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Summary: Discusses the seasons and methods of how to tell what season it is.  Attention Span/reading level: 1-2 sentences per page. This book was perfect for my 3-year old. The sentences were short, but informative. The pictures also matched very well, helping to emphasize the point. Good uses for book in teaching: Seasons, weather, concepts, deductive reasoning (it's spring because there are lots of flowers, or fall because the leaves are falling off the tree) Favorite part: Child - The pictures. She loved seeing the dew drops on the spider web, the picture of a big puddle to jump in, and a picture of pumpkins harvested in the fall (and the fact that she could identify with /had experience with some of these things.) Least favorite part?  W arnings/negative feedback?: None.  Review:I really liked the way this book went about teaching seasons. It talks about how you can tell what season it is by looking at the weather, the amount of light, and changes in n...

Concept: All about the grain quinoa. It actually can be used in more ways than I thought.  Author :  Wendy Polisi is a cook, writer and blogger. She shares healthy quinoa recipes at cookingquinoa.net and gluten free recipes at mamabalance.com. Food type: All, but heavy on lunches and dinner Monologue score  (1-10) (how entertaining, not the recipes): 3. Quite dry and very factual. There was no interaction between the author and the reader. However, I did appreciate that she had a kids quinoa section with meals geared toward kids.  Difficulty level: Intermediate to hard. Not hard, but it's not an ingredient a lot of people are familiar with. The cooking method is similar to that of rice. Also, it tends to blend in and take on the taste of whatever you cook it with, so either it's hidden and just meant to add protein/texture to the meal or you have to dress it up by adding other ingredients that make it tasty. Approximate percentage of recipes I would be w...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Leon Leyson (born Leib Lezjon) was only ten years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family was forced to relocate to the Krakow ghetto. With incredible luck, perseverance, and grit, Leyson was able to survive the sadism of the Nazis, including that of the demonic Amon Goeth, commandant of Plaszow, the concentration camp outside Krakow. Ultimately, it was the generosity and cunning of one man, a man named Oskar Schindler, who saved Leon Leyson’s life, and the lives of his mother, his father, and two of his four siblings, by adding their names to his list of workers in his factory—a list that became world renowned: Schindler’s List. (Amazon) Category: YA Nonfiction/Autobiography Why I chose this book - Award winner, title caught my attention while browsing the library My personal opinion: The most surprising thing in this story is the lack of bitterness and hatred from Leon as he describes the awful circumstances he went through. I am...

Concept: Brownies, brownies, and more brownies. Mint infused, fruit topped, nut filled, white chocolate, peanut butter, in a square, in a circle, mixed with cookies...you get the idea.  Author : Bev Shafer is an award-winning chef, culinary instructor, food columnist, and bakery director. I had no previous experience with this author. Food type: Desserts - Brownies, frosting, sauces and toppings.  Monologue score  (1-10) (how entertaining, not the recipes): 4 - there's not really much there except a history of brownies in the beginning. She adds a few tips every now and then, but there really wasn't much "life" and personality to the book.  Difficulty level:  Intermediate. Most aren't hard, but her basic brownie base starts with you melting your own chocolate in a double boiler and then adding the other ingredients. Not to mention making your own frosting or gathering specialty ingredients. This is much more work and has more possibilities for things to go...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Anna Wallingham is a marketing professional of "a certain age" that is struggling with keeping clients. Her largest client has put her out to pasture, and is going for a younger set of consultants. And then, thankfully, a new very large account falls in her lap. Large enough to leave her a millionaire. But at what cost? Category Thriller Why I chose this book Kindle First My personal opinion (the review) The story was excellent. Lots of plot twists, lots of crossing and double-crossing to keep track of, lots of interesting characters and locations. The character list was probably too long, though, I kept just ignoring some of the story line because I couldn't remember who everyone was. And there was a large handful of unnecessary language. But the way the story line crossed generations was interesting. If you had the chance to look significantly younger, would you? Warnings : Language - yes, more than was necessary Violenc...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): There are so many things going on in this book that there is no way to make a "brief" synopsis.  Willow Chase lived with her adoptive parents in Bakersfield, California. There in the midst of the high desert, she grew a garden in her backyard, her sanctuary. She was excited about starting a new school, hoping this time she might fit in, might find a friend. Willow had been identified in preschool as highly gifted, most of the time causing confusion and feelings of ineptness in her teachers. Now at her new school she is accused of cheating because no one has ever finished the state proficiency test in just 17 minutes, let alone gotten a perfect score. Her reward is behavioral counseling with Dell Duke, an ineffectual counselor with organizational and social issues of his own. She does make a friend when Mai Nguyen brings her brother, Quang-ha, to his appointment, and their lives begin to intertwine when Willow's parents are killed in an aut...

