People Get a Chance to Add This Skill to Their RepertoireMost people know how to make the most basic of cocktails. For instance, if you have some rum, a Coke, and some ice, that’s a basic cocktail right there. You just add the ingredients together in the proper ratio. However, you can also make considerably more difficult or complex cocktails. Maybe you don’t know how to make them, and you’d never think to Google a particular cocktail recipe or to watch a YouTube video about it.If you hire a professional mixologist to come to your party who can teach you and…
Author: catfish
A podcast interview with Jolene Gutiérrez discussing Mamiachi and Me on The Growing Readers Podcast, a production of The Children’s Book Review. In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, teacher-librarian and children’s book author Jolene Gutiérrez shares the heartwarming journey of creating Mamiachi and Me with her son Dakota. This vibrant picture book, born from a simple misheard word, blossoms into a joyful celebration of mariachi music, family tradition, and finding one’s voice. With nearly three decades of experience connecting young readers to transformative stories, Jolene offers unique insights into the power of representation in children’s literature. She discusses…
From swan-inspired paddle boats to a riverside winery, there’s oodles to enjoy in this regional city, just across the border. Review by Carla Caruso Mildura is almost an honorary South Australian locale – its closest capital city is Adelaide. Although, it’s actually situated, along the River Murray, in northwest Victoria. The regional city is a bit over four hours’ drive from the Adelaide CBD. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it makes sense that the Sunraysia region it’s part of has been playfully dubbed ‘Tropical North Victoria’. Actor and comedian Shane Jacobson is a celebrity ambassador of…
Rigatoni alla CarbonaraThe origins of Carbonara sauce is greatly disputed. Some claim it is a 19th century Neapolitan creation, others believe it originated after the end of World War II as a use of American troops’ bacon and powdered egg rations. Whatever its origins, this pasta dish of bacon, lard, garlic, eggs and cheese is a favorite of many, as the creamy sauce thickens while mixed with hot pasta for a very satisfying meal.Veal SaltimboccaSaltimbocca literally translates as “jump in the mouth,” which this traditional veal dish should do if prepared well. Though actually a recipe which originated in Brescia,…
One sector that most publishers in Africa say is rapidly growing is children’s books.Lola Shoneyin, a novelist and the publisher of Ouida Books in Nigeria, is leading a project to train writers, agents, illustrators, editors and graphic designers on the publication of children’s books.The project, known as BookStorm, was born from a trip she took in 2017 to Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. As she read to children there from picture books by Western authors, she noticed the children were fidgety, she said, and clearly unable to relate to the experiences in the books.Shoneyin, who had written a children’s book before,…
Best New Audiobooks for Teens, selected by AudioFile Magazine for The Children’s Book Review. Whether your teen listener enjoys a sweeping historical fantasy, a far-future adventure, or a new, contemporary take on Jane Austen’s EMMA, they will find something fun to enjoy with these audiobooks. Skilled narrators perform fast-paced quests and emotional stories alike—and a full-cast narration brings a graphic novel alive for audiobook listeners. Read on to find an excellent teen audiobook perfect for cold winter nights. Best New Audiobooks for Teen Listeners Written by Philip Reeve Read by Barnaby Edwards AudioFile Earphones Award Scholastic Audiobooks | 10 hrs |…
Cool 4 Kids – Lets Party Show Cool 4 Kids presents a vibrant and innovative themed music concert for children aged one to twelve years of age. A family-friendly show that is highly engaging, there will be opportunities for children to star on stage as assistant presenters and performers. Tony plays the guitar and sings and uses many different instruments to create a highly energetic sound. Children will dance along and be fully immersed in the many fun games. So many colours and surprises including scarf dancing, puppetry, and the giant parachute! Take the whole family along as parents and…
Pax by Tom Holland Pax is a gripping narrative history of Rome at its peak of power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland depicts ancient Rome in all its glory, including Nero’s fall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the construction of the Colosseum and Hadrian’s Wall, and Trajan’s conquests. Holland vividly depicts the lives of Romans both ordinary and spectacular, from slaves to emperors, demonstrating that Roman peace was the result of unprecedented military violence. Rome and Persia by Adrian Goldsworthy The Roman empire was unlike any other. It imposed peace and prosperity…
Five young Kenyan men who disappeared last month in a spate of abductions targeting government critics were freed on Monday, local media and rights groups said. The kidnappings have dominated news and political discussions in recent weeks, with at least six young men disappearing over the Christmas holidays.
Book Review of Leo Gets His Nighttime ZZZsSponsored* | All opinions are our ownThe Children’s Book Review Leo Gets His Nighttime ZZZs Written by Christine Corrigan Mendez, M.Ed., LPC, NCC and Jen Monika McCurdy, M.Ed., LPC Illustrated by Dana Regan Ages: 4-6 | 36 Pages Publisher: CCM & JMM Wellness LLC / BookBaby (2025) | ISBN: 9798985809121 What to Expect: Wellness, sleep, problem solving, agency, caring for others. In this fantastic second book in the Kids Can Club series, readers will meet Leo, a third-grader with a very relatable problem that many readers will have experienced for themselves. Leo is one…