Field Study: Meditations on a Year at the Herbarium

Field Study is a beautifully written, poetic, and meandering memoir by Helen Humphreys on botany, land sovereignty, life, and her work and studies in herbaria and botanical collections. Released 21st Sept 2021 by ECW Press, it's 232 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

The author is an accomplished poet and, despite this being a non-fiction read, the lyrical, precise use of language belies her origins as a writer. The book is arranged around seasonal observations and activities, beginning in the winter with ruminations on herbaria, collecting, plants, ecology, and humans place in the system of things. The following seasons contain some astute (and sobering) commentary on the nature of beauty, hubris, and naturalists (Thoreau) who have traversed these trails before us. Throughout the cohesive whole, the language is uppermost. She writes very very well and this is often a joy to read. In addition to the superlative writing, the book is filled with numerous botanical drawings and mounted samples of plants.

Although layman accessible and not an academically rigorous book, the chapter notes and annotations are full of additional information and sources for further reading. 

The audiobook version has a run time of 3 hours and 15 minutes and is narrated by the author. She has a gravelly and uneven voice (voiceovers are clearly not her primary occupation), but once I got used to the cadence, and her occasional slight stumbles with some of the nomenclature, I found it a very restful listening experience. The sound and production qualities were fairly high throughout.

This is a wonderful book, and one I will revisit. It's probably something of a niche read - but for fans of nature memoirs like Helen McDonald, Thoreau, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil, it will likely be deeply satisfying.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.    

Lost Graves (Boyle & Keneally #2)

Lost Graves is the second book by S.A. Dunphy featuring criminal behaviourist Jessie Boyle and her partner Detective Seamus Keneally in an ensemble procedural. Released 24th Jan 2022, it's 362 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This book combined quite a number of disparate themes: the travellers, shadowy military operations, and a series of historical murders and disappearances. This book, as well as the first in the series, has a tie in to local paranormal folklore and legends which interfere with clear headed fact gathering and investigation by Boyle and her team. I really like the interplay between the main characters and the author does a very good job of portraying them as living breathing people, with their own quirks and foibles. They're likeable and I found myself engaged in the story throughout. It's a modern (Irish) procedural, so there's a fair bit of rough language and some of the imagery is graphic. 

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 8 hours and 51 minutes and is capably narrated by Shelley Atkinson. She manages the read very well. There are both male and female characters of a range of ages and accents, and she keeps them distinct and perfectly understandable. I couldn't really hear distinct differences between regional accents for some of the characters, but it didn't affect my enjoyment overall. Sound production and quality are high throughout.

Four and a half stars for both the print and audio versions. Definitely for fans of Irish crime, but also for more general readers of procedurals. This is a good addition to the start of what is turning out to be a strong series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Edible Garden: Create your own green space with this expert gardening guide (Collins Gardening)

Edible Garden is one of a set of accessible gardening guides by Joe Swift covering a range of gardening topics. Due out 3rd March 2022 from Collins Reference, it's 224 pages and will be available in ebook format. 

This is a well written and no-nonsense guide. The author has an encouraging and reassuring voice and information is presented in small digestible (haha) bits. Obviously the emphasis throughout is on edible plants, but he's done quite a good job of choosing the plants which are as attractive as possible and most of which have aesthetic appeal in addition to their utilitarian food uses. Most plants are referred to by both common and botanical (Latin) name for clarity and identification.

The book is full of full color photographs for inspiration and clarity. Although some of the photos are stock photos as credited, there are a number of bespoke photos and tutorials. One of the high points for me with this volume was the useful and specific extra information included on pruning, building up beds, winter protection, raised beds, year round gardening, and the small tutorials and other resource information. Spelling and terminology are British English, but won't present any problems in context with readers from North America.

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

The Family Camp Cookbook: Easy, Fun, and Delicious Meals to Enjoy Outdoors

The Family Camp Cookbook is such a friendly and fun collection of tips and recipes for outdoor dining by Dr. Emily Vikre. Due out 29th March 2022 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Wow, this was a fun book. I grew up in a family who loved camping and RV'ing and some of my fondest memories of growing up were related to food and family. This book is full of funny (and some cautionary) bits of advice about camping and food, preparation and selection of tools and supplies, and getting the most out of enjoying the great outdoors. 

I liked the accessible and logical layout. The introduction has some good tips for equipment and tools recommendations (the author doesn't mention brands, but does a good job of giving a balanced overview). The following chapters contain the recipes arranged thematically: breakfast, lunches (includes trail food on the go and dishes to prepare and eat in-camp), dinners, and treats & drinks. The author has included a LOT of recipes.. there are more than 75 at a rough count). 

Recipes contain a description and background introduction, ingredients in a bullet list, and step-by-step cooking instructions. Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!).  The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. Recipes with pre-preparation to do at home are listed in a sidebar.

The photography is well done and abundant; most of the recipes are illustrated with photographs which are clear and well done.Vegetarian recipes are not marked as such. Many of the recipes which aren't vegan-friendly could be made plant based with a little experimentation. (Almost all of the recipes are streamlined and don't contain many ingredients).

This is a nice collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep camping/outdoors fans going for ages. These are simple "everyday" recipes which are anything but boring. We tried several dishes and all of them were tasty and well written.

We're definitely going to try more of these recipes.  Well written book, tasty recipes.

