Everything is Awesome: A Search-And-Find Celebration of Lego History

Everything is Awesome: A Search-And-Find Celebration of Lego History by Simon Beecroft - 32 pages

Goodreads:

A uniquely illustrated search-and-find format, perfect for LEGO® fans young and old!

Find hidden toys, pirates, ghosts and more in fantastic scenes based on classic LEGO® playsets. This full-color hardcover activity book will entertain LEGO® fans ages 6 to 8 as they pour over the highly detailed scenes! With its focus on the iconic toy’s history, this book will make a great gift for LEGO® fans and collectors of all ages.

Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search & Find Biographies

Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search & Find Biographies by Gus Morais - 40 pages

Goodreads:

Are you ready for it? This one-of-a-kind biography takes you on a visual exploration of Taylor Swift’s groundbreaking career, celebrating every album era, iconic outfit, and unforgettable moment. From singing “Tim McGraw” at the start of it all to her Midnights confessionals, this book is packed with Easter eggs that only her most loyal fans will uncover.

Dive into masterfully illustrated spreads, each inspired by a pivotal era in Taylor’s life. Seek her out in the snake-adorned chaos of Reputation, find hidden treasures among the glitter-dusted allure of 1989, and follow a trail of butterflies and rainbows through the dreamy world of Lover. Each page brims with secret details Swifties will instantly recognize—can you spot the “13”s or the infamous cardigan? Don’t forget to look for cameos from Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin Button!

This isn’t just a game; it’s a love letter to Taylor’s evolution—from fearless teen to worldwide pop icon, through heartbreaks, triumphs, and re-recordings. Relive the defining moments that have shaped her narrative, from her first Grammy win to her iconic vault door teases and surprise album drops. Find your way through every glitter-drenched, heartbreak-tinged, revenge-laced era Taylor Swift has gifted us. Swipe on that red lipstick, put on your headphones, and start your scavenger hunt—because where Taylor goes, we follow.

Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson

Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson

128 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Nancy Drew is seventeen and good at everything... ESPECIALLY solving crimes. But her totally-in-control-and-obviously-running-perfectly-smooth-(but-not-really) life hits a snag when a mysterious message drags her back to the hometown she left behind. There she'll have to find out which of her friends are still her friends, which are enemies, and who exactly is trying to kill her...and (hopefully) stop them before they succeed.

A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn

 A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn, 336 pages

When a famous crafter is murdered, Sammy Kane and her S.H.E.s are on the case, but get the surprise of their lives when they realize the murder is closely linked to another death that hits closer to home.

When I picked this book up, I didn't realize it was the second of a series; however, it wasn't hard to parse the characters, their relationships, etc. The story and many of its elements were distressingly generic, and often times problematic (the main character is subconsiously obsessed with the size of every one she meets). I wanted to love this book because I loved the idea of a cozy murder mystery based on various fiber arts but I couldn't.

In the end what kept me goingg was Alan Moore's advice to "read terrible books... because they can be more inspiring by analyzing why they are doing so badly."

 

Monster Blood III (Goosebumps #29) by R.L. Stine

 Monster Blood III (Goosebumps #29) by R.L. Stine-123 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Evan can't stand baby-sitting his genius cousin, Kermit. Kermit refuses to play video games. He won't even play Frisbee! All he likes to do is hang out in the basement doing strange experiments and playing mean practical jokes on Evan and his friend Andy.

But now Andy's found something that will teach Kermit a lesson once and for all.

It's green. It's slimy. And it comes in a can marked...Monster Blood!

Thoughts: I enjoyed the previous two entries in this series within a series. This one is good, too. I like the twist at the end. I would have been annoyed if I had a cousin (or other kid) I was babysitting that behaved like Kermit. 

​Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright

​Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright, 105 pages

Christina's vision of a wonderful summer spent on her grandmother's farm is dashed to pieces and instead she's forced into a delapitated house with her grumpy Uncle Ralph. Turns out the house is haunted by a timid little boy... and something angry in the attic.

The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the fact Uncle Ralph eventually believes Christina, to the point that he actively helps Christina to investigate the ghost. In so many of Wright's other books (I am thinking specifically of The Dollhouse Murders and The Ghost of Mercy Manor) where the adults completely ignored it and/or punished the children for lying. I still feel the sting of those accusations that rankled my much younger self.

 

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream by Bruce Coville

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream by Bruce Coville, 48 pages

I was actually looking for a completely different book by Bruce Coville when I stumbled upon this truncated children's version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Now, it must be acknowledged that I am not a Shakespeare scholar by any stretch of the imagination but rather an enthusastic casual admirer. 

However, I thought this adaptation was simply fantastic. The illustrations are captivating, especially those of Puck. The story itself is well told for a younger audience who isn't quite ready to parse the full play; in fact, some of the book was directly quoted from the play, which gave the whole thing a full effect. I was so pleased with this rendition that I ordered a copy of every Coville version of Shakespeare that's available in Missouri Evergreen.