The photographs by Ann Stratton are mouthwatering….and the recipes are foolproof, with tutorials handy to let you feel confident making just about every aspect of these cakes, including ganache.
There’s something here for any schedule….whether you need a quick fix (like the Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake), or have a bit more time to contribute to baking (like The New Brooklyn Blackout Cake).
Some of my personal favorite chocolate recipes are included in this volume — and I’m excited about trying Klivans’ version of them: Chocolate Pavlova (which is adorned with chocolate-dipped berries) and Chocolate Zebra Cake, just to name a couple.
Chocoholics everywhere can rejoice in this catalog of cakes!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Mo Willems, the adored author of notable children’s books such as Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, has written and illustrated a fun new book that’s perfect for the littlest ears in your household. Cat the Cat, Who Is That? is a simple, fun little book about a cat who walks along and spots her friends (and labels them by name). It’s part of a new series Willems is writing all about Cat the Cat, a series just for the younger set.
Cat the Cat comes across Mouse (the Mouse), Duck (the Duck), and Fish (the Fish). What wonderful friends she has! She skips along, jubilant and joyful, celebrating the diversity of her pals.
But what’s this? What kind of creature is this? Cat the Cat walks up on someone who doesn’t look quite the same, act quite the same, or talk quite the same. What will she do?
Children will delight in the simplistic words and illustrations while at the same time be learning about appreciation of others who are different. They’ll love the surprise ending, and you’ll love the straightforward yet simple message it carries!
(Watch a fun, kid-led interview with Mo Willems here.)
1) MANDATORY: Tell me in a comment below another book from HarperCollins you’d love to read (for yourself or to your kids).
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!
I’ll close the contest next Thursday, March 25th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry, US entries only. Good luck!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Just in time for spring and Easter, a classic children’s book by Clare Turlay Newberry has been published by HarperCollins in paperback.
Marshmallow, originally published in 1943, is the true story of a cat named Oliver and a soft, white bunny named Marshmallow who are brought together as pets, by a little old lady named Miss Tilly, forced to share a household.
This classic book, a Caldecott Honor recipient, is heartwarming and sweet. It’s a simple yet descriptive tale of how a little bunny walks into the house (and heart) of a very self-sufficient feline. The whispy, brushed drawings and the playful poems only heighten the enjoyability of this delightful, time-worn tale.
Young children and older children both will delight in this book — and will likely relate to many of the themes within it (missing home/Mommy, making new friends). Though slim, this book is not watered down. There are plenty of words on each page to usher little listeners right into the story, painting very effectively a realistic (and “warm and fuzzy”) picture of one of the sweetest (and most famous) friendships of all time.
Purchase the paperback version of Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry for just $6.99 from HarperCollins, or look for it at your local bookstore. Tuck a copy into this year’s Easter baskets for really big smiles.
Win it! Would you like to win the new paperback issue of Marshmallow? Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you can!
Here’s how to enter:
1) MANDATORY: Tell me in a comment below another classic picture book you loved as a child and enjoy reading to your children now.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!
I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry, US entries only. Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to commenter #78, Courtney, the winner of this book!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Join the adorable big-headed bear, Mouk, as he travels around the world on a “trail of adventure.” You’ll jaunt along with him to Madagascar, Japan, India, Peru, and several more stops, meeting unusual characters and learning about unique customs & traditions along the way.
Each country spreads across two pages. There is a “letter” from Mouk on each page telling us, his friends, all about what he sees and who he meets at each destination. The local inhabitants are spread throughout the scene, giving insight into mores and facts via word bubbles as they converse with one another.
This jumbo sized (nearly 12″x12″) book has a puffy-padded cover that’s shiny and fun to hold. The super-thick pages are coated with a shiny surface as well….so you know what that means….STICKERS!
That’s right! Reusable clings can be found on the center two pages of the book, so your child (or you!) can have fun adding them to and enhancing each scene!
Around the World With Mouk is a visual feast for the eyes. While surveying the onslaught of color and activity on each spread, within each international country, you’ll be surprised at how long your attention will be held fast. This book is big enough for our two kids to share…sitting side by side, swapping stickers and stifling giggles. (”The lemurs have funny looking eyes, Mama!” my oldest one says.)
Think Richard Scarry meets a flock of full-colored caricaturists. Boutavant’s Around the World with Mouk is certainly in a category all of its own!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Any kid would enjoy a not-quite-ordinary bedtime book every once in a while. Race You to Bed by Bob Shea is one of those books!
The interplay between bright/bold and soft/pillowy graphics make this book a beauty to behold. Textures and patterns bring life to simple, 60s-inspired objects and animals in this tale, all about a whispy-white rabbit (with very long ears and very stretchy legs) who’s racing your kids to bed.
He races to and fro, in and around things, interacting with random objects along the way (a sailing skateboard, for instance), never breaking his stride. Our kids love the bunny’s expressive and exaggerated eyes. They giggle all throughout the audible race to the finish line, the animated and whimsical (and sometimes suspenseful), short and sweet journey that it is.
