Non-Fiction – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Delaware at Christmas

Title: Delaware at Christmas
Author: Dave Tabler
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Self-published
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Delaware at Christmas uncovers the rich and surprising ways Delawareans have celebrated the holiday season across four centuries. From colonial-era customs brought by Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers to modern multicultural observances, this book blends history, folklore, and festive tradition into a vivid portrait of Christmas in the First State.

Readers will discover the origins of outdoor Christmas decorations, the rise of the state’s holly wreath industry, and the stories behind local favorites like eggnog, wassail, and plum pudding. The book shines a light on forgotten practices — from mumming parades and house tours to the music of handbell choirs and the enduring power of church lovefeasts.

Delaware at Christmas also gives voice to the holiday experiences of Black Delawareans during the antebellum period, alongside the customs brought by Irish, Italian, Polish, and Hispanic communities who shaped the state’s evolving identity.

Whether exploring 19th-century sleigh bells, Victorian Christmas cards, or the curious history of IBM punch card wreaths, Dave Tabler captures Delaware’s holiday spirit with meticulous research and a storyteller’s eye.

Perfect for history lovers, regional readers, and anyone drawn to the enduring magic of Christmas traditions.

Review:

This book describes the traditions that were brought to the state of Delaware from immigrants around the world. Europeans and Hispanics brought their traditions of family gatherings and different foods, such as indoor Christmas trees and the Feast of the Seven Fishes. There were also sections about Christmas traditions that seem essential now but weren’t always part of the celebrations, like Christmas cards and outdoor decorations.

Delaware at Christmas is an interesting look at Christmas traditions in America!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Delaware at Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: Two Thoughts: A Timeless Collection of Infinite Wisdom

Title: Two Thoughts: A Timeless Collection of Infinite Wisdom
Author: Jim O’Shaughnessy, Vastal Kaushik
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Infinite Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 27, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A quote book for thinkers, creators, and the endlessly curious, Two Thoughts is a curated collection of 500 timeless reflections from 250 of the world’s most iconic minds. From Rosa Parks to Fyodor Dostoevsky, Georgia O’Keeffe to Babe Ruth, these pages offer short, powerful insights to spark new ideas, challenge old beliefs, and re-center your day.

Whether you’re a writer seeking inspiration, a leader refining your vision, or someone looking for a thoughtful start to your morning, this book is designed for everyday reflection. Open to any page and discover a catalyst for your thoughts, your goals, or your growth.

What’s 500 powerful quotes and reflectionsInsights drawn from 250 legendary thinkersDesigned for daily use, journaling prompts, or moments of pauseClean, minimalist layout with subtle, artful illustrationsPerfect Graduation, teacher, and leadership giftsDaily reading, meditation, and mindset ritualsFans of The Daily Stoic, 101 Essays, or Tools of Titans–

Praise for Two Thoughts

“Everybody should have a copy of Two Thoughts.”
—Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever

“Two Thoughts provides perfect, bite-sized snippets that end up creating a very long reading list by the end! It’s a perfect curiosity tool.“
—Kyla Scanlon, author of In This Economy?

“Two Thoughts is ideal inspiration because you’ll yearn for more, then supply it yourself.”
—Derek Sivers, author of Hell Yeah or No and Anything You Want

In a distracted world, reflection is a power move. Add Two Thoughts to your routine, your reading list, or your gift stack today.

Review:

This book is a collection of thought-provoking quotes. Some were familiar but most of them were new to me. I started to make note of the ones that resonated with me, but I quickly realized that most of them did. Here are a few of my favourites:

“Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.” – Heinrich Heinrich

“An investor who has all the answers doesn’t even understand the questions.” – Sir John Templeton

“Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.” – Francis Bacon

I didn’t agree with all the quotes in the book, but they did make me think. Some of them are probably misquoted, and those ones were labeled as such.

Two Thoughts is a great, thought-provoking book!

Thank you Infinite Books for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign!

Buy link:

https://link.infinitebooks.com/1Lhu1qC

Have you read Two Thoughts? What did you think of it?

Review: The Third Element: The Missing Key to Activating the Law of Attraction

Title: The Third Element: The Missing Key to Activating the Law of Attraction
Author: Randy Lyman
Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help
Publisher: Self published
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if your emotions held the secret to unlocking the life you’ve always wanted?

