The new year is celebrated world wide ... but ... not always in December/January. Happy New Year, Everywhere! by Arlene Erlbach and illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm explains celebrations around the world and includes activities from those countries to try here at home.

For older readers there's Happy New Year Round the World, by Lois S. Johnson and illustrated by Lili Cassel Wronker. From the fires in Iceland (as big a bon fire as can be made, sometimes with a back drop of the Northern Lights, imagine!), to all out singing in Liberia I loved learning so many new things from this book. I remember seeing a dragon in a Chinese New Year parade once, as a child, and wondering if it took practice for those underneath to manage such a large thing. (Some can be as long as 100 yards).

Lucy's daughter has won a mother/daughter make over in New York City. It might sound like fun, but maybe they should have stayed home! For a seasonal mystery, read New Year's Eve Murder by Leslie Meier (from her Lucy Stone Mystery series).

And, lastly, a late Christmas book, which came as a gift. Christmas Bells, by Jennifer Chiaverini. Part present day, part early days of the Civil War, just an excellent read! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem that became the song we sing as 'I heard the bells on Christmas Day ...' He was missing his son who had gone off to war. Counter that with a more present day children's choir, a feisty nun, and just a bit of a romance and you have a great holiday read!

Happy New Year everyone!

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I'll admit I'm not a huge ballet fan, but, like some many others, I do like the Nutcracker. A few years back I discovered the 'Battle of the Nutcrackers' where four versions play over the weeks leading up to Christmas. You are then to go on line and vote for your favorite which will air sometime closer to Christmas Eve. A recent favorite is the version by the Australian Ballet, but my all time favorite will always be the one in the original Fantasia.

Looking for something on the Nutcracker ballet I found Lord of the Nutcracker Men, by Iain Lawrence instead. Based on actual events (the author's grandfather and grand-uncles fought in WWI) and leading up to the amazing Christmas Truce of 1914. The main character, Johnny, is a young boy sent to Cliffe to live since London was unsafe. His father, who carves, (including nutcrackers, hence the title), sends a wooden soldier with each letter and Johnny uses them to recreate battles. A teacher has given him the Iliad to read (also about war). The comparisons are intriguing ... just who directs wars? This is a teen/tween read so it won't take you long.

Then, I did find exactly what I was looking for! Nutcracker Nation, by Jennifer Fisher. It started as her doctoral thesis and expanded into a book. Whether it's a professional ballet company, or something at the local theater, this is a ballet that appeals even to those who don't normally like ballet. The variations seem endless: Clara (not the only name this character has had) is a young girl, or a retiring dancer looking back at her career. In one she is the daughter of a single father. There are cowboy versions (with lassos), or dances with hula hoops, or even tap dance. The common theme is the music. Just a fascinating read on the impact of this dance in the U.S.

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December 27th is Make a Cutout Snowflake Day. While not exactly cutout snowflakes, I offer this book here because it is about making snowflakes. I hope that is close enough. ;-) 100 Snowflakes To Crochet: Make your own snowdrift - to give or to keep, by Caitlin Sainio has the instructions for, well 100 snowflakes. Admittedly I did not understand them, but I spent quite some time looking at the results. Beautiful!

Sewflakes: Papercut Applique Quilts, by Kathy K. Wylie is a little closer to the mark in that these beautiful designs start out as a cutout snowflake. :-) It all looks very complicated to me, but the final product is beautiful. My favorite was a variation (it seems) on a snowflake ... the fish design!

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It's baaaack! That seasonal song The Twelve Days of Christmas. I still hate the song, but I love all the books! And, there are enough for more than one post! This song was first published in 1780 and put with the tune we know best in 1909. The 12 days start today.

For a delightful, fun, and creative take on that old song, read The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by Emma Kragen. Blending photos and computer graphics, this has been a favorite of mine since it came out in 1998. And while there was some help here (Donald Fuller for the photographs and Sharon Collins & Kelly Ann Moore for the design) the idea and writing came from Emma. When she was seven!

There are more dogs to be seen in The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs, written and illustrated by Carolyn Conahan. What starts out so simply builds to a chaotic conclusion (with an interesting twist).

In a small town, in a cul-de-sac, there is a theme to the holiday decorations. One that has been going on for so long that when a house sells, the decorations go with the house. Each year they do The Twelve Days of Christmas, it's very popular, but this year someone is stealing the birds. They vanish, but then they are brought back. What is going on? Who is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas, by Martha Freeman is a fun, tween read.