Four and a half stars. This is a solid recipe book which will be used. It would make a superlative housewarming gift to a friend or family member who enjoys camping as a hobby.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition:

 

Midwest Gardener's Handbook is a reformatted and updated 2nd edition of the midwest gardening guide by Melinda Myers. Originally released in 2013, this edition is due out in March 2022 from Quarto on their Cool Springs imprint. It's 256 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is an accessibly written information dense regional gardening guide specifically aimed at gardeners in the midwest USA: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas , Michigan, Minnesota , Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and environs. The information is arranged in a sensible manner with chapters arranged thematically. An introduction about the benefits and challenges midwestern gardeners experience, followed by: annuals, bulbs, groundcovers, perennials, shrubs (& trees), and vegetables & herbs. The chapters are thorough and contain specific recommendations with both specific cultivars as well as general seasonal task lists for each chapter. Cultivars are referred to by botanical (Latin) nomenclature as well as common name to facilitate sourcing and reduce confusion. 

The book is -full- of full color photographs for inspiration and clarity. One of the high points for me with this volume were the useful and specific appendices - pruning, building up beds, winter protection, raised beds, zone maps, and other resource information.

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Cozy Knits: 30 Hat, Mitten, Scarf and Sock Projects from Around the World

Cozy Knits is a knitting pattern and tutorial book with patterns from various designers and edited and curated by Kari Cornell, with inspiration drawn from diverse world cultures and aesthetics. Due out 15th March 2022 from Quarto on their Voyageur Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is such an appealing book full of colorful and attractive accessory projects.  The 30 different tutorials are arranged by type: scarves, hats & mittens, and socks. Each tutorial includes tools and materials, measurements in American (inches) and metric (centimeter) units (yay!!) followed by step-by-step directions.There is an introduction highlighted text box with inspiration for the design and a little background which I found fascinating (and educational). The pieces are all photographed in color, and the photos are clear and well positioned so the design elements are easy to visualize and understand. Most of the items are accompanied by more than one photo, and detail close up photos are inset in the text. Directions are clearly written and I found no glaring errors with a careful read-through. The materials will be fairly easily sourced online or at readers' local yarn shops. I like that the book gave a nod to one of my favorite utilitarian yarn geek websites: the YarnSub. The authors have also included an abbreviated resource/links list and index in the back of the book.

The projects are simple to moderately challenging (including an Estonian inspired sock design by knitting maven Nancy Bush which is *gorgeous* and which shot up my to-do list and will go on the needles after the must-do knitting I am doing now). I haven't finished any projects from the book (yet) but I have knitted gauge swatches with recommended or similar gauge yarns to those called for in the patterns and haven't found any difficulties or mistakes yet.

Beautiful patterns. Superlative! I predict this will be a lot of knitters' go-to pattern book for gift giving projects. There are a lot of patterns here which are also scrap friendly and can be knitted partially or wholly from remnants. The sock section alone is worth the price of admission (full disclosure, I'm a sock knitter down to my bones).

Five stars. This is a definite winner.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

 

Nordic Knits: 44 Beautiful Patterns to Knit and Keep You Cozy

Nordic Knits is a technique and pattern tutorial with patterns in Scandinavian style written and curated by Sue Flanders, Janine Kosel, & Helene Magnusson.Due out 15th March 2022 from Quarto on their Voyageur Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is such an appealing collection with a wide range of classic styles and techniques. The pieces are knitted and embellished with needle-felting, surface embroidery, stranded colorwork, lacework, cables, and the garments themselves are full of clever shaping and construction details based on historical details and inspired by traditional nature or existing historical garments and design elements. Most of the projects are for accessories: socks, scarves, shawls, mittens, hats, and totes, but there are also a fair number of larger pieces such as pullovers, cardigans, and some nursery items. 

The book is divided into regional designs: Norwegian, Swedish, and Icelandic. The projects include tools and supplies (measurements are provided in American standard inches -and- metric centimeters, yay!), step by step tutorial directions, and a short background note containing the design inspiration or historical background. Each project is clearly photographed in color and the models are posed in such a way that they're easy to understand and visualize. There are (by my count) 44 projects included, more or less evenly divided between countries.

One of the benchmarks of a good collection for me is paging through the book and finding many patterns which call to me and which I could see myself knitting. This collection is full of really nice patterns which I want to make. I knit several gauge swatches for projects in the book and found no obvious or glaring errors with any of them. The instructions are written clearly and concisely. Materials used in the patterns are from the larger/more well known spinneries and will be familiar to most readers and should be widely available. The authors have included an abbreviated links and resource list in the back of the book. 

Five stars. Lovely designs, well executed.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Crazy for Cookies, Brownies, and Bars: Super-Fast, Made-from-Scratch Sweets, Treats, and Desserts

 Crazy for Cookies, Brownies, and Bars is a well curated and fun dessert cookbook with recipes developed by Dorothy Kern. Due out 1st Feb 2022 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The layout is appealing and unfussy - both easy to understand and accessible. The introduction includes a simple pantry list along with a good basic equipment list for stocking a working home kitchen. The recipes are arranged by category: cookie jar cookies, brownies, blondies & bars, cookie cakes & skillet bakes, crazy (exotic) cookies, sandwich and stuffed cookies, no bake, and even some pet approved cookies. I didn't feel any of them were unachievable in my very basic home kitchen and all the recipes we tried were delicious. Nearly all the recipes do contain some combination of butter, eggs, and milk, so they're not vegan as written and will take some experimentation to make them so.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American measurements with standard (metric) in parentheses (yayyy!). Nutritional information not included, and it's probably a good thing - a lot of these recipes are decadent and so delicious.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in sidebars with the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The book does include an index.

