about the importance of friendship and creative problem-solving.

Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Cupcake Queens

Lola’s mom is home but not home, because she’s frantically working all the time. Lola’s friends are here but not here as allegiances among the foursome change faster than you can forget your lines for a school play. Lola means well but can’t help acting on her emotions and getting into trouble. She’ll need to dig for bravery as she deals with a possible ghost next door, stage fright, and, hardest of all, making amends with her friends. In this heartwarming tale, Lola is braver than she thinks, and her friendships are stronger than she realizes.

Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Wild Chicken

Lola’s back! She patched things up with frenemy Amanda Anderson, but it’s not happily ever after for these two best friends, at least not yet. Lola doesn’t want to share Amanda, especially not with Jessie, who seems to be around . . . all the time. Can there be more than two best friends? And what does a wild chicken have to do with anything? Hint: The answer involves a class trip to a farm. When Lola is around, you never know what will happen next. This second book in Christine Pakkala’s dynamic series is sure to capture the hearts of readers who love a spunky heroine and some unexpected antics.

Our Verdict

Boo has really enjoyed reading these books, they have captured her imagination and ignited her love of reading independently.

Disclosure: We were sent these books for free in return for our promotion. The links in this post are affiliate links which will cost you no more but may earn me a little money if you use them. Thank you.

Audibles Best Biographies and Memoirs

November 29, 2018 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

Do you like finding out more about celebrities, hearing about the real person? These audiobooks are Audibles latest offerings in celebrity Biographies and Memoirs.

Michelle Obama – A Life

Audible – £28.09 or free with a 30 day trial of Audible

By: Peter Slevin
Narrated by: Robin Miles
Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 18-08-15
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios

An inspiring story of a modern American icon, here is the first comprehensive account of the life and times of Michelle Obama. With disciplined reporting and a storyteller’s eye for revealing detail, Peter Slevin follows Michelle to the White House from her working-class childhood on Chicago’s largely segregated South Side. He illuminates her tribulations at Princeton University and Harvard Law School during the racially charged 1980s and the dilemmas she faced in Chicago while building a high-powered career, raising a family, and helping a young community organizer named Barack Obama become president of the United States.

From the lessons she learned in Chicago to the messages she shares as one of the most recognizable women in the world, the story of this first lady is the story of America. Michelle Obama: A Life is a fresh and compelling view of a woman of unique achievement and purpose.

©2015 Peter Slevin (P)2015 Audible, Inc

Mel B – Brutally Honest

Brutally Honest – Mel B

Audible – £18.99 or free with a 30 day trial of Audible

By: Melanie Brown
Narrated by: Melanie Brown, Phoenix Chi Gulzar Brown, Andrea Brown, Zaraah Abrahams, Bruce Lester Johnson
Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 27-11-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios

Please note that this audiobook contains explicit language and content some listeners may find distressing.

The memoir from the real woman behind the leopard print, for real women everywhere.
As one-fifth of the iconic Spice Girls and judge on X Factor and America’s Got Talent, Melanie Brown, aka Scary Spice, has been an international star since the age of 19. And yet there are sides of Mel that no one has ever seen or really known.
Brutally Honest is an exposé of the struggles and acute pain that lay behind the glamour and success. With deep personal insight, remarkable frankness and Melanie’s trademark Yorkshire humour, this audiobook removes the mask of fame and reveals the mother, wife and daughter behind the Spice Girl everyone thinks they know.
The audiobook edition features narration from Melanie, her daughter, Phoenix, and her mother, Andrea.

©2018 Melanie Brown and Louise Gannon (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Robert Webb – How Not to Be a Boy

Audible – £19.99 0r free with a 30 day trial of Audible

By: Robert Webb
Narrated by: Robert Webb
Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 29-08-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios

Rules for Being a Man:

Don’t cry
Love sport
Play rough
Drink beer
Don’t talk about feelings

But Robert Webb has been wondering for some time now: are those rules actually any use? To anyone?
Looking back over his life, from schoolboy crushes (on girls and boys) to discovering the power of making people laugh (in the Cambridge Footlights with David Mitchell), and from losing his beloved mother to becoming a husband and father, Robert Webb considers the absurd expectations boys and men have thrust upon them at every stage of life. Hilarious and heartbreaking, How Not to Be a Boy explores the relationships that made Robert who he is as a man, the lessons we learn as sons and daughters, and the understanding that sometimes you aren’t the Luke Skywalker of your life – you’re actually Darth Vader.