For a 'wee' twist on this song, there's A Firefly in a Fir Tree: a Carol for Mice, by Hilary Knight. Clever illustrations show a mouse sized version and just what might be included if they were to sing this old standard. Loved the three thistle dusters. ;-)

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Christmas. How did it all get started? Christmas: a Candid History, by Bruce David Forbes will explain. There were decades where it was not celebrated at all (Dickens wasn't all that far off when Scrooge didn't want to give Bob Cratchit the day off). What caused the comeback? How did Santa enter the picture? And get to the size and shape he did? In the traditional poem, he's an elf, with a tiny sled and reindeer. This was Very Interesting read!

Also enjoyable was The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey by Dr. Roger Highfield. That's right, a real scientist wrote this book! Learn what may have caused Rudolph's red nose! How all those gifts might be delivered. The reason for seasonal moods. This was published in 1998, be sure to read the Chapter 12: Christmas in 2020 to see how close the author is (or isn't)! A good book to combine with the one above.

Do you have an Ugly Christmas sweater? If so, wear it with pride, and then check out the ones in Rock Your Ugly Christmas Sweater, by Anne Marie Blackman & Brian Clark Howard. Some were intentionally designed to be ugly, some just turned out that way, and two, at least to me, were not ugly, but rather nice (p. 42). There are ugly sweaters for Hanukkah and Kwanza, too. Don't miss the gerbil!

Christmas Day in the Morning, by Pearl S. Buck, first came out in 1955. Almost as good (to me) as Gift of the Magi, it is a wonderful story about finding the perfect gift. Here it is beautifully illustrated by Mark Buehner.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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Today is the shortest day of the year. Or maybe it was yesterday. (I've heard and read both). At any rate, from here on, the days will get longer again. How did humans figure this out? Why do we celebrate? The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Jesse Reisch will tell you. Nicely done!

If you'd like some games and recipes for celebrating these dark days, there's Yule: a Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison. This was a fun book! There are chapters on folklore and legends from around the world, and on superstitions and omens. There are suggestions for gifts and decorations. I suggest taking some time out of a busy schedule and enjoying this book. :-)

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Today is 'Go Caroling' Day! 

Here's a spin on another well-known holiday song. If you have kids then the messy mayhem in Deck the Walls! A Wacky Christmas Carol, by Erin Dealey and illustrated by Nick Ward just might be all too familiar. (Although the author claims she is not writing from experience ...)

I love the story of how Silent Night was written but had no idea about so many of the other carols we sing this time of year came to be. Find out all about this in The Carols of Christmas: a Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs, by Andrew Gant. Some are very old, others not so much and many

are a combination of an old song, folk song, popular (at the time) song with words that changed with each version. I love that the author also included some of the, mmm 'other' words too ("Jingle Bells, Batman smells" ....) ;-)

And finally, a more quiet telling of a favorite (at least one of mine): Irving Berlin's White Christmas, illustrated by Michael Hague. This book combines my love of this song with my love of snow globes. Nice details, love the snowflakes!

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The newest in the Molly Murphy Mystery series by Rhys Bowen is Away in a Manger. Christmas is coming and there is much to do when Molly and Bridie hear a child singing a seasonal carol. This leads to a depressing boarding house, a stolen locket, and a family divided by events of long ago. With her husband in the hospital and her mother-in-law arriving soon for the holidays the last thing Molly needs is try and put everything back together again.

A brand new series by Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates) starts with Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen. Set in the small town of Rudolph NY (love the reason for the name!) that depends on tourism everyone wants the winter festivities to go well. Or do they?

And lastly, one from long ago (longer ago than I realized ... 1999 to be exact!) ... Aunt Dimity's Christmas, by Nancy Atherton. All Lori needs for a perfect Christmas is snow (this is in England, remember). It's one of those 'be careful what you wish for' situations because with that snow comes a body.

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Like a shooting star, a snowflake is impossible to catch and hold. Or is it? Thanks to the persistent, diligent work of Wilson Bentley, it is possible to capture one in a photograph. Snowflake Bentley is a beautifully illustrated (Caldecott Award) biography, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, of the man who pioneered this process. Naturally, this lead to other 'flaky' books ....

First up was Snow Crystals, by W.A. Bentley and W.J. Humphreys. This is a collection of the amazing photos Bentley took over many years. There is a nice history of him, and how he did what he did as well as descriptions of design and make up of the snowflakes, or rather, snow crystals. I especially enjoyed the pictures of the snowflake's closest 'kin' ... windowpane frost, frosty weeds, leaves, webs, etc.

Years later Patricia Rasmussen was inspired by Bentley's photographs and it got her started taking pictures of snowflakes. Using Kenneth Libbrecht's specially built cameras, they put together the book The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty. (Text by Libbrecht, photography by Rasmussen). Again, there is a good explanation of how the crystals form, the best weather for viewing, and so forth. The process has improved over time and there is now color and depth to the snow crystals. Beautiful!

