Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Book Review: Abuelita and I Make Flan by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

Abuelita and I Make Flan

Written and illustrated by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

Charlesbridge, 2022

What a delicious book! I have fond memories of my mom making flan, so I knew this book would be special! Thank you, Kathy Temean and Adriana for sending me a copy. Truly beautiful and tasty!

Anita is super excited to help her abuelita make flan for her abuela’s birthday. Anita is her abuelita’s special helper, and she can’t wait to learn how to make this delicious dessert. Except an accident happens, and Anita is afraid to tell abuelita about how she dropped a favorite glass plate that was often used to hold flan.

Traditions. Flan. Family. Mistakes. Birthdays. Helping.

Abuelita and I Make Flan is a beautiful picture book. Complete with a recipe, Spanish words, and glossary, this picture book is a keeper. Young readers will be inspired to be helpers, hopefully want to learn new things, and be more willing to admit mistakes. Learning to apologize for accidents is a good thing to learn.

This book goes with my other “all about food” picture books! I can’t wait to try the flan recipe. Thank you, Adriana, for crafting this delightful book!

Amazon Blurb

Anita loves to bake with her abuela, especially when they are using her grandmother’s special recipes for Cuban desserts like flan!

Anita is making flan for Abuelo’s birthday, but when she accidentally breaks Abuelita’s treasured flan serving plate from Cuba, she struggles with what to do. Anita knows it’s right to tell the truth, but what if Abuelita gets upset? Worried that she has already ruined the day, Anita tries to be the best helper.  After cooking the flan, they need a serving dish! Anita comes up with a wonderful solution.
 
Complete with a glossary of Spanish terms and a traditional recipe for flan, Abuelita and I Make Flan is a delicious celebration of food, culture, and family.


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Haiku Moment: hope sprouts

look! bursts of purple

shout joyfully, spring arrives!

hope sprouts from its rest

hope sprouts by Angie Quantrell

photos by Angie Quantrell

model flashback of my grand, Autumn


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From the Cat: Happy New Year!

Monet wanted me to send out her greetings and wishes for a wonderful and joyful new year!

From her humans (aka slaves), we also hope you have a beautiful 2023!


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Merry Christmas!

Sending joy and peace to you and your family.


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Sunday Moment: Advent 3 – The Love

Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.

Written by Christina Georgina Rossetti (1885)

Image by Joe Goble; Flickr.com

See more of Joe’s work here.


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Sunday Moment: Advent 2 – The Proclamation of Great Joy

Can you feel the joy and excitement when you read this section? I can just imagine the magnificence of the scene! And the heavenly choir! These verses are some of my favorites.

Image by Nancy Violeta Velez; Flickr.com

See more of Nancy’s work here.


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Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for you!

Sending warm thoughts of delicious food, blessed fellowship, and grateful thoughts.

Peace and grace.


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Sunday Inspiration

photo by Angie Quantrell

Ocean Shores, WA


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Sunday Inspiration

Photo by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Haiku Moment: the path

here or there, the path

sometimes smooth, other times rough-

love keeps us on track

the path by Angie Quantrell

photo taken in Montreal, Quebec