Lilly Babysits Her Brother by Brenda Bellingham, Illustrated by Clarke MacDonald

Publisher: Formac Publishing
Series: First Novels
Format Read: ePub
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 18, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository*
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

Lilly is finally old enough to babysit her brother Mac for the day, and she's thrilled because she gets to use her mom's smartphone! It's gearing up to be an exciting day -- until the hyper-allergic Mac discovers a dead bird. Lilly has to do her best to keep Mac safe and happy without ruffling anyone's feathers.

Review of I'll Be Home for Christmas by Jessica Scott

Publisher: Forever Romance
Series: Coming Home 2.6
Format Read: Kindle galley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble 
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

There's nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . . . and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband's tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic's bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

Review of One's Aspect to the Sun by Sherry D. Ramsey

Publisher: Tyche Books
Format Read: egalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 2013
Buying Links: Tyche Books  Amazon*  Barnes & Noble 
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from publisher's site:

Captain Luta Paixon of the far trader Tane Ikai needs to know why she looks like a woman in her thirties–even though she’s actually eighty-four. She isn’t the only one desperate for that information.

The explanation might lie with her geneticist mother, who disappeared over sixty years ago, but even if her mother is still alive, it’s proving to be no small task to track her down in the vast, wormhole-ridden expanse of Nearspace. With the ruthless PrimeCorp bent on obtaining Luta’s DNA at any cost, her ninety-year-old husband asking for one last favor, and her estranged daughter locking horns with her at every turn, Luta’s search for answers will take her to the furthest reaches of space–and deep inside her own heart.

Review of I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Series: The Sullivans #4
Format Read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

The sweetest temptation.

Sophie Sullivan fell head over heels for Jake McCann at the age of five. Twenty years later, the notorious bad boy still sees her as the "nice" Sullivan twin. When they both get caught up in the magic of the first Sullivan wedding, she knows it's time to make him see her for who she truly is - the woman who will love him forever. 

Jake has always been a magnet for women, but the only woman he really wants is the one he can never have. Not only is Sophie his best friend's off-limits sister - he can't risk letting her get close enough to discover his deeply hidden secret.

But when Sophie appears on his doorstep, Jake's every fantasy comes to life, and he doesn't have a hope of taking his eyes, or hands, off her. Jake knows loving Sophie isn't the right thing to do, but one look at her and he knows he can't possibly resist.

www.BellaAndre.com   

Bea's Thoughts:

This may be favorite one yet in the series. The characters, the romance and the writing, with a few exceptions, all worked for me. With this being the fourth book in the series, I was more invested in the characters, Jake and Sophie. I was rooting for them right from the start. I loved that they had been friends for so long and finally became lovers; I loved that their obstacles were realistic; I loved that they both felt so normal, like the person next door.; I loved the perspectives we get of the different brothers, especially Smith. I'm ready for his story!

Jake and Sophie grew up next door to each other and Jake is practically another Sullivan. Yet, as Sophie discovers during the book, she actually knows very little about him. They are attracted to each other though Sophie is unaware of Jake's feelings for her. At her brother Chase's wedding, Sophie decides it's now or never and she goes after Jake. Things do not quite play out as Sophie dreamed but she and Jake find themselves in a relationship that neither one anticipated.

Jake's wooing of Sophie was sweet, if out of a made-for-tv movie. His doubts about himself and his lack of confidence in himself as being worthy of Sophie at first seemed over the top but the more I learned and the more I saw of him, the more I believed. He and Sophie were so right for each other but they had so much to learn about each other and to trust each other. Sophie discovered that while she'd had a crush on Jake for many years, she really didn't know much about him and it was sweet watching her learn and change her perceptions and seeing her love grow deeper and stronger. Their story made me smile, laugh and cry.

The proofreading occasionally made me cringe but since it was an ARC, I tried not to mind too much. I do have doubts about the medical storyline; I'm familiar with that same condition and neither the symptoms nor the treatment presented in the book are realistic. It's a spoiler so I don't want to go into detail but if you've read the book and you have facts that support the events in the book, please contact me. I'm willing to revise this part of the review if I'm wrong. 