Who will get there first? Why, you’ll just have to wait and see.
This book is a prize for any little sleepyhead who’s reluctant to settle down at night for a good night’s rest. (Parents can rejoice in this book’s achievements, as well!)
You can purchase Race You to Bed from HarperCollins.com, several terrific online booksellers…or look for it in the new children’s books section at your nearest bookstore.
Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins Children’s, I have an extra copy of Race You to Bed for one of my readers!
Here’s how to enter:
1) MANDATORY: Leave me a comment below telling me another HarperCollins Children’s book you think your kids would love.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!
I’ll close this contest next Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only.Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congrats to winner #77, Quanda, the winner of this book!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
What’s it really like to have your identity robbed from you? In William Boyd’sOrdinary Thunderstorms, it’s evident that your life can change fast….too fast….if this unfortunate happening finds you.
Ordinary Thunderstorms is a tense crime drama set in the streets (and understreets) of London. There is no “warming up” and getting set up into the story. By the time the first chapter ends, you are thrust head-first into a harrowing and devastating situation along with the main character, Adam Kindred, a self-respecting climatologist.
A chance meeting of a stranger and then, moments later, the witness of that stranger’s post-murder scene (and subsequent death), plunges Kindred into a place where he really does not want to be. Yet he’s going…he has to…and his journey into safety takes him straight into hiding, namely, into the underground of the European city.
He is moved effortlessly from a place of status and security to somewhere he’s never been…even to the point of begging for basic needs. He has lost everything he’s worked for….even the basic rights of every human being. He comes across a varied flock of unusual and eclectic characters as he travels on to a seemingly unknown point.
The story touches on the corruption of large pharmaceutical firms, the dishonesty that looms and the secretive games that are played within the darkest shadows of the corporate world.
I found this book enjoyable to read, like most other crime dramas I’ve read, yet it felt a little slow at times. I did enjoy learning more about a part of the world that I don’t know much about, as well as getting a very different perspective from a “man on the run” than is usually seen.
1) MANDATORY: Comment below with another HarperCollins title you’d love to get lost in.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!
I’ll close this contest next Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only.Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to commenter #66, Heather!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Making Toast, a new memoir by author, journalist, and playwright Roger Rosenblatt, is a somber account of life after the loss of a grown daughter. The author’s daughter, a wife, doctor, and mother of three children, dies suddenly in December 2007 of a rare and undiagnosed heart condition.
There is no other thing to do but go and be there….and that’s just what Roger and Ginny, his wife and mother of the lost-too-soon daughter, do. They pack up their life and travel to move in with the sorrowful widower and his three children.
The author is lovingly donned “Boppo” by his grandkids. He’s lovable, entertaining, and a terrific diversion for them during this horrific time. When the kids ask how long they’re going to stay, Boppo replies, “Forever.”
Boppo’s pride and top achievement is knowing exactly how each child likes their morning toast….and making it perfectly for them all each and every morning. It’s this common, everyday occurrence and task that speaks the theme of this whole book: Death happens, but life still goes on. Even after a loved one is lost, there are still others left behind that must go on living (and be dutifully cared for). It is in completing these daily, required household tasks that the author and the family finds solace….until they are better at grips with the sadness they’ve been slammed with, and more able to grieve and deal with their loss.
I enjoyed the way this memoir was written. Instead of regular chapters and unbroken paragraphs, it is written in small snippets….memories of the past interspersed with small happenings (significant and insignificant) of the current day. The glimpses and reflections bounce between sentimental, frustrated, trying, and hopeful.
The author’s anger and resentment, and subsequent questioning of why God would let this happen to such a wonderful person and family, clouded this book for me at times. I felt that, despite all of the questions and ponderings, he was still left with empty reserves and no real answers….and stubborn self-reliance.
Yet, overall, I still found it a raw and heartfelt account from a real-life Dad. The way he remembers tiny, minute details about his beloved daughter is overwhelming. One could only hope to be remembered so well by those who love them most.
Then a call near the end to all of us who read it: To remember to tell those we love that we love them….because we never know when “too late” will be.
Though this wasn’t a walk in the park to read through, this book had such beauty and prose that I found it hard to put down.
You can purchase Making Toast for $21.99 via HarperCollins or wherever your favorite books are sold.
1) Comment below with another HarperCollins title you’re itching to read
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below!
I’ll close the contest next Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only.Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congrats to commenter # 22, Cindy, the winner of this contest!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Round Is a Mooncake tells of a small girl’s urban neighborhood becoming a dwelling for shapes of all kinds, some easier to spot than others. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. This is a perfect book/app to have on hand for lengthy waits in a waiting room or a car trip.
Like PicPocket Books’ other childrens’ stories for the iPhone, Round Is a Mooncake has controls for controlling the speed of the story being read, letting you pause, fast-forward or rewind at will with the touch of the screen. The text is highlighted as the narrator reads each word. Hidden sounds can be heard when certain objects or animals are tapped. The new vocabulary is explained and defined at the end of the story.
