Books

Curious Critters: A Gorgeous Children’s Picture Book

December 10, 2011 By Robin 1 Comment

My daughter and I received a copy of Curious Critters recently, and I must say the photos in it are amazing. The vivid images of animals are accompanied by information about each creature. This is one of my daughter’s favorite books to browse through on her own. If you are stumped on what to get a child in the 3-8 age range, for the holidays. This book would be an excellent choice.

In his children’s picture book CURIOUS CRITTERS (November 2011, Wild Iris Publishing, hardcover, ages 4-8) photographer David FitzSimmons turns his camera on a variety of animals common throughout North America. CURIOUS CRITTERS presents stunning images of everyday animals, including a red flat bark beetle, an Eastern spiny softshell turtle, a spotted salamander, and many other intriguing creatures. Each Curious Critter is photographed against a white backdrop, showcasing the animals’ colors, textures, and shapes with precision and clarity. Along with each photo is a vignette, told from the critter’s perspective, that educates and entertains. For example, a bush katydid explains her bubblegum-pink color, a poetic opossum opines upon her often-shortened name, and a far-from-modest black swallowtail butterfly lets readers in on her secret for avoiding predators.
When parents read CURIOUS CRITTERS with their kids not only will they have fun reading, but they also inspire in them a life-long interest in nature. Kids will want to swap TV and video games for a trips to the park or more time in the backyard. So, get ready to have a budding biologist on your hands!
Just some of what kids will learn:
What turtles and humans have in common
Why black swallowtail butterflies impersonates their toxic cousins
How Eastern box turtles can live longer than humans (over 150 years!)
If squirrels can fly
Why crayfish grow new legs
How bats find food
Why frogs sing
How jumping spiders jump and why they never have to look over their shoulders.

Media copy provided.

Filed Under: Books, Children, Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook – Review

November 11, 2011 By Robin 1 Comment

If you want to experiment in the kitchen a bit, but have trouble integrating exotic ingredients into your menu, or just want to zing up traditional fare, this is a great cookbook for you. It would also make a lovely gift for the foodie in your life, especially if they are a fan of the Everyday Exotic show on the Cooking Channel. Since the cookbook is a new release, so it is unlikely they have it already, and some of the recipes in this book are quite interesting, even for more seasoned foodies.

The Everyday Exotic Cookbook has large colorful pictures depicting the completed recipes, as well as some nice ingredient shots. Pictures are important to me in a cookbook, and I was not at all disappointed with this title by Roger Mooking & Allan Magee.

Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook has a suggested retail price of $29.95, but is currently available at Barnes & Noble for $19.57 (Free shipping on orders over $25). Why not pair this book with a few of the exotic spices and other ingredients used in it, and make a gift basket no foodie would be soon to forget.

Media copy provided.

Filed Under: Books, Food & Beverage, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Household

150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes, 2nd Ed. ~ Cookbook Review

October 26, 2011 By Robin 1 Comment

The 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes (Second Edition), from Judith Finlayson, seemed just the cookbook for me, since my poor crock pot sits on a shelf …neglected. I usually concoct my own recipes, but since I don’t use this appliance often, a bit of guidance would be helpful.

This slow cooker cookbook is packed with recipes, illustrated with huge vivid pictures of the completed dishes. This is just what I love in a cookbook. I want to see what the results should look like, and many options are essential. Here is an example of a recipe/photo page (note: my junkie camera doesn’t really do it justice, but you get the idea).

This slow cooker cookbook is currently available at most major book sellers. I found it is listed at $17.37 from Target, and $18.02 at Barnes & Noble.

10^th Anniversary Edition!
The first edition of The 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes has 425,000 copies in print and has been an outstanding success. A lot has changed since then, from our tastes and interests in healthier food to a much wider range of slow cookers, so we decided to revisit this bestseller. The result is a sensational slow cooker book that reflects today’s home cook.
This updated and revised edition features nearly 100 of your original favorites, plus an additional 75 new recipes that have been carefully sourced and selected by the author from some of her previous bestsellers. It means more fish, seafood and vegetarian/vegan favorites, as well as more whole-grain offerings – this is important as more and more people are eating vegetarian at least some of the time and are consistently looking for lighter and healthier options. People are also broadening the use of their slow cookers and often employing them for entertaining.
Judith Finlayson believes strongly that eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. As a food-writer and journalist, Judith has spent much of her life seeking out memorable food experiences. Her other best-selling cookbooks include The Healthy Slow Cooker, 175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics, The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook, and Delicious and Dependable Slow Cooker. She lives with her husband and daughter in Toronto. Judith also has 750 Best Appetizer Recipes releasing this Fall.

Media copy provided. All opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Books, Food, Food & Beverage Tagged With: cooking, review

Eli, No! ~ Children’s Picture Book Review

October 25, 2011 By Robin Leave a Comment

Eli, No! is both written and illustrated by Katie Kirk. It is filled with wonderful graphic illustrations, that have a retro feel to them, and punchy colors. These go well with the tale of all the bad things Eli does. Eli, while a cute dog, just can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

The repetitive nature of the storyline, will appeal to younger children, and the message of love and forgiveness will make them feel better about their own mistakes. A great book for toddlers through preschool age children. It would also be good for fledgling readers.

