kathyellendavis's reviews
77 reviews

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton

adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

What a lovely little graphic novel! The characters are so endearing; Narwhal's enthusiasm is contagious, and Jelly's facial expressions ensure you always know what he's thinking. The kids loved that there were different chapters featuring related stories, and the facts as well. 

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

What a funny and heartwarming read. I know it may seem funny to say that about a book that starts with a murder, but it's true! Vera is a dynamo that no one can say no to; I love her pluck, gumption, and fierce belief in herself. She assembled a cast of characters around her that become a family. This is a joyful world to be a part of, and I can't wait for the next one! You won't be able to put this book down; it will make you laugh and tug on your heart. Read it! 

Bad Moooove! by Nancy Krulik

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Another fun adventure; this time Princess Pulverizer and Lucas have to rely quite a bit on their dragon friend Dribble. I love how they are working more together. And the monster in this books is very surprising! On to the next one!

Improve: How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety by Alex Graudins

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

I thought this was a great read. It was interesting to go along with Alex on her journey from having crippling social anxiety, and seeing
how she helped it with improv. I related to a lot of the social anxiety and I think it would be really helpful for people who don't have social anxiety to be able to see how it plays out for other people and be more empathetic. I enjoyed all of the improv games and I thought 
It was a really good look at what an improv class could be. I was rooting for Alex to succeed. I think this book will inspire anyone to go out and try something that they may not be good at right away.

Poetic Remedies for Troubled Times: from Ask Baba Yaga by Taisia Kitaiskaia

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

I loved listening to this so much! The advice is so poetic and mysterious, the advice requests so relatable. It was inspiring, reassuring, and entertaining.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

What a lovely book and look at how we can all be part of a gifting economy. I loved the stories shared, the illustrations, the book as a physical object, and the invitation to think beyond our current harmful economy and find wars to nurture our connections with others and the earth through gift economies. Everyone should read this book!

Grilled Cheese and Dragons #1 by Nancy Krulik

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This is a fun series! I love the themes that girls can do anything and should not be limited to what society thinks they can accomplish. Princess Pulverizer has some rough hedges that get slightly smoothed out in this adventure, and I'm sure as more stories go she'll change more. I love the little team she's formed as well. We'll read all eight books for sure!

Upworthy - GOOD PEOPLE: Stories From the Best of Humanity by Gabe Reilich, Lucia Knell

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

I really loved this book. It felt like a warm hug from humanity. The stories were all of everyday people doing something that they thought was little, but it was huge in the life of the people they helped. I particularly loved the chapters on teachers and kids! Anyone reading this will be a little kinder after and keep their eyes out for some way they can help someone. I also think it will inspire people to think about the times people have helped them in a huge way. 

That Christmas and Other Stories by Richard Curtis

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

A lovely collection of three picture book stories that are the basis of the movie, That Christmas. The stories are sweet and give you a lot to think about, and the illustrations are so whimsical and charming. The stories are pretty meaty words-wise, and reading all three in one sitting won't take too long. I know we'll be reading this every Christmas! 

Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration by Bryan Caplan

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

This is a great book to understand how we can solve our "immigration problem"; mainly by realizing that we are creating the problem by restricting immigration. You have to take it a bit slow for all the info to sink in, but it's worth it. There are so many sources and studies cited, and I love the author sort of being our tour guide throughout the whole process. I learned a lot and hope that we get to open borders soon!