In The Third Element, physicist, multi-millionaire entrepreneur, and emotional mastery expert Randy Lyman reveals how unprocessed emotions are the invisible barriers to success, fulfillment, and abundance. This transformative guide blends groundbreaking insights with actionable strategies to help you master your emotions, align your thoughts, and tap into your innate power.

Packed with wisdom and real-world application, this book is your key to creating a life of unlimited possibilities.

Review:

This book is about how to unlock the life you want. Randy teaches how to embrace your emotions and accept your past to move forward with your life. I liked that he mentioned the potential critiques people would have for each point he made. He acknowledged that people could push against these theories, but these are the things that worked for him.

The Third Element is an inspiring read!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read The Third Element? What did you think of it?

Review: Picture a Garden

Title: Picture a Garden
Author: Linda Hornberg
Genre: Middle Grade, Nonfiction
Publisher: Peanut Butter Publishing
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What springs to mind when you hear the word GARDEN? Would it surprise you to learn that the world just outside your door is overflowing with art, science, humor, drama, intrigue, and colorful personalities? Nature has you surrounded. It’s time to come out with your hands gloved and your feet galoshed, ready to sow some spinach, pick a peony, mulch a maple, root a rose, graft a grape, stake a spruce, water a walnut, and hug a hemlock.

Set down your screens and take up your trowel.

Adventure awaits!

The stories inside this book are nearly all true. I have never actually seen a chorus line of worms decked out in feather boas, but I can guarantee that there are plenty of real-life larvae out there merrily chewing up the scenery. You can turn orange from eating too many carrots, and there really is a tiny plant island called a liverwart–although there probably are no tiny castaways living on it. Welcome to gardening for smarties. Never stop thinking, wondering, and digging, and you’ll never be bored. Have fun.

Review:

This book is all about plants, from the history of plants to how to design your own garden today. It was incredibly detailed, with illustrations on every page and some little jokes too. All the words are handwritten, which gives it a personalized feel, as if it was written directly to the reader.

Picture a Garden is a great book for kids who are interested in science or plants!

Thank you iRead Book Tours and Linda Hornberg for providing a copy of this book for a sponsored campaign.

Have you read Picture a Garden? What did you think of it?

Review: Priceless Facts About Money

Title: Priceless Facts About Money
Author: Mellody Hobson
Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Debut author Mellody Hobson, barrier-breaking pioneer in the world of finance, demystifies money for kids with a look at some wild and weird facts about what makes the world go round.

What is the meaning of all those symbols on US bills (and why are they so hard to counterfeit)? What’s with people calling money “bacon” or “cheddar” or “smackeroonies”? With savvy and wit, financial expert Mellody Hobson sheds a friendly light on a daunting subject, from the meteorites that created the first mineral deposits to the ancient Maya who used chocolate as currency to the beginnings of the banking system itself. Readers learn about bartering, profit and loss, the origins of credit, ATMs, and even fun facts about money around the world. In her first children’s book, Mellody Hobson brings excitement to the realm of financial literacy and gives kids the tools they need to navigate money now and in the future. Featuring energetic artwork by debut illustrator Caitlin Stevens, amusing skits starring a cat and bunny who converse in money idioms, and inserts depicting the author and her business partner as kids just learning how money works, Priceless Facts about Money is an inviting, entertaining, and richly educational resource for every child.

Review:

This is a fabulous book about the history of and fun facts about money! Money has been used around the world for thousands of years, made of different materials and in different currencies. There are interesting details on our modern bills to prevent counterfeit money being created. This is a great book for kids and adults!

Priceless Facts about Money is a fun and fascinating book!

Thank you Candlewick Press for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Priceless Facts About Money? What did you think of it?

Review: Chilling with Ghosts

Title: Chilling with Ghosts
Author: Insha Fitzpatrick, Lilla Bölecz
Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction
Publisher: Quirk Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Discover everything about ghosts in this fun handbook packed with spooky tales, engrossing science, and fascinating history–perfect for middle grade readers and mythology fans!

