LadyD Books: July 2019

Can the mouse find its way home from a strange planet? Will the princess discover the secret passageway through an enchanted forest? Why did the tailor end up at sea, overhearing a mysterious plot? And what twists and turns appear in the character’s path? A predator? A storm? A locked room?

NEW! Spin-a-Story printable spinners help jumpstart a creative writing project by providing children with the basic elements of a story—character, setting, and plot. A spin of the pointer determines the story elements and sets a foundation for a fun and creative writing experience.

Spin-a-Story gives children opportunities to

Use their imaginations to create fictional stories
Express themselves both verbally and in writing
Practice writing stories that have a beginning, middle, and end
Incorporate character qualities and emotions into their stories
Describe a story’s setting

Exciting Adventures! Spinner
Animal Adventures Spinner
Fantasy & Fairy Tales Spinner
Historical Adventures Spinner

Here’s an example from the “Animal Adventures” spinner:

1st spin for CHARACTER: a jungle animal
2nd spin for SETTING: in an abandoned building
3rd spin for PLOT: hears a cry for help

Spinners may be used by students of various ages. Though they are designed for grades 3-8, younger children and even teens can enjoy them too. (Instructions include ideas for using this activity with pre-writers.)

Spin-a-Story

Interested in a freebie? Keeping A Gratitude Journal is available at WriteShop!

Here's a list of recommended reading for 5th and 6th graders:

Misadventures of Maude March
The Castle Corona
Elijah of Buxton
The Land of the Silver Apples
Ghosthunters (series)
Coraline
I Am Not Joey Pigza
Among the Free
Princess Academy
The Brooklyn Bridge
Everything on a Waffle
The Seekers (series)
Savvy
Keeping Score
Higher Power of Lucky
Hat Full of Sky
Esperanza Rising
Holes
Invention of Hugo Cabret
Baseball in April and Other Stories
Mysterious Benedict Society
Dragonwings

Looking for more?

The Loud Silence of Francine Green
Rangers Apprentice, The Ruins of Gorlan
Flush
Alex Rider Adventure (series)
Sisters of the Sword (series)
Maximum Ride (series)
Hush

Suggested Reading for 7th and 8th Grade Books:

King's Shadow
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Blackwater
Face on the Milk Carton
Voice on the Radio
Midwife's Apprentice
Don't Look Behind You
Johnny Tremain
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
Gentlehands
Kiss the Dust
Beauty
Can of Worms
Mary Bloody Mary
Ties that Bind, Ties that Break
Stones in Water
Stalker
The Car
Library Card
Shabanu
Homecoming
Machine Gunners
Dealing with Dragons
Stephen Fair
Dragon of the Lost Sea
Devil's Arithmetic
Armageddon Summer

Happy Reading!

Lady D

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

A charming, one-of-a-kind cookbook devoted exclusively to breakfast—that most American of meals which are enjoying a comeback all over the country. Here Marion Cunningham celebrates the simple pleasures of a good breakfast with 288 irresistible recipes for traditional favorites—from scones and sticky buns and popovers and hash browns to all kinds of eggs and pancakes and muffins—as well new treats. Her Great Coffee Cake lends itself to a variety of spicy, crunchy combinations; her Raw Fresh Fruit Jams can be made in just thirty minutes (with no cooking!); and her Oatmeal Bran and Mother’s Cookies are perfect for when breakfast is on the run. And for more leisurely moments and special occasions, Cunningham includes forty breakfast menus guaranteed to make the first meal of the day the best.

The Breakfast Book

I'm a fan of eating well in the morning. The fruit fresh from the orchard is appealing as well as a warm cake or bread, for sure. The author covers bread, muffins, eggs, cereals, all things toast, quick bread, fruit, potatoes, sweets, hearty meat and fish dishes, and breakfast beverages. Here are a few recipes from this must-have cookbook. It is well organized and the baking choices are quite delightful. I like this book and I'm so glad I found it at our local bookstore. I'm a huge fan of ginger, so here are some warm treats to try. You'll definitely want to further explore the lemon section of the book.

5/5 stars!

Gingersnaps

Makes about 40 cookies. Try crumbling them over oatmeal.

1/4 c. canola oil

1 cup sugar, plus extra to roll the cookies in

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 and grease some cookie sheets.

Beat together the oil and sugar. Add eggs, beat until light and fluffy, and then add the molasses. In a separate bowl, stir and toss together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to the first mixture, and beat until smooth and blended.

Gather up bits of the dough and roll them between the palms of your hands into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in sugar. Place about 2 inched apart on the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes until the cookies have spread and the tops have cracked. Remove from the oven, take the gingersnaps off the baking sheet, and let cool on the rack.

Soft Gingerbread

One 8-inch square gingerbread.

This fine-crumbled and finely spiced gingerbread is exceptionally good.

1 cup of sugar

1 cup dark molasses

1 cup of vegetable oil

3 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup boiling water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour the baking pan.

Put the sugar, molasses, oil, and eggs in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. In another bowl, combine the salt, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, flour, and baking soda and stir with a fork until well mixed. Stir into the first mixture. Add the boiling water and beat briskly until smooth. This is a thin batter. Pour into the pan and bake 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

You may want to get, The Breakfast Book. I do recommend it.

Happy Reading!