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is sweet, lovely, sexy, and an excellent addition to the Sullivan series. I'll be re-reading this one.

Related articles

• Review: I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre (randombookmuses.com)
• SPOTLIGHT ON...Bella Andre, part 3 (jaimeebrooker.wordpress.com)

ARC Review of Secretariat Reborn by Susan Klaus

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date:
Buying Links: Amazon*  | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

Christian Roberts, lanky, blond, and twenty-five-years-old, rents out small sailboats on Sarasota Bay. His peaceful life is shattered when he accepts a thoroughbred colt from his estranged, dying father, an Ocala horse trainer. 

When Christian promises his father that he'll race the colt, he's plunged into the underworld of horse racing. To navigate his way he naively hires Ed Price, a heartless Miami trainer. And when his colt shows potential -- a surprising resemblance to Secretariat -- a dubious wealthy sheik wants to buy him, but Christian vows to keep his promise to his father. With a sizable debt still owed on the horse, Christian is forced to take out a loan, his only recourse, Vince, a New York mobster. If the money is not repaid on time, Christian's life and that of Allie, his colt's trainer, are threatened. To add to his rollercoaster of troubles, he faces fraud charges since his father illegally registered the colt, and he is being stalked by a psychotic ex-girlfriend.

Review of Sage's Song by Karen Kilpatrick, Illustrated by Tara L Campbell & Matthew Wilson

Publisher: Pumpkinheads
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
*affiliate links; clicking & purchasing will result in a small commission for the blog.


Blurb from goodreads:

Find out what listening is really worth as Sage makes music from the sounds of the earth. Banging away on her drum, Sage can really make a racket! Stopping to listen to the world around her, Sage learns that music surrounds her in the simplest of sounds. This sensory exploration teaches the value of listening and inspires and awareness of the beautiful music nature creates.

Bea's Thoughts:

The cover of this book immediately caught my eye. I love to see and hear children playing music and even make noise. Look at that face, how happy she looks as she bangs on her drum. What a great message to give children.

The book starts with Sage playing on her drum then she stops and listens to her surroundings. Sage finds music in her environment and incorporates it into her own music. The book does a nice job of encouraging children both to listen and to make music.The artwork is bright and cheerful but not obnoxiously so and there are lots of motion words to catch a toddlers attention and encourage them to move. It's a lively, thoughtful story about music, listening and paying attention. Young kids will enjoy the artwork and the words while adults will appreciate the message.

Bea Reviews Rants to Revelations by Ogun R Holder

Publisher: Unity Books
Format Read: Egalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 24, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

Ogun Holder knew full well the Bible story of Jonah and the whale. His intellectual understanding of the tale led him to believe that running from God was futile. But because he had never run from God before, he thought he d try it anyway. Spoiler Alert: It didn't work.  

Holder's journey begins with a pious but questioning childhood filled with mandatory church attendance and boisterous congregants. His road leads to a teenage rebellion, and then to a collegiate crisis of faith. He seems to hit a dead end in his 30s as a responsible grown-up until he paves a new path to Divine self. It's a path he's still walking.

Readers will relate to the honesty and humor in the mash-up of emotions, ideas and experiences Holder shares about parenting, spirituality, relationships and theology. When taken to heart, these rants might, in fact, lead you to your own revelations. 

Bea's Thoughts:

I have always had an interest in religion and learning about other religions. I was in fact a religion major at college and have retained an interest ever since. Periodically I find a religious book I want to read for my own growth or education and the blurb for this book caught my eye. I enjoy a well-written rant and hoped that this book would contain lots of rants that did eventually lead to revelations.

Holder has an easy, humorous style that is easy to read as he talks about his religious journey and his path to becoming a Unity minister. Every person's journey is personal and individual but other people can usually learn from it. Sadly, Holder tends to gloss over the personal details and give us just surface information, reducing the impact of his tale. I did learn a lot about the Unity religion which was worthwhile but I wish there had been more depth to Holder's journey and perhaps a little less about the religion. Holder gives stories from his life as examples of religious principles or mistakes that he or his wife have made but they tended to be glossy and light on emotion. Holder's stories did not lead to any revelations for me nor was there anything that I would consider to be a rant in the book but it was a pleasant read and educational.