Then, for the serious snowflake hunter, there's Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes. Lots and lots of information here along with some wonderful photos. Check out the grid showing types of snow crystals for shapes such as stellar dedrites, bullet rosettes and so forth. The USPS used four of his photographs for the snowflake stamps issued in 2006.

Steven Kellogg, illustrator of many books for children, lived in the Sandy Hook and Newton communities for many years and was greatly affected by the shootings there. He told Patricia MacLachlan of his feelings and together they came up with Snowflakes Fall. It is a quiet celebration of children, who, like snowflakes, are all different.

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In past years I've seen some shows of over the top lights and displays on houses or entire neighborhoods. (I can get dizzy just thinking of the power bill). Merry Christmas, America! Megawatt Displays Across the U.S.A., by Bruce Littlefield features some of them. There are tips on doing your own display, and stories from the home owners on how it all started for them. Since the book came out in 2007 there are now houses with even more lights!

A wonderful book from decades ago ... White Snow, Bright Snow, by Alvin Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvosin. It combines a wonderful poem with Caldecott Award winning illustrations of a snow fall.

Remember all those books on Lighthouses back in July? I had to return to that trail when I found Lighthouse Christmas, story by Toni Buzzeo, pictures by Nancy Carpenter. What will Christmas be like at this remote lighthouse? When a storm changes their plans will there even be a Christmas? Set in 1929, it was fun learning about a service that continues today.

Not every one lives in a nice house, but everyone can offer a bit of Christmas spirit. December, by Eve Bunting and illustrated by David Diaz is a sweet story about just that. I love the little tree, and how it is decorated.

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December 12 is Poinsettia Day. For a delightful look at where it came from, when it started showing up in stories and cards, symbolism, how the word is pronounced, and so forth, read Poinsettias: the December Flower: Myth and Legend - History & Botanical Fact, by Christine Anderson & Terry Tischer.

I don't know about you, but I have a few favorite movies I watch each year around this time, ending with White Christmas on December 24th. Christmas Story is another one, but for some reason, I like to watch Sound of Music in the summer. :-)

The Christmas Story Treasury: a Tribute to the Original, Traditional, One-Hundred Percent, Red-Blooded, Two-Fisted, All American Holiday Movie, by Tyler Schwartz celebrates the 30th anniversary of this much-loved movie. There are lots of photos, some with sound buttons to push to hear those favorite phrases. Learn how the actors were chosen, how a pregnancy was hidden, and go behind the cameras to see how some of the scenes were filmed.

Another book about a movie that seems to air around this time of year is The Sound of Music: a Behind-the-Scenes Celebration of the World's Favorite Musical. It's a nice look at the movie: how the actors were picked and a little bit about each of them. Good pictures throughout, too. (There's one minor glitch where Rodgers is spelled Rogers). I thought the trivia was especially fun.

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Have you mailed your Christmas cards yet? December 9th is Christmas Card day. I know there are lots of books available on making cards, and Merry Christmas from ... 150 Christmas Cards You Wished You'd Received, by Karen Robert is a collection of some of them. Some are clever, others silly but all are unique (no store bought cards included). Note: the designs here are done with photos rather than with scrapbooking type crafts ... I have a few friends that make amazing cards this way, too. :-)

Laurien Berenson writes a delightful cozy mystery series which includes dogs and the most recent is The Bark Before Christmas. The annual Christmas Bazaar was suddenly thrust on Melanie when the original organizer skips town for a sunnier locale. Then Santa bails just 24 hours before the doors open. The new Santa doesn't return after a break ... a valuable show dog goes missing .... and so on ... ;-)

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What happens to a mitten when it's left outside on a cold winter's night? There are many versions of this story, but here, The Mitten is retold by Jim Ayelsworth and illustrated by Barbara McClintock.

Sleigh Bells and Snowflakes: a Celebration of Christmas, compiled and illustrated by Linda Bronson combines poems and song lyrics with unusual illustrations. Look carefully, they are three dimensional! The more I studied them, the better I liked them. :-)

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It seems there are several traditions concerning just when to put up a tree: modern tradition is to put it up the day or weekend after Thanksgiving; classic tradition is December 13, that is, twelve days before Christmas; some prefer December 6 in honor of St. Nicolas.

The evergreen tree has been featured in stories since the dawn of time. Or so it seems! Read many of these stories from around the world and down through the ages in The Solstice Evergreen: the History, Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree, by Sheryl Ann Karas.

I have a memory of an aluminum Christmas tree, someone in my neighborhood had one, complete with the four color rotating light that would make the tree change colors. However, I did not know that some of these trees rotated as well, or why you never put a string of lights on them until I read Season's Gleamings: the Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann.

