No comments about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Best Holiday Books).

No comments about Valentineµs Day (Heinemann First Library).

No comments about Just for Mommy!.

No comments about Australia (Festivals of the World).

2 comments about Sweden (Festivals of the World).

1. "Sweden," by Monica Rabe, is part of the "Festivals of the World" book series. This book combines a very readable text with many full-color photographs to educate readers about the festivals of the title country. Included are a map, a short glossary, and an index.

   The king's birthday, Walpurgis Night, Midsummer's Day, and other festivals are discussed. Related topics covered include the role of the Swedish royal family, traditional superstitions, and Viking mythology. The book describes such interesting customs as leaving out a bowl of porridge for the "hustomte" (a gnome who guards one's house), or having a sour herring party. And of course, the book discusses the traditional Swedish smorgasbord.

   The book gives instructions on how to make a Julangel (a decorative Christmas angel), as well as a recipe for coconut chocolate balls (I haven't tried the recipe, but it sounds delicious!). Throughout the book are many colorful images: children in traditional costumes, the royal family in elegant dress, a field of beautiful daffodils, etc.




2. This book is just amazing! It's really creative and includes everything about Sweden. A great book!

No comments about Gramps Christmas Tales.

1 comments about Columbus Day (American Holidays (Weigl Paperback)).

1. Christopher Columbus is revered more in the United States than probably any other place in the Western Hemisphere. This is because he is perceived as the embodiment of American values, rugged individualism, courage, initiative persistance and ingenuity. Yet, in reality, he was a much more complex figure and his legacy is checkered, although his courage, intelligence and seamanship are in no doubt, even by those who do not view the consequences of his discovery of American in a positive light.
   Columbus did not set out to discover "the New World", but was seeking an alternate route to the Far East. His stumbling upon the new lands of the Western Hemisphere was an completely unintended result of his "Enterprise of the Indies" and was never comprehended by him. A greater irony is that the Catholic Columbus sailing for Catholic Spain is most revered in the mostly English-speaking Protestant United States, a country that he never set foot in, didn't believe existed and was named for somebody else (Amerigo Vespucci).
   In spite of all this, I believe that young Americans should be aware of the origins of their country and culture and studying Columbus, the man who made possibly the biggest revolution in human history, is the best place to start.

No comments about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Let's See Library - Holidays series) (Let's See Library - Holidays).

No comments about Independence Day (National Holidays).

No comments about Talking About Time: Seasons Of The Year (Talking About Time).