Graphic Novel Review of Jim Henson's The Storyteller by Various Authors & Illustrators

Read for: Graphic Novel Challenge

Synopsis: "When people told themselves their past with stories, explained their present with stories, foretold the future with stories...the best place by the fire was kept for...The Storyteller 

Archaia and The Jim Henson Company are proud to present all-new tales of fantastic wonder and extraordinary myth, as told from the tongue of The Storyteller and his loyal canine companion."

My Review: I didn't know anything about this book going into it other than I really loved the cover. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the inside of this one held up to the promise of the outside. I love that this is a collection of folk tales from around the world, each told by a different author/illustrator in their own style but keeping with the Storyteller and his dog.

My Rating: I love reading folk tales and really enjoyed the different takes and artistic interpretations in this book. I just want more of it!  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

Early Reader Bedtime Story: The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate by Stephen Krensky

Read for: Early Reader Challenge

Synopsis: "Warm up with the enticing history of hot chocolate in this fact-tastic nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series about the history of fun stuff!

History of Fun Stuff: The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate was named a 2015 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People!

Did you know that for thousands of years, chocolate was a beverage and not a solid candy? Or that soldiers in the Revolutionary War received a monthly ration of chocolate for drinking? Learn all about the history of America’s favorite wintertime treat in this fun, fact-filled Level 3 Ready-to-Read!

A special section at the back of the book includes relevant info on subjects like social studies and science, and there’s even a fun quiz so you can test yourself to see what you’ve learned!"

My Review: I love the History of Fun Stuff series and it has been fun sharing these books with Munchkin. While they do pick fun topics and make it as fun as possible, it can get a little boring for younger readers. Luckily, the pictures are always fun and keep some attention. I do like how there are questions at the end of the book as well to see how much information was retained (Munchkin is really struggling with this right now at school so it is a fun way to work on it at home). We learned a lot about hot chocolate and Munchkin discovered his new favorite word, cacao. We also got a short history of marshmallows too! It was a fun book to read on a snow day while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.

My Rating: This was a fun book to read while drinking hot chocolate.  I love how this series makes learning fun for young readers.  Munchkin enjoys sharing the facts he learned.  We give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Review of The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander

Read for: Recently Added

Synopsis: "In the early years of the 20th century, a group of female factory workers in Newark, New Jersey slowly died of radiation poisoning. Around the same time, an Indian elephant was deliberately put to death by electricity in Coney Island.

These are the facts.

Now these two tragedies are intertwined in a dark alternate history of rage, radioactivity, and injustice crying out to be righted. Prepare yourself for a wrenching journey that crosses eras, chronicling histories of cruelty both grand and petty in search of meaning and justice."

My Review: This is way outside my normal comfort zone but being a relatively short read and it was offered as a free download, I thought I would give it a try. I found it to be a really interesting alternate history. I remember hearing only briefly at some point about Topsy so I like that it took a minor side history and brought it to light. I absolutely loved the perspective of the elephants and the way their family network and history is presented. It was certainly an interesting and intriguing story to read, though I did feel like it was incomplete at the end, yes we know what happened to Topsy, but the rest of the fabricated events needed just a little more conclusion for me. Definitely worth giving it a try if you have a little time and are looking for something new and unique.

My Rating: This one was really outside my comfort zone but I try to push those limits from time to time and short stories are a great way to try something new.  While I did struggle a bit to wrap my head around it at the beginning, I ended up really enjoying this book even with the dark subject.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

It's Not Monday Reading List

It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Warlord
Love That Dog
The Storyteller
Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate
King of Attolia
Five Mountain Men of Lonely Peak

Currently Reading:

Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan - Print - on page 96 of 293
Book Nerds & Boyfriends by Sarah Monzon - Kindle - 32%
Cruel Prince by Holly Black - Audio/Print - on page 109 of 370

Pages Read/ Time Listened
107:35 Hours Listened (10:33 listened this week)
4,331 Pages Read (961 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
Dragon of Ash & Stars
The Snow Gypsy
Book Nerds & Boyfriends
WarDance
Warsong

The Only Harmless Great Thing
Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego
Lost Boy
Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep
Voices
Wicked King
Lord of the Fading Lands

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It was a rough week last week and I had a bit of an attention issue with the books I was reading. I decided to take a bit of a break from the two series I was reading and dive into some quick, steamy romances since they don't take much brain power or time to read. Munchkin started getting sick last week, hubby has been forced to work 14-16 hour days at work and the worst part is we had to put our cat, Valerie, down yesterday as well. We have all been clinging to survival mode and as much as books are my escape sometimes only mindless things like TV, youtube videos, or just complete silence and zoning out cut it.

Hopefully this week will see us getting into some kind of new normal.  I hope that you are all doing well and are enjoying some great books.