Wishing you a beautiful day!
I’m a tea lover, and I’ve enjoyed my fair share of chai tea. But once I read this picture book, I knew I had to follow the recipe for myself and make homemade chai.
Masala Chai, Fast and Slow
Written by Rajani LaRocca
Illustrated by Neha Rawat
Candlewick Press, 2023
I may have mentioned once or twice that I really enjoy reading picture books about food. Being able to learn about traditions and families and such deliciousness is a treat for my heart. Masala Chai, Fast and Slow plus deep sips from a pretty teacup. Ahhh.
I watched a webinar where Rajani was sharing about her picture book and masala chai. Thanks, 12×12! After I requested my library purchase a copy, I was the first one to check it out (I love that). I kept it out for the maximum of time. Later, I checked it out again. But this time (also nearing the maximum time=number of renewals I can do) I made sure to collect all the ingredients to steep my own masala chai.
The recipe makes quite a bit of chai, so I needed to make it on a weekend when I could share. Which is the point of masala chai. Sharing and connecting with family and friends.
I gathered the ingredients suggested by Rajani in the back matter recipe (I love it when recipes are included in a picture book, and back matter is the bomb): milk, black tea bags, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, cardamom pods, whole cloves, fresh ginger, and sugar (or honey).
I decided to actually follow the recipe the first time around. Shocker, I know, since I usually wing it when trying new recipes. The resulting chai tea was delicious! Warm, spicy, fragrant. Ahhh. This recipe is a keeper. Good thing too, because I have a big bag of whole cardamom pods.
Masala Chai, Fast and Slow is delighfully tasty. I can’t wait to brew another batch.
A Gift for Nai Nai
Written and illustrated by Kim-Hoa Ung
Feiwel and Friends, 2023
This adorable (and on a scale of adorable, it’s a 12) picture book is a delight to read. With much thanks to Jena Benton and Kim-Hoa Ung, I was gifted a copy of A Gift for Nai Nai. Thank you!
The beautiful illustrations pulled me in, and the special relationship between the little girl and her Nai Nai – which, thanks to the short glossary, I now know means paternal grandmother – added heart and love.
This picture book reminded me of my own mother who loved to crochet. She spent hours, days, and weeks creating gifts and clothing not just for her own family, but so many others in her circle of family and friends. I read this book with a large dose of nostalgia.
I enjoyed not only the crochet connection, but also seeing through the illustrations that Nai Nai uses a wheelchair to get around. My mother-in-law was limited to a wheelchair after breaking her hip. Despite losing some of her mobility, Nai Nai continues to create a beautifully crocheted hat she gives to Lyn Lyn each year. Framed photos on the wall showcase a few of the fun hats.
Nai Nai has a birthday coming up, so Lyn Lyn decides she wants to learn to crochet. The struggle is very real (my own mother tried to teach me to crochet). With an AWW-some ending, A Gift for Nai Nai is a satisfying and warm-hearted read.
I had to share the “undie” from A Gift for Nai Nai. An undie is the cover beneath the paper book jacket. Sometimes illustrators create new scenes on the undies, just like Kim-Hoa Ung did for this picture book. Love it!
Plus! Kim-Hoa Ung included directions for making a simple crocheted hat similar to the one Lyn Lyn made for Nai Nai. This picture book is colorful, engaging, and filled with all the coziness of a warm fire on a snowy day.
This pink Easter egg ducky is a gift my mother crocheted for me many years ago. The egg is resting on blanket squares I crocheted (cough cough) several years ago. They wait for me to connect them. This is about the limit of my crocheting abilities.
Look
Words by Gabi Snyder
Pictures by Samantha Cotterill
A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024
Oh, this is the one to read today! This picture book is filled with hope and love, beauty and patterns. Beautiful!
Thanks to Kathy Temean and her blog, Writing and Illustrating, I won a copy of Gabi’s gorgeous book. Thank you both!
Each time I’ve read Look, I’ve been filled with the JOY of discovery and delight. There is so much to be found on each page, and the colors and words make the journey effortless and thoroughly engaging. With the detailed cut-paper illustrations, patterns pop from the page.
My Goodreads review:
This book is absolutely gorgeous! Filled with hope and love and a search for patterns, the poetic words by Gabi and the cut-paper illustrations by Samantha combine to make a beautiful journey for a young reader. A day in the life of a young child who goes out and about with his mother. LOOK helps the reader see the wonder of it all and allows them to take a peek at the grander picture of the whole world, but also at the tiniest of details. Ten thumbs up.
Happy reading!
Welcome to 2025! Over the years, I’ve changed the name of this type of post. Sunday Moments and Sunday Joy are just a few of the titles I’ve used. This feels like a good year to focus on Sunday Peace.
Whether rain, snow, ice, or sun, be brave and stand strong like this little pansy in one of my uncovered plant pots. Peace to you.
Dear Lord,
Thank You in advance for the many blessings You bestow and will shower down upon me and my family this year. Bring each blessing to mind so I can notice and give thanks.
Help me, Lord, to
move more
think more
laugh more
learn more
care more
dream more
create more
write more
thank more
reach out more
encourage more
forgive more
LOVE more.
Let this be a year when WE grow closer as I lean into You.
Amen.
On this, the 5th day of advent, we remember the Christ Child. Read the full story of Jesus in Luke 1-2.
Rejoice! Worship and give thanks! Long ago, a Child was born, a horn of salvation for us from the house of David. Jesus, the Messiah, God made flesh. For all of us.
Happy birthday, Jesus! Thank You for being clothed in humanity for our benefit. You came because You loved us, will always love us.
Hallelujah! Sing with joy and great adoration!
Let our hearts celebrate the birth of Jesus.
On this, the 4th Sunday of advent, we consider the wise men, otherwise called the Magi. It was not on a whim they traveled long distances to find the One who was born King of the Jews. Studiers of the stars, they discovered one very special star announcing the birth of a king. The King. So they set out seeking He who was heralded by the Star. Matthew 2:1-12 tells the rest of the story.
The Magi came prepared to worship and honor the new King, placing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh at the foot of the Child. Gifts fit for a King. Oh, my heart, what gift can I place at the feet of the King?
Let us prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
On this, the 3rd day of advent, we take a peek into God’s birth announcement. Luke 2:8-20 gives the full account.
With great exultation, He sent angels to share the good news of Jesus’ birth with shepherds who were out in the fields watching over their flocks.
Even though they had cold and lonely jobs and were considered to be low on the societal scale of popularity, the shepherds were the first ones to see and hear God’s announcement of the birth of His Son. To add icing to the birthday cake, God’s messengers, His angels, filled the sky with the brilliant joy-filled news and praise music!
The shepherds believed the news and rushed to see this Babe lying in a manger. Oh, to believe and seek the Messiah.
Let us prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Love, Laughter, and Life 