December 2019 Wrap up

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!!!

What better way to start 2020 than a post about the books I read in December. Do not worry, there will be a post about my favorite books of 2019 but that would be later in the month.

In December, as you will see, the majority of the books I read where ARCs and more specific children's' books / picture books. I love reading and reviewing those, especially now that I have a child myself. 

So, without further ado let's see the books...

A Curse so Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer

This is the first book in the Cursebreakers series and it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed reading it, even though I had some issues at the beginning.

A review will follow pretty soon.

Fly, fly again - Katie Jaffe & Jennifer Lawson

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This is a beautiful picture book,

It's the story of a little girl who dreamed to fly.

Through reading this book you understand that with persistence, teamwork and determination you can achieve what you are dreaming even if it looks difficult in the beginning.

Snoopy: First Beagle in Space (PEANUTS AMP Series Bok 14): A PEANUTS Collection  - Charles M. Schulz

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

I must say that this is the first time I read a Peanuts comic and I can assure you that it will not be my last. I really liked reading the adventures of Snoopy and his friends and his efforts to be the first beagle in space. This is a very good collection of different comic strip with various themes. I would like it even better if it had more space themed ones, as the title suggests.

Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a forest - Rebel Girls

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This is a chapter book written by Rebel Girls and its purpose is to inspire young girls to explore their passions and dreams. In this one we read about the life of Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize. It gives you what you need to know about her and how she followed her dreams and passions despite the difficulties. Beautiful illustrations, too.

Stephen Hawkin: My first Stephen Hawkin - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara& Matt HUnt (ill.)

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

I love the picture books that Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara does. They are perfect for little children.

This one is a board book that introduces the little readers to the incredible life of the genius physicist and author Stephen Hawking. It is written in simple sentences, which are perfect for the little ones and it offers them inspiring messages.

David Attenborough (Little People, Big Dreams #40) - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara & MIkyo Noh (ill.)

 I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

In this beautiful picture book we discover the life of the inspiring broadcaster and conservationist, David Attenborough.

I truly enjoy this series and I find every book to be inspiring for little children. This one was no exception.

Beautiful illustrations too.

Martin Luther King, Jr.  (Little People, Big Dreams) - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara 

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This one is a picture book that introduces the little readers to the incredible life of the inspiring minister and civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. It is written in simple sentences, which are perfect for the little ones and it offers them inspiring messages.

I love how quirky the illustrations are.

Gudetama : Love for the lazy  - Wook-Jin Clark

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

Gudetama is a grumpy and very lazy egg that gives dating advice that is good even if you are lazy like Gudetama.

This is the first time I read something with this character and I found it pretty enjoyable.

Also the illustrations are beautiful and funny.

Muhammad Ali: My first Muhammad Ali - Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Brosmind

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This one is a board book that introduces the little readers to the incredible life of the famous boxer Muhammad Ali

It is written in simple sentences, which are perfect for the little ones and it offers them inspiring messages.

I love how quirky the illustrations are.

Heir of Lies: Black Dawn Series 1 - Mallory McCartney

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. It didn't connect with me and I found it very confusing and I couldn't understand what was going on for the majority of the time.

There were different POVs in the story that I didn't enjoyed. The story is about Emory but we didn't see her POV.

Also, I couldn't understand the world and the magic system in it.

I liked the writing though.

Maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book, maybe it isn't for me.

You can't scare me -  Bonnie Grubman & Judi Abbot (ill.)

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley 

This is a beautiful picture book about two best friends who are having a sleepover and one of them finds it funny to scare the other.

It's a story about friendship and respect to each other.

Very cute and colorful illustrations

Big Ideas for Little Philosophers Series:

1. Imagination with Rene Descartes

2. Happiness with Aristotle

3. Equality with Simone de Beauvoir

I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss +

These board books ask deep questions in a very accessible way. They have beautiful illustrations and they pass great messages to little children.

A review will follow pretty soon.

Short stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies - J. K. Rowling & MinaLima (ill).

This book contains short stories from the Harry Potter world, something like a behind the scenes or "origin" stories of some characters. All the stories have the common theme of heroism, hardship and dangerous hobbies in the wizarding world. Minerva McGonagall  and Remus Lupin are featured in this one.


I really like dreading about their stories and what inspired J.K. Rowling to write them.

Short stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky POltergeists - J.K. Rowling & MinaLima (ill.)

This one has stories from the Harry Potter world and all have the common theme of power and politics and of course poltergeists.
It's a good look at the past of some characters and also at what inspired J. K. Rowling to write them.

These ones were a little bit darker than the previous ones. We learn about Dolores Umbridge and Horace Slughoorn as well as Azkaban.

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide - J. K. Rowling & MinLima (ill.)

This book takes you on a journey through Hogwarts in its own way. It is by no means complete but it's a good enough extra dose of Harry Potter and Hogwarts magic.

The Guinevere Deception ( Camelot Rising #1) - Kiersten White

I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately it didn't fulfill them. I still enjoyed reading it but not as much as I wanted.


A review will follow pretty soon.

Dictionary for a better world: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z - Irene Lathau, Charles Waters & Mehrdokht Amini (ill.)

The idea behind this book is very good. It's goal is to inspire young readers to create a better world. I liked the alphabet format of the book and also the bold illustrations that accompanied the poems. Unfortunately the book wasn't something I particularly liked, probably because I am not into poetry as much as I wanted. Also I think that this book is more appropriate for older children due to its length.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Beatrix Potter Illustrated Collection

I haven't read this as a child and now I regret it. I would have loved it then.
I really liked reading the stories about all these little animals. They are very sweet.

Very beautiful illustrations too.

 Finally, I read some comic books with stories from Disney with the characters of Donald Duck etc. and All About History magazine.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy these books from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)