Holiday Recipe for the Cruise: Butternut Rolls

Tweet

In case you think I’ve been baking lately, I haven’t.  Though I’ve got lots of shredded zucchini in the freezer, packaged in 2-cup portions, ready to make bread at a moment’s notice.

But, since the TOS Cruise ship is in the holiday recipe port, I thought I’d dig up an old successful recipe – a reminder that I actually CAN cook… 

Wanting to add a bit of color to your holiday meal?  Trying to sneak veggies into your carb-loving kids’ diets?  Or just needing to use up the leftover butternut squash? 

Without further ado, here is our recipe for the much-acclaimed melt-in-your-mouth Butternut Rolls:

Put the following ingredients into your bread machine, liquids first

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 2/3 cup mashed, cooked butternut squash
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package active dry yeast

Run the bread machine on dough cycle.  When dough is ready, cut into 32 pieces (keep cutting in half 5 times).  Form into rolls and place on greased pan (I use an extra large pizza pan).  Let rise 30 minutes.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.

Review: The Reading Game

Tweet

We had a sweet little surprise in the mailbox one evening that had 4yo Esmé chomping at the bit!  I told her we’d play The Reading Game in the morning, but alas, she was too busy tearing open the plastic and mixing up the cards to hear a word I said. 

So I figured we’d make the best of her enthusiasm and pack in a few games.  We made it through the Skunk games and book (the first of six) that same evening.

Synopsis:

The Reading Game is a fast-action memory card game.  It includes a series of six beautifully illustrated storybooks.  The Cards & Books work together to make learning to read exciting and enjoyable.  Game sessions are fun-filled with a winner every few seconds. 

After completing the first memory card game, the student has thirty words “hardwired” into memory.  The Skunk story, Book One in the series, is told using only those thirty words. 

On completing the series, the student has a reading vocabulary of 180 words.  Almost half of them are among the one hundred most commonly used words in the English language.

The Reading Game was created by “Wordly Wise” author, Kenneth Hodkinson.  Learn more about How The Game Works.

Recommended Age:  Ages 4 and up (beginning reader) 
Price:  $24.95
To Purchase: http://www.thereadinggame.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

Esmé’s Synopsis:

This is a reading game.  I have to read the words that the cards spell.  You have to get the most matching cards, like if you get a bear and a bear, you get to go again, but if you get a bear and a bolt, then you lose.  I am better at the game than my mom.  I got more cards than her.

I like when I win totally!

I don’t like when my mom is forcing me around to do what the rules say.  Because I  like to do whatever cards I want to do first or last or second or third or fourth.

What Mom Liked:

• The game approach. This uses a standard “memory” game so kids can jump right in without learning a lot of rules.  It’s fun and easy – and while not a stand-alone reading curriculum, certainly adds variety to the reading process.
• The animals.  To a kid who LOVES all things animal, the animal graphics really made the game attractive.
• Fun, rhyming books.  The books go beyond the repetitive “Sam sat” type of verbiage to tell a fun, rhyming story using just the words you’ve covered in the card games.
• The words.  We’ve spend a bit of time on phonics and on sight words, and the collection of words used in these games fits well with what we’ve already covered.  As mentioned in the synopsis, almost half of the 180 words are among the one hundred most commonly used words in the English language – a great boost to reading skills.

For those of you following our little non-reader saga, I’ll admit that Esmé isn’t excited about reading the books for herself, though she enjoys having them read.  While the game recommends that you only move through the series as the student demonstrates proficiency, I’m dealing with a proficient student who isn’t interested in demonstrating anything.  Other than her ability to beat her mom at a game of cards time and time again.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Come on, folks!  Couldn’t you have made the unicorn series first or second at least?  You know how hard it is to make your girl child get through FOUR other series before she can get to the UNICORN series she has been dying to read?  (PLEASE detect total tongue-in-cheek here!  We love the game…)

Overall:

A fun, interactive way to incorporate some reading practice in your child’s day.  (Just hide the unicorn set before you get started.)

