Chinese Proverbs Illustrated: The Wisdom of Cheng-yu translated by James Trapp

Chinese Proverbs Illustrated is a delightful lesson in linguistics, namely proverbs/idiomatic phrases in Chinese. A cheng-yu is a series of four characters that represents an idiom/proverb, often derived from a story. Each has the Chinese characters, pinyin, pronunciation, both the literal translation and the idiomatic meaning, a bit of a story behind it, and relevant artwork or photography. By far, the cheng-yu characters dominate. They are writ large in captivating red.

As someone who loves both language play and learning about other cultures, I enjoyed this book. I made a game of guessing what the idiom was based on the literal translation. Some I got, many I didn’t, but it was lots of fun. I have big plans to get the hardcopy of this book. I have Amber’s haiku collection bound the same way and it’s simply gorgeous in hardcopy. Highly recommended for those who love language play, or have an interest in Chinese culture.

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

Birds of Prey by Tom Jackson

Birds of Prey by Tom Jackson is divided into chapters by type of raptor- Eagles/Kites, Hawks/ Harriers, Vultures, Falcons/ Kestrels, and Owls, rounded out with an introductory chapter and a final one on babies and nesting.

It’s chock full of gorgeous raptor pictures, and fascinating facts about them. I loved learning about the more unusual or uncommon birds like harriers, and the awe-inspiring harpy eagle. Side note- barn owls are still creepy and I 100% stand by my theory that they are responsible for the legends of the banshee. Those demon-eyed beasties sound downright freaky. Yet another perfect coffee table photography book by Jackson! Highly recommended for those who love nature photography or birds of prey.

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Amber Point for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There Are Dads Way Worse Than You by Glenn Boozan

There Are Dads Way Worse Than You by Glenn Boozan is an adorable rhyming story about the ups and downs of being a dad, listing dads that will never win a ‘Father of the Year’ award, such as Thanos and Tywin Lannister. At the end is a section listing all the ‘dads’ mentioned, and where they came from.

Despite the rhyming and art style, it’s definitely a book meant for adults, like Go the F*ck to Sleep. It’s tongue-in-cheek, irreverent, and absolutely hilarious. This is a great gift for any dad, be they brand-new to the game, or already grandpas. Also, now I cannot unsee Frankenstein as the ‘tale of a deadbeat dad’. 🤣🤣

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

Wild Languages of Mother Nature by Gabby Dawnay

Dawnay’s Wild Languages of Mother Nature collects 48 entries spanning the animal, plant and fungi kingdoms, looking at all the different means of communication the natural world has. For instance… hippos can communicate with farts. A fact that has caused no end of amusement amongst my cubs. Facts more interesting to me include:

*Pufferfish create art

*Fruit flies have dialects

*Death’s head hawkmoths mimic bees for honey

*Split gill mushroom mycelia communicate with a vocabulary

Packed full of fascinating information accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, Wild Languages of Mother Nature is perfect for classroom learning or those kids interested in biology and the natural world.

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