Remember Sisters: Coming of Age & Living Dangerously in the Wild Copper River Valley, by Samme Gallaher & Aileen Gallaher from the March 6, 2016 post? Here is a collection of more stories from that wild and remote area: Moonlight Madness: Tall Tales From the Copper River Valley. In the past, when travel was by dog team or on foot, there were road houses about every 10 miles or so along the Richardson Trail (Valdez to Fairbanks) where a weary traveler could get a meal and shelter from the elements. Naturally there was talk ... news, gossip, and wonderful tales, some true, some, well, not so much! Samme Gallaher remembers those stories with great fondness and has gathered them together here.

Okay, so it's not a foreign language, but there are territorial differences in our speech and How to Speak Alaskan, edited by J. Stephen Lay and Sue Mattson (revised second edition) explains the ones from the great state to the north. Quite amusing!

Then, a side trail: Speaking American: How Y'all, Youse, and You Guys Talk: a Visual Guide, by Josh Katz. Tennis shoes or sneakers? Traffic circle or roundabout (or something else). How do you say pecan? Grocery? The words we use and how we say them depends on where we live and this is a great way to learn about these differences. I find I often use two of the possibilities (semi-truck and 18-wheeler, for example). How about you? Great fun!

J. Stephen Lay is also the author of What Real Alaskans Eat: Not Your Ordinary Cookbook (with illustrations by Barbara Santora). In addition to the, mmm, recipes unique to Alaska (how to cook a salmon on a boat motor. Inboard or outboard), there are also tidbits of history, such as when bacon helped put out the fire in Fairbanks in 1906.

Reading Hermit With Dog

Back on the Lego trail with this: Beautiful Lego: Wild! by Mike Doyle. No kidding! Birds and bees, and lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my!) and other amazing creations made this a two cup of tea read. My favorites were the bird bath, an amazing unicorn, and the Husky. And the mouse (rodent) on a mouse (computer).

This took me to a 'how to' book about Lego. 365 Things To Do With Lego Bricks, by Simon Hugo is full of projects and games from easy to hard. There are games for one or more participants, artsy projects (check out the Seattle sky line!), to animals or vehicles large and small ... it looks like a lot of fun!

Another counting book, dog book, Sandra Boynton book here ... Doggies: a Counting and Barking Book is an amusing look at the sounds dogs make (and counting, of course)! It's probably no surprise that my favorite is 9.

Two trails merge as one here ... Shakespeare and Doctor Who! Doctor Who: the Shakespeare Notebooks. And while there is no author given on the title page, I found this: text by James Goss, Jonathan Morris, Julian Richards, Justin Richards, William Shakespeare and Matthew Sweet, with additional thanks to Becca Dunn, Jenni Sweet and Helen Cornes. The illustrations were done by Mike Collins. It is offered as 'proof' that the Doctor and Shakespeare knew each other, and met up several times. Overall a lot of fun, but I'll admit to some skimming here and there.

Reading Hermit With Dog

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's another wonderful version of that old Thanksgiving song many of us (of a certain age) sang in grade school. Over the River and Through the Wood: the New England Boy's Song About Thanksgiving Day, by L. Maria Child and illustrated by Matt Tavares includes several verses I don't remember, but I sang them anyway. :-)

Does it really have to be a turkey for the Thanksgiving dinner? Isn't the key word thanksgiving? Not This Turkey! by Jessica Steinberg, with pictures by Amanda Pike puts a wonderful spin on the turkey tradition.

Here's another delightful spin, this time on an old favorite Thanksgiving song: Over the River: a Turkey's Tale by Derek Anderson (based on the song by Lydia Maria Child). Here, it's a turkey family that is headed to grandmother's house for dinner. Fun!

For a seasonal cozy mystery, try Turkey Day Murder by Leslie Meier. It's part of the Lucy Stone Mystery Series, an early one, actually, the publishing date is 2000. Lucy is looking forward to Thanksgiving. Her son (and his roommate) will be coming home for the first time since he left for college, and, with just eight for dinner, she has the perfect amount of silverware, plates, and so forth. Of course, this can't happen! Her son arrives with two extra people (and girls!), her husband invites a couple who need a place to go while repairs are being done to their house. And then the body is found and any chance of a quiet holiday vanish. As always, Meier provides a nice, easy to read mystery. Perfect for a crazy day when you want an escape.

And, lastly, for any of you who like to cook: Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well, by Sam Sifton. From pots and pans to clean up and leftovers, it's all here (I think, remember I don't cook much!) The author is going for 'tasty' here, so lots of butter (this is not the day to consider calories or cholesterol), and no salad! It's all about how things taste together. Interesting, even for this non-cook. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

A few more alphabet books today. I love books like this when I'm busy, they provide a quick, easy break with wonderful pictures!

I was pleased to find another Harold and his purple crayon book with Harold's ABC, by Crockett Johnson. Follow along as Harold takes a journey through the alphabet. Look for the letter in question in each drawing.

I first saw Hannah Viano's beautiful art work in S is for Salmon (November 4, 2014 post). (She is described as a paper artist). You can see more in B is for Bear: a Natural Alphabet. Wonderful detail! My favorite is R. :-)

When is a letter more than a letter? Find out in The Turn Around Upside Down Alphabet Book by Lisa Campbell Ernst. Turn the book every which way and discover magic wands, magnets, hats ...just so many things!

