Nicola Edwards

Attractive book, which appears to be aimed at toddlers, but... I picked it up used one day because that morning breakfast table conversation revealed that my 3rd grade grandson has been wearing velcro shoes all his life and missed the tying-shoes lesson. Hard for me to comprehend that I'm a figure from history, because I remember doing shoelace lessons at age 4 "otherwise you can't go to kindergarten" and velcro was a new thing when I was in junior high, invented by engineers and used show more extensively for the Apollo program! SO ANYWAY, the pictures are not babyish, not cartoons, they're photographs of people paired with drawings to enhance the artwork. A person could use it without embarrassment. The cover has 5 real closures to practice on. (I'll have to replace the missing button, just because of my own compulsive mendiness. Why I have 17 books tagged mending in my library.) The shoelaces are really outstanding, in that the two laces are *two different colours*. This has always been my problem with knot diagrams, you tie the first part of the knot, and can no longer distinguish which end is which. AND the technique is a simplified one, which looks easier to use than the one I was taught as a child. If it actually works, brilliant!! If not, I'll be back here editing my review. I figure next week he'll be done with Shoe Tying 101 and the book can go to his cousins, one of whom is a bona fide preschooler and the other who is also a grade schooler who might be able to tie shoes or maybe not.

The absolutely genius detail about this book is that the front cover unfolds so that the learner can *read and refer to the relevant page in the book* WHILE practicing the skill. It could hardly be more practical.

Further to my comment that the book looks dignified enough to be used by non-toddler people, there's a five-star review on Amazon by a person whose adult friend suffering from nerve damage to her hands used this book as a supplement to her occupational therapy. Wow. show less

Young me would have been even more unsatisfied than adult me. At the very least, I want to know how to use the word in a sentence. Give me some sample dialogue... how does one actually use "I have 'jugaad' " in conversation or writing? Is it something beyond "I am thrifty and resourceful?"

A map would be a nice touch. I've heard of Belarus, of course, but darned if I remember where it is w/out looking it up. Otoh, a map would have revealed the very European focus, and the complete lack of show more words from Oceania (Australia etc.)

Further resources, bibliography, are critical. The author didn't just happen to know all these... what are her sources? If they're from not other published matter, a note saying something like "I interviewed all the people in my city who liked to talk about their homeland's language" or whatever would've been helpful.

At least it has a pronunciation guide, which it admits is for general guidance only (and so that is why, I suppose, it is at the end instead of incorporated).

It's just a taste of what it could have, and should have, been. Too bad. show less

First sentence: Moon's glow is so bold--she lights up the light! I'm supposed to shine, too, but I don't know how...

Premise/plot: Firefly isn't glowing. If he was, well, it would be a very short book. As he goes in search of his glow, little ones have things to press for glowing effects and sound effects.

My thoughts: This one is all about the gimmick of lights and sound. Thankfully there is an off/on switch. Though the existence of the off/on switch does not mean that little ones OR parents show more will remember to turn it off to save batteries. Try reading this one without the special effects and you'll see what I mean about this one being gimmicky. I also don't like the owl's eyeball glows.

It is okay. It is decent. show less

First sentence: Hey, I'm Grumpkin. I'm a pumpkin (obviously), and no one ever lets me forget it. This is my least favorite time of year. I really can't stand Halloween. That's right, I said it. Why could I have been a summer squash instead? Or an orange soaking up the California sun? Or a coconut swaying on a palm tree on a desert island....that's the dream.

Premise/plot: Grumpkin does NOT want to be a pumpkin and he does NOT want to celebrate Halloween. Can Grumpkin ever learn to be show more content?

My thoughts: I liked this one well enough. Grumpkin is VERY grumpy, cranky, out of sorts. There is a lesson to be learned--obviously. And it's done in a story. This one has more story to it than many other 'Halloween' board books. show less