The photography is clear and abundant; almost all of the recipes are illustrated, and the photographs which are included are crisp and well done. Serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

This is a large collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are similar to others in the same category, this will keep cookie fans going for ages. These range from simple "everyday" recipes to fancier desserts for social gatherings, parties, and special occasions. We tried several dishes and all of them were tasty and well written.

We're definitely going to try more of these.  Well written book, tasty treats.

Four and a half stars. This is a solid recipe book which will be used. Many of these recipes are destined to become family favorites and regulars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions

How to Draw Cool Stuff is a series of simple tutorial lesson books for learning drawing, written by Catherine V. Holmes. Originally published in 2017, this reformat and re-release from Library Tales is 253 pages and is available in hardcover format in this edition, other formats available in other editions. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, (as are the companion books in the series).

This volume presents concepts and lessons in shading, texture, pattern, and realism/optical illusions. Although firmly outside the target audience (young students and their facilitators), I found quite a lot of useful information here. The book has an accessible and direct style with information presented in an easy to understand format. Most of the lessons are divided into concepts (know), information (understand), and tutorials (do). Vocabulary and ancillary information are provided in each tutorial segment under their own headings. 

The concepts are very simple and the tutorial lessons include blank areas on each page for students to practice and master specific techniques. The tutorials are grouped into thematic chapters: basic elements of design, shading, texture & pattern, optical illusions, and a sort of synergistic chapter combining the rest of the tutorials into lessons for drawing "cool stuff" (t-rex, animals, self-portrait, and a bunch of others).

The book is laid out as, and would work very well as, lesson plan hand-outs for workshop, classroom, or homeschool use. This would also be a good choice for adults who spend time with young kids to improve their "draw with me" skills. 

Four and a half stars. Very simple but useful for classroom and home use. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students Hardcover

How to Draw Cool Stuff is a simplified tutorial drawing guide aimed at young readers by Catherine V. Holmes. Originally published in 2017, this reformat and re-release from Library Tales is 253 pages and is available in hardcover format in this edition, other formats available in other editions. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, (as are the companion books in the series).

I'm an earnest beginner with drawing, sketching, doodling, and other graphic arts. Although firmly outside the target audience (young student and their facilitators), I found quite a lot of useful information here. The book has an accessible and direct style with information presented in an easy to understand format. Most of the lessons are divided into concepts (know), information (understand), and tutorials (do). Vocabulary and ancillary information are provided in each tutorial segment under their own headings. 

The concepts are very simple and the tutorial lessons include blank areas on each page for students to practice and master specific techniques. The tutorials are grouped into thematic chapters: basic elements of design, human faces, perspective, holidays & seasons, animals & creatures, and cool stuff (treasure chest, skeletal pirate, pool of water, etc). 

The book is laid out as, and would work very well as, lesson plan hand-outs for workshop or classroom use. This would also be a good choice for adults who spend time with young kids to improve their "draw with me" skills. 

Four stars. Very simple but useful for classroom and home use. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Starless Crown (Moon Fall #1)

The Starless Crown is the first book in a new high fantasy series by James Rollins. Released 4th Jan 2022 by Macmillan, it's 560 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a very well written epic adventure featuring a group of misfits from wildly disparate backgrounds, thrust together in a desperate attempt to prevent the destruction of their world and all life on it. It's full of complex magic and a well built up background system and peopled by genuinely three dimensional characters who live and breathe. Rollins is a masterful writer and having turned his pen back to writing fantasy (he discusses this in the introductory author's foreword) it's apparent that he still has a flair with the genre. 

This is a *dense* novel. It's got a lot of gravitas. Although there is a lot of action (and pathos, and some humor along the way), it reads like what it is: a deeply written first volume in an epic high fantasy series. It moves slowly and comprehensively, building up layer by layer. There are foreshadowings and doom-laden nightmares aplenty, evil cultish magician necro-priests, ancient artifacts, prophecies, a magical blind foundling baby, and all the good ingredients one would expect from solid "doorstop" fantasies. 

Sensitive readers should be aware that there are some quite graphic depictions of violence and murder. The evil necro-priest cultists especially are quite evil and necro-ish. There's a death early on in the book which was quite explicit and made me briefly consider whether I should continue or not, but I'm glad I did.

This one will likely be a great fit for fans of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss. It's absolutely not derivative, there are a lot of fascinating and worthy originalities which I'm quite looking forward to exploring, but it does definitely have the same sense of scope and endless horizons which both of the aforementioned authors are well known for. 

The unabridged audiobook version has a run-time of 22 hours and 5 minutes and is capably narrated by Nicola Barber, with an appearance by the author himself. The sound and recording quality and production values are high throughout.

Four stars. I'm looking forward to finding out what comes next. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.      