August Challenges Wrap Up

I'll put up a wrap up post every month or early the next month for all of my 2013 reading challenges. Some books, I posted reviews on the blog, some are on goodreads, there may be one or two without reviews, especially books I edit or that are put out by my publisher. I thought I read a lot last month but when I looked at goodreads it was less than I thought. But, I did have a lot of editing so that may have been why I felt like it was so many books.

Book Chick City's 100 Books in 2013

For this challenge, I am not counting any children's books, unless it's YA or MG, nor am I counting books that I edit. I am also doing goodreads' reading challenge and I'm counting everything for that one, but not tracking here on the blog. :D

Rainbow Panda and the Firecracker Fiasco by Eileen Wacker

Publisher: Once Kids LLC
Series: Fujimini Island Adventure #6
Format read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble  | Book Depository*
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

It’s the eve of the Asian New Year and all the animals are getting ready for the big occasion. They are sweeping, cleaning, planting flowers, writing on ribbons, and preparing food. Rainbow Panda looks forward to the fireworks display but wants to create his own fireworks show. He sets a plan in motion and tries to get Green and Pink Hamster to join him.

The animals know that they are not to play with matches or firecrackers, but nonetheless, continue with their plan. When Rainbow Panda starts to light matches in the woods, he sets the forest on fire and many animals must come to help put out the fire. The Dynasty Dragon’s mom comes and turns into a cloud that rains and puts out the fire. Rainbow Panda, Dynasty Dragon, and both Green and Pink Hamster are given activities to clean up after the fire. They also volunteer to do a beach clean up to show everyone that they are sorry for the fiasco they set in motion. 

Bea Reviews The Cat Whisperer: Why Cats Do What They Do–and How to Get Them to Do What You Want by Mieshelle Nagelschneider

Publisher: Bantam
Format Read & Source: Egalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date:  March 5, 2013

Buying Links: Amazon*  Barnes & Noble  The Book Depository*
* affiliate links; clicking and making a purchase results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:  Who says you can’t train a cat? Just when you thought you had reached the end of your ball of twine, one of America’s most popular cat behaviorists comes to the rescue of perplexed cat owners everywhere, providing practical and effective strategies for solving every feline behavior problem imaginable—from litter box issues to scratching, spraying, biting, and beyond. 

Cat Whisperer Mieshelle Nagelschneider has been helping people deal with these dilemmas for two decades, achieving a near-perfect success rate. Central to her approach is a keen understanding of the unique way cats see the world—their need for safety and security, their acute territoriality, and their insatiable desire to catch and kill prey. Her proven C.A.T. cat behavior modification plan is a commonsense course of action that can be specifically tailored to your cat in the context of its behavior problems and its particular household environment. Easy-to-implement solutions help transform even the most anxiety-riddled companions into confident, gregarious, and relaxed cats who live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Inside you’ll discover

Bea Reviews Dragon's Child by M.K. Hume

Publisher: Atria Books
Series: King Arthur #1
Format Read: eGalley
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 8, 2013 (this edition; first released 2009)
Buying Links: Amazon*  | Barnes & Noble |  Book Depsoitory*
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

From the author of The Merlin Prophecy, a trilogy that Kirkus Reviews proclaimed, will “appeal to those who thrill to Game of Thrones,” the first installment in the action-packed trilogy of battles, romance, and bravery during the Dark Ages is the tale of the boy destined to become King Arthur.

The future of Britain is at stake. In the turbulent times of the Dark Ages, the despotic Uther Pendragon, High King of Celtic Britain, is nearing death, and his kingdom is being torn apart by the squabbling of minor kings. But only one man can bring the Celts together as a nation and restore peace—King Arthur.

Artorex (Arthur) doesn’t yet seem like the great man he will grow into. We meet him as a shy, subservient twelve-year-old living in the foster home of Lord Ector, who took in Artorex as a babe to protect him from murderous kin. Life has been unremarkable for the lad within the bosom of Ector’s family. That is, until the arrival of three influential men who arrange for Arthur to be taught the martial skills of the warrior: blade and shield, horse and fire, pain and bravery. Little does Artorex know that these three men—one of whom is Merlin—secretly hope that one day he will take Uther’s crown and restore peaice to Britain.