Reading Hermit With Dog

There really is a World Toilet Day, and it is today, November 19th. The mission here is to improve sanitation conditions for people around the world. (And yes, the choice of WTO was intentional). I learned this in The Big Necessity: the Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters, by Rose George, which I found when I was looking for something else entirely! Sanitation is a huge issue and the author traveled all over the world to see how different countries cope. In turns disgusting, sobering (and depressing that so little is being done), amusing, and interesting, this was an unexpected read. :-)

For a lighter look at this subject, read A Funeral in the Bathroom, poems by Kalli Dakos, pictures by Mark Beech. Short, to the point, and funny poems about what happens in an elementary school bathroom.

Here's something that not only fits the TP trail of this post, but would also fit nicely with the other arm chair tourist books I've mentioned: There's No Toilet Paper ... on the Road Less Traveled. The Best of Travel Humor and Misadventure, edited by Doug Lansky. These are tales of adventures, um, with a twist (in other words, something goes wrong).

County Reader reminded me of this one: Everyone Poops, by Taro Gomi (translated by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum). Now, I was sure I'd already used it in my blog, but it seems I haven't, so here it is! Reminding me a bit of a linefrom that old song "Birds do it, bees do it" (Cole Porter) this was just a nice kid's book explaining that every one or thing that eats, needs to poop.

Now here's an interesting history book: Poop Happened: A History of the World From the Bottom Up, by Sarah Albee. As soon as humans came together in groups, sanitation became a major problem. See how we coped over the ages. Interesting and revolting at the same time! ;-)

And lastly, a tween read: Death by Toilet Paper, by Donna Gephart. Times are tough, Benjamin and his mother are about to be evicted from their apartment. Benjamin wants to help, but he's just 15. Funny and painful (you couldn't pay me to be a teenager again!) with lots of fun trivia about toilet paper.

Reading Hermit With Dog

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a Swiss non-profit organization committed to bringing books and children together. Founded in 1953, it is still going strong with more than 70 international sections. Under the Spell of the Moon: Art for Children from the World's Great Illustrators, edited by Patricia Aldana with translations by Stan Dragland is a wonderful collection of the work of artists world wide who have donated their work so that all profits will go to IBBY.

By their very nature picture books implies there are artists/illustrators. Who are they, how do they work, how are they inspired, who are their favorite artists and illustrators? Leonard S. Marcus had these questions (and more) in mind when he compiled and edited Show Me a Story!: Why Picture Books Matter: Conversations with 21 of the World's Most Celebrated Illustrators. Part of the fun of this book was to see what the artists looked like!

The Survivor Tree, by Cheryl Somers Aubin, with illustrations by Sheila Harrington, is based on a true story. (That's actually the subtitle, too). On 9/11 a Callery Pear Tree that was on the plaza was buried in rubble and dust. About a month later someone noticed green leaves poking up from the debris. The workers carefully uncovered the tree, and while severely damaged (including burns), there were green leaves, which gave everyone hope. The tree, referred to as 'she', was moved to a nursery where she was lovingly cared for by Richie. Interspersed with memories of the World Trade Center Plaza, this is the story of the of one special tree. Moving story, beautiful illustrations.

Reading Hermit With Dog

A Grave Matter is the third in the Lady Darby mysteries written by Anna Lee Huber. On the night of the Hogmanay Ball the caretaker is killed when he interrupted grave robbers. The strange thing here, is that this grave is far away from where the body might be sold, plus, it has been in the ground nearly two years, rendering it useless to a buyer. AND, only the bones were stolen. The (expensive) clothes and jewelry were left behind. It would happen again. And again. Who was targeted, and why?

The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala is another in the Bookclub Mystery series by Laura DiSilverio. There is a death at a gathering of gothic mystery writers. The victim has no connection to any of those gathered. Or does he? What secrets are they hiding? A nice cozy, with a few twists I did not see coming. :-)

A warning here ... this series just sort of pulls you in! Shortly after finishing A Grave Matter I started the fourth Lady Darby book by Anna Lee Huber: A Study in Death. While Lady Darby is painting a portrait her client drops dead. She was young and healthy but the doctor has ruled it a death by apoplexy. Lady Darby is not so sure. Her investigation takes her to a chemist in on the 'wrong side' of town, fancy gatherings (with a dress with sleeves that are too poufy, even though she did ask that they be toned down), and a confrontation with her soon to be father-in-law (who is not amused that his son has refused to marry the 'proper' young woman that he has selected). Just a wonderful series, atmospheric, and engaging.

Tall Reader shared Brownies and Broomsticks, by Bailey Cates with me. It is the first in her Magical Bakery Mystery series. Katie has moved back home to Savannah to help with the bakery her aunt and uncle are opening. She also is told she comes from a long line of witches (something her parents chose to ignore telling her). On the day of the grand opening a woman (who has had nasty dealings with many of the townsfolks) is found dead in her car. A nice cozy, I look forward to the next book (which Tall Reader has just delivered)!

Reading Hermit With Dog