The only thing I like better than visiting an apple orchard is reading a book that takes me there. And, when recipes are included, I know it’s a book for me. NOT SO FAST, MAX – A Rosh Hashanah Visit with Grandma By Annette Schottenfeld (author) and Jennifer Kirkham (illustrator) Kalaniot Books Picture book for […]
Food
A Challenge! Vivien Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Contest Vivien Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Contest
I love a challenge so when I read about Vivien Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Contest, I was intrigued. Based on a challenge Bennet Cerf gave to Dr. Seuss to write a story using only 50 unique words, (he came up with Green Eggs and Ham) writers are challenged to write a 50-word story. It’s […]
Field Trip – Feeling Fallish
It doesn’t seem possible that October is over. I have been traveling most of the month and I am happy to announce that I experienced my first real fall. Fall in Southern California is marked by high temperatures and hot winds known as the Santa Anas. This increases the risk of fire so we pray […]
Beatrix Potter is 150 – It’s Time for a Party!
When people see my collection of Beatrix Potter’s little books beginning with The Tale of Peter Rabbit, they say “I remember these books,” “These were my favorite childhood books,” or “I loved ____________.” (fill in with Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddleduck, or another favorite character.) This year marks the 150th birthday of this beloved […]
Field Trip Notes: Staycation Edition
Looking back over my calendar I realized that I didn’t travel at all during the month of June. I am always going somewhere so this seemed really odd. I guess you could call it a stay-cation. First of all, the Kings River water was released from the dam. Since we have been in a drought […]
Bon Appetit! Happy Birthday to Julia Child
Many years ago, I was walking at sunrise on beach near Santa Barbara when I chanced upon a tall lady holding a mesh sack. She stopped to chat and I realized immediately that I was talking with the famous chef, Julia Child. She happily opened her sack and showed me mussels she had collected. She […]
Peach Pleasure – Kid Lit (and recipes)
It is harvest time for stone fruit! I walk most mornings with the dogs and have been captivated by the trees dripping with fruit. We are experiencing a horrific drought here in Central California but the farmers aren’t giving up. Take a look at these peaches coming soon to a fruit stand or farmers market […]
W is for Washington D.C.
Welcome to Day 23 in the A to Z Blog Challenge where we post in alphabetical order during April. My blog theme for the month is Read the World with Kid’s Books. W is our letter of the day so we are heading to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue which is, of course, the address for the […]
G is for Ghana… and Goldilocks!
To be honest, before today, I didn’t know exactly where Ghana was located or much about this African nation. I love to read variants of folk and fairy tales and have collected many versions of familiar stories. So, I was thrilled to discover this wonderful book. The Ghanian Goldilocks. By Dr. Tamara Pizzoli (author) and […]
A- a reader’s field trip to Australia
What’s not to like about Australia? Some of the coolest animals in the world live there, the beaches are beautiful, and many of the best children’s books are set in the land down under. In fact, my favorite children’s book is from Australia: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge By Mem Fox (author) and Julie Vivas (illustrator) Picture […]
Celebrate Pi Day! 3.14152653
When you live with a math fanatic March 14th is a big day. And, this year it looks like it will be the best ever! It is Pi Day and we are going to celebrate. I first learned of Pi day from my daughter Mee Mee who loves all things math. Since we enjoy all holidays […]
A Season of Lights
Not only is it 12-13-14 but it is also the feast day of Santa Lucia, the patron saint of light. We celebrate most holidays and Santa Lucia Day is one of our favorites. It is interesting that a young martyr from Italy has become the center of a Swedish holiday. It is fitting, however that […]
Nuts for Nuts!
When autumn arrives, most people think of pumpkins and colorful leaves. Now, I like pumpkins and leaves as much as anyone but around here are other signs of the season. I’m thinking of nuts! When I first moved to California’s Central Valley I was amazed to drive past mile after mile of walnut trees. Our […]
Lost in Translation – Chinese style
Getting around China was interesting since I don’t speak the language and certainly can’t read it. Things became even more interesting when we started reading signs that had been translated into English. The creativity of the translators is amazing or else the Chinese – English dictionary was written with a sense of humor. […]
Best Blueberry Books
July is Blueberry Month and the next best thing to eating blueberries is reading about them. On my top 10 best picture book list is Blueberries for Sal. This classic, written by Robert McClosky in 1948, follows Little Sal who is “helping” her mother to pick blueberries which will be canned for the winter. On […]