Eli, No! is available at most major booksellers, such as Barnes & Noble. I also found it at Target for $11.98

(hardcover)

Media copy provided. All opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Books, Children

The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur

June 7, 2011 By Robin Leave a Comment

The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur (A Prehistoric Tale) , by Cheryl Bardoe and illustrated by Doug Kennedy, presents a quirky twist on the Ugly Duckling story and is perfect for kids who love dinosaurs, like my daughter.

Mama Duck awaits the hatching of her eggs anxiously, only to be surprised by not just ducklings but a baby T-Rex. The ducklings all tease him for being ugly, and having scales and teeth rather than feathers and a bill. The little T-Rex feels like an outcast, and leaves his duck family. As he travels, everyone runs away from him, bringing his spirits even further down. Finally, he comes across a family of T-Rexes like himself and is invited to the fold with open arms.

Although the storyline is a little different to accommodate a dinosaur rather than a swan, the lessons of self acceptance and not being judgmental are still there. It’s a fun story for children with interesting illustrations.

The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur is published by Abrams Books, and is available at most major booksellers.

Disclosure: Press copy provided for purpose of review. All opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: kids, review, reviews

Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism 2011-2012 Edition: Book Review

April 21, 2011 By Robin Leave a Comment

Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism is a new series of books started last year by two fathers of autistic children. Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism 2011-2012 is the second and newest edition, and hopefully a new edition will be coming out, if not yearly, at least biennially. It is a wonderful overview of autism therapies available, treatments in development and theories concerning autism. It is an ever changing area of study, and parents want all the information they can get to find good therapy matches for their children, with the diagnosis.

Ken Siri and Tony Lyons, the editors of the book, do not claim to be experts themselves, but have done a wonderful job of gathering and compiling overviews and opinions about a wide array of autism therapies directly from experts in each type of therapy.

The therapies themselves are a mixed bag. Some (in my humble opinion) border on quackery, while others have proven track records of success. I liked that all were covered, regardless of general acceptance. I prefer to get all the information possible, and make selections that I feel would help my own child. Who is to say something I deem frivolous, might not be just the key for someone else’s child. After all, The innumerable ways autism presents itself has a good deal to do with the extensive array of therapies available.

I found the section on technological-based interventions particularly interesting myself. I have been wanting to get our daughter an iPad, since there are some great therapeutic apps which have been developed, and many children have been making a good deal of verbal progress using them. I’ve heard from a few other parents about the strides their kids have made, and after reading more about the applications in this book, I do think my daughter would benefit from them.

More traditional approaches are of course also covered in this book, such as ABA, occupational and speech therapy. Most children on the spectrum are like my daughter, either already receiving these established therapies (or on waiting lists to receive them), so the emerging therapies are generally not a replacement, rather, in most cases, they are auxiliary treatments. In years to come, perhaps, some of these may become the go-to autism therapies, so it is wise to be informed.

This volume is reasonably priced, and provides an excellent general overview of the various treatment options available for autistic individuals. I would suggest Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism 2011-2012 Edition, as an addition to the bookshelf of anyone with a child on the spectrum. The book is currently available at most major booksellers.

Disclosure: Press copy of this title provided for the purpose of review. all opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Autism, Books Tagged With: autism, review, reviews

The Crows of Pearblossom: Children’s Picture Book Review

February 25, 2011 By Robin 11 Comments

The Crows of Pearblossom is a children’s story by Aldous Huxley (best known for Brave New World). This story was written as a gift for his niece, in 1944. The original manuscript was lost in a fire, but one of Huxley’s neighbors had preserved a copy, and gave it to the niece, after her uncles death.

In this tale Mrs. crow discovers that a greedy snake has been eating all her eggs, and that is why she has no chicks. Mr. Crow consults with his wise friend Old Man Owl, and they devise a plan to foil the snake’s attempts.

I found the book interesting, and the illustrations by Sophie Blackwell are wonderful, but the story itself may come across a bit dated for modern sensibilities. Mrs. Crow is painted as a not so bright nag, and the characters are told “you talk too much” twice in the tale. Nothing to be up in arms about, and the great pictures are well worth the read, but I felt I should mention it.

Disclosure: Press copy was provided. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: kids, review

Monkey See, Monkey Draw: Children’s Book Review

January 28, 2011 By Robin 3 Comments

Monkey See, Monkey Draw was written and illustrated by the critically acclaimed children’s author and artist, Alex Beard. It is an energetic tale, with active illustrations. The story will encourage children to express themselves through drawing. As kids follow along with the experience of the monkeys, they learn along with them , from the elephant, that creativity is fun by itself, and does not need to be a contest. This book would be a great way to transition into an art project time with children.

Monkey See, Monkey Draw is available now at most major booksellers.

Disclosure: I received a press copy of this book, for the purpose of this review. All opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: kids, review, reviews

Otis & Sydney and the Best Birthday Ever: Children’s Book Review

January 4, 2011 By Robin 4 Comments

Otis & Sydney and the Best Birthday Ever written by Laura Numeroff, and illustrated by Dan Anderson, is charming tale of two little bears (Otis & Sydney) who are best of friends. Otis wants to plan a fantastic birthday party for Sydney, but his plans go astray. The bears learn that enjoying time together as friends is the most fun of all.

The tale is perfect for younger children, not only will they enjoy the story itself, but the illustrations adorable, and have a wonderful vintage feel to them.

Otis & Sydney and the Best Birthday Ever is currently available at most major booksellers.