Fear Not Little Flock

Saturday, October 4, 2014

a good book a day for 31 days- Take Joy

Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book is, alas, out of print, but it is well-worth the search to purchase it. There are many Tasha Tudor books available in print, but this one is the ultimate- beautiful illustrations, poems, stories, recipes, and songs with the sheet music.

I have great memories of my Granny Hatty reading from it. It is a collection of stories of a much simpler time, and Tasha Tudor (1915-2008) strove to live like the 1800s even though she is a modern author. Her world of gingerbread and marionettes might not exist anymore, but at Christmastime, many people love to return to tradition. This book is an essential part of our Christmas.

This book should be read: when you want to remember the holidays of old and make new traditions from old ones

This book is special because: it is the perfect Christmas book - both a reference book and one to cuddle up and read on a winter's night

Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book

Thursday, October 2, 2014

a good book a day for 31 days- Love Soup

Imagine a table, surrounded by friends and family. A simple dinner of soup and bread is served. The cook is not stressed, and everyone will come away satisfied and content with one or two bowls of soup. There's no meat, but one doesn't feel deprived with the complex flavors of different vegetables and herbs.
I love this cookbook. I haven't made all the different soups- there are even some cold ones for summer days- but I actually use this book unlike the few others that I own that seem more daunting. Anna Thomas is an experienced cookbook writer, and it shows with Love Soup. I especially appreciate that she is not ashamed of being vegetarian; there is no soy or artificial meat replacements to be found. There are just well-written, detailed recipes to take advantage of whatever vegetables are in season.
This is the kind of cookbook that you will take to bed- even though there are no photographs. When writing about which soup is her favorite, she states: "The greatest soup is the one your son, home from college, makes for you, showing off, forgetting that you taught him that soup in the first place."

This book should be read: when you are all out of culinary inspiration

This book is special because: nearly every recipe includes a story, making readers feel like they are at the table with the author

what's your go-to cookbook that you use?

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

a good book a day for 31 days- The Empty Pot

In real life, the good guys don't always win. Sometimes evil triumphs. One might have to wait until the afterlife for judgement and reward. A gentle folk tale about the power of the truth, The Empty Pot tells the story of a young boy who refuses to kowtow to peer pressure and he is rewarded in this life for his integrity and bravery.

It is a simple book with dazzling, colorful illustrations. There are only two main characters, the Emperor of China and a small boy, Ping. Both are avid gardeners. The Emperor decides to use a seed-growing test to decide who the next emperor will be. When Ping's seed does not grow and he is ashamed to bring his empty pot to the Emperor's gathering of children, his father reassures him in love, "Your best is good enough to present to the Emperor." What child wouldn't benefit from such a loving, protective father!

We may have to remind our children that they will not always be rewarded like Ping in this life for honesty in difficult situations, but the lesson of the story- personal responsibility and honesty at all times- is an important one.

this book should be read: when one needs strength to tell the hard truth

this book is special because: beautifully detailed illustrations, unforced yet culturally diverse, strong and compassionate authority figures

what's a favorite children's book that you would still read today?

(this blog is now linked to Amazon- if you click the icon below and then buy something from Amazon, my family will receive a tiny portion of what you spent! Thank you!)

welcome to: a good book a day for 31 days

Welcome to my wee corner of the blogosphere! It is usually all about family, home, and Byzantine Catholic spirituality here, but I thought I would write on another of my favorite subjects for 31 days- books.

All of the books (fiction, non-fiction, adult, YA, children, all genres) I have chosen are favorites and on my book shelves right now. I love them all; so I won’t necessarily be reviewing the books- I’ll be writing book reports.
Remember book reports? They are short, sweet, and (hopefully) to the point…thanks for joining me while I try to wipe the mommy/ESL instructor fog away and write some coherent blog posts on some good (and sometimes great) books! I also hope to host a few giveaways of some favorite books- some provided by Sophia Institute Press, a great Catholic publishing house.
...I am now linked up with Amazon, so if you click the linked picture above and buy something through Amazon, I will receive a tiny amount of a percentage of what you buy. Why would you click through my Amazon link and not Fr Z's or Simcha's? I don't know, but it will be fun to see if anyone does click through!