---------------
Thanks to The Reading Game for providing a game for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: The Donkey’s First Christmas

Tweet

Last Christmas I was on the hunt for picture books that told the nativity story in unique ways.  Esmé has heard it 1,001 times, and in fact put on her own 20-minute felt production of the story last year that I am STILL trying to cut into a 5-minute video.  Anyway, while the story never grows old, I do enjoy finding new perspectives on it.

Enter The Donkey’s First Christmas…

Synopsis:

Armed with a sense of humor and fun, The Donkey’s First Christmas by Susanne T Schroder presents the Nativity in a fresh and exciting way - from the viewpoint of a very unlikely hero...

Children will delight to see the adorable (if a little cheeky) donkey overcome his stubbornness; and marvel at how such a seemingly useless mule can become quite so useful.

As the children watch the donkey unwittingly use his talents to major avail; they will be encouraged to see that what they have, and who they are, can make a significant difference too...

About the Author:

Susanne T Schroder is 41, and married with 2 boys of 5 and 9 years. She has a BA in Art and English Literature, a 4 year course in Pedagogy (roughly translated - ‘How Children Learn’) from Copenhagen, and an MA in Children's Illustration from Wrexham University. She writes and illustrates her own books and has had 4 picture books published since 2003. Memories of her grandmother reading out her countless made-up poems like 'How The Forget-me-not Got His Name' have influenced her recent Christmas books - as have the old Christmas legends like: 'How The Robin Got His Red Breast’.

Recommended Age:  2 years and up 
List Price:  $9.99
To Purchase/For More Info: Tilli Publishing

Esmé’s Synopsis:

This book is about a donkey.  It’s a Bible story.  The most meaningful part was about Jesus – when He was born.

I didn’t like the part when it was over.

AND, I didn’t like that Mary was nice to the bad donkey.  You should make a donkey be good by pulling it with a rope, not by being nice to it.  (leading into a long theological discussion…)

What Mom Liked:

This is a seriously sweet, whimsical, humorous, meaningful book.

• A GREAT read-aloud!  The rhyming is fun and flows, and we are awesome “e-Or”-ers here! 
• Fun illustrations.  Just adorable (thought gender-neutral).  The font fits the illustrations perfectly.  And the text/illustration mix (less words on some pages than others, etc.) adds to the read-aloud fun.
• Easy to relate to.  What kid isn’t a little self-centered, stubborn, and bratty at times, trying to get out of doing chores etc. etc.?!
• Sweet message.  Yes, it’s the message of Christ’s birth.  But the stubborn-donkey perspective adds another dimension.  Kindness transforms.  God uses the unlikeliest of us.  God makes the impossible possible.  The lessons aren’t spelled out, but lay the groundwork for meaningful discussion.

“You see now little donkey -
What a special thing you’ve done?
By helping carry Mary -
You helped God’s precious Son!”

---------------

Thanks to the author for providing an ebook for review, and to BookCrash for coordinating the review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Moments to Remember

Tweet

Take a deep breath.  The last week has been a blur.  Who am I kidding?  The last year has been a blur.

We’re joining 1+1+1=1 today with Moments to Remember, a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember.

Into Day 2 of Truth in the Tinsel, Esmé is putting together the most beautiful crown ornament. 

And we talk about names for God, and she comes up with the name:  Princesses’ Father.  She gives a spontaneous monologue:  “You don’t have to wear a crown or ball gown to be a princess.  You’re a princess no matter what you look like.  God doesn’t care about your eye color, or what your lips are colored.  He only cares about YOU.  He cares about everyone.  Kings.  And queens.”  And then we sing “God Loves a Cheerful Giver” (Steve Green version) in parts and crack up with “ha-ha-ha-ha-has.”  Though it has absolutely nothing to do with the craft.