Boo! Do you believe in ghosts? What’s up with haunted houses? And how exactly do you bust a ghost? Uncover the spooky and spectacular world of ghosts in Chilling with Ghosts, a field guide for the curious and the adventurous. Step into the unknown—if you dare!—and discover:

Scary ghost stories of all kinds! Learn how to tell your very own ghost story.
Terrifying tales from history and weird science! Find out what ghost fungus is and meet a couple of Shakespearean ghosts.
A globe-trotting tour of haunted spots! Travel all around the world, from the Catacombs of Paris to the Stanley Hotel.

Chilling with Ghosts is the second book in the Totally Factual Field Guide to the Supernatural series, a hilarious and haunting exploration of how myths and legends shape our lives. Get to know ghost lore with enchanting illustrations and hands-on activities, like brewing homemade ectoslime. It’s a spooky world out there—grab your guide, and let’s go!

Review:

This was such a fun book about ghosts! There were sections on how to interact with ghosts, the history of ghosts, and stories about ghosts. There were some fun activities at the end of the chapters too, such as how to make ectoslime, a recipe for a graveyard parfait, and a library scavenger hunt. This book is perfect for kids who are interested in ghosts!

Chilling with Ghosts is a fun book about ghosts!

Thank you Quirk Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Chilling with Ghosts? What did you think of it?

Review: How to Be a Color Wizard

Title: How to Be a Color Wizard
Author: Jason Logan
Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Art
Publisher: MIT Kids Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards—by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations.

In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild experiments that will delight your friends, intimidate your enemies, and turn you into a color wizard.

What colors might await in a leafy forest, a berry-stained back alley, a seaweedy beach, or even the dark corners of an ordinary fridge? With this book as a guide, curious young wizards can make natural confetti, unlock the hidden color power inside a leaf, and craft a paintbrush wand. They’ll brew magic potions from beets and acorn caps to produce their own colors, from the darkest black to the palest pink to invisible ink, then share their discoveries with friends, family, and the whole color-hungry human race. With whimsy and infectious enthusiasm, master ink maker Jason Logan explains the science of color while presenting “quests,” recipes, and hands-on activities using materials kids can find in their own homes and neighborhoods. Featuring both photographs and the author’s own gorgeous homemade-ink illustrations, How to Be a Color Wizard is an ideal blend of art and science—plus a little bit of magic.

Review:

This book teaches kids how to combine chemistry and art to create ink and paint. There are secret recipes and magical experiments for kids to complete and become a color wizard. Each experiment represents a “quest,” and when they’re completed, the wizard reader can level up.

I love the way this book combines science and fantasy to make foraging in nature a game. This book is simple to follow, since most of the materials used in the experiments can be found in the kitchen or outside. I would have loved this book when I was a kid, because most of the science books I had used expensive materials that I would have had to buy. This book is perfect for kids ages 10+.

How to Be a Color Wizard is a great science book for kids!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read How to Be a Color Wizard? What did you think of it?

Review: The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact through Lateral and Hierarchical Mentoring

Title: The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact through Lateral and Hierarchical Mentoring
Author: Deborah Heiser
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Wiley
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Learn how a mentor relationship can make your life more fulfilling

The Mentorship Edge: Unlocking Potential, Nurturing Growth, and Creating Explosive Impact explores how we connect to others, feel valued, get pleasure from life, and believe our lives have meaning through forming mentor relationships with others. This book covers traditional hierarchical mentorship we’re all familiar with, along with lateral mentoring, where you connect with a friend or colleague―someone you can be vulnerable with―whether they work in your department, another department, or outside of your organization entirely.

Insight in this book is drawn from The International Association of Top Professionals 2025 Top CEO and Mentor of the Year Deborah Heiser’s experience running The Mentor Project, a nonprofit mentoring organization with more than 100 mentors at the absolute top of their fields. In this book, readers will learn about:

The proven benefits of mentorship in both work and home life
Mentorship in various fields, including business, research, entrepreneurship, and art
Classic examples of the power of mentorship, like when Steve Jobs asked Steve Wozniak for engineering help when he was at Atari
The Mentorship Edge is an essential guide to demystify the special concept of mentoring and inspire individuals to engage in mentoring naturally, whether hierarchically or laterally, based on their goals and passions.

