book review Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Have Sippy Will Travel

‘Brer Rabbit’ Books Provide Interactive Learning for Children

June 27, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. Please see “Disclose” tab for more info.

My son loves Brer Rabbit, and after a visit to the Brer Rabbit Museum in Georgia recently, his love has only increased. His enjoyment of the fuzzy scoundrel grew with each story we read, and now these new books just put him over the moon. He’s not an independent reader yet, so the read along with me version is perfect for him. The “see and say” pictures are fun and also helpful, and encourage him to read, which is his most difficult subject. It’s made that much easier with one of his favorite literary characters.

The “Brer Rabbit” series illustrated by Lesly Smith, tells the exciting adventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends. Each book contains two of Joel Chandler Harris’s classic tales about the wily Brer Rabbit; parents will recognize beloved stories from their own childhood. Perfect for beginning readers, the books contain specific picture words for children to read out loud, building their recognition and understanding.
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Filed Under: book review, evergreen, review Tagged With: book, book review, kids book

Hiberate- a series of short stories

May 21, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

I received a copy of this book to facility my review. All opinions are my own and honest.

This book was quite short, but not the quick read I was expecting. The short stories were complicated and varied, jumping all over the globe and the gamut of human experiences. Some seemed like you could know the person Eslami was writing about, the stories seemed familiar and ordinary. Ordinary people, as well all know, do live interesting and often convoluted lives, and these were full of vibrant details and backstory. She painted a picture for you with her words and descriptions, intertwining the labyrinth of past and present and different characters’ tales together into one several page anecdote. Some stories were metaphors, such as the title story “Hibernate”, which made you think while you read. Actually, most of the book made you think, which was why it was not the short summer read I had thought it would be.

Most of the short stories had no concrete or “firm” endings, which I don’t like. Perhaps it’s unevolved of me, but I like my books (movies, TV shows, etc) to have sure endings.

This was a very interesting read, very unusual, and a good book if you are looking for something entertaining yet not mindless this summer. Pick it up when you get the chance.
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Filed Under: book review, review Tagged With: book, book review

“Anvil of God” Book Review

January 17, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

Disclosure- I received a copy of this book in order to review it. All opinions are my own and honest.

I loved this book- loved it. “Anvil of God, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles” was a real page turner, with well flushed out characters that you felt vested in. I read this book in two sittings, only stopping because the plane landed. It was full of historical fact with each character’s personal story woven in. Although each story was full of historic detail, some parts were pure fiction, with details of lives and even some characters made up or enhanced for the dramatic purposes of the book (which was real and what or who was made up is explained in the book’s epilogue). It was woven together beautifully, and made me want to read more about the real people this book was based on. I highly recommend this book, and hope that the author continues the series.

What happens when the hammer falls?
New historical novel rides the storm that follows the death of Charles the Hammer

In the wake of his death, a dangerous mix of ambition, devotion and betrayal consumes the family of Charles the Hammer as they plot to seize the Merovingian throne.
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Filed Under: book review Tagged With: "Anvil of God" Book Review, book review, good book, page turner, summer read

Quick Start Homemade: Book Review

October 7, 2013 by Christine Leave a Comment

I was sent a copy of Southern Living’s Quick Start Homemade to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

It is not very often that a recipe book comes along that contains so many easy and budget friendly recipes in it that I had a hard time choosing which to try out for the review. Quick Start Homemade by Southern Living was such a book.

Quick Start Homemade features recipes that are hearty and delicious. The book allows you to make all the recipes using commonly found ingredients and cooking techniques that are fitting for just about any level home cook. The book contains 101 recipes for commonly made home-style meals with an extra spin on them to break up the ordinary.

The Good:

The book included a ton of great photos. I was always told in college when I went to culinary school that the #1 rule of food presentation was “You eat with your eyes, first”. This book gets that. The pictures are bright, bold and you can practically smell the recipes through them.

