Dairy-Free cookbooks

 My one son seems to have difficulty digesting dairy. I tried a couple of recipes from these books. The recipe results were average. Some of the ingredients were unusual and expensive.

10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin*

 Every Friday my fourteen-year-old son has been reading this book for his "soul reading".  Each week he journals about the chapter topic and discusses it with me. It has been a worthwhile investment. Topics Mrs. McLaughlin covers are benefits of the Christian life, racism, slavery, universal truth, relativism, "can we good without God", is the Bible true, science & Christianity, love/sex/same-sex attraction, pornography, abuse, gender, feminism, transgender/non-binary identities, suffering,& heaven/hell. She creates a lot of analogies from Harry Potter, Frozen, and other movies. My eighth grader likes Harry Potter so these analogies were impactful. 

Consider: Mrs. McLaughlin shares how she has same-sex attraction but has given it to the Lord. The Lord has enabled her to marry a man and have children. She is happily married. She also shares about people who are born intersex. I had never heard of it. Be prepared to discuss it with your child.

*Highly recommend.

I own this book.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson*

 A blurb in our history textbook mentioned how the yellow fever of 1793 caused the American govenment to leave Philadelphia for a few months. I recalled reading a review of this book on RAR and requested it from the library for my son to read. He devoured it. By reading it, he learned a lot about this time period and how early Americans handled illness. I also read it and was impressed how well the plot was executed, how well the characters were developed and how well the research was incorporated. Our colonial ancestor, Dr. Benjamin Rush, was mentioned throughout the book. His practices were erroneous (!), but the author's note shared about his advanced views on humanity and how he treated them with dignity. The author's note is fascinating and enriching reading.

It would be interesting to compare how the characters handled the epidemic to how we handled covid in modern times.

*Highly recommend.

Consider: It is a "young adult" novel. Matilda Cook, the main character, experiences a budding romance with a young man. Nothing inappropriate is included-it is a sweet relationship. A family member the reader will like dies. The numerous people die. Gruesome details of people dying and suffering are included.

-Borrowed from the library.

William's House by Ginger Howard illustrated by Larry Day*

 In 1637 New England, William arrives with his wife and two sons to build a home. He replicates how his father built their home in England. As the weather changes and the year progresses, he realizes the methods in England are not functional in this new area. He makes adjustments accordingly. 

His wife and her comments irritated me! ("Something must be done . . .") This book offers the readers perspective on how the settlers established themselves in early America. I highly recommend this book to anyone studying Colonial America. I especially loved the ink sketches of the two sons under the text. They offer an additional story. The colored illustrations are detailed and beautiful.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo illustrated by Julie Morstad

 A Norendy Tale (a series of original fairy tales)

Five puppets are crammed into a box. They have a story to share. When an uncle purchases them from the rag-and-bone man and gifts them to his nieces, their story is created and dispensed to a receptive audience. One audience member is healed from a long ago sorrow as she listens to and views the pupperty. 

Although it is a short read (I read it under an hour), it will provoke enduring reflections. Ms. DiCamillo also develops characters well with few words. No word is a filler.

-Borrowed from the library.

More books in this series are forthcoming.

The School that Escaped the Nazis by Deborah Cadbury*

 A couple of months ago on the podcast Plumfield Moms, I heard a recommendation for this book. This well-researched nonfiction book relates how German schoolteacher, Anna Essinger, who perceives that Hitler's hate-filled ideologies would destroy her country and pupils, devises a plan to move her school and her pupils to Kent, England. Her far-sightedness allows her to rescue nine hundred students. Readers learn about the destruction and evil the Nazis poured out on the Jews and nations and also how the children in Anna's school are restored to humanity.

Ms. Cadbury weaves in stories of numerous children throughout and integrates how people were treated in various countries during the war in effortless manner. To endure the horrors this book revealed, I had to almost exist outside of myself.  Some events were horrifying and beyond comprehension. 

Warning: horrible acts towards Jews and other people (& not just the Nazis acting out evil, the Russians also raped women and ransacked villages when they took them back from the Nazis)

*Highly recommend (for adults and mature teens)

-Borrowed from the library.

Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja illustrated by Shiho Pate*

 Absolutely adorable!

Six-year-old Hiro loves watching his dad make ramen each Sunday for the family. When he turns seven, he decides he is old enough to make the family a ramen dinner. Generations of the family's fathers have been making ramen. To his disgust, he ruins the dinner. With some creativity, he salvages it and creates a wonderful ramen meal.

The illustrations and layouts are fun and creative. Japanese writing is included in the illustrations.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

 In my oldest son's American Lit. textbook, the author recommended reading a few poems from Edgar Masters's Spoon River Anthology. For October's poetry treat day, we listened to and discussed a few poems from this anthology. All of the monological  poems are the dead residents of Spoon River (a fictional mid-American town) speaking about their lives from their graves. The first poem is entitled "The Hill", which is the place where everyone is buried. 

Very interesting and an impressive endeavor!

-Borrowed from the library.

Warning: some poems have innuendos/sexual references  We skipped those! For junior high/high school, I would hand select the poems. Some of our favorites were "'Butch' Weldy", & "Lucinda Matlock". The tone is a bit cynical about small American towns and its residents. Mr. Masters did not seem to have a high regard for God and the church.

Book-

The Lion in the Box by Marguerite de Angeli*

 Recently a friend informed me that she was excited about this book being reissued, so I decided to borrow it and find out why she likes it!

According to Mrs. de Angeli, this story is true. Her friend related this story about her childhood to Mrs. de Angeli. She changed some aspects of it to make it a cohesive story. 

Mama, a recent widow, struggles to earn enough money to care for her five children. Despite their poverty, the atmosphere in their home is filled with joy and gratitude. On Christmas Eve a huge box is delivered to the home. The deliverer warns the children not to open it because a lion is inside. What is truly inside?

The only con-sometimes books like this seem to romanticize poverty.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang

 A young girl shops with her mother on a Saturday morning to buy ingredients to make dinner. It is a celebration because it is the one day of the week that everyone is home -Mom, Dad, Grandma, and the girl narrator. The family recently moved from China to NYC. Throughout the book the girl shares her struggle in adjusting. As they shop, the mom creates metaphors and similes to cleverly engage her daughter and to ease her discomfort in the new city.

-Borrowed from the library.

Murder on the Baltimore Express by Suzanne Jurmain*

 A well-researched book that depicts how Allan Pinkerton and his group rescued Abraham Lincoln from being assassinated as he journeyed from Springfield, Illnois to Washington, D.C. As I read this novel, I was amazed how corrupt and violent our country was during this time.  Nothing new is under the sun is cliche but so true!

*Highly recommend for those who like Abraham Lincoln. My respect and admiration for him increased as I read this book.

Warning: violence, some swearing-some words have dashes in them so the entire swear word is not printed.

-Borrowed via inter-lib. loan.

Worst of Friends by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain illustrated by Larry Day*

 This book delves into Thomas Jefferson and John Adams's friendship. A fascinating view into our country's early government and founding fathers. I highly recommend including this picture book into any Colonial American unit.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

An Inconvenient Alphabet by Beth Anderson illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley*

 I found this story so fascinating!

Noah Webster and Ben Franklin agree that the English language is challenging to spell. Together they eliminate confusing spellings and set out to convince people to adopt their methods. People do not accept it. Although they were not successful with this idea, their endeavors allowed Noah Webster to publish the first American English dictionary.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Leather Apron Club by Jane Yolen illustrated by Wendell Minor*

 Benjamin Franklin, His Son Billy, & America's First Cirulating Library

Ms. Yolen exposes the reader to Benjamin Franklin's Leather Apron Club via a fictional story about Billy, his son. It is an interesting, engaging story. In the back Ms. Yolen shares facts about Ben Franklin, The Leather Apron Club, and his relationship with Billy.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus*

 How I hope Ms. Albus keeps writing middle grade novels! Her characters are well-developed, her plots are compelling, and her writing is superb. . .all without inserting any agendas that is all too common in literature for kids "these days". 

Fish, Dory, and Pike Byrne's father has been called to fight in WW II. He asks Fish, who is seventeen years old, to watch over twelve-year-old Dory and eight-year-old Pike. (Their mother had died.)Pop also vows that the neighborhood of Lower East Side will take care of them. Fish and the neighborhood do take care of the family, but when a new landlord moves into their apartment, he despises the Byrne kids and suspects that they are living there without a parent. Where can they go to escape the orphange?

I loved being immersed in NYC Lower East Side during WW II. Ms. Albus weaves in interesting tidbits. I did not care for Dory (I am tired of fiesty girls in books). She also lied a lot.  Although he was a minor character, I liked Pike the best. Fish was also admirable. 

Ms. Albus talks directly to the reader throughout the novel, which is a new techinque for her. She also mentions a diamond that is hidden in a wardrobe unbeknownst to Dory. Dory does not discover it by the end of the novel . . .it makes me wonder if Ms. Albus is writing a sequel. I had wanted Dory to find the diamond!!

Consider/discuss: lying, stealing, Dory's friend Vincent kisses her on the cheek . . .she says he may do it again sometime! -a budding, sweet romance develops between them as the novel progresses-nothing inappropriate.

*Highly recommend (for 4th grade and older)

-Borrowed from the library.

Ekphrastic art text set*

 Our poetry treat theme for September was ekphrastic poetry. Ekphrastic poetry is poetry inspired by art. The boys wrote superb poetry based on art of their choice. A successful activity!

I bought two used books that feature this poetry with the art next to it-

AND

**This collection is unique because it contains the poem in its original language. Such a rich feast-different languages, art and poetry!

Paint Me a Poem by Justine Rowden -borrowed via ILL  Ms. Rowden selected famous pieces of art and wrote poems based on the art. I liked how even the font matched the mood and tone of the poem.

The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel by Anders C. Shafer*

 Mr. Shafer imagines what Pieter Bruegel's journey from Antwerp to Rome must have been like in 1551-1552. Narrated in 1st person via journal entries. Two-page illustration spreads enrich the experience. At the back Mr. Shafer includes small prints of Bruegel's art and comments on their significance. My favorite painting is Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. When I was researching ekphrastic poetry, I discovered two poems inspired by this painting. 

This book is over-sized.

*Highly recommend for art and history lovers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson*

 Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow

Mrs. Erickson uses the tenets of the Danish lifestyle to provide a welcoming atmosphere to introduce others to Christ. Although she structures her book around these principles, she continually reminds readers that the belief system will leave people void. Only Christ and a relationship with Him will offer humanity hope and fulfillment.

The Danish tenets for hygge (pronounced "HYOO-guh", meaning from Norwegian word-hugga- to comfort, console, or encourage) are hospitality, relationships, well-being, atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest.

I liked the practical ideas she included in the appendix.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ballet for Martha by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan illustrated by Brian Floca*

 Making Applalachian Spring

This book reveals how Martha Graham, a ballet choreographer, Aaron Copland, an American composer, and Isamu Noguchi, an artist, sculptor, craftsman, come together to create the American masterpiece, Appalachian Spring. Readers witness how the three artists work separately and collaboratively to create and produce this performance.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

McToad Mows Tiny Island by Tom Angleberger illustrated by John Hendrix*

 McToad likes Thursdays. It is the day he mows Tiny Island. A host of different transportation modes allows this big event to occur each Thursday. This book made me laugh! Please share it with your toddler and preschooler! I shared it with my teenage boys. 😁

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower*

 Emma arrives to her family home, Lapis Lazuli, in St. Crispian, London in 1883 to discover her cousin has gambled and spent her inheritance. With wit and intellect, she schemes how to remain at Lapis Lazuli. Readers will enjoy the short journal entries and the colorful characters. I also love Emma's ardent pursuit to fill her bookshelf with books. 

A total of seven journals are now available-all novella length (my county's library system only has volume one. I requested this copy to be purchased.)

*Highly recommend. I will be trying to read more books by Beth Brower.

-Borrowed from the library.

Sparrow Being Sparrow by Gail Donovan illustrated by Elysia Case*

 Fourth-grader Sparrow is energetic. Her exuberance, however, causes trouble. Like breaking Mrs. LaRose's hip. Like telling her class she had seven cats (really, Mrs. LaRose has the seven cats). Like breaking a coffee cup in a cafe. Like passing a note during class and getting caught. OR her exuberance can accomplish the impossible. Like finding a home for seven cats plus kittens! It is just "Sparrow being Sparrow".

A book featuring a relatable girl with loving parents. A great book for those readers who love Junie B. Jones (a lot better story and character than Junie B.) and Romana Quimby. 

*Highly recommend.

Considerations: Sparrow has never been to church. When she and her parents initially attend, her views on church are not positive. The Sunday school lessons were not focused on actual Bible stories. The church observes the Blessing of the Animals day, which some readers may not understand if they attend an evangelical church. Sparrow's opinion of church evolves as the novel progresses. 

The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray*

 A Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery #2

Jonathan and Juliet are reunited and join forces to solve the murder of Mrs. Willoughby, the wife to despicable man, John Willoughby of Allenham. Since Jonathan and Juliet are staying in separate homes, they must utilize more creativity to meet and discuss their investigations. A third individual, Mr. Bamber, invites himself into their investigation and proves to be useful with his experiments. Mr. Darcy isn't thrilled as he now has to share Juliet's attention! Ms. Gray features an Asperger's syndrome character very well.

This novel reinforces the dangers of bitterness. Two characters experience the same cruel treatment; they respond in opposite manners. A great illustration of how bitterness grows and brings forth evil acts.

A well-written mystery. I was disappointed with how it ended but am willing to overlook it since a third novel in the series is schedule to be released in June 2024, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. 

*Highly recommend for teens and adults. 

Considerations: one character has a child out of wedlock, a married character is trying to avoid the pursuit of another married character (she remains faithful; nothing inappropriate is included), a married woman was going to run away to America with another man-it  does not occur, for an obvious reason. None of these considerations is exalted or viewed as excusable. For example, the woman with a child out of wedlock does view her actions as "sin".

-Borrowed from the library.