Non-Fiction

December 16th is Chocolate Covered Anything Day!

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Did you know that there is a day to celebrate covering foods with chocolate? This year December 16th is chocolatetopChocolate Covered Anything Day! Now, with whispers of a chocolate shortage have been present in the news lately it is even more important to celebrate this day with some fantastic treats. Chocolate covered fruit such as strawberries, banana, and pineapple are well known and loves and less obvious treats like chocolate covered pretzels and more savory treats have become more popular in recent years, a day like today is just the inspiration you might need to explore other less obvious pairings, like chocolate and bacon.

chocolate1So, in honor of today cover your food in chocolate or simply make something tasty with it. Like all good things chocolate is better when shared so, in spirit of the holiday season, share some of your chocolate treats with your friends and family. Here are some books to give you chocolate related inspiration:

1. Chocolate: From Simple Cookies to Extravagant Showstoppers by Nick Malgieri

2. Chocolate: 90 Sinful and Sumptuous Indulgences by Elisabeth Johansson

3. The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making Sweets, Candy & Chocolates by Claire Ptak

4. The Essence of Chocolate: Recipes for Baking and Cooking with Fine Chocolate by John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg with Ann Krueger Spivack and Susie Heller

5. Chocolate and the Art of Low-Fat Desserts by Alice Medrichchocolate3

6. Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Chocolate desserts by Maida Heatter

7. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookbook: Recipes and History from America’s Premier Chocolate Maker photography by Leigh Beisch

8. Chocolate Lover’s: From Hot Fudge Soufflé to Chilled Biscuit Cake by Chris and James Tannerchocolate4

9. Bittersweet: Recipes and Tales from a Life in Chocolate by Alice Medrich

10. Seriously Bitter Sweet: The Ultimate Dessert Maker’s Guide to Chocolate by Alice Medrich

For even more chocolatey goodness and inspiration check out: Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn, chocolate5Chocolate: A Sweet History by Sandra Markle, Chocolate: a Love Story: 65 Chocolate Dessert Recipes from Max Brenner’s Private Collection by Max Brenner, Pure Chocolate: Divine Desserts and Sweets from the Creator of Fran’s Chocolates by Fran Bigelow with Helene Siegel, Chocolate & Zucchini: Daily adventures in a Parisian Kitchen by Clotilde Dusoulier, 1000 Chocolate Baking & Dessert Recipes produced by theChocolate6 Bridgewater Book Company, Ltd, or Sweet Christmas: Homemade Peppermints, Sugar Cake, Chocolate-Almond Toffee, Eggnog Fudge, and other Sweet Treats and Decorations by Sharon Bowers.

10 Celebrity Books Worth Reading

/ Linda / Leave a comment

hollywoodI admit it…..I don’t watch much television or go to movies, so I’m not into the celebrity thing.  But a couple articles caught my eye about books written by celebrities that are considered to be quite good.  Take a look:

bossyBossypants by Tina Fey (Biography) – From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon, comedian Tina Fey reveals all, and proves that you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.unbearable

Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi (Biography) – A wife of Ellen DeGeneres and actress best known for her roles in Ally McBeal and Arrested Development provides a searing account of the years she spent secretly suffering from anorexia and bulimia, and trying to hide her sexuality, all under the glare of Hollywood’s bright lights.

my motherMy Mother Was Nuts : A Memoir by Penny Marshall (Biography) – A Hollywood icon discusses her incredible life, from her starring role on the classic sitcom Laverne and Shirley to her trailblazing moment as the first woman to direct a movie grossing more than $100 million at the box officeyes please

Yes Please by Amy Poehler (Biography) – A first-person account by the Golden Globe-winning actress best known for her work on Parks and Recreation and Saturday Night Live includes coverage of such topics as her relationships with caregivers and her friendship with Tina Fey

seriouslySeriously……I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres (Biography) – The stand-up comedian, television host, bestselling author, and actress candidly discusses her personal life and professional career and describes what it was like to become a judge on “American Idol.”not that kind

Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s Learned by Lena Dunham (Biography) – The creator and star of HBO’s “Girls” documents her coming-of-age in and out of the spotlight, recounting her experiences with everything from dieting and embarrassing sex to dirty old men and performing in less-than-ideal conditions.

