Review: How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea

Title: How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea Series: Standalone Author: Ari Kolender Publish Date: April 1, 2025 Publisher: Artisan Books Genre: Cookbook Age: 16+ Started Reading: March 11, 2025 Finished Reading: March 13, 2025 NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

James Beard award nominee and owner of LA's popular Found Oyster and Queen St. restaurants brilliantly demystifies the art of cooking fish and shellfish with 100 straightforward and delicious dishes for every seafood from cod to salmon, crab, oysters, scallops, and even tinned and frozen fish.

You don’t need to be an experienced chef to make delicious fish and shellfish. Cooking great seafood is all about simplicity and confidence, and this book gives readers the techniques to make sure their seafood always shines. Organized by cooking method, there are chapters on grilling, baking, broiling, frying, and more. Chef Ari Kolender worked at the country’s best seafood restaurants before opening his beloved spot Found Oyster in Los Angeles. Now, in his first book, Kolender teaches readers versatile, fool-proof techniques for serving up fish and shellfish every possible way. With an emphasis on sustainability, How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea offers 100 recipes for everything from Clam Chowder and Fried Cod Sandwiches to Two Bean Squid Salad and Low Country Fish Stew. Kolender takes the intimidation out of cooking fish and shellfish. He shows why crudos, ceviches, and aguachiles are some of the easiest seafood dishes to prepare at home, and he explains how to bake fish and veggies in paper packets for the gentlest way to cook seafood. Readers will learn the ultimate grilling method to make Grilled Mackerel and Miso Barbeque Shrimp, or they can recreate the magic of a seafood shack with chicken-fried and beer battered seafood. A larder chapter features a whole world of accompaniments for seafood, including Red Yuzu Mayo and Pickled Green Tomato Tartar Sauce, plus a Seafood Primer walks readers through how to select, store, and clean the seafood they bring home. Whether seafood newbie or fanatic, How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea will change the way readers think about seafood and guide them through techniques to unlock the dynamic flavors of fish and shellfish.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating:  5 Stars

A fantastic resource for those looking to add more seafood to their diet. This book has an amazing variety of recipes to keep things from getting boring, while also giving you the information to get you well on your way to being a seafood pro. The book starts off with a lot of info on different ingredients that you get from the sea, including not only fish, shellfish, bivalves, but goes into seaweed and roe as well. There are instructions on what to look for when purchasing, and what ingredients are better fresh, canned, or frozen, and what the best way to store or prepare them are. The book is split up into type of preparation, and each section has a good variety of recipes using different types of seafood. Through the book are tips and instructions for difficult parts of preparation, like preparing a lobster or crab, many recipes also have substitution suggestions. This book isn't just for those who live near ports and can get fish fresh from the boat, it has a lot of information and recipes for using frozen, salt, canned, or smoked fish, allowing it to become a resource for anyone to enjoy seafood in their diet. I read this ebook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: An excellent book to inspire you to include more seafood in your diet.

Review: Calm Your Roar Like a Dinoaur

Title: Calm Your Roar Like a Dinosaur Series: Standalone Author: Brenda S. Miles; Colleen A. Patterson Illustrator: John Joseph Publish Date: February 4, 2025 Publisher: Magination Press - American Psychological Association Genre: Children’s Fiction Age: 3-6 Started Reading: January 21, 2025 Finished Reading: January 21, 2025 NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Feeling frustrated, frenzied, or full of roar? Calm yourself like a dinosaur!

This book teaches little kids progressive-muscle-relaxation, a mindful self-guiding mediation technique proven to calm and ground the whole mind and body. With its catchy mantra and playful rhyme, Calm Your Roar presents a super fun and playful easy-to-learn skill that benefits dinos of all ages, and guaranteed to turn dinosaurs into relaxosaurs. All dinosaurs have a “roar” inside themselves, from everyday feelings of frustration, anger or stress. Dinos big and small will learn that is OK and progressive-muscle relaxation is a great way to release that roar!