Review:

This book is about mentoring, what it is and how it’s done. Mentorship is an important part of work and personal life. There is hierarchical mentorship, where the mentor has more knowledge than the mentee, as well as lateral mentorship, where the mentor and mentee are on the same level as colleagues or friends.

This was a fascinating read. I loved the examples of how mentorship has made a difference in the real world. There were examples of familiar people, like Steve Jobs, and how he was mentored before creating Apple. Mentorship can be used in the workplace as well as in everyday life.

The Mentorship Edge is a great read for any professional who is interested in mentorship.

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read The Mentorship Edge? What did you think of it?

Review: How to Dream: A Motivational Guide to a Life of Hope, Success, and Freedom

Title: How to Dream: A Motivational Guide to a Life of Hope, Success, and Freedom
Author: Deedee Cummings
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Cummings Consulting
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

How do you dream in a world that actively crushes dreams?

Everything you’ve been told about dreams is wrong. Our dreams have been hijacked. Dreams aren’t just fanciful thoughts; dreams are the very reason we’re here. Yet, we’re constantly told they’re impractical, a waste of time. How to Dream, by best-selling author, therapist, and entrepreneur Deedee Cummings, is your guide to reclaiming the power of your dreams.

In this inspiring and practical book, Deedee uses her expertise and the art of storytelling to help you turn your dreams into reality. Whether you’re just getting started or are well on your way, How to Dream offers doable steps and momentous mindset shifts that will make you unstoppable.

Drawing from her own journey and years of experience helping others achieve their goals, you will

Practical strategies to overcome self-doubt in a world filled with rampant negativityPowerful affirmations to fuel your successActionable steps to put your dreams in motionTechniques to develop a growth mindset and become unstoppablePacked with affirmations, strategies, and practical advice, How to Dream is the essential toolkit for anyone ready to take their life to the next level. If you’re struggling to find direction, seeking to reignite your ambition, or need encouragement to stay the course, this book will inspire you to dream bigger, push harder, find freedom, and create the life you’ve always imagined.

Don’t let another day pass without pursuing your true potential. It’s time to make your dreams a reality-starting now.

Review:

When we’re children, we’re encouraged to dream and told we can become whoever we want to be. However, when we get older, we’re told that we shouldn’t be dreaming and to find practical careers. This book gives great advice on how to find and follow your dream, even if it’s difficult.

I’m a writer, and it’s not easy. My dream is to make a living as a published author, but I’m not there yet. However, I’m not giving up. This book made me feel motivated to keep going, even though it’s difficult most of the time. This is a guide for how to find your dream, if you’ve lost your way, and how to set aside time to make it come true.

How to Dream is a great, motivational book!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Favourite Quotes:

“When you find your purpose, you will feel connected to your life, this planet, and to your journey in a way that nothing will be able to replace.”

“Break the cycle of thinking of life as something that happens to you and make it something you actively create. Every day.”

Giveaway:

Author signed copy of How to Dream: A Motivational Guide to a Life of Hope Success and Freedom
one winner
USA only
ends Nov 29

https://gleam.io/Y0qGe/how-to-dream-book-tour-giveaway

Have you read How to Dream? What did you think of it?

Review: Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author

Title: Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author
Author: Lucinda Halpern
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Hay House
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A step-by-step guide from a New York literary agent that will show you how to create a winning concept, craft an irresistible pitch, and land your dream book deal.

In this practical, immediately actionable guide, Lucinda Halpern , founder of the prestigious New York agency Lucinda Literary, divulges what agents look for in authors and the shortcuts they use to get book deals but have never revealed—until now.

Lucinda has personally witnessed how dramatically writers’ lives can change when they publish their first book. But the path to literary success begins with knowing the answers to questions

With her unique 6-step method, Lucinda provides the tools and concrete strategies

Packed with interviews from best-selling authors, leading book editors from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and more, Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need right now to get noticed and become a published author.

Review:

This book is a step-by-step guide to how to sign with a literary agent. There are great tips on things that agents look for as well as examples of real query letters.

I’ve been querying my manuscript for four months without any luck. When I heard about this book on the Happy Writer podcast with Marissa Meyer, I had to get it. I’m definitely going to implement some of these tips in my query letter!

Get Signed is a great book for querying writers!

Have you read Get Signed? What did you think of it?