Towers And Tithes (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #8)

Towers And Tithes is the 8th book in the Magicorum series by Christina Bauer. Released 9th Nov 2021, it's 191 pages and is available in ebook and paperback formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

This is an easy to read, very very light cozy paranormal romance novel aimed at YA readers. It's full of wish fulfillment and teenage angst. The book is written in alternating first person perspective and labeled in the chapter headings which character is being written. This time it's a Rapunzel riff, complete with nasty witch and cruel overbearing Rapunzel (aka Lady R) full of snarky sarcastic dialogue and action driven. The main characters' arcs are written throughout the previous 7 books in the series, but they can certainly be read out of order without much confusion (with the codicil that there will be some semi-spoilers if read that way).

The books are full of fractured fairy tale archetypes and riffs on classic fairy tales. The happily-ever-afters are not easy to attain and there's a metric ton of crisis and drama and tortured teenage angst and longing between the start and finish. I'm about 4 decades outside the target audience (older teens and YA), but I am confident that they'll be gobbled up by the readers for whom they're intended. There is a little bit of rough language, but nothing which would raise an eyebrow in the average school hallway.

The dialogue is sometimes eye-wateringly sarcastic, but again, for readers in the target audience, that will likely be a plus and not at all negative. There are many of the expected themes: unreasonable expectations, control from outside (cruel) forces, belittling and punishment from power figures, longing for independence, and longing for love. This would be a good series to binge, since book 9 is on the horizon, so there won't be a long wait. For fans of Twilight, Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, and similar, these books will fit the bill. 

Three and a half stars for this entry, rounded up for quite competent writing and plotting. I would imagine it will likely be higher for the target audience. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Wendy, Darling

Wendy, Darling is an atmospheric and beautifully written tale featuring the characters from Barrie's Peter Pan re-imagined by A. C. Wise. Released 1st June 2021 by Titan Books, it's 333 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

This is Peter Pan through a very dark lens. Wendy and her brothers are abducted (call it what it was) as children and swept away to Neverland. When they're returned, her brothers assimilate more or easily, a fate denied Wendy who suffers throughout her life at a cost to her mental health after not being believed and ridiculed (to the point of involuntary commitment). 

After being released from the sanatorium, she has a daughter and seems to be in a better place. A better place until Peter Pan shows up and abducts Wendy's young daughter. This was a difficult read for me because of the undercurrents of #MeToo and the barbaric treatment of "difficult" women and homosexuality during the early part of the 20th century (and indeed up to the current day). 

I have often enjoyed revenge fantasy and this book is undeniably well written. I just found it hit a little too close to home for me personally to be a comfortable and enjoyable read. For readers who always knew there was something decidedly *wrong* under the surface in Neverland, A. C. Wise pulls back the curtain. 

Very well written, traumatic in places. Four stars. Definitely for readers who like their fantasy dark. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Essentials of Aroma: Olfactory, Flavor and Fragrance (All Natural Perfumery, # 2) Lancôme

The Essentials of Aroma is the second volume of perfumery information by Abigail Houston. Released 15th Dec 2021, it's 48 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The author has compiled information about olfactory sense and function from a fair number of other sources, with source credits and links throughout and at the back of the book. This is much less a tutorial how-to than an overview over general information and philosophy of scent and function. This volume has a "foody" slant and includes some tips and tricks for combining odors which are associated with taste.

The blurb states that the author has included "40 plus blends to practice your skills". The blends listed for well known perfumes are just a list of the top, middle, and base notes of each perfume (which you can get from an online search) without any ingredients or ratios listed. The parfumiers listed are also an odd assortment. I can see including Chanel, Schiaparelli, and Lancôme, but am bemused by the authors inclusion of Axe Dark Temptation and Avon's Elite Gentleman Reserve into that lofty company. 

Nevertheless, this is a readable, accessible, and friendly overview. I could see it being a useful starting point for crafters who are interested in learning to recognize and blend scents. There are some odd inclusions and substitutions on the author's part, for example she suggests marjoram as a substitute for oakmoss (which is an allergen and generally not used in modern perfumery due to concerns about safety and sustainability), and only mentions ambergris once and orris root not at all.

Three and a half stars. There are quite a lot of good links included at the back of the book for further reading. Probably worth a look for KU subscribers.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Hattie + Olaf

Hattie + Olaf  is an endearingly and warmly written tale of an 8 year old girl and an irascible donkey she gets instead of the horse she's been dreaming of. Originally published in Swedish in 2006, this English language translation was released 5th Oct 2021. It's 182 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

This is the second English language translation book featuring Frida Nilsson's mischievous and rebellious 8 year old, Hattie. She begs for a horse and winds up with grumpy Olaf, a broken down maltreated donkey with a fearful and angry attitude instead. She finds it impossible to tell the truth to her classmates and her fabrications become more and more fantastic as the days pass. Inevitably, it all comes crashing down and Hattie has to try to clean up the mess. 

The book deals with quite a number of somber issues and has central plot themes revolving around bullying, friendship, family, death, relationships, trust, and the meaning of home. The book is set in Sweden and the relationships and settings in the book are very much Scandinavian in flavor. English language readers will probably find it curious that catechism is taught in secular schools, leading up to confirmation around age 15. This is normal for Scandinavia and is still the standard, however now the focus is comparative religion and students learn about other faiths and beliefs, not just Lutheranism (and not just with the intention to lead to confirmation at age 15). There's also mention of snuff use which was rampant among young people of both sexes in Scandinavia.