The Star Tree, written and illustrated by Gisela Colle, and translated by Rosemary Lanning is a charming story from Germany. An old man, dismayed of all the bright lights and isolation of city life sets out to light up a tree in the forest. Will anyone else even notice?

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, by Robert Barry is one of my all time favorites! I love what happens when a tree is just too big for the space it occupies!

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A recent gathering of friends, all of us of that 'certain age' inspired today's book trail. We like to sing so I'm starting with The Baby Boomer Songbook: 65 Hit Songs from the Hal Leonard Corporation. So many familiar songs! Song that were popular, songs from movies and tv shows, even songs from when we were young. Fun, fun, fun!

Atlas of the Baby Boom Generation: a Cultural History of Postwar America, by Neil A. Hamilton was stuffed full of all kinds of information. For each decade there were entries on what was going on world wide, with the bomb (and any protests), what was on TV, what was being worn and so forth. Just a wealth of memories here. :-)

The companion book to the PBS series, The Boomer Century: 1946 - 2046: How America's Most Influential Generation Changed Everything, by Richard Croker proved to be an excellent read. So many big changes! Gender roles, health issues, changing the work place, resisting mandatory retirement ages ... the good and the bad, triumphant and heart breaking, this was an excellent look back as well as forward. (Seems there are about 78 million of us)!

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The Nature of the Beast is the most recent Louise Penny book. This time it seems like it was a darker story (based on a true story), and one that brought up bad times for many of the folks in Three Pines. As always though, I was totally captivated. I love that even without gun battles and speeding cars the ending got my heart pounding! I've said it before, this is an amazing author! Start with Still Life, it is good to read them in order.

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November 28 is Red Planet Day. Mariner 4 was launched on this date in 1964. There are lots of books on this subject, fiction and non-fiction so I'm just going to mention a few today.

After several recommendations I finally read The Martian, by Andy Weir ... and I liked it! A huge dust storm and a freak accident strands one astronaut on Mars. He is, however, not dead. Now what? I was sucked into the action as he figured out how to communicate with NASA, figure out how to (maybe) grow food until a rescue mission might reach him ... all sorts of interesting 'challenges' occur ... And, in case you missed the ads, it's now a movie! :-)

May 2013 was when Curiosity reached Mars. What was it's mission? What did it find? How did it get it's name? Ron Miller (best known for his space paintings) explains all this in Curiosity's Mission on Mars: Exploring the Red Planet.

It's been a long time since I've donned a pair of 3-D glasses (yes, I have my very own pair!) but it was worth it to see the pictures in Mars 3-D: a Rover's-Eye View of the Red Planet by Jim Bell. There are nice descriptions with each picture.

The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury was one of my first science fiction books. What an introduction! The story that stuck with me the most is the one where a father promises to show his son some Martians ... and then does. (It's more impressive than it sounds here, trust me). ;-)

Find Mars and the Mind of Man on the November 25, 2014 post.

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It turns out I've been celebrating Buy Nothing Day (the day after Thanksgiving) for many years now! I even avoid any on-line shopping 'just because'! At some point I decided it'd be a good time to do books on ads. :-)

made you look: How Advertising Works and Why You Should Know, by Shari Graydon and illustrated by Warren Clark, while aimed at younger readers, proved to be an excellent read. All about how marketers target specific age groups, how carefully ads are worded, and how to recognize (and avoid) the hype. I loved the little 'Try This at Home' boxes found throughout with things to try, such as looking for products in a movie or TV show, to emphasize just how invasive advertising is. I know it looks odd, but the lower case letters in the title are fine. (Even if it does bother me just a bit)!

There is a method to the madness of getting a point across and it is all in the subtitle of Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear, by Frank Lutz. (emphasis is mine). From advertisers to politicians to getting a seat on a flight after the doors have been closed the author explains what works and what doesn't. It's why welfare became assistance, and garbage collectors became sanitation engineers. (And, one that bugs me ... a used car is now a pre-owned vehicle). This was interesting and educational, and a bit sad as pretty much anything anymore has a 'spin' put to it. Listen carefully folks!

Personal ads are always interesting, and have been around for a long, long time. To read some of the best, try Man With Farm Seeks Woman With Tractor: the Best and Worst Personal Ads of All Time, by Laura Schaefer. Funny, sad (sometimes both at the same time).

For other fun personal ads, see Strange Red Cow in the May 16 post.

I see where some stores are opting out of 'Black Friday' this year. Good for them!

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Autumn is the time when nature slows down and prepares for winter. In November, by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Jill Kastner reflects this beautifully. From bare trees to sleeping bees, this is a great book to share with a child (or pet).

