Review: How to Window Box

Are you looking into starting a gardening? Are looking to build a garden in a small space? How to Window Box by Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit could be the book you seek. They offer ideas and information about "small-space plants to grow indoors or out."

Window boxes can be enjoyed inside your home or in the great outdoors. They can be huge or tiny depending on the plants you use or the size of your containers. This book focuses on small size window boxes, but there are other gardening books that feature containers of various sizes. Gordon and Benoit also offer a wide range of garden types - edible, beach, bog, floral, and more. Each created box type has general plant information (light, soil, water, feeding, etc.), names of possible plants you can use (genus and species), instructions on putting the box together, tips, and notes on how to personalize your window box.

It's a fun little book to add to your gardening collection. It would be fun to create window boxes for yourself or to give as a gift.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: How to Window Box
Author: Chantal Aida Gordon, Ryan Benoit
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 9781524760243

Review: Daisy Cakes Bakes

One of Kim Nelson's claim to fame is her appearance on ABC's Shark Tank with her baked goods. I honestly had no idea. I picked up this book because this month (March) has Pi Day in it and the cover looked lovely.

The photographs and text layout in the book are well done. Nelson includes recipes on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, bars, confections, frosting, fillings, sauces, pies, fritters, ice creams and puddings. She also includes hints, recipe variations, and recipe pairings. The binding on this book works very well - it remains open when you're looking at a recipe! One cool recipe that I will highlight is "Make Your Own Pan Grease." Why buy a can of spray oil when you can whisk some up at home? Thanks, Kim Nelson for sharing your love of cooking, a little piece of your family history, and sweet treats!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Daisy Cakes Bakes
Author: Kim Nelson
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 9780451499417

Review: Hello, Bicycle

I've been pondering digging in the garage for my old bicycle. Hello, Bicycle arrived to give me insight on becoming a cyclists again. Author Anna Brones writes in a very conversational tone which I appreciated. It was a book that I didn't want to set down. The style of the book is also eye-catching. The book could fit comfortably in a bag or in a bicycle basket. Rather than black print inside, the text, as well as the illustrations by James Gulliver Hancock, are in tones of green. Love how easy on the eyes it is to read green and white pages over black and white pages. I am excited to venture into the garage and clean up my bike this year. I want to ride. Thanks for the inspiration and helpful information for a newbie, Anna Brones!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for an honest review.

Title: Hello, Bicycle: An Inspired Guide to the Two-Wheeled Life
Author: Anna Brones
ISBN: 9781607748830

Review: Long May She Wave

Long May She Wave is a collection of 100 collectible postcards that feature stars and stripes of America.


The 100 cards are actually two sets of 50 postcards. The description on the box says, "50 flag cards; 2 of each; 1 to share; 1 to keep." Potter Style is the publisher and they have shared a range of over two hundred years. Each postcard shares a brief description that includes the date or circa date. I appreciate the quality of cardstock that was used for the postcards. The cards can be displayed or mailed with confidence that they would last over time. The cardboard storage box (that looks like a book) is also sturdily made. It's a fun collection to keep or to share. Perhaps a good fit for a PostCrossing account?

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Long May She Wave: 100 Stars and Stripes Collectible Postcards
Author: Kit Hinrichs and Delphine Hirasuna
ISBN: 9780553459289

Review: Wonderland

Coloring is a hot topic, but it's also a long time pastime. People have been coloring, drawing, painting, and creating art for hundreds of years. It's truly amazing to see how many different coloring books are currently on the market. Let me introduce you to one of them ...

Wonderland: A Coloring Book Inspired by Alice's Adventures by Amily Shen

Amily Shen is a Taiwanese artist with three drawing books. Wonderland is her first coloring book. She is also a full-time illustrator and art instructor.

Wonderland is a coloring book that's more than just a book full of black and white pages. Readers can follow Alice's adventures with a personal twist from Amily. She helps put the book owner in the story. There are complex coloring pages, beautiful simple pages, drawing pages, and even a seek-n-find game. Now, that's just the inside of the book. The dust jacket can be removed and on the reverse side there is an extra long poster to color! The book cover and back also have coloring designs on them. The cover is tinted pink and made of thicker, glossier paper, so a different color medium might be needed for coloring the cover vs. coloring the the dust jacket or pages. This is a fun book to give to a friend or purchase for yourself!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Wonderland a Coloring Book Inspired by Alice's Adventures
Author: Amily Shen
ISBN: 9780399578465

Review: Priceless Weddings for Under 5K (Revised Edition)

Kathleen Kennedy has refreshed her book, Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000. She included more content, updated information, and a stylish new cover which features hand lettering by Alane Gianetti. Just looking at the page count, it's over 100 pages more than her first edition which came out in 2000.

