That's a Great Question, I'd Love To Tell You by Elyse Myers

That's a Great Question, I'd Love To Tell You by Elyse Myers, 269 pages

Reading a social media influencer's book is always a dicey proposition, no matter how much you enjoy their public persona. Sometimes they're just not interesting in long form. That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You is a read that's equal part cozy, cringy, complicated, and just a little bit crazy. 

The format of the book itself, the way the information is presented to the reader, is an interesting insight into the workings of Myer's mind. Memory and poetry crash together, all illustrated by the author's own hand.  It was an adjustment shifting from shortform videos to the written word, but ultimately, the book reads like Myers speaks. I could almost hear her narrating in my head. It was a fun read with a lot of heart. 

 

The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff

The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff, 151 pages

From the MARC: "As Christmas approaches, Lucy, a ten-year-old orphan living on the streets of London, is overjoyed to be given the job of sewing hearts for the dolls in ThimbleBee's Doll Shop."

 

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicky Delany

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicky Delany, 294 pages

From the MARC: "As the owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures, Merry Wilkinson knows how to decorate homes for the holidays. That's why she thinks her float in the semi-annual Santa Claus parade is a shoe-in for best in show. But when the tractor pulling Merry's float is sabotaged, she has to face facts: there's a Scrooge in Christmas Town. Merry isn't ready to point fingers, especially with a journalist in town writing a puff piece about Rudolph's Christmas spirit. But when she stumbles upon the reporter's body on a late night dog walk - and police suspect he was poisoned by a gingerbread cookie crafted by her best friend, Vicky - Merry will have to put down the jingle bells and figure out who's really been grinching about town, before Vicky ends up on Santa's naughty list."

 

One Piece Omnibus, Volume 1

One Piece Omnibus, Volume 1 - 608 pages

Eiichiro Oda

Summary (From Goodreads)

As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. Its only drawback? He'll never be able to swim again--a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the "One Piece," said to be the greatest treasure in the world...

Review

As one of the longest-running series of all time, this manga's reputation as a fan-favorite precedes it.  Although the slapstick humor can a feel a bit much at times, it's still more than able to deliver on characters, story, and worldbuilding.  

Are There Rainbows in Space?: A Colorful Compendium of Seriously Cool Science

Are There Rainbows in Space?: A Colorful Compendium of Seriously Cool Science - 128 pages

Sheila Kanani, Liz Kay (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

What color is a polar bear under its fur? How do flamingos turn pink? What is a blue moon? Find the answers to all these fun questions and much more in this fact-filled adventure into the colorful world around us!

The science of colors is hard at work all the time—from ultraviolet light to the baby blue tint of the sky. Readers will learn tons of interesting scientific facts about color and its whys and hows—like why blood is red, how hippos keep cool, and how some animals can change color to hide from predators. Bursting with incredible illustrations and some seriously cool science, this book is sure to dazzle both nature lovers and reluctant readers alike.

Review

Seriously cool science indeed!  With a wealth of information on topics ranging from every color on the visible light spectrum and beyond, to the difference between luminescent and incandescent, this book was a delight to read!  

Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen

Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen -- 95 pages

Louisiana gravedigger Noah Evans’s Valentine’s night shift takes an unexpected turn when his high school crush starts screaming from her freshly dug grave. Whoever tried to bury Emma six feet under is in for a nasty surprise—they should have checked for a pulse because she’s got unfinished business, starting with the hot gravedigger who just saved her life. As they unearth a deadly family conspiracy, Noah and Emma discover that old flames burn even hotter the second time around—especially when someone’s trying to kill them.

Death to Valentine's Day by Catherine Cowles

Death to Valentine's Day by Catherine Cowles -- 100 pages

After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.