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

If you have a kid who has big feelings and needs some help with how to handle them, especially if they like dinosaurs, this book is a huge resource. I read this to my daughter (5) and as we were going through the motions my son (2) came over and started doing them too. They both love dinosaurs so pretending their body parts were stretching like the dinosaurs' really got them involved. The illustrations were fantastic, both kids enjoyed turning the new page to see which ones were showing up. They both loved the one breathing page where the bird was getting flipped around by the dino's breath. The information at the beginning of the book for parents was great, giving additional tools to help work with the kids while we went through everything. It's a very cute book with an easy to follow pattern to help kids calm their 'roar' and get back on even footing. We read this ebook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A fun book to help kids learn emotion regulation.

Review: Dinosaur Day

Title: Dinosaur Day Series: Standalone Author: Diana Murray Illustrator: Luke Flowers Publish Date: February 4, 2025 Publisher: Sourcebook Jabberwocky Genre: Children’s Fiction Age: 2-6 Started Reading: February 2, 2025 Finished Reading: February 2, 2025 NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Hooray! Hooray! It's Dino Day! From the best-selling creators of Unicorn Day comes a dino-mite celebration as all sorts of dinosaurs celebrate Dinosaur Day!

On Dinosaur Day, dinosaurs love to stomp and chomp. But they like silly singing, rowdy swimming, and yummy desserts too. All this fun makes the baby dinos want to join, but something unexpected pops up. Will the dinos accept this new addition to keep Dino Day going?

This heartwarming and inclusive story is the perfect companion to the bestselling Unicorn Day and Mermaid Day!

Hooray! Hooray!

It's Dino Day!

The dinosaurs are on their way!

The ground starts shaking-

Here they come!

Thumpa-bumpa,

rum-tum-tum!

The perfect gift if you're looking for:

Dinosaur books for boys and girls ages 4-10
A fun-filled bedtime story
Colorful, beautiful animal stories
Children's books about dinosaurs
Dinosaur gifts for little girls and boys

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

This is an adorable rhyming book about a day the dinosaurs come to play. I read this to both of my kids (5 and 2) and they both enjoyed it, though the 5 year old declared it was more a book for her younger brother at the end. With that said, she did say she thought the lava cake was funny and the duck was a surprise. My 2 year old loves dinosaurs and got up to stomp with them at the beginning. The rhyming is easy to follow, the pictures were cute, and the story was fun. A colourful romp for kids who like dinosaurs. We read this e-book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A colourful romp for kids who like dinosaurs.

Review: Sketchbook Joy

Title: Sketchbook Joy: How to Embrace Your Creativity and Fill Your Sketchbooks with Colour
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Katie Moody
Illustrator: Katie Moody
Publish Date: Mar 4, 2025
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group – Leaping Hare
Genre: Arts & Photography
Age: 16+
Started Reading: February 21, 2025
Finished Reading: February 24, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Creativity exists in everyone!

Find joy in this inspiring, beautiful and uplifting art instruction book from sketchbook lover, tutor and artist Katie Moody.

Art can be accessible, so much fun and positive for your mental health, mindfulness, and memory. Kickstart your creative journey with this exciting guide to developing your art skills every day through your sketchbook.

Even if you are sparkling brand new to art, Sketchbook Joy’s aspirational prompts will encourage you to unlock your creativity and fill your very own gorgeous sketchbook to cherish.

Learn how to paint through the accessible medium of fun gouache and explore the expressive joy of mixed media by drawing in pastels & pencils.

Be excited by unique examples and ideas from artist Katie Moody’s stunning illustrations, and explore:

• Essential sketchbook supplies and how to use them
• Basic painting and drawing techniques
• Colour theory
• Sketching things around you
• Projects that include botanicals, birds, rural landscapes, urban scenes, and painting from your window (or phone)
• Ideas and way of filling your sketchbook
• Tips for building a creative practice and making time for it – and you

Discover your inner creative, enjoy the process, and sketchbook your way to joyful wellbeing.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

This book is a great one for those who are starting out their art journey. As a beginner I find I often fall to the same pitfalls talked about in this book, wanting perfection, things not going as well as I want or imagine. Katie helps you give yourself permission to just have fun with your art. Going through mediums, inspirations, beginning colour theory, she gives you everything you need to get you started with just making art. The projects at the end help give a starting point, walk you through a new technique, or just a group of ideas to look through if you find yourself stuck for what to sketch. A wonderful resource to help you fill up your sketchbooks. I read this e-book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A lovely resource for those starting out on their art journey. 

