toes and roots dig deep
garden girl searches, enjoys;
dines on spring color
barefoot, bare-root seek
connect with God’s fertile earth
nourishment for girl and plant
barefoot by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Seven years ago today, a mom and a dad, two grandmas, and various medical helpers watched baby Autumn make her appearance. Babies are special and sweet, and oh what a delight to watch them grow and develop their own personalities!
Happy 7th birthday, Autumn!
Personality, fashion style, dreams, hopes, and plans. It’s a good day to be 7.
This Is Not A Unicorn!
Written by Barry Timms
Illustrated by Ged Adamson
Nosy Crow, 2023
Let me say, what a creative, imaginative picture book! Florescent colors, fun characters, delightful word play, and general amazing-ness. Thank you, Nosy Crow, for sending me a copy of This Is Not A Unicorn! (along with the super red tote)!
This Is Not A Unicorn! was the perfect gift for my 7-year-old granddaughter. She loves books and unicorns. In fact, after I gave her the book, we sat outside and read it together. And then we utilized the featured QR code (see below) and listened to the read aloud! So much fun! Books make perfect gifts.
I love the brilliant colors used in This Is Not A Unicorn!. At first, I was a bit shocked at how vibrant and glow-in-the-dark the illustrations and cover looked to be, but after reading, the colors fit perfectly with the story and the characters.
Word play is something I truly enjoy, and this is spot on for readers of this age. There is plenty of wonderful word play in this picture book.
Imagination! This ranks right up there with word play, characters, and colorful illustrations. Two thumbs up for This Is Not A Unicorn!.
I enjoyed reading This Is Not A Unicorn!. Perfect for readers who love unicorns with creative skills.
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.
land, pause, freeze, and look
what’s a bird to do? can’t move
winter’s sticky tape
hop, hop, hop-three jumps
and you are there, discover
snowy hidden treats
different bird tracks;
walk, waltz, snoop: toes in, toes out
winter hides the food
land, hop, walk
by Angie Quantrell
photos by Angie Quantrell
Winter in the Yakima Valley
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!
dark broken by light
snow day, but no sleeping in
time to wander, breathe
breathe by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
I am thankful for you!
Sending warm thoughts of delicious food, blessed fellowship, and grateful thoughts.
Peace and grace.
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
Hanukkah Nights
Written and illustrated by Amalia Hoffman
Kar-Ben Publishing, 2022
Ages 1-4
It’s so lovely when authors I’ve interviewed or featured on my blog swing back by when they have a book birthday for a new book. Congratulations, Amalia, on the October 1 release of your beautiful, very colorful Hanukkah Nights! Thank you for stopping by today.
Welcome, Amalia! Let’s get to it and learn more about your newest book.
What special traditions do you enjoy with your family during Hanukkah?
We always throw a huge party with tons of food and two homemade kinds of latkes: with and without onions. Each guest brings their own menorah and we light all of them. It’s a beautiful sight. We decorate the table with chocolate coins and sing many Hanukkah songs. After the 3-5 drinks, we dance to Klezmer music.
That sounds beautiful! The lights, food, singing, and dancing, what lovely traditions.
I love how readers will learn new ways to paint when they read Hanukkah Nights. How did you get your start as an artist and illustrator?
I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. I used to make fancy greeting cards for my family members on birthdays and anniversaries. And later I sold handmade greeting cards to a shop in Jerusalem where I lived.
My parents encouraged my passion for art and craft.
My mom used to stir shredded newspaper with flour over the stove to make Papier Mache and I made puppets for our family theater. My parents enrolled me in after-school painting classes and when I was a teenager, I spent the summer in an artist village in the Galilee where I experimented with mosaic, ceramic, and stained glass.
After high school I attended the Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem. Basically it was a very traditional academic school. I didn’t love it but I learned how to draw from a model, proportions and perspective. When I came to America, I earned my BFA Cum Laude from Pratt Institute and MFA from NYU.
I joined SCBWI so I could meet other illustrators and enrolled in many workshops. Then I got enough courage to work on my stories, accompanied with my own illustrations. I created a story, entitled Purim Goodies and eventually sold it to Gefen Publishing, an Israeli publisher that publishes mainly in English.
As I gained more confidence, I went on to illustrate many other books.
I love how your family supported you as you grew and explored your dream of being an artist.
How did you celebrate the October 1st, 2022 release of your new book?
Actually I participated in a huge book fair that took place on the same day, https://ryebookfestival.com/meet-the-authors So I rolled in Hanukkah Nights in a baby carriage. As usual, on every book launch, I got roses from my man & toasted with Champagne.
A baby carriage and a book fair! That is awesome! And what a sweetie to give you roses and toast you with champagne! Well done.
What is one tip you could give to new picture book writers and illustrators?
Don’t try to force yourself to work in a particular style that you think is popular. Trends change frequently and you’re better off perfecting your own techniques and styles.
Excellent advice. Thank you.
You have several wonderful books out in the world. What surprises are you working on now?
I have a new picture book coming up in 2024, but at this time I can’t provide details yet, only to say that I’m very excited about it.
I’m also working on a new board book and new picture book.
That’s wonderful, Amalia! We look forward to hearing more details as your new projects come to fruition.
Congratulations, Amalia! Thank you for sharing with us. All the best wishes for you, Hanukkah Nights, and your creative work.
Contact Amalia Hoffman.
Book buddies, be sure to check out Hanukkah Nights. Find a copy at your local indie or favorite bookstore and ask for your library to order a copy. Don’t forget to show some author love by leaving a review on Goodreads and/or Amazon. Thank you!
Love, Laughter, and Life 