For a brief moment, the sun peeks out.  And we go outside…

…and collect red leaves, and let daddy longlegs tickle us, and investigate itty bitty mushrooms that are popping up in our yard.

We make igloos with marshmallows and chocolate powder and pistachio pudding that doesn’t set because we used almond milk.

We just hang out, making Flame-cat sandwiches…

…until Flame-cat gets a little agitated and repositions himself with a glare at the world.

And we do easy worksheets with our toes.  Because we are really monkeys.

We think about Thanksgiving.  And we are thankful.

---------------

Review: Truth in the Tinsel

Tweet

It’s a black Friday…

The people who are now living in darkness
      will see a great light.
   They are now living in a very dark land.
      But a light will shine on them.

~Isaiah 9:2

And with those words, our celebration of the Light has begun.

I’ve been a follower of Impress Your Kids (a blog with crafts, tips & fun to impress God's Word on your kids' hearts) for quite a while now, and I was excited to find out blogger Amanda had put together an ebook for the Christmas season:  Truth in Tinsel:  An Advent Experience for Little Hands.  What a perfect way to not only keep Christ as the focus, but to use the season as an opportunity to delve deeper into God’s Word!

Synopsis:

Spend the first 24 days of December experiencing the Christmas story. Each day I'll lead you through a passage of scripture, a corresponding ornament craft and talking points for you and your kids. It's more than a devotion--it's meditation and hands-on learning for kids. It's more than a craft-book, it's a memory-builder for your family. It's more than an e-book, it's an experience and adventure in God's Word!

Recommended Age:  Preschool to early elementary
Price:  Today (Friday, November 25) ONLY:  $2.99. 
Regularly $4.99.
For More Info or To Purchase: http://truthinthetinsel.com/ – you can also find Amanda at  http://impressyourkids.com, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

What Mom Liked Loved:

• All of It.  Oh, where do I start?!
• The Focus.  It starts with Light and ends with the Cross.  It’s all about Him!
• The Clue. Each day’s activity starts out with a “clue” – something for little hands to open up and “hunt for” during a scripture reading – to talk about during a craft.  What kid doesn’t love the idea of hunting for and solving a mystery?  There are two printable versions included:  one for use in a fillable advent calendar, and the one we’re using – a paper chain.
• The Scripture.  This isn’t a devotional reading – though there’s certainly a place for such a book.  It references passages to be read straight from the Bible each day – long enough to get the context, but short enough to keep a preschooler’s attention.
• The Ornament.  The craft to be created each day is an ornament – something that can be hung up and referred to throughout the season.
• The Talk.  The crafting time allows for plenty of discussion on the topic of the day – that’s perhaps the most meaningful time as your child internalizes the message.  Discussion ideas and questions are included.
• The Flexibility.  While there is a list of supplies given for each craft, Amanda makes the point that many items are interchangeable.  Use what you’ve got!  There are also some alternate schedules given if you can’t commit to all 24 days.  If you’ve got extra time or want to extend a topic, there is a “Do More Together” idea each day.
• The Layout and Design.  The book is professionally laid out and total eye-candy to look at.  There are step-by-step photos for each craft, as well as quality printables where applicable.

Esmé’s Thoughts

At the end of our first session:  “Can’t we do the next clue NOW?”

“No!  Only one a day, remember?” I reply.

“But it’s NIGHT-time right now.  How can we be doing one a DAY when we’re doing it at night?” rebuts my 4yo teenager.

Amidst the shredded tissue paper and sticky fingers, lots of talking happens.  Esmé’s synopsis on the first day’s scripture:

“When you see the Light, you know God is there.  You don’t have to see God, you just have to BELIEVE that He’s there.”

---------------
Thanks to Truth in the Tinsel for providing the ebook for our review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review/Giveaway: Clubhouse Kidz

Tweet

This is a post that has been long in the making, though we’ve been thoroughly enjoying the making of it.

Miss Esmé – who would’ve thought? – is camera-shy.

