Review of "Adult Coloring Book: 51 Beautiful Designs, Mandalas, Flowers, Animals and Paisley Patterns," by Pablo K. Bobby

Adult Coloring Book: 51 Beautiful Designs, Mandalas, Flowers, Animals and Paisley Patterns, by Pablo K. Bobby

ISBN 9781523330423

Five out of five stars

 This book is constructed of a series of pages containing a short inspirational quote alternating with elaborate designs to be colored. Most of the quotes are well known, as are the people to whom the quote is attributed. So, in that respect the book is quite ordinary.

What distinguishes it is the quality of the images to be colored. There are spirals, things that project, things that dangle, curves and a lot of other items that are too numerous to describe. If you are looking for complex images to color in your unique manner, this book is likely what you seek. It will be a challenge when you select the colors that you use to turn a pattern into a work of art.

This book was made available for free for review purposes.

Review of "Mainly Natural Numbers" by Henry Ibstedt

Review of

Mainly Natural Numbers – a few elementary studies on Smarandache sequences and other number problems, by Henry Ibstedt, Bookman Publishing, Martinsville, Indiana, 2003. 95 pp., $19.95 (paper). ISBN 1-9323901941.

Five stars

 In this book, Ibstedt concentrates on exploring number theory challenges related to several problems, functions and concepts introduced by Florentin Smarandache. Many are based on the Smarandache function

S(m) = n, where n is the smallest positive integer that divides m!

and the Pseudo-Smarandache function

Z(m) = n, where n is the smallest positive integer that 1 + 2 + 3 + . . . + n is divisible by m.

These two functions are easily understandable and provide many new opportunities to investigate the properties of the positive integers. Ibstedt demonstrates and investigates some of those new opportunities.

 His tactics are to present a series of 10 largely distinct short papers, each examining a specific topic. Tables and images are often used to make the specific points.

 Number theory is simultaneously one of the easiest and hardest areas of mathematics. In the tradition of the best work on number theory, Ibstedt solves some problems while developing the background for additional questions for the reader to consider. The level of discourse is well within the range of knowledge of people familiar with basic number theory.

Review of "Children’s Coloring Book: 56 Beautiful Illustrations Sea Life," by Pablo K. Bobby

Review of

Children’s Coloring Book: 56 Beautiful Illustrations Sea Life, by Pablo K. Bobby

978-1523659593

 This book is constructed by having images and short statements of facts on alternating pages. The images are generally cartoons depicting sea life and the facts all refer to the ocean. There is no correlation between the fact and the images next to it. All of the facts are one short sentence in length, and are written at roughly the second grade level. Some of the images also have connect-the-dots sections.

 All types of sea creatures, from sharks to oysters to mermaids appear in the images. All are smiling and project a happy appearance, they all have the thick lines and orientations that match what is seen in other coloring books designed for children.

 This is a coloring book that children will enjoy, it gives them plenty of challenges to color and they will also learn many things about the oceans and the creatures that live there. 

This book was made available for free for review purposes.