I enjoyed how the book broke down meals into colored sections so you could easily find the section you were looking for. These were broken down into categories such as pasta, pizza, eggs and so on. There were not only dinners in it, but also great dishes for lunch and brunch.
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Filed Under: book review, food Tagged With: book review, cooking with kids, food, frugal recipes, Homemade food, quick dinners, recipes, southern living, southern living cooking, Southern Living Recipe Book

Pies and Tarts with Heart Cookbook

August 30, 2013 by Admin Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t like Pie? I mean come on, you have endless possibilities of what can make up a pie. You can have cookie crusts, pastry crust, heck you can even make a vegetable crust <- Yes I said that, and no I’m not making it up! You can even make a cookie dough crust! Are you drooling yet? Hungry are you? I haven’t even started in on the fillings, you’ve got fruit, vegetables, cheese, cream, meat the sweet the sour the in between and do not ever forget the toppings! The toppings, yum whipped topping , ice cream, warm homemade sweet fruit glazes.

How about now are you drooling? No?

Now are you drooling? This Crumble Top Berry Pie came from the book Pies and Tarts with Heart by Dynise Balcavage.

Inspired by vegan recipes for both the sweet and savory pies this book brings on pies in a whole new light . I know you all have heard the saying, “Easy as Pie” . While yes it may seem hard, Balcavage has made it that much easier with bright colorful photographs throughout the cookbook you have the beginning to a wonderful start in pie making.

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Easy to follow directions, you are walking through making your first crusts which is of course the base of it all. Go for nutty, go for gluten free or use that vegetable oil you have on hand. You have several different crusts to pick from and each one comes with step by step illustrated pictures to guide you smoothly through it. Tips and tricks are throughout the book making it extremely reader friendly. Each recipe also has a quick code by pictures, need a Gluten Free recipe? Just look for the wheat symbol crossed out. Short on time? There’s plenty of quick recipes, and if you have a special diet that needs to be low in fat they are all listed with quick code icons at the top of each page. Kid friendly recipes are throughout as well making it highly family friendly. Don’t feel like baking? Not a problem there’s no bake crusts and pies in here too like my kids favorite S’more Pie!
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Filed Under: book review, food, review Tagged With: baking, baking cakes, book review, cake recipes, cookbooks, dessert cookbook, pie recipes, pies, Pies and Tarts with Heart Cookbook, pies cookbook, tart recipes

Nutella: 30 Best Recipes Cookbook Review

August 12, 2013 by Admin 1 Comment

Make way for the New Nutella Cookbook full of 30 Delicious Recipes! You all know Nutella, The Worlds most favorite sweet and nutty spread that grabs both kids and adults attention.

If you have never heard or tried Nutella, it is a chocolate and hazelnut spread. Sweet, rich, creamy and perfect for many treats and most importantly ones on the run it is by far the next step up from peanut butter. Use it on toast, use it for your dessert and even more. The cookbook Nutella 30 Best Recipes makes recipes from simple to elegant only a page turn away. Impress guests or family members with easy yet impressive sweet treats using one of the most popular spreads.

We tried the Nutella Soufflés, very quick I was surprised and easy as well to make. Not even twenty minutes to prepare and then then 30 minutes to bake. It came out amazing.
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Filed Under: book review, cooking, food, review Tagged With: book review, chocolate spread, cookbooks, cooking with nutella, dessert recipes, hazelnut spread, nutella cookbook, nutella recipes, Nutella: 30 Best Recipes Cookbook Review

Hank Finds An Egg Book Review

August 10, 2013 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disclosure: The Book ‘Hank Finds An Egg’ was provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
I am always a huge fan of childrens’ books. I was so very excited to be able to share with you some information about a great new book from Rebecca Dudley. This book is called Hank Finds An Egg, and it is a wonderful Wordless Childrens’ Book.

About Hank Finds An Egg:

While walking through the forest, Hank finds an egg on the forest floor. After spotting its nest up high in a tree, he uses his skills to help get the egg home safe and sound.

Dessert Designer- Creations You Can Make and Eat!

March 3, 2013 by Admin 4 Comments

Desserts, we all love them and what’s even better than to be able to get creative and have fun with desserts? Besides eating them of course!

I recently was able to review Dessert Designer– Creations you can make and Eat by Dana Meachen Rau. I had fun with this book as I love to get creative with my food not just desserts. The beautifully illustrated book is full of FUN as well as easy creative designs to brighten up any party or even just a sweet treat you want to share with the family. I was really surprised at how easy most things looked in here. They do require time and patience as well as tools, but all is listed for what you need to create a fun sweet piece of art.

I attempted to to the Tipsy Flower Tower but my kids had other ideas and literally pushed their way in around me to watch which created a very bright tipsy flower tower falling on the floor! I used the idea to make flowers out of what I had left.

Not towers, not tipsy [Read more…]