Concept: Stories and recipes behind some of New York City's food carts. A brief history of food carts is given.The authors illustrates well how most of the people who run food carts are immigrants trying to make their way in a new country. They explain how difficult it is to get the proper permits and then to find safe locations at which to sell. Each entry then gives a background on the person/people running the cart and gives the background on how they came make to food they make.  Food type:  Mixed - lunch ideas, snacks, and desserts. The idea behind a food cart is cheap (under $10), but good food that office/construction workers can get quickly during their lunch breaks.   Monologue score (1-10) (how entertaining, not the recipes): 7  Difficulty level: Varies, but overall not difficult. We're talking about people who make food in a food truck or in small kitchens to peddle throughout the day. Some recipes do have quite a few ingredients (mostly meats that ...

Summary: The renowned Caldecott Honoree and illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom provides a moving, intimate, and inspiring inside look at her colorful picture book career...Lois takes readers and aspiring artists on a delightful behind-the-scenes tour of her books and her book-making process. Part fascinating retrospective, part moving testament to the value of following your dreams, this richly illustrated picture book is sure to inspire children and adults alike to explore their own creativity. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: Older readers: 8+, It only has 1-2 sentences per page, but the topic is one better suited to old kids. My three year old lost interest after about 4 pages.  Good uses for book in teaching: Art, creativity, developing/using your talent Favorite part: (Mine) That Lois' parents were supportive of her talents.  Least favorite part?  W arnings/negative feedback?: None.  Review: I didn't realize what this book was when ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Butler brings to life the world of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, two daughters without parents or means, forced to experience hardship, romance, and heartbreak, all in the hopes of achieving love and lasting happiness. (Amazon) Category: YA/Adult Graphic Novel Why I chose this book: Good experience with the Pride and Prejudice Graphic novel by the same author My personal opinion (the review): I am glad I took the time to read this one. I've tried to read the full novel before but have gotten lost the wording and descriptions. Without feeling petty, this version is able to get across the full story, but shorten it and make it more accessible. Many lines were taken straight from the book so it was very true to the story and still had an authentic feel. I was also able to finish it within a matter a 3 or so hours when the full book would have taken longer. And, now that I have an idea of the full timeline/plot, I might have the courage to try ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants—Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree. As Maren approaches adulthood, she turns into a mermaid, and Clara and O'Neill must get her to the sea before she dies. But no task involving a mermaid is ever that simple. (Summary in part from Amazon.com) Category Fiction, YA, Fantasy Why I chose this book Kindle First, recommended on this blog by my wife My personal opinion (the review) Great, clean book. It kept my attention well, it had a happy ending (which my wife insists is the most important part), and it involved a bit of magic. Not so much that it was complete fantasy, though. I also liked that the book had stories being told in it. Warnings : Language - none Violence - very mild "Adult" situations - none Death - several, but no "beloved" characters, onl...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) : What if your favorite characters came to life? Billy’s spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris. But something strange is going on. Besides the security cameras everywhere, there’s Dr. Libris’s private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens the books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of the lake. The clash of swords. The twang of arrows. Sometimes he can even feel the ground shaking. It’s almost as if the stories he’s reading are coming to life! But that’s impossible . . . isn’t it? (Amazon) Category: Kids (8-13 ish) Though is does have many literary references that kept me, as a student of literature, entertained. It's like Disney movies, you can see them on one level or understand the humor and other messages behind the story if you look for it.   Why I chose this book: I have enjoyed another book by this author. My personal opinion: The Good: Imagine Hercules as part of...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Detective Gideon and his K-9 partner Sirius are assigned to the Special Cases Unit in LA. They face drones, fires, and several psychopathic characters- only one of them is in prison, though. Category Mystery, fiction Why I chose this book Kindle First a few months ago My personal opinion (the review) This was a good book. It had lots of internal conflict and gadgetry, which I like. I prefer the mystery stories that can be solved with close examination, but definitely did not qualify. Gideon pulled all kinds of external info from his police sources. It was an interesting story, though. The angel portion of the story pulled me in, but the rest of it kept me interested. Warnings: Language - a couple instances, minor Violence - a few instances and memories, none graphic "Adult" situations - "lovemaking" mentioned, scenes ended with no details Death - yes, but not of major characters, and none graphic Movie rating equivale...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers):   Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison--even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does--in this second installment from Marissa Meyer. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana. (Amazon) Category : YA Why I chose this book: Second in the series My personal opinion : I only got about 100 pages in before I put this book down. Cinder only go a so-so review from me to begin with, so I ...