Review: The Lost House

Title: The Lost House
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Melissa Larsen
Illustrator: N/A
Publish Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Age: 16+
Started Reading: January 20, 2025
Finished Reading: January 24, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes 

Book Summary from Goodreads: 

In Melissa Larsen's The Lost House comes the mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.

Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together as peacefully as though sleeping. Except the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. There were no arrests, no conviction. Just a suspicion turned into a the husband did it. When he took his son and fled halfway across the world to California, it was proof enough of his guilt.

Now, nearly half a century later and a year after his death, his granddaughter, Agnes, is ready to clear her grandfather’s name once and for all. Still recovering from his death and a devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than an excuse to escape the shambles of her once-stable life—which is why she so readily accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast. Agnes packs a bag and hops on a last-minute flight to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where Nora is staying, where Agnes’s father grew up, and where, supposedly, her grandfather slaughtered his wife and infant daughter.

Is it merely coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very same weekend Agnes arrives? Suddenly, Agnes and Nora’s investigation is turned upside down, and everyone in the small Icelandic town is once again a suspect. Seeking to unearth old and new truths alike, Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets that threaten the redemption she is hell-bent on delivering, and even her life—discovering how far a person will go to protect their family, their safety, and their secrets.

Set against an unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape, The Lost House is a chilling and razor-sharp thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that will leave you breathless. 

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars 

This book was, ok. It felt like a not great movie that you enjoy watching with your friends while shouting at it and throwing popcorn. The decisions of the FL had me wanting to bash my head against the wall, and it seemed like everything happened too fast. It was crammed into 10 days of time, so things that would take time to build up, like trust and relationships, happened at lightning speed. I had a strong guess for who the murderer was about half-way through the book, but that didn't ruin the climax. I will say that the last quarter of the book is the strongest part, once the ball really got rolling for the final confrontation things got fun and I enjoyed the ride. There were a lot of different conflicts going on: the cold case mystery, the podcast, the FL physical and mental health issues, substance abuse, a missing girl, and then half-way through a messy relationship gets added to the mix. It just felt like too much all at once.

I listened to the audiobook and have to say that the reader was really good with the voices. There were times I was almost convinced they'd changed narrators for the mens' voices. I can't say whether or not her Icelandic accent was any good, but it did differentiate the locals from the tourists. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley. 

To Sum Up: A decent mystery that feels rushed due to a too short timeline. 

Review: The Vegetarian Reset: 75 Low-Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World

Title: The Vegetarian Reset: 75 Low-Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Vasudha Viswanath
Illustrator: N/A
Publish Date: January 17, 2025
Publisher: The Collective Book Studio
Genre: Cookbook
Age: All Ages
Started Reading: January 16, 2025
Finished Reading: January 17, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

The Vegetarian Reset celebrates a lifestyle where a foodie sensibility intersects with healthy eating. It solves the never-ending dilemma that all plant-based eaters Is life fun when you eat salad every day, or is it worth it to let your health take a backseat to enjoy a big bowl of rice or pasta without enough protein?

In her debut cookbook, Vasudha Viswanath takes readers on a little trip around the world, drawing inspiration from an array of traditional and global cuisines that are rich in whole foods like vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats. Seasonal vibrant recipes are moderately low-carb and put vegetables front and center , while also being gluten-free ! Learn to bake healthy bread from scratch, make paella out of cauliflower rice, transform paneer into gnocchi, and sweeten brownies with dates! Whether you already follow a low-carb lifestyle or simply want to add more healthy dishes into your rotation, The Vegetarian Reset will delight and inspire vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike to eat well, fully nourish, and reset your body.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

While I am not Vegetarian (and likely never will be) I do want to increase the amount of veggies in my diet. I decided to check out The Vegetarian Reset to see if I could find some new options to add into my personal rotation. I don't know that I could get my kids and hubby onto some of these recipes, but they'd be perfect for me. I really enjoyed the variety of vegetables used, and the effort to move away from just salads and smoothies. Tying in various cultural dishes from around the world gave a fun chance to branch out from the norm. I loved that most of the dishes were gluten free, this made things much easier for me as someone with Celiac Disease as I didn't have to worry about converting. The fact there are options for vegan alterations as well allows easy accommodations for when my vegan relatives come over. My only, mild, issue was how often pasta and rice seemed to be villainized. The substitution of cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles was fine, and it was mentioned that you can just use rice or pasta, but it felt a bit heavy handed on not using grains and starches in any of the dishes. Definitely a book I'll be adding to my shelf, and meals I'll be adding to my menu. I read this digital ebook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A wonderful variety of recipes from different cuisines to liven up your dinner table.

