Subscribe to blog via Email

Raisie Bay

book review

Kids Knit – Kerry Kimber. Book Review

by 15 Comments

Kids Knit is a fabulous new book by Kerry Kimber which is coming out in October.

Publisher: Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd 
ISBN: 9781784945824 
Number of pages: 128 
Dimensions: 275 x 215 mm

Kids Knit: 20 Projects with Fun Techniques to Learn (Paperback) £12.99

Kerry Kimber (author)

Low Stock available on Amazon for £9.99

The Blurb

Knitting for All: Kids Knit is a stylish and aspirational book containing age and stage appropriate knitting techniques and patterns. The projects enable children to learn the basics of knitting and start creating simple items very quickly. Kids Knit has beautiful photography, knitting jokes and activities and attractive illustrations. The start of each level contains photographed step-by-step tutorials covering new skills to make learning straightforward.

My Review of Kids Knit

pages from the book kids knit.
Pages from the book

I can’t knit, well I can a bit now thanks to this book. Boo was interested in learning so I decided to learn with her. I do remember my Mum trying to teach me to knit when I was young, but she gave up on me, or I gave up because it was too difficult.

We bought a set of different sized knitting needles from Amazon. I bought beginners needles made from bamboo. It took a while but following the instructions in the book we were both casting on and learning how to knit.

It was very slow, in particular for Boo who has to do everything perfectly. But we were soon making progress. Boo’s next wish is to make this owl. I’ll let you know how she gets on with it.

Kids knit owl instructions

The book is very aspirational containing age appropriate knitting techniques and patterns. It’s perfect for beginners and they can start learning the basics and be amazed at what they are suddenly able to make from these basics. One they’re ready they can move on to colour changes and complex shapes and textures.

The book has beautiful photography and also includes attractive illustrations, knitting jokes and activities. There are step-by-step tutorials which make learning very straightforward.

While Did the Owl invite his friends over?….. He didn’t want to be owl by himself!

There are 20 projects in this book each in level up sections:

  • woven pouch
  • frog
  • fingerless mittens
  • monster hand puppet
  • tufty owlet
  • rose
  • bunting flags
  • stripy cup cuddle
  • bean bag
  • teddy
  • bag
  • cockerel egg cosy
  • cat ears
  • sleepy puppy
  • hedgehog
  • beanie
  • little fiels mouse
  • jewelled crown
  • ladybird
  • ornamental cacti

It really is a fabulous book and I believe even those that do not have a clue how to knit will soon be making amazing creations.

This post contains affiliate links which may earn me some money if you use them but won’t cost you anything more. Thank you for your support.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo – Christy Lefteri

by 4 Comments

Book Review of the Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

The beekeeper of Aleppo book cover
£6.99 at Waterstones.

The Blurb

In the midst of war, he found love In the midst of darkness, he found courage In the midst of tragedy, he found hope.

Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all – and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face – they must journey to find each other again.

Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling. 

My Review of the Beekeeper of Aleppo

I found this such a moving and enlightening story. It’s so hard to imagine the horrors of living in a country torn apart by war and seeing all you love and care for destroyed.

It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to travel across the world facing danger at every step to try and find some kind of hope, a future free from pain and fear.

This is exactly what Christy Lefteri does, imagine. And she brings it to us in such an eloquent way, we feel the fear and pain along with Nuri and Afra, and the others touched along the way. How can she tell such a story if it didn’t happen to her? Her research is extensive, not only did she work in camps for refugees in Greece and hear of many true stories, she also went to see what it was like working with the bees. The story may not be true, but there is truth in every twist and turn.

I was worried, being quite a sensitive person, that it would be too much to digest, but Christy never meant this to be a horror story. It is, in fact, ultimately a love story. And although their are horrors to be told, they are presented in a way not to shock, but to evoke a deeper emotion.

The Audio Book Edition

I prefer to listen to my books on Audible and this is how I read The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

audio book cover of The Beekeeper of Aleppo

I think Art Malik was a great choice for the narrator. It says through the book that Nuri speaks good English, and Art Malik certainly does. His voice managed to portray the pain and sensitivity, and the touch of madness that we discover from Nuri. I cried more than once, I caught my breathe, I felt the pain. But all the time, it was the gentleness of the story which helped me get through it.