Giles and Mary – A Tale of Two Nobodies

By: Mary Killen, Giles Wood
Narrated by: Mary Killen, Giles Wood
Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-11-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios

What is life for Gogglebox‘s Giles and Mary outside the willow-patterned cocoon?
Giles is a countryman who relishes solitude. His wife, Mary, thrives in company and enjoys frequent escapes to London.
After 30 years in a marriage of opposites, Giles and Mary have adapted to a life of domestic misunderstandings within comical misadventures.
In The Diary of Two Nobodies, you will have the unique opportunity to discover, first hand, what occurs when a man who sees himself as a cross between Mr Bean and Basil Fawlty shares his life with a woman who identifies closely with the Queen.
Accompanying this diary is a candid and amusing Audible Sessions interview with Giles and Mary, in which they discuss how they made it onto Gogglebox, what the most annoying things about each other are, and why ‘nutty’ is their go-to term of endearment.

Audible – £13.99 or free with a 30 day trial of Audible.

This post contains affiliate links because I am an Audible affiliate. I’m also a huge fan of Audible and love receiving my new audio book every month for just £7.99 You can choose anything, I have a six volume set of Sherlock Holmes in my collection which would have cost nearly £70 if I were not a member.

Since I got sick my eyesight is troublesome. I’ve tried the opticians and have reading glasses, but although they help they don’t stop the tiredness I get in my eyes.

I would have to give up reading but since I discovered Audible I’ve devoured more books than I have done in ages. I love it! And the best thing is, I can carry on listening to my books while crocheting or even doing to the housework. You don’t have to put your book down to make a cup of tea, just take it with you in your ears.

If you join audible or buy a book from my list you’ll be helping me to add to my listening collection with no extra cost to you, so thank you in advance.

Transport and Animals Activity Books

November 29, 2018 by Anne Sweet Leave a Comment

What could be a better stocking filler this Christmas than an activity book or two. They are great for keeping the kids occupied on visits to relatives or restaurants, or to enjoy at any time. My kids love activity books, they are the best boredom busters and can be taken anywhere.

Today I’m bringing you two books from the fabulous Alain Gree, Transport and Animals.

Transport Activity Book

This entertaining transport-themed activity book will be very popular with any child that loves things that go! Activities include spot the difference, colouring in and other engaging puzzles to keep children busy for hours on end.

front cover of activity book for children showing images of transport such as bus, car, aeroplane and bike. — Transport Activity Book by Alain Gree

Publisher: Button Books
ISBN: 9781787080225
Number of pages: 64
Dimensions: 295 x 220 mm

Animal Activity Book

This fabulous animal-themed activity book will keep young children entertained for hours. The pages are packed with all sorts of beastly business, including dot to dots, spot the difference, colouring in and mazes.

My Verdict

I love that these books are so packed with fun activities. Each page is full of colourful illustrations which invite the child to join in. The books have 64 pages so there is plenty to do. In the middle of each book are four pages of stickers which the child can use in the books to complete to puzzles and pictures.

Puzzle page from the Animal Activity book, showing a snake shaped animal race game, a Jungle pals word search and two animal jokes — A puzzle page from Animal Activity Book

At £7.99 each book you will get hours of entertainment for your child, and while they are having fun they will be learning too. The books will engage the child with the lovely illustrations and fun puzzles while teaching them skills such as problem solving, counting, observational and motor.

The books require some reading and writing skills so would be suitable for children who have those. There are also pictures to colour and the stickers which can be enjoyed by all children.

a page from the transport activity book showing a rocked activity, some boat sums and a map reading activity — A page from the Transport Activity Book

Disclosure: I was sent these books in return for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links

Discover Our Solar System

November 24, 2018 by Anne Sweet 3 Comments

Author: Colin Stuart
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Button Books (7 Oct. 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1787080164
Product Dimensions: 24.8 x 1.1 x 24.8 cm

The Blurb

Sit back, buckle up and get ready to enjoy a cosmic tour of our amazing solar system! Inside this illustrated guide you’ll discover the incredible things that make up the solar system and how it came into existence. While you marvel at the beauty of the planets and our Sun and Moon, you can learn astonishing facts about them. You’ll also find out exactly what dwarf planets are, and the differences between asteroids, comets, meteors, meteoroids and meteorites. Plus you can delve into the fascinating history of space and travel and glimpse what the future may hold. With all this and much more, you’re sure to come away from your journey with an even greater sense of awe at the wonders above us.

inside the book, Discover our solar system.