Month: October 2019

An inspiring story for young readers: Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business by Rebel Girls

This book is targeted to a young elementary school aged audience. It is divided into short chapters and has beautiful, vibrant illustrations. Madam C J Walker Builds a Business tells the story of Sarah Breedlove from when she was the first in her family born in freedom, not slavery, through her remarkable business success and accomplishments. Sarah faced many obstacles including the closing of her segregated school, the deaths of her parents, her difficult time living with a sister and her sister’s demanding husband, her early marriage, becoming a parent and her husband’s violent death. The book shows how Sarah went from this background that included the most menial jobs to becoming Mrs. Walker and a woman who was incredibly successful in building her business centered on caring for African American women’s hair.

This is a detailed, readable biography. There are additional sections at the end of the book to encourage further learning. This book should be in classrooms and is highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

#RebelGirlsSeries #NetGalley

Time to rest: Winter Sleep Sean Taylor; Alex Morss

This is a story for young children that is about how animals hibernate in the winter.  It is told through the point of view of a young child who is visiting his grandmother. Children will learn a lot of interesting facts as they look through this beautiful, peaceful and charmingly illustrated book.  A great resource for young nature lovers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

#WinterSleep #NetGalley

 

From the publisher:

In each cutaway scene, see what the child cannot—that underground below his feet are dens with sleeping creatures, and within the hollow trunks of trees, animals are nesting. After the story, annotated illustrations explain the hibernation facts for each animal and what they will do when they wake up for spring.

chilly places bats spend winter hanging snoozing roost. They store warm fat backs bellies energy

BAT

In chilly places, bats spend most of the winter hanging upside down, snoozing in their roost. They store up warm fat on their backs and bellies, to give them energy.

hedgehog builds nest of leaves in winter. This is often under a shed old rabbit burrow compost heap

HEDGEHOG

A hedgehog builds a nest of leaves in winter. This is often under a shed, in an old rabbit burrow, or under a compost heap. As it sleeps, rolled into a tight ball, its body temperature drops from about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35°C) to about 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5°C).

Now out: The Little Women Cookbook Tempting Recipes from the March Sisters and Their Friends and Family by Wini Moranville; Louisa May Alcott

This cookbook is utterly charming! It pays tribute to Louisa May Alcott with quotes and background, including a very informative introductory essay. Food plays an important part in the novel as readers of the book know and as the author of this cookbook knows as well. There are so many fpasssages about food as the Little Women grow. There are Amy who has issues with her limes, Meg who has trouble with her jam, breakfasts given to those in greater need and much more. Reference to all are made and give the reader the opportunity to enjoy memories of reading Little Women.

The recipes themselves are easy to follow. They are organized into four chapters:

-Hannah’s Breakfasts

-Gatherings with Family and Friends

-March Family Dinners and Suppers and

-Sweet Treats, Desserts and Drinks

A few of the featured recipes include:

Buckwheat Pancakes, A better Omelet for Marmee and Milk Toast in the breakfast section.

Roast Beef Picnic Sandwiches, Jo’s Much Improved Corned Beef and Spice Trade DEviled Eggs in the Gatherings section and of course more as you move through the additional chapters. The recipes are clearly delineated and look easy enough for those who are not kitchen stars.

The illustrations throughout are delightful. They definitely enhance the text. There are also some photos, including one of the Orchards, the Alcott home.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cookbook both for the recipes and for the joy of browsing through the book itself. Last year, I read Little Women for the second time. It was more substantive than I had recalled. Read it while your food is cooking and while you wait for the newest version of the movie to be released this December. Enjoy!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

For Little Travelers: Tiny Travelers China Treasure Quest by Steven Wolfe Pereira, Susie Jaramillo

This book is part of a series that introduces young children to the world.  This appealing entry is about China.  So much is packed into this short picture book that is written in verse.  Each two page spread is about a particular location such as the Forbidden City or Hong Kong or Shanghai.  Each includes a small box titled “Did You Know?” and includes a hidden object to find.  Some pages include vocabulary words in Chinese and English.  At the end of the book, there is an answer key for the hidden objects.

Young children and their adults will learn a lot about China while reading this book.  This looks to be an excellent series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

#GoTinyTravelers #NetGalley

The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall-A Today Show pick

This first novel, which I previously reviewed (see below), has been made a Today Show book

The Dearly Beloved is the first novel by Cara Wall; I am pretty certain that it will not be her last. The Dearly Beloved is the story of Charles, Lily, James and Nan. Each is an adult with a unique upbringing. Charles has faced many parental expectations; Lily has suffered much loss; James had a hardscrabble background, while life seemed sweet for Nan. While in college, Charles and Lily meet as do James and Nan.

Both Charles and James are “called” to the church; they have different approaches to God and activism, as demonstrated over the course of the book. Charles and James are appointed as co-ministers of a New York City church on lower Fifth Avenue. Their strengths and weaknesses come to light and are not the same. The reader watches as the two families’ lives unravel and knit over a period of many years.

This book includes discussion about what faith (or lack of it) means to each protagonist. I found these sections enhanced the novel for me.

This is not perhaps a perfect book, just as James, Charles, Nan and Lily are not prefect but it IS mighty good.

club pick.