As the years pass, Artorex becomes a war chieftain, wins many battles, and starts a family with a beautiful, strong woman. But if he is to fulfill his destiny and become the High King of the Britons, Artorex must find the dying king’s hidden crown and sword. Will Artorex be able to leave his family, find the precious weapons, lead the attack against the Saxons, and ultimately prove himself worthy of Uther’s crown?

Blog Tour Review of The Last Execution by Jerrie Alexander & Giveaway

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Format Read: PDF converted to Kindle 
Source: Sizzling PR in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: February 22, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | ARe
* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

To survive, she must put the past behind her. To love, she must learn to trust.

Homicide detective Leigh McBride's first assignment with the FBI brings her face-to-face with a past she's tried hard to forget. And when her temporary partner, a cynical ex-marine, lights a fire in her she thought long-extinguished, her darkest secret is threatened.

Scarred both physically and emotionally, Special Agent J. T. Noble is a man of few words. He prefers to keep people at a distance--until he meets Leigh. He's attracted to her strength and drawn in by her secrecy. But in their line of work, secrets can be deadly.

When the killer they are hunting aims his vigilante justice at Leigh's past assailant, the fine line between right and wrong blurs. To heal the past--and find their future together--Leigh and J. T. must learn that only through trust and forgiveness can love grow.

Review of Hotshot by Julie Garwood

Publisher: Dutton
Series: Buchanan-Renard #11
Format Read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository*
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood returns with a novel of family drama, suspense, and—of course—romance. 

 Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have inherited Bishop’s Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profit—only then will they own it.

A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.

There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peyton’s contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didn’t inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.

It’s soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her—until she’s nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.

Julie’s previous two titles, The Ideal Man and Sweet Talk, both debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. 

Bea Reviews Making It Last by Ruthie Knox

Publisher: Loveswept
Series: Camelot #4
Format Read: eGalley
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 15, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | ARe
* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

RITA finalist Ruthie Knox returns with a brand-new eBook original novella, the finale of her delightfully sexy Camelot series.
 
A hotel bar. A sexy stranger. A night of passion. There’s a part of Amber Mazzara that wants those things, wants to have a moment — just one — where life isn’t a complicated tangle of house and husband and kids and careers. Then, after a long, exhausting “vacation” with her family, her husband surprises her with a gift: a few days on the beach . . . alone.

Only she won’t be alone long, because a handsome man just bought her a drink. He’s cool, he’s confident, and he wants to take Amber to bed and keep her there for days. Lucky for them both, he’s her husband. He’s only got a few days in Jamaica to make her wildest desires come true, but if he can pull it off, there’s reason to believe that this fantasy can last a lifetime.

Bea Reviews The Libra Affair by Daco

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Format Read: Mobi file
Source: BookTrib in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 8, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | OmniLit
* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

Her Mission: Launch an ICBM

Code Name: Libra

Obstacle: Love

When it s time for double-agent Jordan Jakes, a CIA covert operative, to launch a missile in the remote desert of the Middle East, she s forced to tell her blind asset, NASA scientist Ben Johnson, that their love affair is finished. Only the breakup turns out to be more difficult than she anticipates and it s not just because she's developed intense feelings for the guy.

When she disappears without a trace, Ben will stop at nothing to find the one woman who he s fallen for hard and fast even if it means boarding a plane that lands him in the middle of a country most Americans might think twice about entering Iran.Surviving takes more than being one step ahead of their enemies. Jordan and Ben must peel back the layers of their emotional armor to overcome a series of obstacles before they can accomplish Jordan s mission. If they have any hope of making it out of the Middle East alive and forming a lasting relationship, they must surrender to love.

