Bacon Anyone?

Today (March 1st 2026) is National Pig Day!  If you are not already a pig fan, you should be.  They are cute (especially the baby ones) and smart and have a lot of personality.   I did live with a pig for years (not one as big as in the book reviewed here) so I know a thing or two.  I'm glad I did it but I don't think I would ever do it again.

Esther the Wonder Pig by Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter, with Caprice Crane

Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter took in what he thought was a small pig.  It turned out that Esther (as the pig was named) was a full size commercial pig who grew to 600 pounds.  This is the story of how they went from tiny pig, to redesigning their whole house to accommodate Ester, to buying a farm and starting an animal sanctuary.

I love a good animal story.  I love how these people were willing to go through all they went though for a pig they fell in love with.  But it all started on the wrong foot with me.  When Steve decides to get a pig (even if he thought it was a mini pig) without telling his partner I instantly didn't like him.  And the humor for me quickly got old and annoying.  There were a lot of stories of the messes Esther made (by the way how do you clean cooking oil off every surface in your home, like ever, never mind in a couple of hours?) and how she liked to eat but not much more about her.  She liked to cuddle but what else?  I wanted more Esther and less Facebook page and what it takes to become vegan.  It is a quick read and somewhat interesting but I can't say I would recommend it.

Put it Under Your Pillow

Today (February 28th) is National Tooth Fairy Day!  If you are not prepared for it, don't worry. The tooth fairy gets another national day to celebrate her in August.  So you have time to get your fairy dress if you don't have one yet.

Toothless starring Kirstie Alley

After a dentist dies in an accident she is sent to limbo where she is told she has to be the tooth fairy to try to earn her way into heaven.

I would not call this a great movie.  But it was entertaining and I think it is worth watching.  I wish there was less of her flying around.  Watching her fly to a home each night quickly got old and the flying effect was not great.  Some of it was amusing though and I thought the idea of the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny being souls in limbo trying to get to heaven was interesting.  And there were some morals here. Some of them aimed more at the adults watching than the kids.  It can get corny at times but it is a fun way to spend an hour an a half, especially if someone has just lost a baby tooth.

It's all about the scales

World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in February, making today (February 21st) World Pangolin Day!  

Want to learn more about pangolins?  Well, there is a lot of info out there but her are a few facts to get you started:

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world.

People want pangolins for their meat and for the scales that are used in traditional medicine.

They are the only mammal covered in scales.

The scales are made of keratin, the same stuff as your fingernails.

There are eight species of pangolin, four live in Africa and four live in Asia.

All eight species of pangolin are endangered, raging in status for vulnerable to critically endangered.

Pangolins are insectivores, eating mostly ants and termites.

Pangolins have no teeth.

I think pangolins are cute.  They are certainly unique.  I think it would be a shame if we lost them.

If you would like to donate to help the pangolin check out these places:

Pangolin Crisis Fund

Save Pangolins

Greater Good Charities 

Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation

Fauna and Flora

Don't pet the hippo!

Today (February 15th 2026) is World Hippo Day!  Please celebrate responsibly.  Do not try to pet a hippo.  That just isn't safe.   

Belly Up! by Stuart Gibbs

Henry the Hippo, the not-so-beloved mascot of FunJungle has died.  It is a tragedy.  But was it a natural one?  Teddy, who lives with his parents at the park, doesn't think so.  When no one else will investigate, Teddy decides to do it on his own.   

I think this is a fun adventure mystery.  It has a good pace and a lot of interesting characters to keep the reader interested.  It also had some good animal facts throughout the book so you can learn something along the way.  I did not like the copious references to 'Large Marge' where they use her size as such a negative thing to describe her.  The body shaming of it was too much for me.  But that is my only negative.  I liked the setting and the mystery.  I like the mix of characters and the way the danger built as you read.  And I liked that it revolved around animals.  I will go on to read more in the series.

We Want To Serve You

 

Robot Island by Cary Fagan

After his parents die, Willis lives with his unfriendly uncle Tod in a house turned book store filled with used books.  Tod gives Willis odd jobs after school, one of which is to read to an old widow.  Willis' life starts to spin as he starts to like the widow and her remaining family, but he realizes his uncle is up to something nefarious.  As Willis tries to escape the confusion he happens upon Robot Island, and things get even more complicated.

