RevIew: Sugarin-Off in the Bullpasture Valley by Lisa Vance

Synopsis: Lisa Vance and her husband make maple syrup and maple sugar on their farm each year. In this book, she documents the process.

Review: I enjoyed this. Every since reading about the Sugar-Off in Little House in the Big Wood by Laura Ingalls Wilder, I've wanted to participate in this event. This book was a good start. With clear, easy language, Vance goes through tapping the trees, which trees to tap, how to make the spigots, boiling, and refining the syrup and sugar. There are even a few black and white photos. In the last part of the book, she includes several excellent maple sugar and syrup recipes - candies, breads, cookies, meats. It's a lovely assortment. I recommend this if you are interested in this slice of American life.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: N/A
Date Finished: 8-23-2015
Pages: 36

Review: Amy, Ben, and Catalpa the Cat: A Fanciful Story of This and That by Alma S. Coon

Synopsis: Amy, Ben, and Catalpa the Cat take children on a fun-filled adventure in this colorful alphabet storybook in verse. The young heroes meet George Washington, who gives Ben his cocked hat. But the hat is too big! Can Amy make it fit? (from the online description)

Review: Set in the colonial era, this book is a ABC adventure. Each page is dedicated to a letter, with many words that start with that letter. The pictures are lively and colorful. The story is a bit vague and loosely woven, but it's enjoyable. Kids from age 4-7 will most likely enjoy this fun story.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-87935-079-2
Date Finished: 8-22-2015
Pages: 27

Review: The Good-Bye Book by Judith Viorst

Synopsis: This little boy will do anything to avoid an evening with the baby-sitter. He pleads with his parents. He begs. He bargains. Maybe he has a fever of a hundred and ten. Maybe he'll run away. Maybe he won't say good-bye! (from the online description)

Review: This is a cute, clever, little book. The little boy doesn't want his parents to leave him for a night out - so he threatens and fights and is generally - a little boy. Hilarious. The crack about McDonald's made me giggle. The pictures are soft, energetic, and entertaining. Any small child will enjoy this, and even the parents might!

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-689-31308-X
Date Finished: 
Pages: 21

Review: The Eat-Clean Diet by Tosca Reno

Synopsis: With The Eat-Clean Diet, the diet that fitness professionals rely on, readers will transform themselves from sluggish, exhausted and overweight to energetic, lean and fabulous! Just like the author and cover girl Tosca Reno did when she was sixty pounds overweight, readers will discover how to make their bodies burn fat while eating tons of food. We've all seen the fitness professionals on the covers of magazines and wished we could look like them. The truth is, they are real people. Just like you, they had to figure out how to get their bodies to look like that. And they all came to the same conclusion: Eat Clean! So who better to write a book on the subject than formerly overweight fitness diva and mother of three, Tosca Reno? Tosca shows you how to lose over sixty pounds, like she did, or just that last ten. When you read The Eat-Clean Diet you will: Rev up your metabolism to burn more fat -faster!; Lose weight quickly and easily; Never go hungry; Eat all food groups: protein and carbs and fat; Eat five to seven meals a day; Receive Eat-Clean recipes with color photos; Have more energy than you ever dreamed possible; Stay lean forever never worry about dieting again! (from the online description)

Review: This book is ludicrous. While I agree with her basic premise - that eating more natural-state foods and less processed foods is a wise choice - the book itself is nothing more than another fad-diet full of gimmicks and I'm-so-awesome-you-can-be-too. It's low-fat, so no wonder you have to eat 5-7 times a day - you will ALWAYS be hungry! She credits this diet with losing the weight, but I think it was probably running "so hard and so long" (pg 12). The book is easy to read, despite copious repetition (which happens when you have so little worth saying), but the advice is generic at best. Drink water (duh), eat veggies, not cake (duh), men can eat health too (duh) - it's nothing you can't find on any basic nutrition website. She's also jumped on the "superfood" band-wagon. There is an entire chapter devoted to supplements, which, if your food is as nutritional awesome as she cleans, why do you need supplements? And clearly, you can't do this diet with oatmeal and bee pollen because she spends a ridiculous amount of time extolling the virtues of these items. The recipes are simple and easy to follow, but again, nothing you can't find on the Internet. Over all, this is a waste of time and money. Don't bother with her nonsense. You can get the same information from googling "eat clean" as you can from this book.

