NOTE: I skipped from #1211 (the last book reviewed in 2024) to #1249 because there are 38 books I reviewed in my Live Journal that I am adding to this blog - but dating them 2006, as that is when I read and reviewed them.
The Greatest Stuff on Earth: The Amazing Science of Sunlight, Smartphones, Microphones, Mushrooms and Everything In-Between by Steve Tomecek, illustrated by John Devolle
This 128-page book tackles a lot of science topics in mostly double-page spreads. Coverage of each topic is brief, yet I found I was learning new things reading this book. The illustrations are colorful and cartoon-like, and the font used was large enough to read easily (although black print on dark backgrounds is never a good idea). The four-page glossary at the end is helpful, along with an explanation of the research done for the book (I appreciate the author looking for at least three respected, reliable sources for each fact). There's also a three-page index and a list of selected sources - not all, and I suspect the selection deliberately targets websites, because those are generally easier for readers to access. I especially appreciate the author discussing topics like climate change, evolution, and vaccines - because in my right-wing state, many of these topics can no longer be discussed in school. This would be a good book to inspire children to find more to read and learn about the topics it covers that they find interesting.
The Paris Assignment, by Rhys Bowen - WWII historical fiction
Daughter of Moloka'i, by Alan Brennert - a sequel to Moloka'i - WWII-era historical fiction
Lethal Passage: The Story of a Gun, by Erik Larson - nonfiction
The Drunken Botanist: The Plants that Create the World's Great Drinks: 10th Anniversary Edition, by Amy Stewart - nonfiction
Renegade Grief: A Guide to the Wild Ride of Life After Loss, by Carla Fernandez - reviewed in a separate post.
