Well, it's a Margaret Hillert Love Fest this Week. You see, I've been pulling together tons of information about the wonderful primers from this prestigious author. In fact, I've gone through so many books that I'm not even going to list them below. But eventually they will appear in the final form, all listed in once place, with their own button -- just like the collections of our recommended books for "Fall Leaves", "Crunchy Apples", "Pumpkins!", and "Back to School".
ON THE NIGHTSTAND:
| The First American Cookbook: A Facsimile of "American Cookery," 1796
The very first American cookbook is quite a treat. Recipes for 'Lambs Head soup' and more.
I don't actually recommend this edition of the book if you are planning to try the recipes because there are so many errors in them. (The second edition fixed that.) But it's an interesting read.
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Black Jack. I'm really liking this book about the black boxer, Jack Johnson, who refused to 'stay in his place'.
It's an interesting way to introduce the topic of historical prejudice in the United States. If I just get the hang of the rhyme and meter.
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 | Knives and Swords. Another beautiful book from DK. I personally love the stone-age weapons.
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The Action Bible is a the Old and New Testaments in graphic novel form!... and we love it.
I gave this book to my son, who's 8, but he set it down. It didn't actually click for him it became our evening read. Now my kids can't wait to read Action Bible...tra,la,la,la la!
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OUTGOING:
 | Brilliant.
I requested a review copy of The Kneebone Boy after seeing the Starred Review from Kirkus. The writing is just fantastic and if there are any follow-ons, you'll find me lining up to get one ASAP.
The story is about the 3 Hardscrabble children and how there normal life became a very eccentric one. First, their mother disappeared one day, never to return. No explanation was given, but since that night the eldest boy Otto has refused either to speak or to take off the scarf his mother once wore. Next, their father, who is an artist, began taking commissions all over the world. to make ends meet. He returns with stories of the exotic royalty of the world who have fallen on tough times.
Odd enough, but matters don't really take off until the day their father leaves for yet another journey, and everyone's plans begin to fall apart. They suppose to go to London and stay with a relative, but due to a mix-up she's not at home, and they are forced to seek help from an Aunt they have never met before. An aunt who there father is not keen on them meeting, and who is renting a fabulous faux mini-Knee Bone castle, just like the mysterious, lumpy grand Knee Bone castle which looms moodily by the shore. The castle has it's own dark history. Something to do with a cursed genetic quirk which leaves the first born son hideously deformed and dead by 17.
The writing is beautifully British. Full of quirky humor and self-awareness (the author addresses the reader). It couldn't be more charming.
I highly recommend this book.
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