Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

I confess that I have never baked bread but this book makes me think that it would be fun to try.  After all, there is really  no smell as wonderful as that of freshly baked, warm bread.

This cookbook’s author tries to lay things out clearly.  After an introduction there is a chapter about the process of baking bread at home.  This is followed by “Master Recipes” and then chapters on breads for everyday, special occasions and holidays.  The master recipes are for things like flat bread and whole wheat bread.  Everyday breads includes cinnamon raisin swirl bread, pita and naan among others, while entertaining has cinnamon rolls, fougasse, soft pretzels and more.  The final section details how to make pumpkin rolls and a cinnamon wreath bread among others.

This book is packed with information on making bread. There are also helpful photos of the process.  Many terms are defined, equipment is listed, there are errors to avoid and more.  I found this be an informative book but at the end, I was not sure if I would be confident enough to go ahead.  I hope that you might be though!

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

#EverydayBreadBaking #NetGalley

Some fiction and mystery here.  Hope you enjoy.

sleuthofbakerstreet.ca/i/1584200/February_2020_e_MOM_Read.pdf

This book is part of the My First series of Little People, Big Dreams books.  These are board book editions that should be sturdy enough to stand up to little hands.  As always, the illustrations are bright and engaging with special attention paid to Vivienne’s vibrant hair.

Vivienne tells the story of Vivienne Westwood, a little girl who stood up to others and grew up to use fashion as a means of expression.  The author observes that today, Vivienne, continues to show us “how to speak up and change the world.”

Let your child know that they can who whomever they want.  Read them lots of these books to show them that the world is full of choices.

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

#VivienneWestwood #NetGalley

This is a fantastic cookbook with the most gorgeous photographs.  It is well worth a look and would make a nice gift for a person of your acquaintance who loves the kitchen.

The book is divided into sections called Filling the Pot, Weaving Roots, Of Feathers Scales and Fur, Larder,  Weaving Maple into Silk, and finally Imagination and Alchemy.  So you can see that it was written by a chef with a unique take on food and how to present it.

There are so many recipes in this book that is hard to choose just a few but here they are:  Chilled Early Harvest Apple Soup, Eggplant Sou with Walnut Dumplings, Cucumber Cattail Salad with Buttermilk  Bagna Cauda, Carrot-Ricotta Custard, Grilled Maple Eggs, Smoked Fish and Potato Hand Pies, Silver Dollar Corncakes and Buckwheat Maple Rhubarb Sundae.  There are also drink ingredients including Smoked Purple Barley Tincture and Fir Tip Tea.

Take some time with this book.  The author herself describes it as a Choose Your Own Adventure Guide. Learn about her, think about the recipes and our world and, even if you don’t cook, enjoy imagining that you could make the food in this volume.

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

#NourishMeHome #NetGalley

All of these authors have written multiple books so the chances are that, if you enjoy the one here, you will enjoy others by the wame writer.  See my archive for a review of Murder in Belgravia.  I always rate the books by Jacqueline Winspear highly.

David Attenborough is a well known advocate for environmental causes. He has produced a number of spectacular television series about the world we live in. Yet, he was once a little boy who was just beginning to explore his interests in the natural world. In this charming entry in a wonderful biographical series, readers watch a curious David become educated, spend time with all kinds of animals in all kinds of places and find his calling. He is eventually honored by Queen Elizabeth.

Charmingly illustrated, this is another appealing entry in the Little People series that children should read to learn more about their world and the many things that people do in it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

What a clever idea for an anthology! The author organizes this book into sections that reflect moods such as “cry it out with, fall in love with, celebrate life with, focus with, dance around with” and more. Each section features artists as, for example, cry it out with Lana Del Rey, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Joni Mitchell and others. There is then information about each artist including biographical facts and suggestions of songs. This book with illustrations of the musicians would make a great gift for an eight year old or above child in your. The suggestions are good for adults too.

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

 

This book with lively illustrations is for the youngest listeners to hear. Told from a child’s point of view, it shows in a comic way, some of the things that dad do not do perfectly.  At the end of course, the most important thing is that the dad loves his child.

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

#SometimesDaddiesAre #NetGalley

Do you know what the monkey mind is? Does your child? As I understand it, this is a concept that addresses our being all over the place, unable to focus on the moment or to live one’s best and most peaceful life. We all can use some assistance in learning to quiet ourselves and to be more present. This deck hopes to help children, and maybe their adults, to do this by sharing some of the “playful and powerful qualities of animals and elements in nature as inspiration to discover these qualities in ourselves.” In a note to adults, the author states that the exercises are meant to provide a “safe way to reflect on difficult topics and a form of…support.” The author engages children by offering them multiple ways to use the cheerily illustrated deck.

I recommend these cards as one tool for helping children to think, feel and be as comfortable as possible in their lives. Adults may well enjoy this deck too!

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