I remember singing Over the River in elementary school. Linda Ashman (author) and Kim Smith (illustrations) give it a nice twist in Over the River and Through the Wood: a Holiday Adventure. Just how to folks get to grandmother's house these days? I have a couple of observations though ... sometimes the sleigh runners seemed to be on bare pavement (or much too close), and, just one horse?

From the wonderful series by Jennifer Chiaverini comes A Quilter's Holiday. A cornucopia that once was the centerpiece of holiday tables has been found again. In the past, each member of the family put an item in it that was symbolic of something for which they were thankful. Syliva Bergstrom decides to restart this tradition by asking each quilter to design a quilt block for the cornucopia. The story of the design each quilter picked and why makes for a nice, fireplace read.

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My Mom used to line dry all the laundry, as did I for many years. The Clothesline, by Irene Rawlings and Andrea Vansteenhouse with photography by David Foxhoven and Jason McConathy, is a lovely, nostalgic look back at this seemingly lost chore. Included are tips on caring for vintage fabrics, the 'proper' way to hang clothes (unmentionables on the inside, please), and the evolution of the clothespin.

Continuing along the nostalgia trail is a book about aprons. I really don't remember my mom wearing one very often, although there were several in a cupboard. EllynAnne Geisel, author of The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort has different memories and at some point decided to gather them into a book. In addition to the aprons from her family, she collects them, too, as well as patterns to make them, and any stories that came with them. They will make you smile.

There are lots of wonderful pictures in Aprons: Icons of the American Home, by Joyce Cheney. There's also a bit of history, the fabrics used, how styles have changed, which all make for a most interesting read.

Will you be wearing a fancy apron on Thanksgiving?

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More books from across the pond today, and, one odd one that needed a place to go. :-)

Cities change over time and London is no exception. Buildings are torn down (or are burned or bombed), jobs (and the lingo that goes with them) become obsolete. Richard Guard gathers many of these together in Lost London: an A - Z of Forgotten Landmarks and Lost Traditions. A very nice read.

Find out if you are British or not by how you answer the questions in Very British Problems: Making Life Awkward for Ourselves, One Rainy Day at a Time, by Rob Temple. (I could be) (!) I found myself nodding and laughing as I read this book about British behaviour. Fun!

Ever wonder who figured out we could donate blood? For a quick (it's a kid's book) but informative biography, read Charles Drew: Doctor Who Got the World Pumped Up to Donate Blood, written and illustrated by Mike Venezia. (Be prepared for some bad jokes, too) ;-) I first heard about Dr. Drew on an episode of MASH so it was nice to learn a bit more about him.

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If you've been reading my blog then it will come as no surprise that I love books about TV shows, so was very excited when I found Investigating Murdoch Mysteries: the Official Companion to the Series, by Michelle Ricci with Mir Bahmanyar. All about the actors and characters, wonderful pictures, and fun bits of trivia (who stays in 'period' shoes even when their feet won't be in the shot?) How are the sets designed? What does the author of the books think of the series? How (and why) does the series differ from her book? Just a great read!

Do foods and drinks you read about, or see, in science fiction shows, books and games every sound interesting? Ever wish you could relax with a nice cup of Klah? If so, you'll find the recipes in The Geeky Chef Cookbook, by Cassandra Reeder. The two subtitles tell all: Unofficial Recipes from Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and more ... and ... Real-Life Recipes for Your Favorite Fantasy Foods. Some sound quite good, some, well, let's just say 'interesting'! ;-)

If you like CSI shows, mysteries, and are a crafty person as well, then you should enjoy Criminal Crafts: Outlaw Projects For Scoundrels, Cheats and Armchair Detectives, by Miss Demeanor A.K.A. Shawn Gascoyne-Bowman. Learn how to make a cake with a file in it (okay, so it was really a cell phone so 'Happy Birthday' could be played from inside the cake). Carve a gun from soap. Knit a noose using just your fingers. Personally, I loved the gingerbread men decorated as crime scene bodies!

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While on the prowl for books about night I came across some books about beds, naturally! There are lots of books on this subject ... human, canine, flower ... and maybe at a later date I'll go back for more, but for now, this is it. ;-)

Why Do I Have to Make My Bed? Or, a History of Messy Rooms, by Wade Bradford, illustrations by Johanna van der Sterre. I remember asking this question, and come to think of it, getting the same answer. Seems it's a question that has come down from the earliest of times!

For a nice history of how humans have slept through the ages, read What You Never Knew About Beds, Bedrooms, and Pajamas, by Patricia Lauber, illustrated by John Manders.