The simple pen and ink drawings by Stina Wirsén are whimsical and fluid, and add a lot to the story. The book is generously illustrated and there are numerous small drawings throughout. Despite being very simply rendered, many of them are full of small subtle details which invite a closer look. 

Four stars. This is a well done young reader chapter book and would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, school reading circle, or home library use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Riverwoman's Dragon (Owen Archer #13)

The Riverwoman's Dragon is a beautifully written medieval historical mystery and the 13th book in the Owen Archer series by Candace Robb. Released 2nd Nov 2021 by Severn House, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats (paperback due out in June 2022).  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

I'm always impressed by well constructed technically adept mysteries. They're well constructed puzzles and it's definitely not a trivial exercise to fasten all the disparate pieces together into a cohesive working whole. Adding another layer of complexity to the task is setting the mystery and resolution in a historical setting. Eagle eyed readers are guaranteed to notice any mistakes, however minor. 

This is a mystery series which is consistently solid; quite well written and with a protagonist who is intelligent (but not TOO intelligent) and compassionate (but not TOO soppy). The dialogue is believable, but not incomprehensible given the time period, and the plot is woven around a framework of real historical events so skillfully that it's not always apparent what's fiction and what is real history.

This will be a good choice for library acquisition, and for fans of medieval historical mysteries. The writing and plotting are superlative and fans of mystery in general will find a lot to like here.

Five stars. Very strong series. This book works as a standalone, but I recommend the series as a whole.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby (Spenser #49)

Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby is the 49th Spenser novel, and the 10th (by my count) written by Ace Atkins after Mr. Parker's death. Released 18th Jan 2022 by Penguin Random House on their G.P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

I've been in love with this series since book 1 (The Godwulf Manuscript) and I was really sad when the author passed, thinking that I would have to confine myself to re-reads to get my Spenser/Hawk fix. I was nervous about someone else taking over the writing, but have been really impressed and happy with all the newest books in the series. This has been a pillar series for me, especially in the last couple of years of madness with the pandemic and all of the misery and unhappiness and stress in the world, this series has been a treasured escape.

I have been revisiting the original books (by Parker himself) as well as the posthumous books and they keep growing on me. I love the banter and the way the established characters really live and breathe. Yes, they're popular fiction, but I'll stand up in any graduate English lecture class and rebut the sneering label "light popular fiction" with the fact that they're really superbly well written. They go to the same shelf in the internal library in my brain as John D. MacDonald and Rex Stout - popular fiction, yes, but also satisfyingly rendered and worthwhile.

It's a solidly written PI murder mystery with an indelible American flavor. Boston's local atmosphere and settings are a vital part of the book. I love Spenser's relationship with Susan (smart, funny, capable, and real) and the interplay between Spenser and his compatriots. I loved the sarcastic wit and real humor and repartee in the dialogue. I'm obviously a solid fan of this series, and my opinion wasn't dented one tiny bit by this latest adventure. Ace Atkins isn't Robert B. Parker, but he's pretty darned close. 

Five stars for fans of the series. Probably four to five for new readers who enjoy gritty American PI adventures. For readers unfamiliar with the series, grab them as you can find them. They all work perfectly well as standalones.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Savory Dinner Pies: More than 80 Delicious Recipes from Around the World

Savory Dinner Pies is a well written and appealing collection of one-dish savory pies by Ken Haedrich. Released 18th Jan 2022 by Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's a comprehensive 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

I loved this book's layout and the spare well written no-nonsense text. The author is *very* competent, he knows what he's doing, and he is generous enough to want to share that experience with the world. The entire book felt to me like a worthwhile and rewarding masterclass. The introduction contains the nuts and bolts of techniques, equipment, and ingredients. Whilst the author presupposes no previous knowledge on the reader's part, it will be useful to know one's way around a kitchen. (But if not, no despair, a keen beginner could follow the recipes here and achieve good results). 

The following chapters contain the recipes, arranged roughly thematically: pie doughs & pastries, hand pies turnovers & pizza, little pies tarts & galettes, quiches & their cousins, pot pies (MUCH love to this chapter), shepherd's pie & other meat pies, and cobblers streudels & wrapped entrees. The recipes are inspired by world cuisine and their origins are delicious and diverse.  

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only; there's an abbreviated conversion chart in the back of the book. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions.  Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Special dietary needs recipes are blended in without specific commentary (there aren't a lot of vegan friendly recipes included, for example). Nutritional information is not included.

It's beautifully illustrated throughout with color photos. Serving suggestions are attractive and appetizing. I'm a visual learner, especially with cooking, and having the photos really helped me. The food styling is very well done. 

Five stars. It is, admittedly, a niche cookbook, but the recipes are so varied and so tasty that this would be a great choice for library acquisition, or for "everyday" cooks looking for some variation on meat & potatoes.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Best of Bad-Ass Faeries (Bad-Ass Faeries)

The Best of Bad-Ass Faeries is a well curated collection from the Bad-Ass Faeries collection curated and edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail. Released in 2017, it's 326 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging.  It's spare and authors don't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or plotting.  Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love collections because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away. This is a varied bunch of well written faerie-fiction. It's unapologetically gritty and Tinkerbell's nowhere to be found. The stories (as with all anthologies) are a mixed bunch. There are westerns, mysteries, time travel, and always always badass faeries doing faerie stuff. I sincerely enjoyed this collection and a couple of the stories surprised a chuckle out of me and at the end of the day, that's worth the price of admission.

