Beyond Marilyn - Marilyn Monroe's Early Modeling Career

I think everyone, old enough, in America (and beyond) has heard of Marilyn Monroe. However, Monroe’s early modeling career at the Blue Book Modeling Agency in Hollywood has never been fully explored until now.

Beyond Marilyn draws on a rare collection of never-before-seen photographs, documents, and letters from the archives of Emmeline Snively, head of the Blue Book Agency and Marilyn’s mentor, to reveal Marilyn’s life as a young model before she became a platinum blonde starlet.

On the day of Monroe's funeral, Snively gave an interview from her office, talking about the girl she had discovered, before announcing, rather dramatically, that she was closing the lid on her Marilyn Monroe archive that day - to 'lock it away forever'.

This archive was purchased by Astrid Franse, and together with bestselling Marilyn Monroe biographer Michelle Morgan they draw on this collection of never-before-seen documents, letters and much, much more.

You may purchase this book over on Amazon to add to your book collection. You will receive free shipping with Prime.

Disclosure: I was given the book featured for my HGG--no money exchanged hands. The links in this post are my affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Buster - The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives

You hear stories about dogs serving along side of their masters in war--and I do love to read about them!

Buster, an English springer spaniel who has served his comrades and his country with unstinting devotion, has saved thousands of lives.

This is the story of his partnership with RAF Police Sergeant Will Barrow, told by Will himself, describing how each came to save the other's life. It is a relationship that produced some heroic feats―including sniffing out explosive vests that led to the arrests of two suicide bombers―in the dust and desert heat of Afghanistan and beyond.

Buster has a nose for explosives, and has served five tours, in three different countries (Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan)―more than any other military dog. He also won the prestigious Crufts Friends for Life Award in 2012, and has gone on to become the official lifetime mascot of the RAF Police, the only dog in history to have been honored in that manner.

Buster is truly a dog in a million!

You may purchase this book over on Amazon to add to your book collection. You will receive free shipping with Prime.

Disclosure: I was given the book featured for my HGG--no money exchanged hands. The links in this post are my affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

The Old Man and The Cat - A Story of Love

The Old Man and The Cat is a story of how Nils Uddenberg, retired Professor of Psychology became a beloved cat-owner even though he had never wanted a pet of any kind.

One winter morning the author discovered a cat―whom he would later find was homeless―sitting outside his bedroom window, staring at him with big yellow eyes. Slowly but surely the cat worked itself into his life.

With humor and self-awareness, Nils describes how his existence changed after the cat moved into his house. The feelings she stirs up are a surprise to him, and he quickly finds himself falling in love with this speckled grey-brown little lady.

You may purchase this book over on Amazon to add to your book collection. You will receive free shipping with Prime.

Disclosure: I was given the book featured for my HGG--no money exchanged hands. The links in this post are my affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A Gift From Bob - How a Street Cat Helped One Man Learn the True Meaning of Christmas

If books are on your holiday list this year, then let me recommend A Gift From Bob. 

A Gift From Bob is a charming holiday tale from the author of the international bestseller A Street Cat Named Bob. 

In this new story, As Street Cat Bob and James spend a cold and challenging December on the streets together, James once more draws strength and inspiration from his extraordinary cat-learning important lessons about the true meaning of Christmas along the way.

Those of you who fell in love with Dewey and Marley, as well as the hundreds of thousands of fans who read A Street Cat Named Bob and The World According to Bob, will be eager to read the next chapters in the life of James and Bob.

You can purchase this book over on Amazon and receive free shipping with Prime. 

Disclosure: The links in this post are my affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

BARNYARD KIDS - A Family Guide for Raising Animals

Kids have helped take care of animals for generations, learning responsibility and self-reliance in the process. Barnyard Kids gives kids and parents the tools to dream about and plan for raising farm animals, empowering anyone who reads it to imagine a life with farm animals and make it real.

Parents and young kids now have a go-to resource to get started on raising chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, cows, horses, and rabbits. Written so parents and kids can read the book together, it’s filled with essential information, from choosing the right ones animals, to the work, time, and space that’s needed.

Each chapter on each animal has four sections. “What Makes Them Tick” discusses food and water needs, hygiene, instincts and the animals’ social needs. “What Makes Them Sick” includes signs and causes of illness, medical supplies and vaccination info. “Where Do They Live” covers housing the animals. “What Can They Give” covers just that – from the various by products each animal gives – from food to milk to the usefulness of excrement.

