Here’s the next post of the Mini Reviews series, and it’s more eclectic than ever!

Today I share my thoughts about yet another three books: a children’s picture book that keeps it fresh with inspiring creativity, a self-help book about overcoming stress, and a short book of a poem with beautiful illustrations that is most likely a gift book.

‘Lion of the Sky’ by Laura Purdie Salas (illustrated by Merce López)

(Goodreads/Amazon)

Since this collection of poems is aimed at children, I rated it as such. I have to admit that I wasn’t particularly intrigued by these poems, but they were good. I can imagine kids liking them for themselves, but what made me actually recommend this book to every parent with a toddler/kindergartner was that these poems are all riddles as well – they’re so-called Riddle-ku-s. This makes reading this little collection more than a simple literary experience, it’s a fun game this way, and it makes its little ‘readers’ actually think about what the poems are about.
And that’s not even the best idea in this book. The last page ask kids to create their own riddles, their own haikus. Sorry, Riddle-ku-s. I find this awesome! There are ideas and methods given as help, too. I have to say, I’d so much like to see what kids write after discovering this book!
The illustrations are a huge plus in this book, as well. They’re sweet and gorgeous!

I rated this book 4 stars.

I got this book from Lerner Publishing Group/Millbrook Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

‘365 Ways to Beat Stress’ by Adam Gordon

(Goodreads/Amazon)

I probably don’t admit to something unbelievable when I say I requested this book because I feel like I have too much stress in my life. Why would anyone read a book like this for any other reason? Throughout university I found myself more and more unable to handle all the stress, and while it became better after I graduated, I’m still afraid of it all coming back. I could definitely use some tips on how to relax.

The tips in this book can be divided in three groups: 1. tips that I’m sure I will use 2. tips that might work, but I’m a bit skeptical and 3. tips I’m 100% would never work for me. And I think that’s okay. It’s really hard to find any tips on how to handle things in one’s life, how to control one’s feelings, how to stay calm. We all work differently. I think the essential here is that I found some helpful tips that work for me, and those will improve my life. I’m sure everybody else feels this way, they all have these three groups of the tips: what’s awesome is that we all put different tips in them. What works for me, might never work for you, and what didn’t work for me, might be a perfect fit for you. I do think, though, that every people can find something useful in this little book.

I rated this book 4 stars, according to NetGalley’s rating system, as in yes, I recommend it.

I got this book from Watkins Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

‘Zookeeper’ by Douglas S. Haynes

(Goodreads/Amazon)

The only reason I don’t rate this book any lower is the illustrations and the positive message it gives.
It’s not that it’s particularly badly written: it’s not! Though I’m not a head-over-heels fan of free verse, I knew what I got myself into, so that’s not my problem: the wording is nice and there are thoughts behind it. Especially with the beautiful illustrations this book could be a nice gift to someone who appreciates this kind of things.
I think I simply expected a bit longer poem? I don’t know. This ‘book’ was so short I didn’t really feel like there was a point in making it a whole, separate book. It should’ve been either more little poems, or one significantly longer. At the end I was left with an odd feeling that I only read the beginning of a book.

I gave 3 stars to this book because of the idea and illustrations.

I got this book from Old Stone Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Please, leave a comment if you have any thoughts! I’d love to have a discussion with you!

Hugs 🙂