Yet, after much ado and technical snafu, we’re pleased to share a camera-shy recitation of Psalm 23 with you…

Thank you, Clubhouse Kidz!  I LOVE knowing God’s word is being captured in my daughter’s mind, ready to bear fruit when she most needs it.

Synopsis:

We are dedicated to making scripture memorization easy and fun! A video library on our website engages children of all ages and helps " kids inspire kids" to hide God's Word in their hearts. Photos added to the text create mental tags that enhance recall and make the process exciting.

Recommended Age:  Ages 2 to teen! 
Price:  You can download an 18-minute introductory video using Psalm 23 for $5.99, or a selection of scripture slideshows for $1.99 each.  PLUS, there are some terrific free Flip-It downloads on the Clubhouse Kidz blog.  And be sure to like Clubhouse Kidz on facebook for the latest scripture memory tools.
For More Info or To Purchase: clubhousekidz.com

What Mom Liked:

• Slide Shows.  The little pictures on these tools DO serve as mental tags.  I (Mom) realized that I as often as not have been leaving out the “Thou anointest my head with oil” part of Psalm 23.  Now, I just picture a kid dumping vegetable oil on his little sibling’s head, and I get it right every time. 
• Flip-Its. The Flip-Its are great because they are easy to print out and use anytime, anywhere.  Esmé is actually looking at the photo side during the video recording.  PLUS – they are currently FREE downloads!
• Kids Inspiring Kids.  Watching the introductory video was a great motivator for Esmé, as she saw other kids reciting and having fun with Psalm 23.
• Multiple Approaches.  The introductory video introduces several steps toward memorization:  read it, write it, sing it, recite it…  Some of these steps work better for Esmé than others, but having her watch other other kids go through all of them has definitely impacted her.

Esmé has memorized scripture verses naturally through listening to scripture songs, but it has been exciting to watch her learn through a new approach, especially something as lengthy as Psalm 23.  We’ll be starting the next scripture soon (Mom too), hiding more of God’s word in our hearts!

Giveaway!

Clubhouse Kids is offering to give away a Clubhouse Kidz “Action” DVD or a download of the whole set of slideshows to one of you!

• To enter, leave a comment stating whether you’d prefer the DVD or the download of the slideshows.
• If you are a follower or subscriber, leave a second comment for a second entry.

Entries will be accepted until December 10, 2011.  US only on DVDs, please; downloads are available internationally.

---------------
Thanks to Clubhouse Kidz for providing downloads of their video and slideshows for our review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Miscellany

Tweet

Snow.  We had SNOW on Friday!  And “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” kept coming out of my mouth all day long.  Poor family…  It didn’t stick, but here’s photo evidence.  (And that would be the view of our schoolhouse outside our living room window.)

Veteran’s Day Parade.  Yes, I know we already posted about this, but I just love this photo from Auntie Audra’s phone – you can even see the candy flying.

 

Ingredients Grouping.  We recently started a sweet new nutrition curriculum called Vintage Remedies for Kids by Jessie Hawkins.  You will definitely be hearing more about this later. 

An activity in the first chapter is to have your child group together three ingredients to come up with a real food meal or snack.  I thought I’d share the little printable I put together in case you want to try it – just click on the photo.

Miss Esmé decided to make a stew using cheese sauce, tomato sauce, peanut butter, broccoli, and apples.  Yummy… ?

Cookies!  Thank you, Mel from Cake Walk, for the awesomest package!  Esmé went straight for the pink shoe, but all the cookies were gorgeous…

Tweety – It’s What’s For Dinner.  I’m thinking Ms. Tweety hasn’t been featured on our blog lately, so let’s remedy that…  She regularly makes an appearance on Pappa’s dinner plate, more often than not flinging food every which way.

 

Flame the cat was spotted on the stove, trying to reach Tweety’s cage when he felt his food needs were not met.  After severe consequences, he now won’t even look in the bird’s direction.