You can purchase BARNYARD KIDS over on AMAZON and receive FREE SHIPPING with PRIME.

Disclosure: I was given the book featured for my HGG--the child and animals I did not receive--no money exchanged hands.

5-GALLON BUCKET BOOK: DIY Projects, Hacks, and Upcycles

The book includes 60+ DIY projects for homeowners, gardeners, tinkerers, and more.

The ubiquitous five-gallon bucket can do more than carry things! It can also be hacked, hot-rodded, reengineered, and upcycled to create dozens of useful DIY projects for homeowners, gardeners, and hobbyists. Each project has simple step-by-step instructions, as well as parts lists and images of the completed projects.

The wealth of projects collected in this book includes inventions that range from useful to just plain fun, and from as simple as it gets to fairly involved. These can serve apartment dwellers (Small-Room Air Conditioner, page 12); homeowners (Cyclone Dust Collector, page 34) and their children (Air Cannon, page 94); small farmers (Chicken Feeder, page 72); hobbyists (Post-Mounted Birdhouse, page 137); and even back-to-the-land homesteaders and survivalists (Camping and Composting Toilet, page 48). The odds are good you’ll find something to make that’s fun and handy!

The 5-GALLON BUCKET BOOK would make for a great Christmas gift for that 'do it selfer' in your life. You can purchase this book on AMAZON and receive free shipping with Prime.

Disclosure: I was given the product featured in this post for my HGG--no money exchanged hands.

"Jack Hanna’s Big Book of Why" for your Child's Christmas this Year!

Just about everything under the sun makes kids as “why?” and even the smartest parents can be stumped. Wildlife expert Jack Hanna is offering up the answers to all animal-related questions in his book, Jack Hanna’s Big Book of Why.

Jack Hanna’s Big Book of Why will take kids and adults on a journey through the animal kingdom with Hanna. The 176-page, hardcover children’s book is organized by habitat—deserts, grasslands, forests, rainforests, the ocean and poles—and in addition to answering the critter questions children love to ask, it features close-up color photographs, illustrations and amazing facts and quizzes about creatures from around the world.

“Whether you’re a parent, teacher, aunt, uncle or grandparent, you’ve surely been unable to answer a question that a child in your life has asked you,” Hanna said. “This book answers some of those tough animal related questions—Why don’t fish sink? Why can’t penguins fly?—in a format that makes learning fun and easy for children!”

You can purchase this book on AMAZON and receive free shipping with Prime.

Disclosure: I was given the product featured in this post for my HGG--no money exchanged hands.

Books for your Holiday Gift Guide: The New York Times 'Tis The Season Crosswords

Celebrate the season with The New York Times 'Tis The Season crosswords! Gorgeous and glittering - this book is the perfect gift for the puzzlers on your list. It's packed with 165 of America's favorite crosswords from The New York Times and crossword legend Will Shortz in a beautiful, winter-themed package that's sure to delight puzzlers everywhere.

You can purchase this crossword book here at this link.

Disclosure: I received the book featured in this HGG--no money exchanged hands.

Books for your Holiday Gift Guide: Miracle on 133rd Street

An urban family’s dilemma becomes a community celebration in this delectable holiday treat from Sonia Manzano, also known as “Maria” on Sesame Street.

It’s Christmas Eve and Mami has bought a delicious roast for a Christmas feast. But, oh no! It’s too big to fit in the oven. Jose and Papa need to find an oven big enough to cook Mami’s roast. As they walk from door to door through their apartment building, no one seems to be in the Christmas spirit. So they head down the street to find someone willing to help, and only when they do, lo and behold, the scent—the itself magical smell—of dinner begins to spread, and holiday cheer manifests in ways most unexpected.....

Purchase this book here at this link.

Disclosure: I received the book featured in this HGG--no money exchanged hands.

Books for your Holiday Gift Guide: A Dog in the Manger and Other Christmas Stories

A Dog in the Manger and Other Christmas Stories is a collection of tales that capture the chaos of the yuletide while also portraying the power of Christmas to shepherd souls of all kinds—young, old, hopeful, lost, content, confused—to confront and redefine faith in the face of spiritual adversity.

It's sure to inspire reflection and retelling, these stories celebrate the miracles of everyday life, showing that strangers can become angels, foes can become good Samaritans, and neighborhoods can become communities of faith. Even the most chaotic incidents bring people closer to themselves, their families, their communities, and to God during the Christmas season.

Purchase this book here at this link.

Disclosure: I received the book featured in this HGG--no money exchanged hands.