Book Review: 'Cricket at the Manger' by Edith Hope Fine

✰✰✰✰ A grumpy little cricket just wants a quiet night so he can get some sleep, but it's not meant to be. What is a cricket to do? Suddenly the manger is crowded with sheep, a cow, and even a pig. There's little room left, when a donkey arrives with a couple. That's when it gets even noisier and more people arrive. Much to the cricket's displeasure, a little shepherd girl lifts him up so he can get a better look. And what does he see? A tiny baby in a halo of light. The cricket is puzzled at first, but then he knows just what to do. It's been a very long time since he's done anything but complain, but he's determined to give the little baby something wonderful. Will the grumpy cricket be able to change his tune? Check out this holiday gem to find out. 

The Bottom Line: This sweet tale about the birth of Jesus is told from the perspective of a grouchy cricket. Filled with beautiful illustrations in mixed media, this picture book is sure to be a treasured holiday read. Enthusiastically recommended for seasonal reading and storytimes.

Details: Cricket at the Manger written by Edith Hope Fine & with pictures by Winslow Pels. Hardcover picture book published by Boyds Mills Press in 2005. 32 p. ISBN: 978-1563979934 

Book Review: 'There Was a Young Rabbi: A Hanukkah Tale' by Suzanne Wolfe

✰✰✰✰½ Read along as a young Rabbi celebrates the eight-day Festival of Lights with her family. She reads from the Torah, lights the menorah, makes brisket and latkes, and eats chocolate gelt.

The Bottom Line: Filled humor in both the large type text and illustrations, this holiday picture book is a treat to share. The rhyming and repetition make it easy for beginning readers to learn. And I appreciated the cheerful illustrations as well as the explanations about the holiday throughout the book. Highly recommended for everyone celebrating or learning about the holiday.

Details: There Was a Young Rabbi: A Hanukkah Tale written by Suzanne Wolfe & illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. Picture book published by Kar-Ben Publishing in 2020. 24 p. ISBN: 978-1-5415-7607-0 

Book Review: 'Fatality by Firelight' by Lynn Cahoon

✰✰✰✰ Colorado bed-and-breakfast owner, Cat Latimer, is settling in to her new life in her old hometown. With a winter writing retreat just starting and repairs still being made, Cat has her hands full. So when the new group of writers quickly get into trouble, Cat's town sheriff uncle shows up. It seems that instead of experiencing the snowy slopes of Colorado, the writers checked out the ski lodge bar instead, while romance novelist, Christina, quickly became entangled with a hunky (and engaged) local ski bum. When he meets his demise, Christina naturally becomes the prime suspect. 

Keeping tabs on Christina and the other guests is just the beginning of the challenges Cat and her friends meet as a rare book gets stolen and a mysterious stranger shows up. And if that is not enough, Cat still has unanswered questions about her ex-husband's untimely death. With lots of twists and turns, this mystery is sure to keep you turning the pages.

The Bottom Line: This delightful cozy mystery is perfect prescription for a dreary weekend. This is the second book in a new series by the author of The Tourist Trap Mysteries. True to form, I somehow managed to not read the books in order (I just received Book 1, which I'll be reading soon.) Highly recommended for fans of cozies.

Details: Fatality by Firelight (A Cat Latimer Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon. Paperback published by Kensington Books in 2017. 304 p. ISBN: 978-1-4967-0437-5