#MMBBR #Review #FirstLine #LeahOnTheOffbeat #CreekwoodSeries #Book2 by @beckyalbertallim via #partner @BalzerandBray ‏@HarperCollins #reviewcopyprovided

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#FirstLine ~ I don't mean to be dramatic, but God save me from Morgan picking our set list.

I loved Leah, she was witty and honest and imperfectly awesome. Plus, she is so talented. I loved being along on the ride as she negotiated her life. She was so fun to read. I loved that no punches were held back and honesty prevailed in all its rawness. It captures so much about youth and coming of age; friendships, sexuality, love and so many other really important topics. It is done in a way that almost all readers will appreciate and relate to it. A read that will stay with me for quite some time and now I have to go back and read the first book in the series.

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#MMBBR #Review #Startalk #YoungReadersEdition by @neiltyson via #partner @NatGeo ‏#reviewcopyprovided

Startalk Young Readers Edition by Neil deGrasse Tyson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the BEST I have seen! It is awesome how it is laid out!!! It is like a vision sensation! There is so much to look at and read! I am sure that you could read this over and over and over and learn something new. Here is a fun tidbit: The largest black hole that could have evaporated since the big bang would have to have been smaller than an atomic nucleus. Learn about this and so many more awesome and fascinating facts in this book! It is jam packed with things that I find fun, interesting and oh so interesting! My kids are going to love this book so much too over the summer. The sky is truly the limit in this book that contains everything you will need or want to know about space, the universe and so much more!!!

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#MMBBR #Review #BremnerAndTheParty #SharkeeAndTheTeddyBear by #CarrieBolin & #JessicaFirpi #JohnGraziano @Ripleys

Bremner  the Party by Ripley's Believe It or Not!
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A cute book that helps create dialogue about being afraid to step out of your comfort zone. It allows a child to understand that being nervous is normal and totally OK because everyone feels nervous from time to time. A beautifully illustrated story that most kids will relate to and love!

ABOUT Bremner and the Party

Bremner the pufferfish is going to a party tonight. Gulp! When he’s nervous, he puffs up!

Children and parents alike will laugh their way through Bremner’s nervous dialogue as he goes off the deep end before joining the party.

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 Sharkee  the Teddy Bear by Ripley's Believe It or Not!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute story about a Teddy Bear falling into the ocean. What does a shark to do with a Teddy Bear? Only after it goes missing does Sharkee know what he wants to do with it. Will he find it? Make sure you read and find out! The illustrations are bright and beautiful, so engaging.

ABOUT Sharkee and the Teddy Bear

A teddy bear has fallen into the ocean, but where did it go?

Readers join Sharkee as he searches for the bear, stopping to ask all sorts of marine animals along the way. This bubbly story will have children giggling at Sharkee’s silly encounters.

#MMBBR #Review #FirstLine #HeavenAdjacent by @cryanhyde via #partner #LakeUnionPublishing @LUAuthors #reviewcopyprovided

Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#FirstLine ~ Roseanna was standing under the barely warm water in her tiny, cold makeshift shower hen the bell at the gate began to clang. 

MY REVIEW:

Are you living the best life you can? This book really made me think about this and many other things. about the life I am living. So brilliantly written and moving Heaven Adjacent was a story that will stick with me for a long time. Ryan Hyde writes stories that pull the readers in and makes them think about the world in a new, more significant way. Her characters are so real, honest and raw that you cannot help but be honored to witness their journey. A must read and a perfect book for book clubs!

About the book:

After the sudden death of her best friend and law partner, high-powered Manhattan attorney Roseanna makes the impulsive decision to abandon her cushy but unfulfilling city life and buy a tiny house upstate. She soon discovers a young mother and her daughter who have been squatting on the property, and although company is the last thing Roseanna wants, she decides to let them stay. And as Roseanna beings to accept a new reality free of material wealth, she discovers that she is rich in something that can’t be replaced: family.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the award-winning author of more than 30 published books. Her bestselling 1999 novel, Pay It Forward, was adapted into a major Warner Bros. motion picture.

