Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is a very abbreviated version of Anne Frank’s story for young readers. Most of the book is taken up by engaging artwork. Like the ‘girl in red’ in Schindler’s List, only Anne’s diary is in colour. I think this is a great touch! It really leaves emphasis on the enduring nature of Anne’s story, literally represented by the diary. There are black and white photos of Anne at the back, and a slightly more in-depth version of Anne’s story. This book is part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, all of which are great additions to any youngster’s library, providing a gentle introduction to a wide variety of inspirational people.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Ten Step Drawing: Animals by Heather Kilgour

Ten Step Drawing: Animals by Heather Kilgour provides instructions for creating no less than 75 different animals. Each critter is done through, as the title suggests, ten simple steps. Each picture has little sidenotes with it, offering detail suggestions, or tips and tricks. From meerkats and great whites, to moose and goats, there’s sure to be beasties to appeal to everyone. There are four different broad categories- Wild, Aquatic, Woodland, and Farm/Pet. I loved that two of the animals were dung beetles, and budgies. The beetles were the most amusing by far. This book is perfect for budding artists of any age!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Ten Step Drawing: Flowers by Mary Woodin

Ten Step Drawing: Flowers by Mary Woodin provides instructions for creating no less than 75 different flowers. Each flower is done through, as the title suggests, ten simple steps. Each picture has little sidenotes with it, offering detail suggestions, or tips and tricks. From hibiscus, to dogwood blossoms, to aloe Vera and a variety of bouquets, there’s sure to be plants to appeal to everyone. I think my favourite were the hen and chicks! Haha, I was really not expecting that! My grandmum grew hen and chicks, and they are amazingly resilient little buggers. You can just throw chicks on dirt and they flourish. This book is perfect for budding artists of any age!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Kitten Construction Company by John Patrick Green

Kitten Construction Company by John Patrick Green is a light-hearted, somewhat silly book about an architect no one will take seriously. Why? Because Marmalade is an adorable kitten. But Marmalade is determined to prove to doubters that kittens can be architects too. Together with Sampson, Bubbles, and the Professor (more kittens), they start the House Kitten Construction Company. The kittens get together to build Marmalade’s plans for the new mayoral manor. When the real manor is revealed, it is found to be very flawed. Thankfully, House Kittens Construction has the day well in hand and their project is used after all. No one believes it was built by a cat crew though. This was an okay read. The artwork is absolutely adorable. Of course, it was being adorable that got the kittens ignored all through the book. They were considered cute, and that took everything away from the knowledge they possessed. I know this was a kid’s book, but all I could think of every time someone was condescending to the kittens, was the parallels between how males can condescending to females in the workplace, most especially if the job in question is one still primarily dominated by men. No matter what the women’s qualifications, they couldn’t possibly have better ideas than the men. Or the kittens couldn’t possibly have better ideas than humans. This is just my opinion, of course. This could be a silly bedtime read for young children.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and First Second Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.