My review is based off the revised edition which was published in 2015. I have not read the original, so I cannot compare the two versions side by side. The book is written in a traditional format of paragraphs and whatnot, but Kennedy also includes checklists, bullet points, tips, questionnaires, real-life wedding examples, and places for notes. I think it is a helpful text when thinking about putting a wedding together. If one of your priorities is budget, this is a book to find. The real-life examples were helpful. The couples shared their wedding priorities, location, budget, and more.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000 (Revised Edition)
Author: Kathleen Kennedy
ISBN: 9780804185769

Review: The 4x4 Diet Book

When The 4 x 4 Diet book arrived in the mail, I paged through it quickly then sat down to read a couple pages. I ended up reading the entire book in one evening!

Erin Oprea wrote in a friendly and down-to-earth style. It read more like a friend talking with you than just an informational text or a lecture. She was encouraging and wanted her readers to see the diet as making a healthy lifestyle choice rather than a quick diet. She wants everyone to live a better and longer life. Her 4 x 4 diet takes 4 weeks to implement. It's not a jump into the deep end decision, which I appreciate. Each week you start to do something a little different with your food decisions. It feels like a plan everyone can follow with easy to know numbers and baby steps to better living.

The workout portion reminded me of burst training that my chiropractor talked about last year. Erin Opera talks about the tabata method which you push hard for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds in 8 rounds. She shares an array of movements through photographs in the book. (She also shares some short videos on her Twitter, too!) She encourages readers to find tabatas that they enjoy and find their own routine of 8 movements. Readers can follow her routines in the book or get into your groove with her suggestions.

The 4 x 4 makes me feel confident to try some new exercises. I've been pondering burst training (or tabata) and I feel I have some great information to get me started. Thanks, Erin!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: Things I've Said to My Children

Father and graphic designer, Nathan Ripperger, shares Things I've Said to My Children. He selected a few choice phrases he's told his children and illustrated them! Such a clever, short book to read and share with parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, or anyone who relates to having children around them. Children are curious, imaginative, and frustrating, but they are learning. They are learning how things work as well as learning their limits. As a librarian, one of my favorite phrases in the book was "We do not poop in books." Indeed! We do not poop in books.

I know of many parents who capture funny phrases their children say in little notebooks, but this is a fun reverse book of funny phrases parents say to their children. Most family notebooks are not illustrated, but they are shared with others, usually family and friends. This book could be a launch pad for so many ideas for art, gifts, or humor to share with family, friends, and strangers!

I think this book pairs well with another humorous parenting book, Reasons My Kid Is Crying or Dad is Fat. All three titles offer great chuckles! They could also be shared as silly new parents gifts.

Looking for more information about Nathan Ripperger? He's sharing his artwork on Etsy. He's also on Flickr and Twitter.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Things I've Said to My Children
Author: Nathan Ripperger
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
ISBN: 9781607748304

Review: Rooted in Design

When I first paged through Rooted in Design, I was not drawn to it. The photographs seemed stylized and too urban; the ratio of project how-to's versus plain text was uneven to my eyes. I'm from a suburban area and the authors are from Chicago and New York. The plants might be the same, but the housing and room decor depicted didn't feel familiar. For two months, I left Rooted in Design on my to-read shelf at home. I needed to give this book an honest chance. I'm glad I did!

After actually reading the text, not just relying on the photographs or the eight Make If Your Own how-to's, this is a very well put together book. The authors offer different design ideas for every living space. It doesn't matter if you have an apartment or a house. It doesn't matter if you have floor space, wall space, table space, or ledge space. They share plenty of ideas for plant lovers. They offer ideas from the floor to the ceiling, from attaching to the wall to movable walls of plants. Beyond just room design, they share their plant knowledge from plant design to plant care. If you enjoy live plants or preserved plants, they have projects for every type of indoor gardener.

