Apple harvest is such a delicious season. The soothing aromas of cinnamon, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady seem like a great remedy for our bruised hearts this year. Rustle up a tasty apple crisp, delectable pie, or potful of luscious, …
Tag: family
a dose of warm friendship…ten picture books to help heal our hearts
The books I’ve collected for today’s post are warm, generous stories of friendship and community. May they be both a balm and a beacon for you and yours in these fractious days . Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy, written by Tara …
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super middle grade reads + a chapter-book *giveaway*
Today I’ve got a batch of middle grade titles I’ve recently enjoyed. Plus, courtesy of the great people at Kane Miller, I’m giving away a series of four chapter books perfect for kids reading on their own or for reading …
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Juicy read-alouds for together times
The Great 2020 Global Stay-at-Home has at least one positive side-effect: more time for reading aloud together. The deep enjoyment, family bonds, and literary acquaintances our family has gained from reading aloud together over the course of 30+ years – …
Stories and a Little Something
A boatload of disappointments, vexations, and inconveniences has landed on adults and children alike over the past weeks. Really bitter pills have had to be swallowed, stressors have mounted, and ironically in a world of social distancing, a squish of …
five lovely things…april 5
Hello once again, dear friends. I wonder what this week has brought you, and hope it was monotony at worst, and preferably some simple pleasures and glimpses of beauty. Here are my five lovely things for this week: 1. Humor. …
five lovely things…march 29
Hands up if this feels like the longest March on record. How have we lived so many days in just one week? Here’s my collection of five lovely things for this week: 1. Neighborliness showing up all over the world …
non-electronic gifts for the kids…or yourself…to beat the stay-at-home blues!
Every year I gather ideas for non-electronic gifts during the holiday season. Those lists are always available through the tab at the top of the blog if now seems like a good time to revisit them. Today I’m posting a …
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butlers, betrayals, and the gentlemanly game of cricket
Gary Schmidt wrote a couple of my favorite ever middle-grade novels, The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now, both richly human, honest, painful, and redemptive stories that get my highest recommendation for ages 13 and up — which is not …
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warm and witty stories…a list of five
What a Cold Needs, written by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Chris Sheban published in 2019, Neal Porter Books, Holiday House Whether or not a round of late winter/early spring colds have hit your household, you’ll feel better in a minute …
orange marmalade 