At only 8 hour and 37 minutes, the story is quite short and I listened to it fast. I was keen to know what happened to Nuri and Afra next. I worried constantly for Mohammed and wondered if he would return. The ending was perfect, even though it wasn’t totally conclusive. I think it proved the real meaning behind the story.

I think this is the best book I’ve read this year.

Disclosure: I bought The Beekeeper of Aleppo for myself and all my thoughts and opinions are my own. However, I have included affiliate links in my post. This means that if you click a link and go on to purchase, it will cost you no more but may earn me a little cash. Thank you.

Build Your Own History Museum – Review and Competition

by 2 Comments

Build Your Own History Museum is classed on the Lonely Planet Kids website as a boredom buster, and we all need those for our kids right now. But as well as being a boredom buster it’s also full of interactive and fun learning. See my review below and how you can win one of two copies yourself.

Build Your own museum book cover
ISBN: 9781788689403
Writers: Lonely Planet Kids, Claudia Martin
24 pages, 24pp color | Dimensions: 282mm × 259mm

Build Your Own Museum – The Blurb

Suitable for children ages 6-8

Calling all archaeologists!

A crate has arrived for you and it’s packed with treasures from the ancient world! Can you assemble them and assign each to the right room in time for the museum’s big opening? Among the treasures to display are an Egyptian sarcophagus, a Greek temple and a Chinese Terracotta Army.

Fun, interactive and with lots of facts to discover, Lonely Planet Kids’ Build Your Own History Museum is a hands-on way to learn about ancient people, cultures and traditions. It’s packed with amazing facts and awesome illustrations that reveal how people all over the world once lived and worked.

Perfect for history fans of all ages, this follow-up to Build Your Own Dinosaur Museum features the ancient civilizations Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Egypt, Greece, China, Rome, the Maya, and the Vikings.

Our Review

My Little Man is 9 years old so a little older than the recommended age group. However, he still found this book fun and informative and still needed a little help putting it together.

history museum inside cover
Archaeological finds

The book comes in two sections. At the front you have a whole heap of archaeological finds which are cardboard cut outs.

They fit together on the relevant pages of the rest of the book to create a complete history museum.

cut outs

From Ancient People, , Egypt, China, Rome, Vikings, and others you can learn in short bursts about their life and treasures and then go ahead and fill in the pages with 3D exhibits. The end result is a stunning fold out museum.

3D viking long boat
3D Viking Long Boat

Our Verdict on Build Your Own History Museum

I loved this book so much, it contains just the right amount of information to keep the younger ones entertained and learning. Then they can bring the book to life just by pushing out the cardboard pieces and building the exhibits themselves. It’s educational and fun, the best kind of book.

If I had any criticism it would be that the pieces are a little fiddly to fit in. I had to help my Little Man and he is 9 years. If I was to be fair, he is autistic and a impatient, but even I found it a little fiddly.

The good thing is, the exhibits do stay put once they are inserted and you end up with a pop-up book that you’ve made yourself. All kids love a pop up book and it’s exciting to be a part of making it.

Competition

I have two copies of this lovely book to give away to my readers. You can buy it from Lonely Planet Kids for £14.99 if you don’t want to wait or enter the competition.

Here’s the widget

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

  • The competition prize is one of 2 books
  • The winner must be living in the UK
  • No information is collected other than for contacting the winner
  • The prize cannot be exchanged for cash
  • The competition starts on 9th May 2020 and ends 6th June 2020
  • Prize winner will be selected from the widget.
  • Not all parts of the competition need to be completed, but you need to have completed the part you have been selected for if you win.
  • Winners will be contacted by e-mail
  • Prizes will be posted out as soon as possible depending on restrictions of lock down at end of competition.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review and two for the competition. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am also an affiliate for Lonely Planet and my links to their website may earn me a little money if you decide to buy anything from them. Thank you for your support.

Rewind – Book Review

by 1 Comment

Sometimes, chilling out with a YA book is the only way to go and Rewind is perfect for this. Ok, I know I’m not a Young Adult, in fact, the last time I looked in the mirror I appeared to have turned into a rather mature adult in what it seems to be overnight. However, I do have teens in the house and I like to encourage them into new reading material were possible and of course review it first.