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received a download of this iPhone app for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From Sadie Jones, the author of acclaimed The Outcast, comes a new novel portraying the effects of war on a military family. Small Wars dives you right into the muck of the battles between the British Empire and the Cypriots seeking freedom.
A bit of background is given, showing how the central characters, Hal and Clara, meet. You’re then plunged ahead to their later marriage and parenthood of twin girls and Clara’s joining Hal on the island of Cyprus. Right away I noticed the growing rift between the two of them, much of it probably springing from the way that women were generally viewed and treated during the mid-1950s. As the story ebbs, you begin to see evidence of Hal holding on to putrid memories of warfare and destruction, haunts of gory recollections and regrets of former days.
What Hal is truly suffering from is post-traumatic stress disorder, which was much less understood and diagnosed during that era. You have an inside window into the minds and feelings of both Hal and Clara…his torrential nightmares and inner anger, her bouncing between compassion and resentment. It is truly something that is never spoken of, never understood, by either of them…and it begins to tear them apart.
The tension and the drama escalates until a breaking point, an episode that jerks Hal out of his mire and brings tragedy home for real, forcing him to examine his character and his blessings, his most cherished relationship.
I found this book difficult to read. It was harrowing and sad, raw and edgy. It is full of explicit violence and has some crude language, both of which don’t bother me terribly. I was mainly affected by the depressed emotional weight of the entire book. Growing up a military kid, I saw and experienced first-hand that doing one’s duty for one’s country can result in some hardship. Though it was extreme, I was able to relate to much of this book, and that is probably why it moved (and disturbed) me so.
I kept reading passages that jumped off of the page at me, sentences and paragraphs I wanted to write down. I found myself saying more than once: Yes! She’s got it! She’s captured it right…so right!
It is not sugar-coated, it is not dumbed down. It is a frank and honest portrait of life for those who serve among troops as a profession…and the families and loved ones they live with (or leave behind).
You can buy Small Wars for $24.99 from HarperCollins, or look for it wherever new books are sold.
Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you can win your very own Small Wars by Sadie Jones. Just tell me, in a comment below, another HarperCollins title you’d like to own and read. I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to commenter #1, Staci A, the winner of this book!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Another fascinating historical account has been written by Lorraine B. Diehl and published by HarperCollins. Over Here!: New York City During World War II is a written and pictorial record of one of our country’s finest, most prominent cities during the 1930s and 40s, during the war that shook our entire nation.
The early beginnings of changes seen in NYC are described as Nazi sympathizers and “Friends of the New Germany” began showing their faces within the city. Celebrations of Hitler’s birthdays at local casinos raised a ruckus and caused much mayhem. Anti-semitic groups formed and propaganda appeared in shop windows along main thoroughfares.
The story follows the accounts of the many Jewish immigrants that fled to the city before the war’s outbreak, including the nearly 1,000 children that were a part of the “kindertransport” movement.
Subtle changes are noted, signs that a war was most likely imminent….notably the stealth moving in of ocean liners to be converted into troop carriers.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked and America was certain to enter the fight, New Yorkers told where they were when they heard the news, and the radio broadcast of Mayor La Guardia was heard all over the city limits, a warning to be ready for an attack on the notorious and vulnerable city.
The mood of the New York City dwellers changed as the events unrolled. Japanese-American businessmen, professors, and ministers residing in NYC were interred and shipped off to camps. Rockefeller Center’s Japanese Gardens were converted to Chinese Gardens. Air raid signal sirens were installed on roofs, and black-out and air raid shelter kits were available for purchase at nearly every department store. New York children wore ID tags each day to school, and maps with 28 exit routes out of the city were disbursed, an earnest preparation for the worst possible scenarios.
NYC became a hot spot for the war effort, too, though, with people all over looking to its inhabitants and leaders for an example on how they can help. Victory gardens were tucked in between skyscrapers, and war bond counters sprung up at Saks and other popular stores. The heralded “New York at War” parade is recorded in word and photo. Clubs and casinos became entertainment venues for visiting GIs, including the famous Stage Door Canteen, the basement of the West 44th Street Theater where Broadway stars frequently popped in to boost morale.
All things lead to the wonderful celebration in the streets when Germany and Japan surrendered, Times Square packed with thousands of grateful citizens, eager to begin anew.
Over Here!: New York City During World War II is a thorough, descriptive diary of one of our greatest metropolises during one of our darkest hours. I feel like I know more about New York City…as well as more about the war that my grandparents and great-grandparents lived through and tell about today.
Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, I am giving away one copy of Over Here!: New York City During World War II by Lorraine B. Diehl! Just tell me, in a comment below, another book by HarperCollins that you find fascinating. I’ll close this contest next Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only.Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to commenter #11, Amy, the winner of this book!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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