So, how’s your week been going?

Review: Math Mammoth

Tweet

Last night 4yo Esmé changed her mind about becoming a spider nurse.  “When I grow up, I’m going to be a math teacher,” she said.  “I’m going to teach people their letters.”

“Algebra already?” I wondered.

“No, I meant numbers.  What’s 8x7?” she began.

And she quizzed me.  We dissected the number 40 in all kinds of ways using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Math comes naturally to her.

Until you put a worksheet in front of her.  And for the life of her, she can’t tell you what 2+2 is.  Unless you bribe her with a movie, put her in time out, and take away all bedtime story privileges.  Worksheets turn her brain OFF.

I thought maybe she wasn’t being challenged enough.  After a year of going systematically through a curriculum, she failed to thrive.  I knew she knew the material, but because she kept saying “I don’t know how to do that,” we weren’t moving very fast.

So I decided to up the challenge and jump straight to Grade 2 of Math Mammoth.  I knew she was conceptually ready for the syllabus contents.
 
Synopsis:

Math Mammoth offers affordable, yet quality math worktexts and workbooks for grades 1-8, available as both downloads and printed books. These books concentrate on conceptual understanding and are strong in mental math. The directions in the worktexts are written directly to the student, and are often self-teaching, thus requiring little preparation and involvement from the teacher.

There are four different series of Math Mammoth books that offer a smorgasbord of options for your student:

• A full curriculum for grades 1-6;
• Worktexts by topic for grades 1-6—you get both instruction and exercises;
• Worksheets by topic;
• Worksheets by grade;
• Make It Real Learning workbooks—highlighting how math is used in real life.

Recommended Age:  Grades 1-8 
Price:  Price is dependent on the options you choose.  The complete Grade 2 curriculum download we reviewed sells for $34.
To Purchase: http://www.mathmammoth.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

We’re going to skip Esmé’s synopsis for this review.  Suffice to say, upping the challenge wasn’t a magical panacea for her dislike of worksheets.  We struggled through the first 5 or so pages, and she just WASN’T going to GET the way a Tens unit was depicted as a box in the review section (which incidentally shows up later as ten-sticks and ten-pillars if only she would last that long).

So we skipped ahead to the Clocks section for a brief reprieve.  This lasted through another handful of worksheets.  She DID get the 5-minute interval concept and has mastered counting by 5s rather well by now.

The saving grace?  The Helpful Resources on the Internet section.  Ahhhh…  Now Esmé was in her element.



What Mom Liked:

• Price. This is an amazing value for the money.  It’s got an incredible amount of well-organized content.  And having an electronic version means you can print sheets over and over if desired.
• Modular Approach.  It was nice to be able to jump right to the Clocks section of the curriculum without feeling like we were missing a lot of steps.  Many sections DO build on previous ones, so jumping around should be used with caution…
• Customizable Tools.  If your child needs extra practice with a topic, use the Worksheet Maker.  Editable test and cumulative review files are also available.
• Multiple Approaches to the Same Topic.  If you go through all the exercises of a topic, you will have approached it forwards, backwards, up, and down.  The same type of problem is presented in a myriad of ways.
• Word Problems.  These are Esmé’s favorite, and there is a nice quantity of them.
• Helpful Resources on the Internet Section.  This saved the day for Miss Esmé while learning about clocks, specifically the online activities.
• Instruction Boxes. Each section starts with blue instruction boxes that students can follow on their own, or that parents can use to provide instruction with little to no preparation.
• International Options.  Chapter 5 deals with counting money, and I appreciated the alternative currency chapters included for Australian, British, Canadian, and Euros.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

• Esmé’s Attitude.  Towards worksheets.  I am still trying to find the right combination to provide the drill she doesn’t think she needs while feeding her conceptual appetite for math.  I was a little disappointed that this didn’t quite do it for her.   The sheer volume of problems on a page is a bit much for a highly-distractible 4yo.  I will continue to use this text to supplement our math learning, but will cut the pages into sections so she’s only dealing with a handful of problems at a time.