I currently have numerous houseplants. They are happily residing on kitchen counters right now, but they will be moving soon! I feel inspired to redesign my plants to fit together better and enhance my living spaces. Rooted in Design was described as a having DIY projects, tips, and guidance. I agree! Before winter sets in, I'm going to put on some garden gloves and get dirty!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Rooted in Design: Sprout Home's Guide to Creative Indoor Planting
Author: Tara Heibel & Tassy de Give
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
ISBN: 9781607746973

Review: Infuse

Infuse: Oil, Spirit, Water is a fantastic recipe book to capture the tastes of summer and freshness. Prum and Williams created a book that can be used as a great summer activity, but also a way to keep fresh foods enjoyable all year long. They share recipes that infuse oil, alcohol, and water. Some recipes are to be enjoyed immediately, while others beg you to take your time.

The infuse recipes are divided into three sections: oil, spirit, and water. The delicious liquids are accompanied by other recipes as well. The food recipes range from apps to drinks to main courses. The focus is on the infusions, so most of the recipes are liquid, but the additional recipes are an added bonus.

The design of the book is beautiful. The colors are muted and natural. The photographs give a wonderful feel and look to the book. The ingredients are minimal and precisely laid out on a wooden surface. It feels natural and homey with the use of canning jars, wood, metal, glass, and fresh ingredients. They created a book that makes a newbie (like myself) want to jump and in and muddle, infuse, taste, and savor.

I cannot wait to capture the tastes of summer this year. I look forward to sharing this book with others or bringing a new concoction to gathering. Thank you, gentlemen!

For more information about Eric Prum & Josh Willams, visit their website: The Mason Shaker. You can purchase their books as well as their mason jar products and find recipes.

Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy! I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.


Title: Infuse: Oil, Spirit, Water
Author: Eric Prum & Josh Williams
ISBN: 9780804186766

Review: Q&A a Day

Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal by Potter Style


When I saw the online picture of Q&A a Day, I thought, "What a great journal idea!" It's a new way to begin journaling again. I've been itching to get back to writing every day, but it's been put on my awful "someday list."

Q&A a Day arrived in the mail and I was utterly charmed when I opened the plain brown cardboard package. The book easily fit in my hand and it's simply beautiful in it's simplicity. I'd say the size of the book is similar to an old fashioned prayer book or the size of large cellphone today, but three times as thick as a cell phone.

The journal begins with January first, but you can begin any time! Just open up to the day and answer the question. You will need to fill in the 20__ blank with the year and you have four lines to complete the answer. Questions range from serious to silly, thoughtful to lighthearted. I am beginning with March 1 which reads, "How could today have been better?" Wow. That's a pretty deep starter questions, but as they say, "No time like the present"! (If anyone is wondering, yes, Potter Style includes a page for Leap Year.)

I'm looking forward to restarting a journal. The pages are sturdy with gold trim. Fun and fancy while being practical. I hope to share an update as I journal along with this 5-Year Journal. I might even see what the other journals offer. Potter Style has a journal for kiddos, creatives, and more! Excellent idea, Potter Style. I think you have a winner!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal
Publisher: Potter Style
ISBN:  9780307719775

Review: The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden: Grow Tons of Organic Vegetables in Tiny Spaces and Containers by Karen Newcomb

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden is a best-selling book that has been revised and reprinted. I have not read any previous printings of The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden, so I cannot compare the 2015 printing with other printings. Newcomb's introduction covers the background of her book and the new addition of heirloom seed varieties.

As a beginner gardening, I gleaned some very helpful information about gardening from this book. I've had an interest in small space and container gardening and The Postage Stamp Garden offers a variety of plants to grown and garden sizes. The first couple chapters share information about soil mixtures, when/how to plant, and watering the garden. Newcomb added illustrations, diagrams, and graphs to help illustrate the text, but the book is word heavy vs. picture heavy. (Don't let that deter you, reader!) The largest chapter focuses on the vegetables and herbs that work the best (and not so best) in a postage stamp garden. It's not just a list of plants in that chapter. The plants listed include information on planing, crop stretching, varieties, harvesting, storage, growing tips, and typical problems. The book ends with chapters and appendixes on companion planting, pests, compost, and seed sources. It's quite an in depth book about a little garden.

I think gardeners of any age or ability will enjoy this title. It's a faster read than I thought it would be. I also appreciated the soft tones in the printed version of this book. The paper is cream instead of white and the text is brown and dark green instead of black. It's natural and calming style book. Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy! I cannot wait to try a postage stamp garden this summer.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden
Author: Karen Newcomb
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
ISBN:  9781607746836

Review: My Perfect Pantry

My Perfect Pantry: 150 Easy Recipes from 50 Essential Ingredients by Geoffrey Zakarian


Any Chopped fans out there? That's my personal tie to Geoffrey Zakarian. GZ created this cookbook with Amy Stevenson and Margaret Zakarian with photographs by Sara Remington. He dedicated it to Madeline, Anna, and George - "May your pantry always be full."

