Books To Read » Uncategorized

There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake By Deborah Niland and Hazel Edwards

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:13:13 +0000

Another fun picture book.

Nate the Great By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 07:52:12 +0000

Nate the Great, child detective is a fabulous easy reader, especially (I think)for boys. Marjorie Sharmat has written a whole series of them. Once a child learns the reading vocabulary of one, they will enjoy the others more so. Finding good easy readers that will hold a boys interest is not easy. The other characters involved in the stories are fun; we especially liked Rosamond who has lots of cats. We met her in Nate the Great Goes Undercover. Recommended for 4-8 years but still enjoyable for the later reader at even age 10-11 years old

Copies at the Auckland Libraries

We have also enjoyed Nate the Great and the Monster Mess
Nate the Great Stalks Stupidweed among others

French Women Don’t Get Fat The Secret of Eating for Pleasure By Mireille Guiliano

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:18:12 +0000

You might like to have a look at the author’s website. The book’s website is here.

I found it a helpful book. The advice is not new in one way: building good eating habits. But was unique is her strategies to make those good habits your own, one little step at a time. She has a kick start weekend which if you don’t like leeks would be pretty hard to do. It is written in a narrative where the author tells her personal journey with food.

One reviewer wrote “ French Women Don’t Get Fat is like sharing a tisane (herbal tea) with a friend who loves food, but stays slim. Unlike hard-hitting diet books, the message that author, Mireille Giuliano, imparts is to savor, enjoy, take pleasure in food. And if you are like us, when you are finished reading, you’ll even have a sexy French swing in your walk. Enjoy food, enjoy the body. ”

I think the book is well worth a read.

What shall I make? by Nandini Nayar illustrated by Proiti Roy.

admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:30:35 +0000

Inspired by her son, Nandini Nayar tells the story of a boy making all kinds of creatures with his chapati dough. The illustrations give us a taste for the Indian way of life but in a way that all children can relate too. What young child does not enjoy playing with dough ?

You can preview the book at google books
Here is the link for the book at the Auckland Libraries

Click on the image to buy it from Fishpond

I remember making shapes with dough when my Dad made wheat bread. They always turned a little grey even though we had to wash our hands first. But no harm seem to come of eating them after baking.

It might lead you to explore more dough crafts?

Our library has many books on salt dough fun.

Here is a recipe for gluten free play dough . I find it needs a little extra flour otherwise it is sticky. Gluten free bread usually has a more runny texture so does not really lend itself to shaping, perhaps a cookie dough recipe would work.

The New Complete Book of Self Sufficiency

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:04:26 +0000

The classic guide for realists and dreamers by John Seymour.

My 312 page volume by John Seymour arrived in the post today! I have borrowed it so many times from the library it was time to get my own copy.

John Seymour was described as ” an environmentalist, activist, broadcaster, farmer and futurist whose numerous publications — he wrote or co-wrote nearly 40 books and many articles — were the chief inspirations of the organic homesteading movement which burgeoned in the 1960s and 1970s. “quoted from here.

A book for those seeking self-sufficiency on a life-style block (or thinking about it) but there enough there for the urban back gardener: feed the soil first, how to raise rabbits, chickens (if allowed), fruit trees and vegetable growing… Borrow it from your local library and perhaps after a few reads you might want your own copy to dream, and to get practical advice.