Review: The Vanishing Bookstore

Title: The Vanishing Bookstore
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Helen Phifer
Illustrator: N/A
Publish Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Age: 16 +
Started Reading: January 2, 2025
Finished Reading: January 18, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes 

Book Summary from Goodreads:

‘Every story needs a happy ending. And you can’t have yours until you find the bookstore.’

1692. On the outskirts of Salem, a bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…

Present day. Stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’

Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible secret: the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.

Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.

As she pushes open the beautiful blue door hidden amongst the sharp brambles, and stands in front of rows of crumbling leatherbound books with faded pages, she has no idea of the secrets she is about to uncover. Or that her life is in more danger than ever before…

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

This was a really interesting book for someone who went through a Salem Witch Trials phase as a teenager. Taking very real facts, and in some cases people, and working fiction around it is a fine line to follow without falling over. I think this book did a good job of it! The story was fun without being too over the top, it didn't push the facts too much, even with multiple lives and an immortal witch hunter. The hopping back and forth through the timelines was handled well, telling the story without being too confusing, leaving just enough questions needing answered to keep you going. I did find myself somewhat wanting with the explanation of the curse that was the thing that started the whole plot. In fact, I felt that the 'curse' that as referenced many times in the story was kind of forgotten and a completely different explanation was given for what was happening.

I listened to the audiobook of this, and for the most part it was fantastic. The variety of voices was well done, and the narration was clear and even soothing. My main issue is likely a director decision, but it's a big issue that kept bugging me. In this 'lifetime' the FL grew up in London, England from the time she was a few weeks old. A number of times characters remark that she's British, clearly reflecting a British accent, however, and possibly so that the accent didn't change between lifetimes, the character is read with an American accent. It's not a deal breaker, but it was something I found a bit jarring with the text.

All told, I really enjoyed this book, much more than I initially thought I would. I think if I were to pick it up to read again, I'd get the text format to avoid the dissonance of the accent. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A interesting, suspenseful, and fun story, but possibly better read than listened due to an accent issue.

  

Review: Kawaii Café Ramen: Classic, Fun, and Delicious Ramen Meals to Make at Home

Title: Kawaii Café Ramen: Classic, Fun, and Delicious Ramen Meals to Make at Home
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Amy Kimoto-Kahn
Illustrator: Amy Kimoto-Kahn
Publish Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Rock Point
Genre: Cookbook
Age: All
Started Reading: January 2, 2025
Finished Reading: January 6, 2025
NetGalley?: Y

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Satisfy your ramen cravings at home (and affordably)!  Kawaii Café  Ramen includes over 60 easy-to-follow recipes, beautifully illustrated in a fun anime style.

Kawaii Café Ramen covers everything you need to know, including how to put together a bowl of piping hot ramen in a myriad of ways with a choice of four soup bases, ramen noodles (homemade or store-bought), and traditional and non-traditional ingredients. Enjoy bowls of pork, chicken, and beef ramen, or branch out with seafood, vegetarian, and spicy soups—and even cold ramen and a breakfast version topped with bacon and a poached egg. Make your soup base in advance and you have a quick, easy, and special midweek family meal.

Each accompanied by exciting anime-style illustrations, the recipes include:

• Indonesian Pork Ramen with Coconut Curry Soup
• Chicken Meatball Ramen
• Teriyaki Beef–Wrapped Asparagus Ramen
• California Ramen with Crabmeat, Avocado, and Cucumber
• Spicy Tofu Ramen
• Crispy Greens Ramen with Swiss Chard, Kale, and Brussels Sprouts

With yummy recipes, down-to-earth writing, and a delightful design, Kawaii Café Ramen is the ultimate guide to this global phenomenon.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