There are 20 stories here by my count: 5 from each previously released anthology, and they're all quite entertaining. A couple of them are sublime. I intend to acquire some of the new-to-me authors' longer fiction for comparison.

Four stars. It's a solid collection. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden is an accessible and logical guide to natural pest control for gardeners written by Jessica Walliser. Due out 1st Feb 2022 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is the second/revised edition of the book which was first published in 2013. I don't own a copy of the first edition for comparison, so the review covers only the second. The layout is inviting and logically arranged. The introduction covers the basics of entomology and concepts: what are beneficial insects, how they work and what they eat (harmful bugs, mostly). The intro is followed by a bestiary with some of the most common groups of insectivorous and parasitoid bugs. 

The book is lavishly illustrated with clear color photos throughout. The photos show featured insects in various life stages including eggs, pupa, and adults which make identification easier. Tips and extra info is included in highlighted text boxes throughout. Photo captions are well written and easy to understand. The chapter on useful plants for native pollinators and parasitoids has been written with a good eye toward garden design and diversity. There are a lot of plants which are beautiful and useful and which people will want to plant in their gardens (instead of hiding the weedy looking ones). There's a lot of info about companion planting and I was interested to see that the author covers purchasable controls and predator species.

There's an abbreviated resource and links list in the back of the book which is mostly slanted toward readers in the USA but will also provide relevant info for readers living in other parts of the world. The book also includes a cross referenced index.

No single book is going to be the holy grail of gardening information; this one does a good job of deep diving into an important (and often overlooked) aspect of natural controls and organic methods. 

Five stars. This would make a good selection for public or school library acquisition, makers groups, gardening and activity groups, home and community gardeners, smallholders, and the like. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

Seven Games: A Human History

Seven Games: A Human History is an engaging history of human development through our (probably) unique ability to enjoy games (not just play) capably examined by Dr. Oliver Roeder. Due out 25th Jan 2022 from W. W. Norton, it's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

I've long been interested in games, gaming, history, psychology, and I'm a professional bionerd in my day job. This book really does represent the confluence of all those interests and is like some sort of Venn diagram bullseye for me. I was fascinated from the first chapter. That being said, the author writes very accessibly and well and this is a book for laypeople interested in games and how they have shaped and sometimes defined human history.

There are plenty of anecdotal stories relayed here: a devoutly religious mathematician who dominated at checkers for decades (with a mysterious Fisher-esque abrupt hiatus in the middle), computer programs and the theorists behind them, a Kiwi ascetic hermit who lives in Malaysia and who, after memorizing the French dictionary, won the French national scrabble championship without the benefit of speaking French. Dr. Roeder relays these stories (and more) with wit and warmth and I really enjoyed reading this book. 

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 9 hours and 11 minutes and is capably narrated by William Sarris. He has a warm and nuanced voice with a non-intrusive (midwestern?) accent which is perfect for this nonfiction selection. The sound and recording quality and production values are high throughout the recording.

This is an interesting book, full of fun and engaging trivia and actual history and would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, or for games-interested general readers. No previous mathematics knowledge required and no "heavy lifting" involved.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.     

 

Judge Dredd: Blaze of Glory

Judge Dredd: Blaze of Glory is a well curated collection of Al Ewing Judge Dredd stories from 2000AD, Judge Dredd, and the 2000AD special, between 2008 and 2020. This collection, due out 1st March 2022 from Rebellion, is 148 pages and will be available in paperback format. The info provided with the early ARC for review is scant on format info, but many of the other Rebellion/2000AD collaborations are available in paperback graphic novel -and- ebook format, so this could be one of them which will be available as an ebook/comiXology format release. 

Al Ewing is one of the few writers who consistently hits the right mix of absurd black sarcastic humour and biting social commentary along with a healthy dash of over the top (gratuitous) violence. This makes him an absolute perfect matchup for JD, and this collection is pretty darned good. 

The artists in this collection weren't all familiar to me previously, but they're all top shelf and there were no stories which were badly illustrated. The book also includes a bonus gallery with a few bonus pages.

The stories are varied, there were (as always) some which didn't grab me personally, but all were well written and competently plotted. They were mostly in the 4+ star range(ish) with a couple of really standout stories. 

This is a good choice for fans of 2000AD and/or JD who don't have all the stories in other formats. For readers unfamiliar with the franchise, it's *full* of extremely graphic violence and sexual content (usually in combination with irreverent, and occasionally profane humour). 

Four and a half stars. NSFW.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Mystery at the Church (Eve Mallow Mystery #6)

Mystery at the Church is the 6th book in the Eve Mallow village cozy series by Clare Chase. Released 4th Aug 2021, it's 265 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library (along with the rest of the series) to borrow and read for free.

This is a technically adept and well written book. The characters are distinct enough to keep them clear in readers' minds, and the dialogue flows fairly well. There's maybe a trifle too much emphasis on hearsay and gossip (and many of the central characters are middle aged and female and a trifle trope-y), but it's not egregious and I didn't find myself being irritated over it whilst reading. Main protagonist Eve's love/hate relationship with the local constabulary, and her secret relationship with a former detective who is lying low in the district for his own protection after a high profile case in London, add some interest and conflict. The book is peppered with actors and amateur dramatics characters who provide eccentric and light drama.