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#MMBBR #GuestReviewer #LessonsFromThePrairie by @MelissaAFrancis ‏via #partner @HachetteBooks ‏#reviewcopyprovided

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For fans of the beloved TV show Little House on the Prairie, a self-help book by Melissa Francis, bestselling author of Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter and child star of Little House, revealing important life lessons inspired by a childhood on set.

Melissa Francis was only eight years old when she won the role of a lifetime: playing Cassandra Cooper Ingalls on the world's most famous prime-time soap opera, Little House on the Prairie.

Now in Lessons from the Prairie, she shares behind-the-scenes stories from the set, and lessons learned from the show's dynamic creator, Michael Landon, that have echoed throughout Melissa's adult life. With novel insights on hard work, making mistakes, and even spirituality, Francis shares inspirational and practical life lessons that will appeal both to her current TV fans, and fans of one of the most adored TV shows of all time.

COLETTE'S REVIEW 

This book was not at all what I expected, but I loved everything about it. I was intrigued by the title, having been a huge Little House on the Prairie fan since I was a young girl. I have read all the LHOTP books twice (once as a YA and once about a year ago). Well, this book only refers to the show a few times, connecting the author to her work/life standards beginning at a young age. Beyond that, it's just a genuine look at adulting and being authentic, rather than faking it to be what society has you believing is right/wrong/attractive/etc.

Regardless of the slight letdown I had when I figured out this book wasn't about LHOTP at all, I was cracking up on nearly every page. The author has a genuine, conversational writing style that made it feel like we were just hanging out, sipping iced tea, and sharing life's little secrets. She is raw, candid, and real; laying it all out, telling it like it is.

There were several times when I found myself nodding, thinking, "YES!! THAT'S SO TRUE!!" One example was when she's talking about just accepting the wrinkles and not trying to hide the cellulite. An even better example was when she was discussing parenting. She said early in the book that motherhood isn't for sissies, then later, "I'm not pretending to be Superwoman. I'm not even a fan. And to be honest, I'm not sure Superwoman has very many friends," then goes on to say, "To Superwomen and wannabes everywhere, lose the cape. And if someone offers one to you, use the damn thing to clean up the next spill. Because when we constantly vow to look fabulous leaping tall buildings in a single bound, we stumble past the joy that's right in front of us, on level ground: the love, pleasure, and joy of the messy, imperfect life we already have." Seriously...who can argue with her on that?!?!

She touches on motherhood, marriage, pregnancy issues, surrogacy, Catholic school, a less-than-stellar mother figure. Her overall message is to be true, be authentic, be present in the moment, and connect with people around you. But her delivery is much more humorous and relate-able!! 

#MMBBR #Reviews #FathersDay #MyDadIsAmazing #BoardBook #WithMyDaddy #PictureBook @ABRAMSbooks

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My Dad Is Amazing by Hello!Lucky

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is quite amazing! I loved it so much...bright, beautiful celebration of Dad's. There is nothing better than a book that showcases all the ways that Dad's strive to be everything they can to their children. It is so wonderful and the illustrations are amazing! A must have for ALL Dads.

I cannot wait to use this book in my classes next year for Father's Day. It is perfect. Also a great gift for any Dad's birthday!

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With My Daddy: A Book of Love and Family by Jo Witek

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am in love with this book. I adored it from cover to cover. As a Daddy's girl, this book tugs on my heartstrings. I loved the story and all the ways this book celebrates how we spend time with our Dads. It is a delightfully illustrated story that captures the highs and lows of being a little girl with a loving Dad. "With Dad, an ordinary day becomes extraordinary." Such a perfect book for Father's Day or for your Father's birthday.

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#MMBBR #Review #SnailMail by @BergerBooks via #partner @Running_Press @HachetteUS #reviewcopyprovided

Snail Mail by Samantha Berger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is fantastic. The illustrations are darling and the premise of the book is amazing. I know as a kid I loved getting mail and as an adult I still love it. The journey a letter goes through to get to your mail box is quite remarkable. I know that all kids are going to take interest in writing and receiving letters after they read this book. I also love that there are numerous learning applications in this book and that it can be used both at home and in the classroom. A must for all.

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