I'm going to start this off by saying, I love ramen! I've been a huge fan of it since the early 2000's when I'd first moved out and had a little restaurant that made 'real' ramen just down the street. Then I got Celiac Disease and sadly went about with whatever I could make at home by myself with various rice noodles, but it was never the same. This book has upped my game! While I'm still stuck with the rice noodles, now I can bring the good soup bases and toppings home and have something much closer to the real deal! The recipes are clear and the language used around everything is optimistic and very encouraging. The shining star of this book, I think, is the section on side dishes. This is what elevates this book from being a one trick pony to a fantastic resource. The illustrations are very cute, but I would have liked to see a couple of pictures to show what to expect of the actual finished product. I will be using this book a lot in the future. I read this digital advanced copy through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A very cute and inspiring cookbook with a wonderful variety of recipes. 

Review: Single Player

 Title: Single Player
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Tara Tai
Illustrator: N/A
Publish Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Alcove Press
Genre: Romance, LGBTQIAP+
Age: 18+
Started Reading: December 12, 2025
Finished Reading: December 27, 2025
NetGalley?: Y 

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Two video game creators go head-to-head in this delightful, queer enemies-to-lovers workplace romance debut.

Cat Li cares about two things: video games and swoony romances. The former means there hasn't been much of the latter in her (real) life, but when she lands her dream job writing the love storylines for Compass Hollow—the next big thing in games—she knows it’s all been worth it. Then she meets her boss: the infamous Andi Zhang, who’s not only an arrogant hater of happily-ever-afters determined to keep Cat from doing her job but also impossibly, annoyingly hot.

As Compass Hollow’s narrative director, Andi couldn’t care less about love—in-game or out. After getting doxxed by internet trolls three years ago, Andi’s been trying to prove to the gaming world that they’re a serious gamedev. Their plan includes writing the best game possible, with zero lovey-dovey stuff. That is, until the man funding the game’s development insists Andi add romance in order to make the story “more appealing to female gamers.”

Forced to give Cat a chance, Andi begrudgingly realizes there’s more to Cat than romantic idealism and, okay, a cute smile. But admitting that would mean giving up the single-player life that has kept their heart safe for years. And when Cat uncovers a behind-the-scenes plan to destroy Andi’s career, the two will have to put their differences aside and find a way to work together before it’s game over.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

To start off I will say, I quite enjoyed this book. Overall it was a cute romance, and that was what I was looking for. That being said, there were some issues I had. First, the main relationship is between a Manager and their Intern Employee, while there are many other reasons the characters think of for why they can't get together, this power dynamic is hardly a throw away thought once or twice. This dynamic broke up the Try Guys, I was expecting it to be a bigger hurdle to get over. Second, apparently the universe's only goal was to get these two together because the amount of 'coincidental meetings' that happened required a bit of suspension of disbelief. I listened to the audio book for this and Natalie Naudus does a fantastic job of switching her voice between POV chapters. The writing was well done, the geeky references were fun, and the periodic 4th wall breaking wasn't too off putting. The intimate scene was enjoyable and just the right length and descriptiveness. All told this was a nice romance with a fun geeky twist. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A cute romance with a geeky twist.

 

Review: Ping's Perfect Pot

Title: Ping's Perfect Pot
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Helen H. Wu
Illustrator: Zihua Yang
Publish Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Beaming Books
Genre: Children's Fiction
Age: 3-7
Started Reading: December 16, 2024
Finished Reading: December 16, 2024
NetGalley?: Yes 

Book Summary from Goodreads:

 KNEAD, MUSH, MASH. Ping molds a pot for Lunar New Year.

When Ping and Grandpa bring a tangerine tree home for Lunar New Year, Ping decides to make the perfect pot to go with it. But making a pot is hard. With Grandpa's encouragement, she tries again and again to get it just right. The first is too clumsy, the second crumbles, and the third is too flimsy. What if she can't make the perfect pot? Will it ruin the new year?

For anyone feeling discouraged over learning something new, Ping's Perfect Pot reminds them not to give up when something isn't immediately easy. Perfection takes practice, patience, and, in the end, the love and effort you put into it. Backmatter provides more context and the deeper meaning of Lunar New Year traditions and symbols found within the story, as well as around the world.