There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the sixth book in the series, it worked well enough as a standalone, though there are some minor spoilers for earlier books if read out of order. I was engaged enough with the writing and the mystery, that I intend to pick up the previous books in the series. This would be a good one for readers who enjoy binge-reading series.

Four stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Lost Stories Collection (Lost Stories from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1-9)

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is a collection of 9 short stories in the same universe and with the same/adjunct characters as Michel Scott's main series which begins with The Alchemyst, The Magician, etc. Released 2nd Nov 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Delacorte imprint, it's 512 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

These are engaging grand stories, beautifully written. For fans of the main series, these stories are side trips, with more thorough explorations into the background of many of the characters who are secondary in the books (Aiofe, Scathach, Billy the Kid, Machiavelli, and Virginia Dare). This collection induced a deep and heartfelt "aaaah" from me because I found myself in the novels really -wanting- to know more about them, and this collection does just that. 

The author has a rare gift with characterization and descriptive prose and all of the stories flow very well. Ostensibly marketed as YA, fans of speculative fiction will be enthralled whatever their age. I'd recommend that readers be at the higher age end of YA; there's some fairly hefty action contained here which might not be entirely appropriate for younger readers. Nothing egregious, but a couple descriptions scared my socks off. 

Top shelf fiction, wonderfully written and transporting. For readers who only know the name Nicholas Flamel from Harry Potter - this is not even tangentially related. For readers who seek out this collection because of Scott's main series, you're in for a treat. I also loved the generous length of these stories. The author isn't afraid to give them the length and development they need. A couple of the stories could probably be more precisely described as novella length. 

Five stars. I can only think of a couple times I've rated story collections or anthologies 5 stars, and this collection richly deserves the distinction.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Grow More Food: A Vegetable Gardener's Guide to Getting the Biggest Harvest Possible from a Space of Any Size

Grow More Food is a tutorial and technique guide to maximizing yields for vegetable gardeners no matter what size garden they have. Due out 1st Feb 2022 from Storey, it's 304 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is such a well written and understandable guide to choosing the right varieties, planning for the seasons, succession plantings, and most of all maximizing production. The layout is logical and easy to follow and so much of what the authors say is so sensible. The chapters cover planning and record keeping, soil building, choosing the right varieties for the intended purpose (including a good subsection on hand pollination for max yields), setup propagation & irrigation, season extenders & storage.

The authors write knowledgeably and authoritatively. The chapters flow well into one another and I found it unnecessary to constantly flip back and forth, which was appreciated. The book is beautifully illustrated and photographed throughout. This book is full of lists, charts, worksheets, and notes for readers to customize and use in their unique situations. The authors do a good job of giving general advice which readers can pick and adjust. They've included a brief but useful resource list (aimed at readers in the USA/North America, but also usable by readers outside NA), as well as a short metric conversion chart and cross referenced index (not available in the pre-release ARC provided for review). 

Five stars. This is a solidly reliable and beautiful guide which will certainly become a classic. I would recommend this one for public and school library acquisition, gardening and maker's groups, community garden/allotment libraries, or possibly as a nice gift for a young gardener bundled with some seeds and supplies and the promise of a few hours of help/mentoring. Many of the worksheets and charts will also be useful for smallholders and self-sufficiency gardeners.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Tiny Space Gardening: Growing Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Small Outdoor Spaces (with Recipes)

Tiny Space Gardening is a tutorial and planning guide to gardening in small spaces by Amy Pennington. Due out 1st March 2022 from Sasquatch Books, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This book is full of creative ideas for maximizing space and light access along with highlighting creative ways to grow food, flowers, and herbs in very small (urban) spaces. The book's presentation is full of fun and serious at the same time in an honest intention to help readers become even a little more self sufficient and food secure. 

The layout is accessible and easy to read. The introduction and basic info chapters presuppose zero forehand knowledge and concepts, containers, planning, what to grow, and how to grow it, are all covered well and understandably. The book is not abundantly illustrated (for example, in the seed starting and propagation chapter there are no photos except for the chapter facing). The photos which are included are in color and clear, however.

The author has also included a useful abbreviated resource list for more info, a short gardener's glossary, as well as an index. There are a number of recipes included which are tasty and utilize the harvest from readers' gardens. I feel that the book suffers a bit by trying to be everything-in-one, with recipes, basic gardening advice, troubleshooting tips, container gardening, vegetable herbs & flower advice, etc etc. It doesn't manage to cover much in depth, but it is very broad in scope. That being said, the thyme roasted chicken with charred onions was absolutely delicious and worth a try.

I would recommend this one for public and school library acquisition, gardening and maker's groups, community garden/allotment libraries, or possibly as a nice gift for a young gardener bundled with some seeds and supplies and the promise of a few hours of help/mentoring.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

There Is Life After the Nobel Prize

 

There Is Life After the Nobel Prize are some of the ideas and intellectual ruminations of Nobel laureate Dr. Eric R. Kandel. Released 7th Dec 2021 by Columbia University Press, it's 112 pages and is available in paperback format. 

It's widely said that scientists don't produce much after they've been awarded the Nobel and this is Dr. Kandel's rebuttal. It's an accessible and interesting collection of short essays on various subjects in and around neurology and brain biology and he delivers salient points with a surprising amount of wit and warmth. 