Remember waterbeds? I had one, and loved it! ;-)

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November 11 is Veteran's Day, a day to honor all living veterans. It's also Washington State Day. On Nov 11, 1889, Washington became a state, the only one named for a president.

Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion, by Jane Barclay and illustrated by Renne Benoit was a nice find. It's one of those gentle books that says so much .... in this case, a Grandfather explaining what it was like to be in a war, and why it (and those who served) should be remembered.

Veterans Day: Remembering Our War Heroes, by Elaine Landau explains a lot about this special day ... how it got started, how it is recognized (in cities, towns, and schools with a great variety of activities) and why it is important.

Thank you all for your service.

And, something to celebrate Washington State Day:

This book almost made me want to drive around the state ... Spanning Washington: Historic Highway Bridges of the Evergreen State, by Craig Holstine and Richard Hobbs. There are lots of bridges in Washington State! New and old, floating bridges, draw bridges (and other ways of opening up to let boats pass), in every sort of design imaginable. Some are gone but there are pictures, others are no longer used except for tourists. Great pictures, interesting text!

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The poet and composer never met. The music was written first. The poem was set to a lot of other tunes before being forever joined with the one we know so well. (Imagine it with Auld Lang Syne) !! America the Beautiful: the Stirring True Story Behind Our Nation's Favorite Song, by Lynn Sherr, is a delightful history of the song that many believe should be our national anthem.

If you are looking for a smallish book to carry in a pack or pocket to read on the bus or ferry (you know, for the few of us left without e-readers!) try Washington's History: the People, Land and Events of the Far Northwest, by Harry Ritter. Since the entries are short this was one of those books I just kept reading and reading .... ;-)

Every state has a state song. They come in the form of a march, hymn, or waltz. Some held a competition, others put new words to a familiar song. Some adopted an entire song. One state used a song from a Broadway Musical. And this is just the official state song! State Songs: Anthems & Their Origins, by John Hladszuk and Sharon Schneider Hladszuk was a most interesting read. A piano or keyboard is nice, but not necessary. :-)

What was it like living here during WWII? I wish now I'd asked my folks more questions. Home Front America: Popular Culture of the World War II Era, by Robert Heide and John Gilman is a good look back at that. There are good pictures to go with information on ration books, victory gardens, meals (most servicemen would refuse to eat Spam once they came home) as well as movies, music, books and comic books. Check out some of the ashtrays, and Bakelite radios in patriotic colors!

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My recent reading seems to be all over the place!

Paul Revere's ride, the horrible winter at Valley Forge, Molly Pitcher ... how much was actually true? Founding Myths: Stories That Hide Our Patriotic Past, by Ray Raphael breaks these events, and more, down into what is fact and what is fiction. Well researched and well written, it certainly kept me reading ... and while not surprised at the 'spin' (there's that word again) put on some things, it was also just a bit depressing!

For a nice, traditional, cozy mystery try Death and the Lit Chick, by G.M. Malliet. A castle (where there's no cell phone coverage), a storm (that takes out the electricity), secret passages (which of the guests has been here before?) and a gathering of mystery writers ... what could go wrong?

Here's one that fits well with my 'strong women' posts, especially the one from June 2, 2015. Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeo Women, by Heidi M. Thomas is filled with short biographies of the women who followed the rodeo circuit riding the same rough stock as the men (and sometimes beating them). These are amazing women! One of them, when encouraged to stop what she was doing (you know, because it was not really a fit job for a woman) joined the WACs and learned to fly a plane. After that she became a certified scuba diver instructor!

For more on one of these amazing women see The Lady Rode Bucking Horses from the June 2, 2015 post.

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I was recently shown the book Be Prepared: a Practical Handbook for New Dads, by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden. It looked most interesting so I asked to borrow it and decided to make a 'dad' or 'guy' post. :-) There are instructions for holding a new baby (and up to one year of age); changing a diaper (and a hoot of an 'emergency' diaper), and bathing. There are chapters on what the mother is going through, too. I have been told, by an actual parent, that the information is sound. :-)

There was a time when housework was considered work for the womenfolk. That is changing and here's a book to help: How to Get Things Really Flat: Enlightenment for Every Man on Ironing, Vacuuming and Other Household Arts, by Andrew Martin. What's the best way to do the laundry? Or dust a room? What is the difference between various projects for doing them? Do men and women wash dishes differently? A fun read, with instructions that will really work. :-)

Many years ago I came across a book designed to help single men prepare quick, easy and tasty meals: A Man, a Plan, and a Can: 50 Great Guy Meals Even You Can Make, by David Joachim and the editors of MensHealth. Easy recipes, mostly involving opening cans and combining the contents into quick and easy meals. I can't get my hands on a copy now so I checked on amazon and discovered there are now several more titles in the series. If you are 'cooking challenged' this is worth a look.