Bookmarks: 3 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-1-55210-038-7
Date Finished: 8-20-2015
Pages: 271

Review: What Was Cooking in Martha Washington's Presidential Mansions? by Tanya Larkin (Cooking Through American History)

Synopsis: Describes Martha Washington, wife of the first president of the United States, her activities during the Revolutionary Was and as first lady, and some of the foods she served at various stages in her life. Includes recipes (from the online description)

Review: With clear, simple, language, this book explores the dining and dishes of the Washingtons during George Washington's Presidency. The book moves historically through each house they lived in, describing their dining style, guests, and meals. Included are many of Martha's recipes, including Cherry Bread Pudding and Baked Apples. The recipes are simple enough for children (with some adult supervision) to make and enjoy. I recommend this book for kids who want to explore history in a tangible way.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-8239-5606-7
Date Finished: 8-19-2015
Pages: 23

Review: Anastasia's Chosen Career by Lois Lowry

Synopsis: Anastasia Krupnik has exactly one week to work on her school assignment called "My Chosen Career". Determined to be a bookstore owner, she must first develop poise and self-confidence. So Anastasia takes the plunge and spends her life savings on a modeling course at Studio Charmante. She has one week to interview a bookstore owner, write a report, and complete the modeling course. Luckily her new friend Henry is with her most of the way. Is Anastasia destined to be a successful bookstore owner or a glamorous model? Only Anastasia has the answers! (from the back of the book)

Review: I adore Anastasia - hilarious, real, and intelligent. Her adventures feel real - what girl didn't feel gawky and ugly in 7th grade. How many of us had confusion about our future or want to feel beautiful and glamorous. I love her solutions, her spunky, her forthrightness, and her viewpoints. As for the story, it was both hilarious and poignant. It got a more serious at the end then I anticipated - but something I've come to expect for Lowry. Her stories mirror life and often life is both humorous and serious in odd mixtures. I recommend all of the Anastasia books - I know I will read any I can get my hands on!

Bookmarks: 8 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 009-012-0-440-80199-0
Date Finished: 8-18-2015
Pages: 142

Review: The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig

Synopsis: Melissa and Dallas Hartwig’s critically-acclaimed Whole30 program has helped hundreds of thousands of people transform how they think about their food, bodies, and lives. Their approach leads to effortless weight loss and better health—along with stunning improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, mood, and self-esteem. Their first book, the New York Times best-selling It Starts With Food, explained the science behind their life-changing program. Now they bring you The Whole30, a stand-alone, step-by-step plan to break unhealthy habits, reduce cravings, improve digestion, and strengthen your immune system. The Whole30 features more than 100 chef-developed recipes, like Chimichurri Beef Kabobs and Halibut with Citrus Ginger Glaze, designed to build your confidence in the kitchen and inspire your taste buds. The book also includes real-life success stories, community resources, and an extensive FAQ to give you the support you need on your journey to “food freedom.” (from the online description)

Review: After a colleague tried this and had great results, I thought maybe I would try this. It's not the first time I've heard about this system and it seems to be something good. At the moment of this writing, I'm 1 week into my first attempt. So far, so good. Written in down-to-earth language, with precise instructions and clear how-tos, the book is easy to follow. The Hartwig included some recipes for actually dishes, but more of the recipes are for basic - the perfect boiled egg, grilled steak, baked fritatta. In addition, there are recipes for sauces, like pesto, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressings and sauces for meats. Between the sauces and the basic recipes, the book gives you the tools to build 1,000 or more different meals. They also avoid my pet peeve with diet books, and all the ingredients are cheap and easy to acquire, instead of expensive and obscure. The book is also honest about how this diet can be hard and gives an accurate (and hilarious) day-by-day chart of how you might feel. It's not all pretty or easy or happy. In the end, whether this works out or not, I find this to be a diet book worth emulating.

Bookmarks: 8 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0544609716
Date Finished: 8-17-2015
Pages: 432