It's a short read, only 112 pages and the chapter notes and references alone are likely worth the price of admission just for the hours of further reading they will provide. I was quite surprised how much I understood, and how well he explains the complex concepts. He's an engaging writer and I can well imagine that he's the rarest of birds, a truly gifted mind with a facility for teaching, and a willingness to do so. 

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life

Fossil Hunter is a beautifully illustrated and well written biography of Mary Anning for young readers written by Cheryl Blackford. Due out 25th Jan 2022 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Clarion Books imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

I love children's nonfiction. This is a well written, factually based biography aimed at younger readers (~7-10 years of age) which manages to provide a kid-friendly version of Anning's often frustrating and impoverished life. She was rejected by the scientific establishment at the same time they were acknowledging her as an expert in her field. The book gleefully provides the information that she correctly identified coprolites as fossilized feces as well as identifying many other fosselized remains including early cephalopods (squids).

The text is age appropriate and engaging. The art by Ellen Duda is beautifully rendered and supports the text very well. This is definitely a book which would grab the interest of most kids. I found it interesting and learned quite a lot of information of which I was previously unaware.

The book includes a glossary, abbreviated chapter notes, some resources for viewing some of Anning's fossils in collections, a solid bibliography for further reading, and a cross referenced index (not included in the ARC provided for review).

Five stars. This would make a great selection for a classroom or public library, as well as a child's home library or gift.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Art of Betrayal (Kate Hamilton Mysteries #3)

The Art of Betrayal is the third Kate Hamilton village cozy by Connie Berry. Released 8th June 2021 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

Readers who enjoy British village cozy murder shopfront mysteries are in for a treat with this series. Series protagonist Kate is an American expat antiques expert who involved with local Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. She's just trying to enjoy her month long trip to England to help out in the high end antiques store of her friend Ivor whilst he's recovering from surgery, (and enjoy Tom's company) but bodies simply won't stop turning up. 

I liked the characterizations here; the characters live and breathe and the dialogue was never clunky. There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the third book in the series, it worked well as a standalone, though there are some minor spoilers for earlier books if read out of order. I was engaged enough with the writing and the mystery, that I've picked up the previous two books in the series. 

Four stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence (though the first murder was fairly gory). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Everything Cute Cuddly: Learn to draw using basic shapes--step by step!

 

 

I Can Draw! Everything Cute & Cuddly is a delightfully useful line drawing activity book for youngsters. Due out 8th Feb 2022 from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The drawings are encouragingly simple and the step by step tutorials are accessible and easy to follow and replicate. Each of the 15 drawings has a tutorial series with steps to follow and some simple tips for adding color. All of the tutorials included are popular and fun. They're all cute and recognizable and it will be easy for anyone to follow. The subjects include a plush bunny, unicorn, koala, yeti, robot, kitten, snowman and several others. This book is part of a series with lots of how-to books with the same format.

Great selection for a gift for a young artist, perhaps with some added sketch pads and pencils. This would also make a superlative classroom or library book. I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to up their 'draw with me' game. I really enjoyed this (and managed to recreate a credible robot myself - very very cute (but not really cuddly)).

Five stars. This is a fun activity book and will provide hours of quiet play.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light: Portraying Light Effects in On-Location Drawing and Painting

 

The Urban Sketching Handbook Understanding Light is a volume in the Urban Sketching Handbook series, this volume on light treatments and techniques by Katie Woodward. Released 28th Dec 2021 by Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 112 pages and is available in flexibound paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a well written, accessible, and useful book for intermediate to advanced artists who are looking for guidance to improve their technique, especially with regard to painting light and reflection. The book begins with a very short introduction. Specific tools and very basic techniques are not covered, but can certainly be found easily elsewhere. The author instead concentrates on six key concepts in depth: value, color, skies & atmosphere, reflections, foliage, and night scenes. Each chapter contains multiple examples by several different artists to illustrate key points. There are checklists to prompt students to better observations and technique development.

The author's entire process is well documented with photo and drawn illustrations. The book also contains a useful tutorial and tips collection in highlighted text boxes as well as a resource list and artists' links for artists whose work is featured in the book. There is a short list of challenge/learning prompts also: sketch a body of water, sketch a shiny object, sketch backlit translucent bottles, and others which will provide students with many hours of enrichment practice.  

Five stars. Definitely a worthwhile addition to the artist's reference library.  This would also be a superlative selection for public and school library acquisition, classroom instruction, and group studio use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Favorite Pets: Learn to draw using basic shapes--step by step!

I Can Draw! Favorite pets is a delightfully useful line drawing activity book for youngsters. Due out 8th Feb 2022 from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The drawings are encouragingly simple and the step by step tutorials are accessible and easy to follow and replicate. Each of the 15 drawings has a tutorial series with steps to follow and some simple tips for adding color. All of the pets included in the tutorials are popular and well known and happily some are outside the ordinary cats and dogs (though they're included too of course). There are tutorials for fish, frogs, and ferrets, and they're all delightful.They're all cute and recognizable and it will be easy for anyone to follow. This book is part of a series with lots of how-to books with similar formats.

Great selection for a gift for a young artist, perhaps with some added sketch pads and pencils. This would also make a superlative classroom or library book. I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to up their 'draw with me' game. I really enjoyed this (and managed to recreate a credible bulldog myself).

Five stars. This is a fun activity book and will provide hours of quiet play.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.