And lastly, an entire book of essays about dirt and cleaning! Dirt: the Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House, edited by Mindy Lewis. See if you spot yourself in one of these essays from supercleaners, to the 'don't look, don't see' sort of housekeepers. Some are funny, others rather sad, but I found it most interesting to see what writers would say when given a common subject.

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November 2 is Deviled Egg Day, but how did they get that name? You'll find out in Who Put the Devil in Deviled Eggs? The Fascinating Stories Behind America's Favorite Foods, by Ann Treistman. Sometimes it was very clear where something came from, other times there were rivalries as to where/who/how it started. There's a recipe for each food included along with the history and some fun bits of trivia.

D'lish Deviled Eggs: a Collection of Recipes From Creative to Classic, by Kathy Casey is full of an amazing variety of just what can top a deviled egg. From crab, to beets, radishes and wasabi, there are some curious suggestions here. You can use bacon, steak and pork. There's even something called the Dirty Martini deviled egg!

I know someone who makes such amazing deviled eggs that many of us would just stand around the plate, you know, making polite conversation and so forth, until, amazingly, the eggs were gone and we'd wander of in different directions.

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October 31st is 'Carve a Pumpkin Day', although looking at these it seems a bit late to start ....

Great Pumpkins: Crafty Carving for Halloween, by Peter Cole with Jessica Hurley and photographs by Kate Kunath is what I consider to be the more traditional carving ... the insides of the pumpkin are scooped out and the design is lit from behind. Of course, this goes way beyond the traditional triangle eyes, nose, and the toothy smile! Check out the three pumpkin skeleton, the Eiffel Tower, and my favorite, Pumpkins in Space.

Extreme Pumpkin Carving,(second edition, revised and expanded) by Vic Hood and Jack A. Williams is just what the title says it is. This makes me think of wood carving the designs are so finely detailed. Amazing faces and spooky critters and 3-D effects. Wow!

Try doing a Google image search on 'extreme pumpkin carving' and check out the results! My favorite (no surprise) was Starry Night, but there are dozens of amazing designs.

Happy Halloween!

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October 30 is National Candy Corn Day! And, I even found a book to celebrate. :-) I do appreciate Leslie Meier, she makes this so easy sometimes.

It's time for the Annual Giant Pumpkin Fest in Tinker's Cove. For months growers have been loving tending their pumpkins (one is named Priscilla), and now someone is smashing them. Then there's the body in the trunk of the car designated as the target for the pumpkin hurl. Candy Corn Murder, like all of Meier's mysteries, is a nice, cozy read.

It's almost Halloween and the festival in Caerphilly is in full swing. Kid friendly during the day, more spooky and scary after dark, it's been an interesting balance for everyone (store owners change their decorations, employees alter their costumes). There's a cat worth thousands, a family picture with a hidden secret, and a scavenger hunt with a spooky theme. Lord of the Wings, by Donna Andrews is the newest in the Meg Langslow Mystery series. This has been a great series! I loved the ravens!

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Alan W. Petrucelli adds a touch of humor to Morbid Curiosity: the Disturbing Demises of the Famous and Infamous. He writes celebrity obituaries and this is a collection of many of those. He clears up a few urban myths, fills in details on some less than complete causes of death, and explains just what happened to some of the bodies or cremains. Rather an interesting read. ;-)

What started out as a local book instead became a cross country tour of graveyards by mother and son (the photographer) Marilyn and Reid Yalom. (If that name sounds familiar, see July 26, 2014). The American Resting Place: Four Hundred Years of History Through Our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds describes how burials have changed in the last four centuries. What about slaves? How do you bury someone when you can't dig a grave? As the 'melting pot', America is full of different cultures and customs which made for an interesting read.

For information on burial customs, writing a will, selecting what will happen with the body, and so much more! As strange as it sounds, I enjoyed the variety found in The Whole Death Catalog: a Living Guide to the Bitter End, by Harold Schechter. I learned how a body decomposes, and what happens in an autopsy. There's a chapter on coping with a loss (including the loss of a pet), and what to say to children. (Each chapter has further reading suggestions). There are novels, movies, songs, and even calendars about death, too, not to mention museums and, of course, websites. My favorite epitaph? "Here Lies (name) Age 102. The good die young." (think about it) (!)

For well written mysteries featuring a funeral home owner, there's the Buryin' Barry series by Mark de Castrique (September 30, 2014).