Sensuality Level: Sensual

Bea Reviews Sabaska's Tale by J.A. Campbell

Publisher: Untold Press
Series: Tales of the Travelers
Format Read: Kindle ARC
Source: from the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 5th
Buying Links: Amazon*
* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

To Anna, horses were more than a fascination, they were everything. Luckily, she had the opportunity to spend every summer on her grandmother's horse ranch in Colorado. Life was perfect, until she received the devastating news that her grandmother had been tragically killed. Anna knew she was the only member of her family who could take over the ranch and hopefully find new homes for her grandmother's beloved Arabians.

Anna wasn't alone for long. Her grandmother had hired a local teenage boy to help tend the horses for the summer. Anna didn't stand a chance against Cody's quiet charm and the two rapidly become friends. However, even with the responsibilities of the ranch, Anna quickly discovers the secrets her grandmother had been hiding and a legacy that sends her on an adventure she never thought possible. An adventure in the saddle of a horse that wasn't a horse at all. Sabaska, her grandmother's favorite Arabian, was a Traveler; a magical being that could travel between worlds. With Anna at the reins, they find themselves trapped in a fight against evil with the highest of stakes… Their very survival. 

Review of Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format Read: PDF converted to Kindle
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: June 2012
Buying Links:  Amazon* | OmniLit | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.


Blurb from goodreads:

On a Texas night twelve years ago, Vic Vargas kissed Delaney West so deeply that she almost came apart. Later that same night, evil crept into Delaney’s room as she slept – and everything in their world fell apart. Now Vic is a rancher living a half-empty life punctuated by one-night stands and a strained relationship with his 11-year-old son.

Then Delaney returns to San Julio, and the past comes rushing back… along with the dark echoes of that night so long ago. Livestock are dying. Some say coyote, but others whisper another darker word. Chupacabra. Bloodsucker.

The past hasn’t disappeared – nor has the instinctive desire that snaps and crackles between Delaney and Vic. And as those emotions ignite, so does the evil that hibernated for the last twelve years. The evil that waited for Delaney to return to San Julio… and to Vic Vargas.

Review of Hunted by Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Del Rey

Series: The Iron Druid #6

Format Read: eGalley

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Buying Links:  Barnes & Noble | Amazon* | The Book Depository*
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

*CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR EARLIER BOOKS*


 

For a two-thousand-year-old Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan is a pretty fast runner. Good thing, because he’s being chased by not one but two goddesses of the hunt—Artemis and Diana—for messing with one of their own. Dodging their slings and arrows, Atticus, Granuaile, and his wolfhound Oberon are making a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from a friend of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His usual magical option of shifting planes is blocked, so instead of playing hide-and-seek, the game plan is . . . run like hell.

Crashing the pantheon marathon is the Norse god Loki. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok—AKA the Apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outfox the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to go on living—and still have a world to live in. 

Review of Different Dragons, edited by Dana Bell

Publisher: Wolfsinger Pubs
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: Purchased with a coupon provided by one of the authors, J.A. Campbell, in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Buying Links: Smashwords | Amazon* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.


Blurb from Smashwords:

 Ancient reptiles escaped the great flood via a portal and now wish to return.

In the desert a dragon lures children, animals and adults to its lair, and only a brave dog can rescue them.

A dragon arises in China and seeks to keep its hoard, while two con men try to steal it. 

Searching for his father, a young man solves an ancient riddle and discovers an awful dragon truth.

Nanites, demons, and other mythical creatures join or battle the dracos, as do the humans who encounter them. 

These and other tales await within these pages, because here - be Different Dragons 

Review of If The World Were A Village by David J. Smith, Illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong

Publisher: Kids Can Press
Format Read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository*
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads: 

There are currently more than six billion people on the planet! This enormous number can be difficult to grasp, especially for a child. But what if we imagine the whole world as a village of just 100 people? In a time when parents and educators are looking to help children gain a better understanding of the world's peoples and their ways of life, If the World Were a Village offers a unique and objective resource. By exploring the lives of the 100 villagers, children will discover that life in other nations is often very different from their own. The shrunk-down statistics — some surprising, some shocking — and David Smith's tips on building "world-mindedness" will encourage readers to embrace the bigger picture and help them to establish their own place in the global village. If the World Were a Village is part of CitizenKid: A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens.