"Hi, Pizza Man!"



"Hi, Pizza Man!" by Virginia Walter is one of the books on my  Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge list.

There's nothing like a game to fill the hungry time before pizza arrives at the door.

Vivian's game is like nothing before - more than merely a pizza man come to play it.

Her door fairly bursts with funny possibilities.

Product Details
  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Paperback: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Orchard Books (NY) (September 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0531071073
  • ISBN-13: 978-0531071076

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1?To pass the time while waiting for a pizza delivery, Vivian's mother asks her what she will say when it arrives. That's easy enough: "'Hi, Pizza Man!'" But what if it's a pizza woman? Things get silly as the child's mother suggests ever-more improbable delivery characters?a cat, dog, duck, cow, snake, and dinosaur. Her daughter responds with "'Quack quack, Pizza Duck!'"; "'Roar, Pizza Dinosaur!'"; etc. Readers will be having so much fun that they may feel jarred back to reality and even a bit disappointed to see the most obvious of the options when the doorbell finally rings. However, the story will have wide appeal, from toddlers just learning animals' sounds to beginning readers who will grasp the zaniness of the situation. The realistic art has abundant whimsical details and invites close examination. The pizza woman wears a baseball cap and evening clothes, complete with a mink stole. The cow is truly exotic, with purple markings and a rose in her mouth, and the dinosaur is a thing of beauty, crowned with a feathered pillbox hat. The typography also sparks interest, with a different style and various sizes of lettering used for Vivian's greetings. A nice example of positive parent-child interaction and of the imagination needed to entertain a hungry preschooler, this story has the predictability to make it a great read-aloud.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

 About The Author:

Virginia Walter teaches library and information science at UCLA, and lives in Venice, California. "Hi. Pizza Man!", her first book for children was inspired by her granddaughter.


I love the TITLE and the BOOK... the pictures are a bit scary for me.  **** Stars!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Review: What Is Jesus Worth To You? The Radical Question


This booklet, The Radical Question is a condensed version of the book "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream". The author begins by describing scenes from the persecuted churches in China and the Middle East where Christians risk their freedom, families and even their lives for the sake of the gospel.

My Thoughts: 

This is a cry, directed to believers, that moves and inspires you to personally hear the call of the Lord and then what will you choose to do with that calling on your life? Will you follow Jesus at all costs?
This book is also a wake-up call to the user-friendly church that is caught up in its meetings, programs, and agenda. The heartfelt message throughout the book points us to folks abroad who are suffering and being persecuted for their faith while we here in the U.S. seem to be comfortable with complacency.

This is an excellent pamphlet to read and then purchase the 10-pack for ministry outreach.

***** stars.

What Others Say:

"It challenges the reader to dive deep into his/her own heart and examine their lives. Do they live like Jesus is worth everything? Do they follow Jesus or do they follow a plastic version of Jesus that has been shaped or caged up based on our preferences about who they want Jesus to be or what they want what Jesus taught to mean? The Radical Question serves as a great springboard into Radical and would serve as a great conversation starter. "


About The Author:

David Platt is the lead pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, a 4,000-member Southern Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama. Widely regarded as an exceptional expositor and motivator, David has taught around the world. He holds three advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. David and his wife, Heather, are the parents of Caleb and Joshua and are adopting a third child from Nepal.

Product Details
  • Pub. Date: May 2010
  • Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
  • Format: Paperback, 64pp
  • Sales Rank: 153,503

Synopsis

Special 10-pack, ideal for church giveaways, welcome packets or small group distribution.
What is Jesus worth to you?

It’s easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, Jesus said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily…
But who do you know who lives like that? Do you?

Read an Excerpt

Imagine a scene that took place in Asia not long ago: A room in an ordinary house, dimly lit, all the blinds on the windows closed. Twenty leaders from churches in the region sit quietly in a circle on the floor, their Bibles open. They speak in hushed tones or not at all. Some still glisten with sweat; others’ clothes and shoes are noticeably dusty. They have been walking or riding bicycles since early morning when they left distant villages to get here.
   Whenever a knock is heard or a suspicious sound drifts in, everyone freezes while a burly, tough-looking man gets up to check things out.
   These men and women have gathered in secret, arriving intentionally at different times throughout the day so as not to draw attention. In this country it is illegal for Christians to come together like this. If caught, the people here could lose their land, their jobs, their families, even their lives…
I was in that dimly lit room that day, a visitor from America. I huddled next to an interpreter, who helped me understand their stories as they began to share.
   The tough-looking man—our “head of security”—was the first to speak up. But as he spoke, his intimidating appearance quickly gave way to reveal a tender heart.
   “Some of the people in my church have been pulled away by a cult,” he said. Tears welled up in his eyes. “We are hurting. I need God’s grace to lead my church through these attacks.”
   The cult that had been preying on his church is known for kidnapping Christians, taking them to isolated locations, and torturing them, my interpreter explained. Many brothers and sisters in the area would never tell the good news again. At least not with words. Their tongues had been cut out.
   A woman on the other side of the room spoke next. “Some of the members in my church were recently confronted by government officials,” she said. “They threatened their families, saying that if they did not stop gathering to study the Bible, they were going to lose everything they had.” She asked for prayer, then said, “I need to know how to lead my church to follow Christ even when it costs them everything.”
   I looked around the room. Now everyone was in tears. They looked at one another, then several said at once, “We need to pray.”
   Immediately they went to their knees, and with their faces on the floor, they began to cry out with muted intensity to God. Their praying was not marked by lofty language but by heartfelt praise and pleading.
   “O God, thank you for loving us!”
   “O God, we need you!”
   “Jesus, we trust in you!”
   “Jesus, you are worthy!”
   One after another they prayed while others wept.
   After about an hour the room grew silent, and the men and women rose from the floor. All around the room, on the floor where each had prayed, I saw puddles of tears.
The brothers and sisters in that Asian country have shown by their sacrifices just how much Jesus is worth to them. He is worth everything to them.
   And they are not alone.
   They are joined by brothers and sisters in Sudan who believe Jesus is worthy of their trust, even amid pain and persecution of genocidal proportions.
   They are joined by brothers and sisters in India who believe Jesus is worthy of their devotion, even when they face threats from Muslim extremists in the north and Hindu extremists in the south.
   They are joined by brothers and sisters all over the Middle East who believe Jesus is worthy of their love, even when their family members threaten to kill them for professing belief in him.
   They are joined by brothers and sisters around the world who believe Jesus is worthy of all their hopes, all their dreams, all their desires, all their possessions, all their plans, and all their lives.
   But are they joined by you and me?
These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

The Radical Question: What Is Jesus Worth to You?

LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

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Monarch and Milkweed



Every spring the monarch butterfly migrates thousands of miles in search of the ideal milkweed plant. When she finds it, she lays eggs on the plant, so when each egg hatches, the baby caterpillar turns into one of nature's wonders, a chrysalis, before transforming into an even greater wonder: a monarch butterfly. And once the newborn butterfly soars away, the milkweed seeds fly away on the wind and start this cycle again.

The exacting prose and jewel-toned illustrations echo the harmony of monarch and milkweed in this carefully researched book, explaining one of nature's most spectacular displays in a refreshingly simple manner.

For further information, see:
Monarch Watch
Journey North

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Hardcover: 40 pages
  • Publisher: Atheneum (March 4, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416900853

Product Description


One of nature's most perfect relationships:
 
Every spring the monarch butterfly migrates thousands of miles in search of the ideal milkweed plant. When she finds it, she lays her eggs on the plant, so when each egg hatches, the baby caterpillar can feed on the milkweed leaves. The milkweed plant then provides the perfect protection as the caterpillar turns into one of nature's wonders, a chrysalis, before transforming into an even greater wonder: a monarch butterfly. And once the newborn butterfly soars away, the milkweed seeds fly away on the wind and start this cycle over again.
The exacting prose and jewel-toned illustrations echo the harmony of monarch and milkweed in this carefully researched book, explaining one of nature's most spectacular displays in a refreshingly simple manner.

Helen Frost won a Michael I. Printz Honor for her novel Keesh's House. She is also the critically acclaimed author of The Braid, Spinning Through the Universe, and Diamond Willow. She has delighted in watching monarchs for decades and now lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where her yard is a certified Monarch Waystation. To learn more about her go to http://www.helenfrost.net

 I love butterflies and I especially like this book. ***** stars! Have you read this particular children's book or any of Helen Frost's other books?

-- LadyD Books
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Friday 56: Matilda by Roald Dahl

I was at the library the other day and next door to it is our local bookstore as well. There was a box out front with a sign saying "Free Books" so I happened to take a peek. Sitting on the top was a used paperback book in such great condition called Matilda by the author of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Wow, what a treasure I found!
So, that's what I'm reading right now. How about you... what are you reading?

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions 
on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*
Post a link along with your post back to this blog Starting Fresh and to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
 Here's Mine:
"The big dyeing job was done twice a year at the hairdresser's, but every month or so in between, Mrs. Wormwood used to freshen it up by giving it a rinse in the washbasin with something called PLATINUM BLONDE HAIR-DYE EXTRA STRONG."
 From Matilda by Roald Dahl

Happy Friday everyone!
LadyD

P.S. More About The Book:


Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Puffin (August 16, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0142410373

From Publishers Weekly

Matilda is an extraordinarily gifted four-year-old whose parents crass, dishonest used-car dealer and a self-centered, blowsy bingo addict regard her as "nothing more than a scab." Life with her beastly parents is bearable only because Matilda teaches herself to read, finds the public library, and discovers literature. Also, Matilda loves using her lively intelligence to perpetrate daring acts of revenge on her father. This pastime she further develops when she enrolls in Crunchem Hall Primary School, whose headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is "a fierce tyrannical monster . . . ." Adults may cringe at Dahl's excesses in describing the cruel Miss Trunchbull, as well as his reliance on overextended characterization at the expense of plot development. Children, however, with their keenly developed sense of justice, will relish the absolutes of stupidity, greed, evil and might versus intelligence, courage, and goodness. They also will sail happily through the contrived, implausible ending. Dahl's phenomenal popularity among children speaks for his breathless storytelling charms; his fans won't be disappointed by Matilda. Blake's droll pen-and-ink sketches extend the exaggerated humor.

-- LadyD Books
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Lentil by Robert McCloskey



I just finished reading Lentil by Robert McCloskey to my grandson. He also wrote Blueberries For Sal, One Morning In Maine and many others.

The story begins in a town called Alto, Ohio and a boy named Lentil who really wants to sing but can't, nor can he whistle. Lentil saves his pennies and buys a harmonica. He practiced all the time and especially in the bathtub. Now everyone in Alto liked Lentil's music except Old Sneep.

I'll stop here and just say that you need to read this one and find out what happens. Lentil is a very nice children's book and being a piano teacher, I love how the heart of the message is about one boy's passion for music and a desire to play his harmonica. ***** stars!

Amazon Blurb:

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Paperback: 62 pages
  • Publisher: Puffin (April 27, 1978)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140502874

Product Description

Lentil's harmonica playing saves the day when calamity threatens the homecoming celebration for the leading citizen of Alto, Ohio.



Get the book or stop by the library for this one. Robert Mc Closkey is a great author, wouldn't you agree?

-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis


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Walt Disney's The Old Mill

Margaret Wise Brown

The abandoned windmill stands watch over the rolling hills and meadows. Though worn down by time, it rests proudly and silently against the darkening sky. But the old mill isn't as empty as it seems!

As evening comes, the inhabitants of the mill emerge. the owl ruffles his feathers, and the bats stretch their wings in flight. Just outside, the frogs croak while a brisk wind stirs a spider's delicate web. When a fierce storm batters the mill and its great arms creak into motion, the animals have an eventful night ahead of them!

Strikingly illustrated, The Old Mill - based on walt Disney's animated short and retold by acclaimed children's writer Margaret Wise Brown-will delight young readers with the beauty, perils and mysteries of nature.



Margaret Wise Brown wrote more than one hundred books for children, including Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Disney Press has also published Margaret Wise Brown's retelling of The Grasshopper and the Ants. Her stories and poems continue tp touch the lives of countless children.

Visit her cool website  for more information:
http://www.margaretwisebrown.com/

-- LadyD Books
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis




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Children's Books for Father's Day!

Here is my list of wonderful children's books that I have chosen to read to my grandson this weekend.
Whether you're singing songs or making dinner, simple moments shared between parents and children are special times, for sure. To all the dad's, granddad's and daddy's to- be... Happy Father's Day!

1. When Papa Comes Home Tonight - Eileen Spinelli

When Papa comes home tonight, dear child,
(I promise - not too late)
you'll hear me whistling up the road.
You'll meet me at the gate.




I love this book because the illustrator, David McPhail is the one who did Laura Numeroff's When Sheep Sleep. Eileen Spinelli is the author of When Mama Comes Home Tonight. I loved her tender words in both stories. She writes from the heart and her readers just know how soothing her words are.


2. Say Daddy - Michael Shoulders

"On the day I was born Mother welcomed me into the world with tears of joy and read me my first book."

 What I love about this book is creating the bond of reading. Sharing books is important to this bear family. Dr. Michael Shoulders, says that reading is magic and offers a gentle telling of the power of reading together and the lifelong love of books.

3. What could be better than this? - Linda Ashman



"There once was a king with a glorious castle and splendid clothes, and yet sometimes he felt lonely and sad. There once was a woman who sailed ships and found buried treasure in caves, but her heart yearned for something more. One day the two met and married. They ruled the castle hand in hand, danced through the nights, and went on adventures together. After some years they gave up their gold and castle for something much sweeter: a baby. Now they end each day with a warm, tender kiss, saying "What could be better than this?"
I love this book. The Queen and King embark on a journey, leaving the castle to find something sweeter than this.  At the end of the story, they say, "Nothing is better than this."

-- LadyD Books
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Friday 56: The Invisible Child



Since I have begun a new journey of writing, I am pleased to announce several of my articles made it to the front page of this very cool magazine, Fortitude.


So now I spend my days going to the library and checking out more books on Reading and Writing Books for Children. I've chosen such a book for my readers for this Friday... Won't you join us?

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions 
on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*
Post a link along with your post back to this blog Starting Fresh and to Storytime with Tonya and Friends
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
 Here's Mine:

"Well, you wouldn't, unless what you found there was better than the alternatives, and our eleven-year-old found Harry Potter more fun, more exciting, more suspenseful than all the alternatives open to him."
 From The Invisible Child by Katherine Paterson

 Happy Friday and Happy Father's Day to all!


~ LadyD


“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis


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Blog Tour: Secrets by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein



Have you ever worried about how you look? Have you ever felt alone and scared starting a new school? These are a few wonderful yet extremely sensitive issues Dr. Barbara discusses in her new book Secrets: You tell Me Yours and I'll tell You Mine... maybe.

I did a review for Barbara's first book, The Truth and liked it very much but I must say this one in A Truth Series Book is tops and by far her very best writing. Not only could I relate to all the subjects touched upon in her book but I thought of my own daughters when they were experiencing many of these common heartfelt emotions and feelings.


There are so many wonderful highlights in her book to share with you. I remember how our daughter felt when we announced she had a new baby brother. Her response was, "Darn it", hoping for another sister!


Barbara's writings cover a gamut of emotion from sibling jealousy, fears and insecurities, lying to a friend, embarrassment and feeling safe. You will laugh when you read about the main character overly focusing on her big butt and wanting it to be smaller. And howling over training bras and her response, "I really don't want to train my breasts and that's the truth." At the same time, your heart is touched when you see the same girl who is about to shave her legs, hugs her dolls, talks to them and cries.


Dr. Barbara's experience as a school psychologist shines brightly in her book of wisdom, truth, humor and love. Barbara Becker Holstein's gift to every girl and their parents is "Secrets".

Get the book, I highly recommend this one! ***** stars!

~ LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Support Your local Library Reading Challenge: Big or Little?



Kathy Stinson is a Canadian author of books for young people.
Stinson's text has a simple and very pleasing rhythm. Lewis' illustrations show a thoughtful and serious little boy working out his place in the world. Cute book! My Grandson loved it. In fact, the boy in the book looks  a little like my grandson! Have you read this one?

The cool thing is that both author and illustrator, Robin Baird Lewis line in Ontario and Toronto.  Plus, they've both been school teachers. Robin also illustrated Kathy's first children's book, RED IS BEST.


Here's the Amazon blurb:

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Library Binding: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Annick Press (March 1, 1983)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0920236308

Product Description

As he goes about his daily activities, a little boy compares some of the situations that make him big or little. 

Biography

The clue that Kathy Stinson has enjoyed a lifelong love of reading is in the wide range of books she has written. "What you read," she says, "influences what you write. And so does the day to day life that you live."
That's why Kathy's characters ride bikes along dirt paths, fall in love in summer, argue and have cozy chats with parents and friends, sometimes have trouble sleeping, and walk on beaches and city streets.
Kathy says, "It's also fun, as a writer, to imagine yourself into situations unlike your own."

 Big or Little?

 Have you read anything else from Annick Press that you can point me to?

In Appreciation,
LadyD



“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Calming Rhyme by Laura Numeroff: When Sleep Sheep

Remember Laura Numeroff's best-selling book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? Well, I just finished reading a calming rhyme to my grandson last night. It's called When Sheep Sleep. Here's the Amazon blurb about the book:

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Hardcover: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (October 1, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0810954699

Laura Numeroff grew up in Brooklyn, with her mother, father, and two older sisters. Her house was filled with books, art, music and folk dancing.
She attended Pratt Institute and graduated with a degree in communications and a contract for her first children's book, AMY FOR SHORT, published in 1975 by Macmillan.
A New York Times best-selling children's book author, Laura is best known for the series based on her book IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. First printed in 1985, "Mouse" is in its 40th printing. The fourth book in the series, IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO THE MOVIES was on the New York Times Children's Best Seller list for five months- nine weeks at number one.
Publisher's Weekly listed IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO THE MOVIES as the number two book for children in 2000 (Harry Potter was number one) and at one point, Laura had three books on the New York Times Bestseller List in the same week.
In 2000, IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE was featured on the Oprah show three times, and was recommended by Oprah's first kids' book club, as well as being noted as Oprah's favorite children's book of the year on her Christmas show. "PIG" was also on Publisher's Weekly Bestseller List for over a year. In addition, the series has sold over 4.5 million copies, been printed in fourteen languages, and won the prestigious Quill Award in the picture book category.
Some of Laura's other books currently in print are: WHAT MOMMIES DO BEST/WHAT DADDIES DO BEST, DOGS DON'T WEAR GLASSES, THE CHICKEN SISTERS, WHY A DISGUISE? The first two books in Laura's JELLYBEANS book series made the New York Times Best Seller List.
Hillary Clinton, President Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush have all read Laura's books to kids. First Lady Michelle Obama, her mother, her daughters, Malia and Sasha read Laura's book at the 2010 Easter Egg Roll on the White House Lawn. Laura was one of ten children's authors invited to a literacy day in Washington during the Bush administration in 2001. She has also visited over 100 elementary schools and has been a speaker at teacher conferences around the country.
Laura donates book sales to FIRST BOOK, a non-profit organization that provides brand new books to children who otherwise would not have access to them. She has also donated all royalties from THE HOPE TREE- KIDS TALK OUT ABOUT BREAST CANCER, to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Laura has appeared on The Today show twice as well as Good Morning America. On her December 13th, 2000 appearance on The Today Show, Laura donated 500 Mouse mini-books with doll ornaments to the show's toy drive.
When not writing, Laura takes tennis lessons (she says she's not very good but loves it anyway), reads to children in hospitals and foster homes and calls herself a book and movie fanatic.

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful children's book for two-year-olds! Repetition and rhyming make this book a huge success for toddlers to enjoy. In this book, a little girl can't fall asleep because the sheep are asleep, so she counts other animals. The illustrations by David McPhail are gorgeous with warm tones that are soothing to look at. I love this book! ***** stars!

Have you read it to your loved ones?

~ LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Friday 56: Eye Of The Bear


I have started reading this fantastic novel and I agreed to do a review of the entire trilogy re: California History when I am finished. So, I've begun reading the first book Eye Of the Bear: A History Novel Of Early California by Naida West and can't put it down... superb reading!

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions 
on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*
Post a link along with your post back to this blog Starting Fresh and to Storytime with Tonya and Friends
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
 Here's Mine:

"In a display of extreme deference to the host dogs, Dog crept on his belly to Grizzly Hair and followed him into the house."
From Eye Of The Bear by Naida West

Colfax record says: If you have enjoyed adventure books like Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel, you will love this book... If you are intrigued by Native American culture and spirituality... Even if you just want a rollicking good read, you will love this book.

Happy Friday!
~ LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Book Giveaway Winner of The Heart Mender


It's time to announce the winner of the contest: 
 http://ladyd-books.blogspot.com/2010/05/reviewgiveaway-heart-mender.html

Congratulations to Nicole C.

 Choosing the winner is one of my least favorite things to do, mostly because I wish everyone could win. Thanks to all that have entered and continue to comment on my LadyD Books posts.  The winner  will be contacted by email. After the initial email, they have 72 hours to get back to me before another winner is chosen.
I hope you enjoy reading this great book from Andy Andrews Nicole!
This was a fun giveaway... let's do it again!
Thanks, dear readers, and bloggers!

~ LadyD
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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Greek Chicken: Have A Good Day Cafe

Feta, the most popular of Greek cheeses, has P...Image via Wikipedia


The Have A Good Day Cafe children's book by Frances and Ginger Park  inspired me to share our family Greek Chicken recipe with you!

Right away what impressed me was the illustrator, Katherine Potter, who dedicated the book to:
"For my parents, who set the stage."

First Sentence:
Grandma is in the kitchen making a big pot of rice soup

About The Book:

Early each morning Mike and his family drive to the city with their food cart. They sell bagels and orange juice for breakfast, hot dogs, and pizza for lunch. Mike passes the time by drawing pictures and grandma sits in the shade, fanning herself and missing life back home in Korea.

One day two other food carts show up on the family's street corner. All summer long business dwindles away and Mike's worried parents start thinking about giving up their cart. Now it's up to Mike and Grandma to find a way to bring back their customers.

Brimming with warmth and love, The Have a Good day cafe is a tribute to the resourcefulness of new immigrants everywhere. Readers will be delighted by this mouth-watering celebration of family and culture.

***** stars! I love the illustrations and  Korean words introduced to us to learn!

Here's the article I wrote including my mom's Greek Chicken... enjoy!

"I have fond memories as a child sitting around the dinner table and eating my mother’s Greek chicken. Now it is my turn to share this wonderful family recipe with you. Come to my house for a proper trapezi (meal).

If you were in the villages of Greece, you would hear, "We will kill a chicken for you!" That is exactly what the Greeks would do to honor you. (I suppose that is true in most cultures as well). Chicken sprinkled with lemon juice and oregano will be baked Greek-style.

Greek Chicken 

1 roasting chicken, whole
1/4 c. olive oil
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 T. Oregano
1 lemon, juice only
Feta Cheese

Wash a whole chicken under cold running water. Under the skin of the breast and neck parts insert feta cheese. Then pour olive oil over the bird into a shallow 13 x 9 pan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and oregano. Bake at 400 degrees the first half hour.

A very hot oven at the beginning is the secret to a great tasting chicken. Then lower the temperature to 375 degrees and bake 1 1/2 hours longer. Remember to baste with lemon juice from 1 to 2 lemons during this time. Add a little bit of water to the pan if necessary.
When cooked, remove to the platter and enjoy!

Also, if you would like, you may want to add parboiled potatoes or rice and bake in the juice for the last 1/2 hour of the cooking time, providing your baking pan is large enough.
You can also use Manestra, also known as orzo, is a pasta, shaped like cantaloupe seeds. It's usually cooked in a meat sauce. Also, you can use 2 cups of long grain rice in place of the Manestra. Add some additional water to cover.

From village to village the Greeks add special sauces to their baked chicken. Peloponnesus chicken has an Avgholemono Sauce which is made from beating 3 eggs until thick. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, juice from 2 lemons and liquid from the chicken. Pour over the chicken and remove from heat immediately.

Chicken Breasts with Walnut Sauce 

Brown chicken breasts for 5 mins. Add 3 scallions, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 cup of mushrooms and 1 cup of water. Cook over low heat for 25 minutes until tender.
Remove chicken from pan. Mix in 1-ounce brandy, 1 cup yogurt or sour cream and 1/2 cup of ground walnuts, adding a little more water if a more liquid sauce is desired. Pour over breasts and serve on a bed of rice pilaf.

Chicken Taverna with Tomatoes 

Basically, you add 1 2-pound can of whole tomatoes or 1 cup tomato puree diluted with 2 cups of water. Thinly slice 1 onion and add to the pot, 1 Tablespoon oregano, 1 teaspoon marjoram, 1 teaspoon savory, 1 bay leaf and 1/2 cup red wine. Bring to a boil.
Prepare the whole chicken the same as Greek Chicken using olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, oregano and feta cheese, if you like. Then pour the cooked tomato sauce mixture over the chicken in your large, shallow pan.

A tapsie is a large shallow baking pan similar to a 13 x 9 pan. It is one of the handiest cooking utensils found in the Greek kitchen. One sees it in tavernas where large amounts of food are cooked. Not only is this recipe cooked in a tapsie, but so are all the sweet pastries such as baklava or Custard Pie Galactoboureko.

Remember to bake the chicken in a hot oven of 400 degrees for thirty minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 350 or 375 degrees and continue baking for 1 or 1 1/2 hours more.
Serve over a bed of rice pilaf or add any kind of pasta, 6 or 8 peeled and quartered potatoes or 2 cups of long grain rice in the sauce with 2 cups hot water for the last 1/2 hour of cooking time.
Kali Orexi... Good appetite!"


-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis


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The House That Max Built by Maxwell Newhouse


Have you ever wondered how a house is built? Well, there's a lot that goes into home construction. I ought to know because I have been married to a general contractor for many, many years. Also, we built our own lovely home! Our son is a cabinet maker and our best friend is a finished carpenter!


I loved this book,  The House That Max Built by Maxwell Newhouse. It is a great picture book and full of information on building a house and all that goes into it.


Here's a short Amazon blurb:

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Hardcover: 24 pages
  • Publisher: Tundra Books (April 8, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0887767745
  • ISBN-13: 978-0887767746

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—When Max decides to build a house beside the lake, "he needs a lot of help." This simple introduction takes readers through the major steps of the construction, from the architect's drawings to the completed house. In one or two sentences per page, the present-tense narrative neatly applies the personal viewpoint of the homeowner to each construction phase. Max observes the various groups of specialists, often expressing the choices he makes along the way. Deciding between brick, siding, stone, or stucco for his frame covering, Max states, "It's brick for me" as the workers spread mortar. Warmly rendered folk-art-style oil paintings show the house coming together over time. Varied perspectives focus on the people as much as on the work they do, reinforcing the importance of teamwork and specialization. Max's small and inquisitive dog appears in most scenes, tracking mud on new tiles, investigating a newly installed tub, and even joining Max as he helps the crew make the roof frame. A closing list of "the people who helped Max and what they do" provides brief further details about some of the workers mentioned in the text, as well as others who are shown but not named. With strong visual appeal and just enough detail, this title makes a nice companion to Byron Barton's Building a House (1981) and Elisha Cooper's Building (1999, both HarperCollins), as well as nonfiction titles like Cheryl Willis Hudson's Construction Zone (Candlewick, 2006).—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

About the Book:

From drawing up the plans to excavating the site to laying the foundation, Maxwell Newhouse, who spent years working in construction, shows young readers step-by-step how a house is built.
In the back of the book, you will find a list of people who helped Max and what they do:


Architect
Contractor
Cement Finisher
Bricklayer
Roofer
Plumber
Electrician
Drywaller
Painter
Cabinetmaker
and so much more...


Are there  any young readers out there who want to learn how to build a house from the ground up?

The House That Max Built
 

-- LadyD
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



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