When I heard about Rewind, by Carolyn O’ Doherty I was more than intrigued. This really is my kind of story. I like the idea of having unusual powers, I’m a big fan of The Umbrella Academy, so the characters in this book, called Spinners, really appealed to me. First, Let’s introduce the book, it’s the first of a trilogy.

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Highlights; Reprint edition (7 Oct. 2019)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1684373727
  • ISBN-13: 978-1684373727
  • Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 1.7 x 22.9 cm

The Blurb

Sixteen-year-old Alex Manning has a rare gift: She’s a spinner who can freeze and even rewind time. Hated and feared, spinners are housed in Centers, where they are carefully monitored and medicated. They are let outside for only one purpose: to use their gift to help solve crimes. When Alex is secretly offered an experimental treatment to prolong her life, she suddenly sees a future for herself – no spinner has lived past twenty. But the drugh also brings with it an ability that would terrify the world and put other spinners in danger. Do the benefits outweigh the risk?

My Verdict on Rewind

This is a definite page turner. right from the start you are thrown into a crime scene. Can Alex help her detective find the bomb and get it made safe before it blows up the City Hall. It makes for a fascinating first chapter.

We then learn about Spinners, and in particular the ones in the Center where Alex lives. But Alex, despite knowing she doesn’t have long left to live, is determined to help her detective find the mastermind behind a lot of crime in the city. She’s quite enamored with her detective and wants to do all she can to help. So when he offers her a chance to carry on living with the aid of a new drug she is ready to take him up on it. Only confiding in her closest friend at the center, also a Spinner.

The story is fast past moving from action scene to action scene but also allowing for relationships to be described and developed.

The book keeps you guessing who are the good guys, who are the bad guys, who can Alex really trust? Even towards the end there are some uncertainties and a whole new adventure about to begin. I can’t wait to read the second book.

Overall I found this a very satisfying page turner and I’m hoping my teen feels the same.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for the purpose of my review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Warrior Queens Book Review

by 7 Comments

Warrior Queens book cover
Warrior Queens £16.99
  • Hardcover: 160 pages
  • Author: Vicky Alvear Shecter
  • Illustrator: Bill Mayer
  • Age Range: 8 – 12 years
  • Publisher: Boyd Mills Press
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-13: 978-1629796796
  • Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 1.8 x 21.7 cm

The Blurb

They Were Rebels, Renegade – And Royal

Thousands of years ago, Hatsheput, Artemisia, Amanirenas, the Trung sisters, Boudicca, and Zenobia ruled with savvy and ruthlessness. From 1492 BCE in Egypt to 269 CE in Syria, each queen seized her moment of power and fought for her land, her people, and her own glory. Loyal, brave and fierce, these bold women defeated enemies on the seas and rode into battle on elephants and in chariots. They proved that even in eras of male domination, women could, and did, fight to victory – or to the death. Although history may have tried to erase many of their accomplishments, these warrior queens prevailed. Now their stories fascinate anew in Vicky Alvear Shecters informative and witty accounts.

Our Verdict

There is nothing more empowering to young girls than to hear of women who have been strong and fought for everything. This book looks at six of the fiercest queens in history, uncovering a lot of things that are not often highlighted. Most of the historical events were recorded by men and as women were already oppressed during these times, the men did not like to record their victories accurately. However, modern scholars and archaeologists have been able to fill in some of these holes.

Vicky Alvear Schecter records these findings with wit and vivid detail, making each chapter a very interesting read. Captivating to all youngsters and proof that women can be just as powerful as men.

Illustrations

page illustration

The book is full of lovely black and white illustrations by Bill Mayer, which are really impressive. There are also plenty of black and white photos of artifacts and excavation sites. These really help to bring the stories to life.

History is a compelling subject and this will interest any young historian, help with understanding school work, and give both young girls and boys an interesting view on the women of the past.

Read more of our book reviews in Raisie Bay’s library.

Disclosure: We were sent this book for review and it is available from most good bookstores. Please note the links in this review are affiliate links and although they will cost you nothing to click they may earn me a little cash. So thank you.

Bookworms monthly
#KLTR