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There are (what look to be) wonderful recipes in Celebrate Autumn: a Bushel of Fresh-Picked Fall Recipes, Tips and How-to's For the Festive Season of Friends and Family. From hearty breakfasts to soups, picnics, tailgate parties and more, this was a fun read for even this non-cook! I did not see an author, but it is from Gooseberry Patch, "A Country Store in Your Mailbox" and there is subscription information.

I couldn't do an entire month of posts this month without including The October Country, by Ray Bradbury. It has been some time since I've read it, but hey, it's Bradbury! A collection of his short stories, a glance at the table of contents made me shudder. For some reason The Crowd is the one that I remember best ....

How to Cook Children: a Grisly Recipe Book, by Martin Howard and Colin Stimpson seemed like a good title to include in an October post. Lots of fun with words here! There's Kate and Sidney Pie, and Deepfried Small Fry. Be sure to read how to serve Pie-Ella. This book gave me a new definition to Baked Alaska(n). ;-)

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Today, October 21, is Count Your Buttons Day. :-) It sounded like a fun trail and this is what I found.

The Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons (Revised 5th Edition), by Sally C. Luscomb is exactly what it says it is ... pages and pages of buttons and descriptions from across the centuries. I wish the pictures were in color, but the black and white images were clear. I was amazed at the intricate detail on the buttons with images or pictures.

I waffled in the placement of this book ... I ended up putting it with my button post, but it would also fit nicely with any post on 'books'. Or perhaps, more on the 'underwear' trail of the post from August 5. Hmm, or with the fork (March 26, 2015). At any rate Books, Banks, Buttons and Other Inventions from the Middle Ages, by Chiara Frugoni and translated by William McCuaig certainly would have made some of my history classes more interesting. So many useful items here! Eyeglasses made reading easier while moveable type made the printing of books easier. The zero made math easier, although much like the author, I cannot explain just why, only that it is so! Cards, and hence the games that used them gained popularity. And buttons! What an improvement!

Naturally, there is a mystery involving buttons: Buttons and Bones, by Monica Ferris. It is one from her Needlecraft Mystery series. Anew family moves into a cabin on the lake (it seems any lake is 'the lake' in Minnesota). They pull up the old linoleum and discover a trap door to the root cellar, where (naturally) they find a skeleton. How to buttons help figure out who it belonged to?

And yes, I did think about political buttons, but they were no books available locally that I could access in time for this post. ;-)

And of course, in my usual twisted way, I had to include Belly Button Book! by Sandra Boynton. Hippos with belly buttons ... hard to resist!

And, from the September 27, 2014 post, there is How to Sew a Button.

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This is more of a 'looking' book than a reading book, but I thought it fit nicely with the book mentioned below. It was a gift from California Reader and one I return to at least once a year just to look at the pictures. For the Love of Libraries: a Book of Postcards is filled with striking black and white photographs and anecdotes by Diane Asseo Griliches about all kinds of libraries from around the world.

Improbable Libraries: a Visual Journey to the World's Most Unusual Libraries, by Alex Johnson is also a 'looking' book. Take an armchair tour around the world to see all the odd places where libraries are found. Libraries are found on camels, boats, and buses. They hang from trees, or are stuffed into very small spaces. Some are in new and oddly shaped buildings, some in old houses. Some patrons even arrive by surfboard. Be sure to check out how books are displayed from the back of a donkey!

I've always had a fondness for Thomas Jefferson. He was a reader and a musician. He loved to collect books and had several libraries during his lifetime. Read all about this reader in Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library, by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by John O'Brien. I love the illustrations of books everywhere! The author's notes at the end provide additional details, don't skip them. ;-)

The Library Book: the Story of Libraries from Camels to Computers, by Maureen Sawa and illustrated by Bill Slavin was a wonderful discovery! I loved this book! While technically a juvie book, there is a lot of information here, such as when books became books in the form we know today, just how the first printing press worked, and for a chuckle (and a shudder) early forms of punishment for lost, stolen and overdue books.

For more books about books see the post for August 2, 2014. Find When Books Went to War on the February 21, 2015 post.

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I'm continuing down the 'night' trail today. (What fun this has been)!

Little Owl's Night, by Divya Srinivasan is a lovely journey through the forest at night. Just who is active, and what do they have to say?

For an old style 'inter-active' book, one in which you create the activity without microchips, etc. try Touch the Brightest Star, by Christie Matheson. Read it out loud (I read it to my dog), follow the instructions, it's fun! At the back is an explanation of the magic of the night: fireflies, stars, owls .... very nice.

And, of course, Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown. Love it? Hate it? I have had both reactions from parents who have read it over and over and over ... but my favorite response was from Tall Reader who had a smile on her face and a faraway look in her eye. It has been published in several languages, and inspired many parodies.

Other books about night (from 2014) may be found on the August 16 and September 26 posts.

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