thematic book roundups

how does your garden grow?

~ jama ~ 16 Comments


Are you lucky enough to have your own vegetable garden this year?

Right about now, I’m envying those of you who are enjoying homegrown lettuce, beans, peppers and zucchini, with the promise of juicy red tomatoes yet to come. Since we moved to the woods, we don’t get enough sun to grow a decent garden, and because of the deer, we don’t have any flower beds or anything.

But I can certainly get into the gardening spirit by reading picture books which focus on the miracle of growth and cultivating a love of nature. Whether you fancy flowers, shrubs, or veggies, you’re sure to enjoy dipping your trowel into these stories.

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wok this way: china and korea stir fry

~ jama ~ 12 Comments


It’s been quite a month — flowers, salad, strawberries, and Asian Pacific American Heritage. As far as I’m concerned, every month is a time for ethnic pride, learning more about other cultures, and getting excited over books that feature new voices and perspectives. Do you need an excuse to eat more dim sum? Not me!

One of the ways I’ve been celebrating APAHM is to pick up some of the picture books I’d heard about, but never got around to reading. It was good to see titles featuring more Korean, Japanese, and South Asian characters, alongside the plentiful store of Chinese books. We still need more stories about Hawai’i and the Philippines, though, so I’d better get busy.

Anyway, today I’m serving up this tasty stir fry combining the flavors of Korea and China. Each title brims with its own brand of color, texture, and emotional resonance:

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seven layer picture book cake!

~ jama ~ 24 Comments
Art by Julie Paschkis

Hey, Good Lookin’, the cake kart’s here! What’s your pleasure?

Today, I’m dreaming about german chocolate cake. Mmmm, that distinctive caramel-y frosting full of coconut and pecans! No, maybe I want some chocolate cheesecake. I have a delicious recipe that’s oh so smooth and creamy. Then again, since the weather has definitely warmed up, it might be refreshing to think light — angel food, sponge, or chiffon. But what about a nice homemade pineapple upside down cake — that’s certain to evoke fond childhood memories. Sigh. So many cakes, so little time.


While I’m trying to make up my mind, why not sample some of these charming cake picture books? They’ve been lovingly baked with the finest ingredients, are great for kids ages 4-8, and will rise to any celebratory occasion. Reading, after all, is the best party going.

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pick a pasta picture book

~ jama ~ 13 Comments

Slip, sloop, slurp. Twirl, wrap, spin. Open up wide, shove the pasta in!

Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there at first.

Only one more day to celebrate National Noodle Month. Have you had your share of spaghetti, ramen, lo mein, kugel, udon, chap chae, and kuksoo? And while we’re at it, what about yakisoba, pancit and pad thai?

Sigh. So many noodles. So little time.

What to do? Boil some linguini, read some pasta picture books, and declare every month, noodle month!

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some good hawai’i reads, a recipe, and a giveaway

~ jama ~ 14 Comments

Recently, I asked my long time friend, O’ahu resident, and fellow Paul McCartney stalker admirer, Sylvia, for some Hawai’i-related book recommendations and a favorite local recipe.

I thought a librarian’s suggestions would be helpful, since books about Hawai’i, especially those for children, vary greatly in quality and substance, running the gamut from mass market vanity press touristy books about sharks and surfboards, to solidly researched and beautifully written trade books (like the works of James Rumford and Graham Salisbury).

It seems most Hawai’i books are published by regional publishers with limited distribution. They’re available for purchase online, of course, but it’s difficult to assess their quality in the absence of reliable reviews or personal recommendations.

So here are Sylvia’s picks:

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