The Turnip by Pierr Morgan

by Carol3 Comments
The Turnip by Pierr Morgan (Suggested age range: Preschool) This is an old Russian folktale that I actually ran across when I talking about a Halloween book , Big Pumpkin. Somewhere I read that it was based on a Russian tale, so i had to find it. In this story, Dedoushka grew a huge turnip, so big that he couldn't pull it out of the ground. His wife, Baboushka, comes to help, but even the two of them together can't pull out the turnip. They call their granddaughter and eventually, with the help of the granddaughter, the dog and cat and a tiny filed mouse, they finally pull the turnip free. I love the bright illustrations, the characters stand out well against the more pastel farm background. The story itself has a nice rhythm and the names give it a distinct Russian flavor. Deduchka pullat the turnip, Baboushka pulled at Dedoushka, Mashenka pulled at Baboushka, Geouchka pulled at Masehnka, Keska pulled at Geouchka, the little...
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Holiday Reading Challenge

by Carol4 Comments
I love Christmas and everything related, music, decorations, traditions. I also love to read holiday-flavored books, so I am signing up for Nely's 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge. The goal is to read 1-5 holiday-themed books. I know I'll read at least 1, maybe more, not counting children's books. Here's my list of potentials. The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul The Man who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford Of course, by the time December ends my list will probably look entirely different.  ...
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Tuesday Teaser from The Family Dinner

by Carol11 Comments
When we used my mother's family silverware, I always thought of the seven years during World War II that those forks and spoons spent deep in a hole in the backyard, hidden from harm. And I imagined the first dinner after the war, when it was dug up, polished, and set at a peaceful table. Take a walk through your home, collect the knick-knacks that hold stories about your travels or celebrations, and gather them on your table for an evening of storytelling. (pg. 32, The Family Dinner by Lauri David and Kirstin Uhrenholdt) This is so much more than a cookbook. It does have recipes, but it also has great suggestions, quotes and traditions. I'm hoping to have a review and giveaway up later this week. Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. The rules are easy and I only cheated a little. Grab your current read,...
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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

by Carol6 Comments
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Happy Halloween! Tomorrow I'll have some pictures to share, but needless to say, Amber got quite a haul of candy this evening. And I handed out candy to batches of ghouls and ghosts and witches. This year, for October, I finally got around to reading The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It's one of those classics that I know the basic plot of, but had never actually read. It's the story of a schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, who is courting one of the local lasses, a pretty girl who is a bit of a flirt. His rival, Brom Bones, is one of those rough, mischievous young men who, whenever there's trouble in the area, all the neighbors and smile and say it must have been Brom Bones and his friends. I love the descriptions of the area and the locals. It really sets the stage for the story. They are given to all kinds of marvelous...
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