The book is full of characters that evoke emotion from the reader.  There is a suitable villain, some people you are unsure of and some you just like.  You root for Willis as well as want to yell at him for some of the choices he makes.  You can relate to him and the conflicts he goes though.  The story explores themes of loyalty, friendship and what family truly means.  I like the mix of characters, the pace of the story, and the addition of he science fiction element of the robots.  I also like that the robots have a retro feel and seem to come from the past instead of the future.  I felt like the robots and the island could have been explored more.  I enjoyed the story and it had some good themes about friendship, family and taking responsibility.  But it is more about Willis and the relationships he is making as he grows up than about Robot Island.  I would recommend it as a coming of age tale with an interesting sci-fi twist.

I received a free copy of this book for review from Librarything.com early reviewers

Room For All

Today (February 10th) is National Umbrella Day.  It doesn't having to be raining to enjoy National Umbrella Day.  But whatever you do to celebrate, do not open one indoors.  Do I actually believe in the superstition, or that it will make the spirits or the sun god Ra angry?  I'm not going to admit that I do.  But why take the risk.

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates

Find out how many people can fit under one happy red umbrella.

I like the illustrations.  I like the collection of different people and other beings that come to find shelter.  I thought it was nice how the background is faded by rain so the people stand out.  It doesn't have many words, a short sentence for every page or two.  It is simple and cute.  My only misgiving about it is that it is not really a story.  It is a concept.  It is the idea that everyone should be included and allowed to join.  It is an idea that should be expressed and talked about and this could start a conversation.  But I, for one, wish there was more story to it. 

You Look Good in Stripes

Today (January 31st 2026) is International Zebra Day! How do you celebrate International Zebra Day?  You can dress like a zebra, go visit one at the zoo, donate to a wildlife preservation charity, or you can keep it simple, like me, and read a book with zebras in it.

Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans! By Gary Northfield

Julius Zebra hates the waterhole.  So he is not that upset about being taken to the Roman circus.  Until he realizes that it is not all juggling monkeys and he is going to be a gladiator fighting for his freedom.

Julius Zebra and his friends are a lot of fun.  I like the mix of paragraphs of text and pictures that help tell the story.  There is a lot of action and it moves at a good pace to keep readers young and old interested.  It is silly and goofy but that is the charm of it.  You also get some facts about the Roman circus and gladiators mixed into the story.  The characters are all distinct and it is an interesting mix of personalities.  I think readers will want to read more about Julius and his friends.

Julius Zebra: Battle with the Brittons! by Gary Northfield

Julius is now beloved people's champion.  When he hears he is being sent to Britannia he thinks it sounds like a nice vacation.  But when he gets there he finds he is again fighting for his freedom.

This book picks up right where the last one left off.  You could read this one on it's own but I think the context from the first one will make this one more fun.  This is very much like the first one, silly and goofy with ridiculous misunderstandings that lead to action and laughs.  All your favorite (and least favorite) characters are back in a new wacky adventure.  Again, there are some facts thrown in and an explanation of how Roman numeral work.  It continues the story without losing any of the energy or fun from the first one.  It makes you wan to read the rest of Julius' adventures.  

New Year's in Budapest

 

Death on the Danube by Jennifer S. Alderson

Lana lost her job, got divorced, and is having trouble paying her rent.  Then she has a chance to lead a tour group in Budapest.  It should have been he answer to her problems but then her fellow tour guide winds up dead and her problems just seem to multiply.

I had some issues with this book in the beginning.  (It might just be me but it bothered me that someone was blowing butterfly kisses.)  There is a lot of explaining to get though.  There isn't even a dead body until you are half way though the book.  But this is the first book in the series and Alderson was setting up all her characters and the setting.  So I expect less of that in following books.  I liked the setting and how you heard about Budapest along with the mystery.  And as we went along I got more into the story.  It did what a mystery should do, make me wonder who did it.  It had a few bumps for me but there was enough interest here that I will read the next one in the series.  But there is no rush.