Overall:

This is a terrific value that thoroughly covers elementary math concepts.  The vendor is great to work with.  If nothing else, I HIGHLY recommend you sign up for a 7-day tour, check out Maria’s Math Newsletter and take a look at her package of 300 free worksheets and sample pages.
---------------

Thanks to Math Mammoth for providing a full curriculum download and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: Keyboard Town Pals

Tweet

I wasn’t planning to start Esmé on typing lessons this soon.  I figured I’d wait until she was at least five, you know? :)

However, I saw these quirky lil’ Keyboard Town critters and knew immediately she’d love them.

And maybe I could quit my blog transcription job sooner rather than later? 

Synopsis:

The Keyboard Town PALS Learn to Type program teaches your child to type in one hour.

Today, typing properly is a lifelong, necessary skill for success in school and at work.

• Our Mission: Our mission is to teach young children to type on a Qwerty computer keyboard in the fastest, easiest, and least stressful way. In only one hour Keyboard Town PALS’ “Learn To Type”software is able to achieve that goal.
• Stress-Free: We have eliminated the stress normally associated with learning to type and replaced it with adorable puppets who sing songs and tell stories in a relaxed learning environment. Our system has no boring drills or exercises. No mindless games. No nerve-wracking timed-speed tests. We have even deactivated the delete and backspace buttons since mistakes are never counted and scroll right off the screen.
• Wholesome: We are dedicated to developing educational software that you can depend on; wholesome products that will help you do your job as a parent – the most important and rewarding job anyone can have.
• Self Motivated: Your child will become an eager participant in the learning process and will be self-motivated to learn and complete the program.
• 6 and Up: Keyboard Town PALS is best for the beginner audience of kids ages 6-12 and those with learning differences.  All you need is a kid, a computer and an hour.

Recommended Age:  6-12 years of age 
Price:  The web-based bundle is currently on sale for $30.  Other options are also available.
To Purchase: http://www.keyboardtownpals.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

Esmé’s Synopsis:

Keyboard Town Pals is about typing words.

I like Exercise and Zebra, the Cs, and Dora!

I don’t like typing all the letters they tell me to type.  I just want to write my own words and my own thoughts.

What Mom Liked:

• Quirky characters. Take the Q guy:  “Questions, questions…  Are zebras black with white stripes, or white with black stripes?”  Seriously, that is perfect K-level humor!  That would have to be Esmé’s favorite part.
• Methodology.  This program has been perfect in acquainting Esmé with the locations of all the letters.  As a fairly new keyboard user, now she has a picture in her mind of all these bizarre characters on a keyboard, and she can mentally visualize where a letter will be.  She still hunt-and-pecks, but it’s definitely easier.  Also, the idea of introducing keys one finger at a time makes perfect sense at this age.  She may not always use the right fingers, but she knows there is a correct finger position, and that will come with time.
• No Correction.  The program has a typing box where the student types as instructed by the video.  The student doesn’t have a backspace or delete option, which can be a little frustrating for ME.  However, I must say the fact that there is no big X/REDO when something is typed incorrectly is a bonus for Esmé.  She’s accidentally mis-hit keys, and that can be really frustrating to a new computer user.  For her, the program gives her all the feedback she needs in the form of letters and words showing up in her typing box.
• Tie-in to letters, sounds, direction.  Esmé knows her letters and sounds and left- and right-hands already, but this definitely reinforces that knowledge.  Admittedly, she keeps getting confused with which hand is supposed to be typing – it’s a bit funny to see her reach for the “q” with her right hand.  It’s nice to have a tie-in from keyboarding to other basic skills.
• Language Options.  I’ve thought of switching this to Spanish to give Esmé a little twist when she gets tired of the English… It’s also available in French.
• Technical Ease. The web-based version was incredibly easy to start using – once I updated Adobe Flash player.  Our pathetic internet speeds didn’t slow it down.  It works with Mac or PC.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