Zakarian offers a unique look at the pantry. He pares down the essentials to 50 items which does not include spices. If you add spices, it jumps to sixty-nine essentials. It all depends on how you feel about math, spices, and food.

My Perfect Pantry is a beautiful book. The jacket offers photographs for each item listed in the book as well as the cover shot of GZ next to a pantry. It's clean cut and concise. The jacket's theme carries through to the book. Each essential is photographed with a small introduction and a few tips followed by a couple recipes featuring the essential.

Zakarian's essentials might not suite everyone. (I personally do not purchase a couple of his listed essentials.) But that's one of the joys of cooking - trying new things or customizing a recipe to your taste. I might not be ready to chuck out all my purchased goods and start over again with 50 essentials and 19 spices, but it's definitely food for thought.

Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy! I enjoyed this beautiful book.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: Food a Love Story

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan


Do I read it, or rub it on my face?

Yes! Read it! Read it and eat something while you're at it. This book will make you hungry. If you're not eating while you're reading, you'll want to eat when you finish. Better yet, eat before you read. Reading isn't swimming, so feel free to read on a full stomach.

If you are familiar with Gaffigan's standup, you'll know that he loves to talk about food. Yes, you'll recognize bits and bites of his routine in the book, but he adds so much more. He shares photos and diagrams along with his thoughts, ideas, and humor. The book does ramble, but how is the best way to write a book on food? Do you start with breakfast and end with dessert? Do you write about cooking and end with supper clubs? Do you wrap everything up in a bacon wrapped hot pocket? There is no rhyme or reason to an foodie eatie's story. The reader can consume a large portion of this reflective book or sample little bits along with the way. It's a delicious read, that just might make milk* come out of your nose. (*Depends on what you're drinking or eating at the time.)

If you're not acquainted with Jim Gaffigan, you'll get a large dose about one of his life's passions. You might want to view a bit of his comedy before jumping in or watch a bit after you're done reading. It's good, clean humor that a large audience can appreciate.

The audiobook is read by Jim Gaffigan. Keep in mind listeners...he is reading his book and not sharing a seven hour standup routine. He does add bits of flare here and there, but it's mostly Jim, reading Jim. I really appreciated that Gaffigan read his own book. I doubt that the humor would come across if another talent read his story.

Reviewed from a library copy and a Blogging for Books copy. The audiobook arrived on the hold shelf the same time the hard cover arrived in the mail! It was pretty exciting to read and listen to Food: a Love Story. Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy. I heartily enjoyed it.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

View all my reviews

Martha Stewart's One Pot Cookbook

One Pot: 120+ Easy Meals from Your Skillet, Slow Cooker, Stockpot, and More by Martha Stewart


Are you familiar with Martha Stewart Living magazine? It's a magazine that is filled with recipes, products, home decor, and helpful hints. The format is clean and crisp with photographs that are in muted and welcoming tones. It's a mix between old world, well-loved pieces and modern marvels. It translated very well into their newest cookbook.

The recipes were divided by there cooking pots - dutch oven, skillet & saute pan, slow cooker, roasting pan & baking dish, pressure cooker, then stockpot & saucepan. Dessert options are at the end of the book, but they are prepared between a variety of the above listed pots and pans. The beginning of each section offered a list of the recipes and a page about each pot. The introduction to each pot includes basics and cooking tips. These extra pages are very helpful for the reader who has never cooked with certain pots before in their kitchen.

The recipes in each section offer a wide variety of dinner options. There is a different range of food and flavors as well as cooking abilities. Some recipes throw everything together and cook it (Linguine with Tomato and Basil) while others ask for an additional step or two before throwing it all together (Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Lemon). All in all, each recipe focused on one pot creations that will please a wide audience. If the cook doesn't like the written recipe, it can always be adjusted. If you're new to adjusting a recipe, each section offers one recipe that can be cooked four different ways. All I can say is dig in and enjoy the cooking adventure!

Photographs accompany each recipe. I appreciated that each photograph showed a different food presentation. The finished dishes were displayed in different pots and pans or serving dishes or on plates or bowls. The variety of the photographs kept the art interesting and heartwarming with their mix of well-used kitchen equipment and new pieces for the kitchen.