is everyoneIs Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling (Non-Fiction) – The Emmy-nominated writer and actress best known as Kelly Kapoor on The Office shares her observations on a wide range of topics from favorite male archetypes and her hatred of dieting to her loving relationship with her mother and the haphazard creative process in the Office writers’ room.someday

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (Fiction) – The stage and screen star best known for her work in such series as Gilmore Girls presents the story of a struggling actress in 1990s New York City who searches for work and the perfect hair product while befriending a rival and resisting her father’s pressure to get a “real” job.

pleasureThe Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin (Fiction) – Daniel, a troubled man who lives alone in a Santa Monica apartment, detached from the world, watching life go by, passes his time filling out contest applications, estimating the wattage of light bulbs, and counting ceiling tiles, until his grown attachment to Clarissa and Teddy helps him rediscover the outside world, as well as love and life in the process.when

When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald (Fiction) – A collection of interlinked stories follows a Los Angeles family and their friends and neighbors as they negotiate the deceptions and heartbreaks of everyday life.

(Source: collegecandy.com, Kirkus Reviews)

Getting Crafty With Children For the Holidays

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment
Now that the holiday season is more than well underway, parents are being barraged with want lists from their children, buried in catalogs and flyers, and hounded by television and radio ads for the next big thing. My favorite way to combat all the commercial craziness is to set the kids to crafting. No matter what holidays you celebrate this season, or none at all, it is a great time to channel that energy and excitement into making gifts or doing good things for others. Here are some books to help channel the creative energy into gifts, decorations, or charitable donations from children and adults of all ages.

1. Crafts to Make in the Winter by Kathy Ross

2. Jewish Holiday Crafts for Little Hands by Ruth Esrig Brinn with Judyth Groner and Madeline Wikler

3. Crafts for Kwanzaa by Kathy Ross

4. The Greatest Cookies Ever: Dozens of Delicious, Chewy, Chunky, Fun & Foolproof Recipes by Rose Dunnington

9. The Grolier Kidscrafts Craft Book by Cheryl Owen, Anna Murray

10. Swedish Christmas Crafts by Helene S. Lundberg

Looking for more inspiration and ideas to keep everyone busy? Here are some more books to create a spark of creativity, but if you are looking for a specific craft or type of activity do not be afraid to come on in and ask. We can find a book to help you out!
Find more inspiration here; Christmas Presents Kids Can Make by Kathy Ross, The Merry Christmas Activity Book by Jane Bull, Kids Knit!: Simple Steps to Nifty Projects by Sarah Bradberry, Fairy World Crafts by Kathy Ross, Kids Crochet: Projects for Kids of All Ages by Kelli Ronci, Holiday Crafts Kids Can Make edited by Gerald M. Knox, The Kids’ Winter Fun Book: Homespun Adventures for Family Fun by Claire Gillman & Sam Martin, Christmas Crafts: Things to Make the 24 Days Before Christmas by Carolyn Meyer, The Children’s Book of Kwanzaa: a Guide to Celebrating the Holiday by Dolores Johnson, Kids Knittingby Melanie Falick, EcoArt! : Earth-Friendly Art & Craft Experiences for 3- to 9-year-olds by Laurie Carlson, Festival Decorationsby Anne Civardi & Penny King, and Step-by-Step Crafts for Winter by Kathy Ross.

Historic Women in Math and Science

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Is there a young woman in your life that is excited by science or math, or perhaps obsessed with a particular field? Well my six year old daughter is currently planning on being a scientist that studies and cares for wild animals. Meanwhile my eight year old son is loving a special science class that lets him try a number of science experiments each week. To encourage both in all their interests I offer books, movies, and stories about people in those fields. Like many parents I find it frustrating that I have to search a little harder to find women pursuing the Sciences.

Here are a selection of children’s books about female pioneers and contributors to the fields of math and science. Hopefully they will help keep interested girls and young women interested in the fields, and perhaps get a few new interested parties.

A fascinating collection celebrates the clever and creative inventions of women from candles, helmets, and baby carriers to cancer-fighting drugs and details their fierce determination to overcome many hurdles to make their dreams come true.

Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars by Mabel Armstrong
Presents information about the achievements of women in the field of astronomy throughout history, from women astronomers in the ancient and medieval world to prominent women in the profession today.
 

A picture book biography tells the story of Sylvia Earle’s growing passion for the wonders of the sea and how her ocean exploration and advocacy have made her known around the world.
An authorized portrait about Grandin’s life with autism and her groundbreaking work as a scientist and designer of cruelty-free livestock facilities describes how she overcame key disabilities through education and the support of her mother.
Profiles the extraordinary lives of twenty-six women who, through their acts and deeds, helped shape and change the world during their lifetime, including pilot Amelia Earhart and anthropologist Zora Neal Hurston.
More great resources about women in math, science, and technology include: Super Women in Science by Kelly Di Domenico, Dian Fossey: Primatologist by Lois P. Nicholson, The Triumph of Discovery: Women Scientists Who Won the Nobel Prize by Joan Dash, Jane Goodall by Lisa Kozleski, Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully, The Elephant Scientist by CaitlinO’Connell and Donna M. Jackson, Sally Ride: Life on a Mission by Sue Macy, Mae Jemison: the First African American Woman in Space by Magdalena Alagna, Marie Curie by Kathleen Krull, Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer by Robert Burleigh, Margaret Mead: Coming of Age in America by Joan Mark, Women Mathematicians by Padma Venkatraman, Women in Space: 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-breaking Adventures by Karen Bush Gibson, Rachel Carson: Extraordinary Environmentalist by Jill C. Wheeler, and Women and Numbers: Lives of Women Mathematicians Plus Discovery Activities by Teri Perl.

Book Club Picks – Spirituality

/ Linda / Leave a comment

bookThis time of year it’s the calm before the storm.  Soon, it will be one holiday after another!  Have your book club settle in with a little spirituality with the following suggested titles.

alchemistThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – A fable about undauntingly following one’s dreams, listening to one’s heart, and reading life’s omens features dialogue between a boy and an unnamed being.gifts

The Gifts of Imperfection – let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are  by Brene Brown – An expert of the psychology of shame presents advice on how to overcome paralyzing fears and self-consciousness, and at the same time increase feelings of self-worth, gratitude, and acceptance.

nightNight by Elie Wiesel – The narrative of a boy who lived through Auschwitz and Buchenwald provides a short and terrible indictment of modern humanity.power

The Power of Habit  – why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg – Identifies the neurological processes behind behaviors, explains how self-control and success are largely driven by habits, and shares scientifically-based guidelines for achieving personal goals and overall well-being by adjusting specific habits.

heavenHeaven is for Real –  a little boy’s astounding story of his trip to heaven and back by Todd Burpo – Presents the story of the four-year old son of a Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven.one thousand

One Thousand Gifts: a dare to live life fully right where you are by Ann Vos Kamp – The author reflects on moments of grace in her own life as she invites readers to embrace a life of gratitude and realize God’s presence in everyday experiences.

carry onCarry On Warrior: thoughts on life unarmed  by Glennon Doyle Melton – A New York Times essayist shares her journey from a self-destructive college student to a devoted family woman and teacher while illuminating the importance of trusting in a higher power and being truthful about life’s challenges.proof of

Proof of Heaven: a neurosurgeon’s journey into the afterlife  by Eben Alexander – A Harvard-trained neurosurgeon shares a minute-by-minute account of his religiously transformative near-death experience and revealing week-long coma, describing his scientific study of near-death phenomena while explaining what he learned about the nature of human consciousness.

10%10% Happier – how I tamed the voice in my head, reduce stress without losing my edge, and found self-help that actually works – a true story by Dan Harris – The Nightline anchor, who had a nationally televised panic attack on Good Morning America, takes readers on a rollicking ride through the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news during which he discovered a way to get happier that is truly achievable.untethered

The Untethered Soul: the journey beyond yourself by Michael A. Singer – Who are you? In this remarkable New York Times bestseller, author and spiritual guide Michael Singer explores this fundamental question, seeking the very root of consciousness in order to help readers learn how to dwell in the present moment. Written in an engaging and uncomplicated voice, this book will open readers up to the radical and powerful experience of simply being themselves.