• The Claim.  This is supposed to teach your child to type in an hour.  Yes – it covers the basic keys in an hour, and if you read past the tagline, that’s really all it’s claiming to do.  It took me a good year to learn to type in high school.   There is a lot more to typing proficiently than having an idea of where the main letter keys are.  Just be realistic in your expectations.
• The Price.  Along the same lines, this feels more like a video with an added typing box than it does a full software program.  I think $20 would be a fair price for a DVD of this caliber.

Overall:

Though she is on the young side of the recommended age range, this has been a great introduction to keyboarding for Esmé.  If it were priced lower, I’d definitely recommend it as an introduction for kids just beginning to use the keyboard. 

---------------

Thanks to Keyboard Town Pals for providing a free subscription and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

A Tribute to Veterans…

Tweet

“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time;
the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.”
~ Thomas Jefferson

Last year’s local Veteran’s Parade was a memorable experience, but this year was Esmé’s first experience on the inside – as an official(?) candy thrower.

Lining up…

Throwing candy to the masses…

With her “battalion” at the end…

Review: The Three Trees

Tweet

The tale of the three trees has been a longstanding favorite of ours.  Its timeless message that God’s plans are bigger than any dream we could possibly have, even when our lives seems meaningless or despairing, is one we all can benefit from reading, over and over again.

So I was excited to share a new publication of the classic tale with Esmé.

Title:  The Three Trees:  A Traditional Folktale
Author:  Elena Pasquali; Illustrated by Sophie Windham
Publisher:  Lion Children’s
ISBN:  9780745961705

Synopsis:

Three forest trees dream of what they will one day become. One dreams of becoming a royal throne; one of being a ship that can withstand any storm; and one longs to stay in the forest and grow as tall as tall can be. When they are felled, it seems their dreams are over. But as each tree is crafted into a new item--a manger, a fishing boat, and a rugged cross--it becomes clear that through the role they play in one important life their hopes are more than fulfilled.

Recommended Age:  5+
List Price:  $14.99


Esmé’s Synopsis:

This book is about Jesus and the three trees.  The part where Jesus died to take away our sins – that’s the best part of the book.

What I didn’t like is the spider [in the trough illustration].  It might be a black widow.  But maybe the cat [in same illustration] is a field mouse cat who will kill the spider, so maybe it is okay.

If I was a tree, I’d love to be made into a trough, because I like babies.

What Mom Liked:

• The story. The author tells the story in a flowing, simple manner.  It is easy to read aloud with poignancy.  The contrasts of the third tree’s story – dark, dawn; death, life – leave me full of emotion each time I read.
• The illustrations.  The illustrations are somewhat muted, as befitting the topic.  However, they are full of little critters that capture a child’s attention.  I love the details such as the depiction of the four seasons in one scene…

What Mom Didn’t Like:

• Nothing.  This is a lovely rendition of a timeless tale.

 
Thanks to Kregel Publications for providing the book for review.  We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Spiders and Caterpillars and Such

Tweet

From the looks of this Woolly Bear caterpillar, are we in for a long, cold winter?

I never could quite figure that stuff out…

And Esmé’s delight in spiders seems to have nosedived following the discovery of a hobo spider in the bathtub.  Those things can be nasty, it seems – though not quite as bad as the brown recluse.

(I made my first contribution to Wikipedia by noting that the hobo spider has been found as far south as Roseburg.  Who knew it was so easy to update?  I think I shall no longer use Wikipedia as irrefutable proof of anything.)

Our lives are now forever changed – we are constantly having to check the sheets and brush off all clothing and towels before use.  Ugh…

On the bright side, Esmé’s medical curiosity has been piqued.  Her “favoritist” photos of all are of necrosis caused by spider bites.  Totally fascinating.