Lastly, I noticed a couple book design features I've enjoyed in this book. The sections are divided by the pots. On the recipe pages next to the page number, the publishers included a small gray scale watercolor image of the highlighted pot in that particular section. Artwork that is cute and helpful when flipping through the cookbook. Another design plus is having built-in bookmarks with the book cover flaps - very helpful when marking a page.

I previously cooked Linguine with Tomato and Basil (except, I used penne). It was delicious and simple. I am looking forward to expanding my culinary skills and trying some new recipes. I also enjoyed seeing recipes done using different pots. I would have never thought to make Mac and Cheese in a skillet or cook sausages with potatoes in a dutch oven.

Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy! I heartily enjoyed it!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: Your Family in Pictures

Your Family in Pictures: The Parents' Guide to Photographing Holidays, Family Portraits, and Everyday Life by Me Ra Koh


Your Family in Pictures is the follow up book to Me Ra Koh's previous photography titles: Your Baby in Pictures and Your Child in Pictures. I would love to say that this title follows the style of her previous titles, but at this point, I have not read her earlier books. I assume that her recipes and giving spirit present in this book are also in her other books. I am very interested in finding her other books after reading Your Family in Pictures.

Mr Ra Koh shares her love of her family, her passion for photography, and her mission to share photography with others. She created this book to inspire parents (especially mothers) to look at family moments and take photographs in a new light. Whether the family owns a point-and-shoot camera or a DSLR, Koh shares her her tips, tricks, knowledge, and "recipes."

Her recipes are how to re-create your own version of her (and her friends') family photos. Koh breaks each photograph down to the best time of day, prep work for the photo, composing the image and finally capturing the shot. Each recipe includes P&S users (point-and-shoot) as well as DSLR users. Each photo is possible! It's all about taking your time and understanding your equipment. I have a P&S camera, but after reading the DSLR recipes, I long to pick one up! I used to shoot on film with a SLR, but I haven't shot with film in oh so many years... Well, there's always a new adventure around the corner!

The book is divided up into different aspects of family and different family moments during the year. The topics covered include everyday life, holidays, family portraits, tweens & teens, family vacations & travel. While some events are obvious (birthday parties, Christmas, or portraits), Koh offers up unique, quiet, and restful everyday ideas like capturing a teenager's bedroom, relaxing at a hotel room, or taking a portrait of Mom. Beyond the recipes, Koh shares a glimpse of her story, tips for equipment, and personal thoughts to motivate and inspired photographers.

If you are a new photographer or a pro, Me Ra Koh's book will inspire and warm the hearts of those who read it. She shares her heart and her family with her readers. It's a beautiful and thoughtful book.


I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Thank you, Blogging for Books!

Review: Dear Luke ... Dad Darth

Dear Luke, We Need to Talk, Darth: And Other Pop Culture Correspondences by John Moe


When I came across this title, the cover drew me in. As author Jacqueline Navin once wrote in a novel, "I adore correspondence. When a letter arrives from a friend it is like getting a small present." Jim Gaffigan also is quoted on the front as saying, "I loved everything about this book." Mr. Gaffigan is one of my favorite comedians, so I thought I would give this book a go.

When it arrived in the mail, the format threw me off. I thought this book would be more like a little coffee table book or one made of collages. The books that came to my mind include the Post Secret series and À la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers. (Especially, the À la Cart book.) The format is a paperback in black, white, and gray. The correspondences vary from notes to letters to chalkboards. The fonts also are changed up a bit, but nothing too dramatic, so it is all legible.

Unfortunately, I was left with the feeling of "meh." I picked out the letters I could relate to the most and gave them more of my attention than others. It was more skim reading than detailed reading for me. I think my top choices that made me smile were Dora the Explorer's mother, the man with the yellow hat, and Gunther from Friends. Author Moe is clever and offers lots of new background ideas, but his humor is a bit off-putting for me. The pieces that I read turned sarcastic and snarky. Sometimes the language turned me off. I don't enjoy coarse language, so when it gets thrown into a book I don't always feel compelled to continue with it.

If readers enjoy pop culture and the ridiculous, I would recommend this title to them. It is a humor piece written with adults in mind.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: Reasons My Kid is Crying

Reasons My Kid Is Crying by Greg Pembroke


Are you familiar with the blog http://www.reasonsmysoniscrying.com/? If so, this is a small glimpse at the blog in book form! If you are not familiar with the blog, please go and take a look!


