Book Review: 'The Stroke Recovery Activity Workbook' by Activated Minds Press

✰✰✰½ Recovering from a stroke can be challenging physically, emotionally, and intellectually. With over 100 activities, this workbook aims to help those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury and want to regain their intellectual powers through brain games. Starting with easy activities and puzzles, the workbook progresses to medium and then challenging levels. Filled with activities including word searches, mazes, Sudoku, coloring, tracing, fill-ins, crosswords, matching, and more, these activities will keep one busy over time, while empowering the survivor to complete these games at their own pace.

The Bottom Line: Recommended for survivors of stroke, aphasia, and other traumatic brain injuries. This activity workbook starts out easy, so readers will not be overwhelmed. However, the more challenging activities might not be suitable for survivors of more severe brain injury. Thus, some readers may complete the entire book, while others may only want to challenge themselves to easier activities and games. The Large Type format is definitely helpful too. 

Details: The Stroke Recovery Activity Workbook: Aphasia & Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Exercises, Games & Puzzles to Help Regain Cognitive Abilities, Speech and Fine Motor Skills (Large Print) by Activated Minds Press. Paperback published by Activated Minds Press in 2023. 144 p. ISBN: 9781962176002 [NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.]

Book Review: 'Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel' by Robb Pearlman

✰✰✰½ Bob Ross’s squirrel friend, Peapod, needs a new home. He can’t stay in Bob’s hair, and it’s not easy to find a new home. What is a squirrel to do? Bob has an idea. He sets out to paint the perfect new home for Peapod. After all, that's what friends do, help each other. Working through all the colors on his palette, Bob paints happy little clouds and mountaintops. Using a painting knife and brushes, Bob and Peapod paint their way through happy accidents to a wonderful new forest home for Peapod.

The Bottom Line: This sweet tale of friendship and creativity is reminiscent of Crockett Johnson's, Harold and the Purple Crayon. It takes readers on a painting journey with a happy ending. Highly recommended for kids ages 5 and up. Fans of Bob Ross will enjoy the adventure too.

Details: Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel by Robb Pearlman & illustrated by Bob Ross with Jason Kayser. Picture book published by RP Kids in 2019. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-7624-6779-2