Munchie and My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars (We really liked it)

This book is great for showing practice makes perfect, but also that there is greatness in imperfection. The traditions and meanings behind Ping's attempts to make the perfect pot were told in a way that was understandable to my daughter (5). We are not from the culture this book shows, but my sister-in-law is and my daughter very much enjoys learning about how her Aunt grew up and what holidays she celebrates. The information section at the back of the book explaining Lunar New Year and the traditions around it was a fantastic inclusion to teach those who don't know and to introduce them to children. The drawings of the people were a bit flat and seemed a tad copy/paste, but that was just something I noticed, it didn't bother my daughter at all. I read this digital book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A lovely book for teaching practice, traditions, and cultural differences, an excellent learning tool with a sweet story to back it up.

 

Review: Just One More Story

Title: Just One More Story
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Perry Emerson
Illustrator: Sean Julian
Publish Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Genre: Children's Fiction
Age: 3-7
Started Reading: January 2, 2025
Finished Reading: January 2, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Pip and Bun are two very different bunnies. Pip LOVES reading. Bun does not. Then one day, Bun opens a book filled with action and adventure. Could it be the perfect way for Bun to learn to enjoy reading?

Munchie and My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars (Really good!)

Quite an adorable story about two sibling bunnies and how they work together to find a way to tell stories that interests both of them. Muncie (5) absolutely loved the illustrations. She thought the different stories talked about were funny (A penguin on a motorcycle... WHAT?!) When the bunnies started misbehaving and fighting she stopped the book to talk about how they were not nice, and was very happy to see that they made up and went back to playing. On my part I very much enjoyed reading this book. There were a bunch of parts I could make interactive, and playing with the bunnies' voices was fun. Seeing my daughter recognize and discuss the not so great moments was good too, and the showing how both came to a point of reconciliation on their own was a very good example. I like how it showed a believable sibling relationship with ups and downs, and allowed for conversation about it. We read this digital picture book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: This was a very cute book with a realistic view on sibling relationships, and showed how one can encourage the other to read.

Review: Kawaii Cafe Ramen

Title: Kawaii Cafe Ramen: Classic, Fun, and Delicious Ramen Meals to Make at Home
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Amy Kimoto-Kahn
Illustrator: Amy Kimoto-Kahn
Publish Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Rock Point
Genre: Cookbook
Age: All
Started Reading: January 2, 2025
Finished Reading: January 6, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Satisfy your ramen cravings at home (and affordably)!  Kawaii Café  Ramen includes over 60 easy-to-follow recipes, beautifully illustrated in a fun anime style.

Kawaii Café Ramen covers everything you need to know, including how to put together a bowl of piping hot ramen in a myriad of ways with a choice of four soup bases, ramen noodles (homemade or store-bought), and traditional and non-traditional ingredients. Enjoy bowls of pork, chicken, and beef ramen, or branch out with seafood, vegetarian, and spicy soups—and even cold ramen and a breakfast version topped with bacon and a poached egg. Make your soup base in advance and you have a quick, easy, and special midweek family meal.

Each accompanied by exciting anime-style illustrations, the recipes

Indonesian Pork Ramen with Coconut Curry SoupChicken Meatball RamenTeriyaki Beef–Wrapped Asparagus RamenCalifornia Ramen with Crabmeat, Avocado, and CucumberSpicy Tofu RamenCrispy Greens Ramen with Swiss Chard, Kale, and Brussels Sprouts
With yummy recipes, down-to-earth writing, and a delightful design, Kawaii Café Ramen is the ultimate guide to this global phenomenon.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars (I really liked it)

I'm going to start this off by saying, I love ramen! I've been a huge fan of it since the early 2000's when I'd first moved out and had a little restaurant that made 'real' ramen just down the street. Then I got Celiac Disease and sadly went about with whatever I could make at home by myself with various rice noodles, but it was never the same. This book has upped my game! While I'm still stuck with the rice noodles, now I can bring the good soup bases and toppings home and have something much closer to the real deal! The recipes are clear and the language used around everything is optimistic and very encouraging. The shining star of this book, I think, is the section on side dishes. This is what elevates this book from being a one trick pony to a fantastic resource. The illustrations are very cute, but I would have liked to see a couple of pictures to show what to expect of the actual finished product. I will be using this book a lot in the future. I read this digital advanced copy through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: Lots of really great, easy to follow recipes, could use a real photo or two for the finished products.