In the book, Pembroke shares snippets of why some crying episodes happen and working with little ones, I do agree. They're new to the world around them and they cannot always comprehend what's happening or why things happen. Sometimes it can be heartbreaking, but other times hilarious! As adults, we've experienced so much that these moments can frustrate and tickle the funny bones as well. Parents, family members, and professionals who work with children can easily relate to Reasons My Kid is Crying.

This is such a great book to read ... and share! The paperback is full color with a good mix between photographs and a pages of "Dispatches from the Front Lines." The dispatches are typed tales of various toddler moments. Pembroke does divide his book into chapters which cover everyday moments, family get-togethers, and out in public. The size of the book can easily fit into a purse or diaper bag to enjoy a quick read or to share with someone else. It's definitely a book I want others to read and enjoy. Thank you, Greg Pembroke for sharing a laugh with the world!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: Reasons My Kid is Crying

Reasons My Kid Is Crying by Greg Pembroke


Are you familiar with the blog http://www.reasonsmysoniscrying.com/? If so, this is a small glimpse at the blog in book form! If you are not familiar with the blog, please go and take a look! Here's a little book trailer glimpse as well:




In the book, Pembroke shares snippets of why some crying episodes happen. As I working with little ones at the libraries, schools, and childcares, I do agree. They're new to the world around them and they cannot always comprehend what's happening or why things happen. Sometimes it can be heartbreaking, but other times hilarious. As adults, we've experienced so much that these moments can frustrate and tickle the funny bones. Parents, family members, and professionals who work with children can easily relate to Reasons My Kid is Crying.

This is such a great book to read ... and share! The paperback is full color with a good mix between photographs and a pages of "Dispatches from the Front Lines." The dispatches are typed tales of various toddler moments. Pembroke does divide his book into chapters which cover everyday moments, family get-togethers, and out-and-about in public. The size of the book can easily fit into a purse, backpack, or diaper bag to enjoy a quick read or to share with someone else. It's definitely a book I want others to read and enjoy. Thank you, Greg Pembroke for sharing a laugh with the world!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review: The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting

The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting: An Easy, Organic Way to Deter Pests, Prevent Disease, Improve Flavor, and Increase Yields in Your Vegetable Garden by Josie Jeffrey


As a beginning gardener, I appreciate every gardening book that I can access. I especially appreciate easy to read and imaginative titles. This title caught my attention from the title: The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting. Mix & Match, eh? Sounds like an imaginative and fun book to read for this Children's Librarian. (Here is the original press release.)

The book arrived in it's package and I could not wait to see beneath the cardboard and bubble wrap! (Thank you Reda for packing the book so carefully!) As I unfolded the plastic covering, I was immediately impressed at the sturdiness of the book. I expected the book to be a paperback, but it is a hardcover with wire binding (versus a more commonly seen plastic comb for binding books). The opening pages are glossy and colorful, while the mix & match section is printed on cardstock in earthtones and full color plant images. Well done, Ten Speed Press!

The opening chapters highlighted a variety of information from history to biology in gardening with a dash of beliefs and theories thrown in. It was a quick read and very informative. Certain sections reminded me of high school biology, but a little refresher never hurt anyone! The touch of background information gives the beginning garden (like myself) an understanding of the reasoning behind publishing "another book about gardening." This book is unique and created a niche for itself. If more information is desired by the reader, Jeffrey shared excellent science terms that can easily be researched. The only text that caught me off guard was the very occasional phrase of harmonizing with the universe or the cosmos. I'm just interested in growing a garden.

The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting by Josie Jeffery

Now to the Mix & Match section! There are three sections - aboveground companions, central crop, and belowground companions. Each section contains 25 different plants from flowers to veggies to herbs and fruit. I recognized most of the plants offered as companions. Each card contains a picture, the name of the plant, if it is a perennial or annual, and brief growing tips. Beyond that information is the companion system that Jeffrey created with different colored circles to identify different ways plants can be companions. Jeffrey shares 16 different ways plants can benefit each other, which are shared at the beginning of the book. (I do wish that the chart was a foldout, so it could be viewed at the same time as finding plant matches, but a photocopy will work just as well.) Not all plants will be all matches, but gardeners can mix and match and try a wide variety of different matches! This collection definitely goes beyond my companion planting of tomatoes and marigolds.

I think gardeners of any age or ability will enjoy this title. The Mix & Match pages will entertain and enthrall a wide audience. Thank you, Blogging for Books for this review copy! I cannot wait to try some companion planting!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.