5 comments about Ten Mice for Tet!.

1. this book is simple but filled with information. one mouse plans a party, two mice go to market, 3 mice paint and polish, 4 mice prepare a feast, 5 mice learn their fortunes, 6 mice open presents...etc. The last two pages of the book give further information on each activity - what it is and why it is an important tradition. I like it because most books do not focus on the vietnamese tradition of Chinese New Year. Our family is of Vietnamese heritage, so this book is best for us.



2. This is a great book for preschoolers to teach about some of the activities related to the Vietnamese New Year and its celebration. The embroidered illustrations are quite intricate. I highly recommend this simple, yet informative book.



3. My 2 yo loves this book, on the 1 Mouse plans a party page we talk about all the people she will invite to our party and by the end she cheers Happy New Year (in Vietnamese) with me. She was enchanted by Lunar New Year this year, and this book has been a wonderful way to help keep it alive for her. We are not Vietnamese and we love this book.



4. Great book for little ones about the Vietnamese New Year. The embroidered illustrations are phenomenal.



5. We really like this book because it has a section in the back for "older" readers. We also enjoyed the front part for "children"

1 comments about New Proclamation: Year A, 2008, Easter to Christ the King (New Proclamation).

1. helpful resource for a minister, especially on those weeks when he is scratching his head wondering what next week should be about.

5 comments about Aisha's Moonlit Walk: Stories And Celebrations For The Pagan Year.

1. This is a quick read, the stories are written for children as well as adults, and the large type goes by fast. The "real life" stories give a nice dimension to the usual Pagan holiday lore that pre-teens might enjoy reading, while the info for adults give some great ideas on how to best celebrate the high day.
   
   This book is what I'd call "Pagan stealth" written by a UU educator, it stresses the seasonal changes and connecting with the self and nature over specific Pagan theology or much mention of Gods. I question some of the historical information, but think that the ecumenical tone of the book will make it something that teachers and Pagans wanting to include non-Pagan friends will enjoy using.
   
   My one big complaint is just layout style. I wish the book had had a few more illustrations, or that the big blocks of text had been broken up into columns or had headings that catch the eye more. Otherwise, it's a nice addition to the Pagan family's library.



2. I just got this and really think it's a great book. I am a UU and a pagan, so I was really looking forward to this book's release. The stories are short enough to share with a group of kids, and the suggested projects are simple to implement, yet get at the heart of the eight holidays in the pagan year. I expect to use this book both with my own children, and at the UU church I attend.



3. I was eagerly looking forward to receiving this book but was sadly disappointed when it arrived. It is a very short read and the book doesn't flow well at all. For books you'll keep close at hand and refer to over and over again, I suggest "Circle Round" and "Celebrating the Great Mother." Don't waste your money with this one...



4. For a twenty dollar book, I was sirprised at it's size to start off with. At less than a centimeter thick, it isn't much more than a couple of magazine widths. Inside, the print looks to be double spaced with large margins to accommodate an appalling lack of content. Not only is the content minimal, but it's not even quality. Sorry to say, but it's definitely very fluffy with little depth of spiritual understanding. It comes across, to me, like the author has read a few books on paganism and then decided to write a book herself. This impression is reinforced by the choices made in the 'to find out more' recommended book section and website recommendations. The books include a few of the most common pagan parenting type books but misses out on some of the best ones, and throws in some completely unrelated books (such as Starhawk's Spiral Dance and Twelve Wild Swans - I have no problem with Starhawk, I have read these books myself, but I fail to see the relevance). The websites suggested are the Reclaiming site, the Unitarian site and the Circle of Life Foundation. That's it. There are many great sites out there for pagan children and pagan families, with a huge assortment of stories, craft ideas, colouring pages and consumer products (my favorite being the Elsie and Pooka site). If this book is about 'stories and celebrations for the pagan year,' and includes a recommended websites section, it just seems to make sense to include websites that follow the same thread. Particularly as the book is so lacking in adequately fulfilling this purpose. For example, the book is divided into a section for each Sabbat. Each Sabbat has one story following Aisha and her family and greater pagan community. Following the story are celebration ideas. For Yule, the celebration ideas include: 1. Cut evergreen branches to place on your altar. 2. buy a journal and decorate it. 3. Decorate a mirror in a frame. That's it. Nothing else. And with the mirror making idea, she suggests writing down the words "Goddess," "Sacred," and "Divine" to, I don't know, tape to the mirror? It's not clear exactly what you do with these words but my question is: how are they relevant to the Winter Solstice? They are clearly relevant to paganism. But Yule?? The majority of the 'celebration' ideas are not unique, are not terribly relevant and are not that interesting.
   The stories, one per Sabbat, are well written. But they were still generally disappointing for their lack of any depth of spiritual content. I will read them to my kids though, even though the practices mentioned within their pages are completely alien to most of the pagan's I know. I think if you're specifically Reclaiming or UU, you will probably enjoy this book more than I did. It spoke very little to my pagan practices and beliefs and seems quite devoid of much real content.
   My recommendation? In a half an hour you can search online and get ten times the suggestions of celebration ideas for the pagan year (with much greater quality) and quite a few pagan Sabbat stories. Along with wonderful colouring pages, recipes etc. Print them out. Bind them at your local office supply store. Save fifteen bucks.
   Check out The Pagan Family by Ceisiwr Serith if you're looking for specifically pagan ways to celebrate the turning of the wheel as a family.



5. My sister wrote this and it's awesome. It's sitting on our table in our living room.
   We love you Anika.

5 comments about Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year LTF: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book (Lift-the-Flap, Puffin).

1. I bought this book for my nieces and nephews, and my daughter's school, to give the kids some background on Chinese New Year in advance of parties at our house and school. My daughter is too young to understand the words, but loves to lift the flaps and the bright colors of the book.



2. My daughter is 2.5 years and loves this book. The text is simple, with flaps, and covers the very basic ideas behind CNY.



3. Read this story to my 2 year old twins this year, we are trying to learn about other cultures holidays, and they liked the story a great deal. We are not very familiar with Chinese culture so I am not sure how accurate it is but my kids loved the story. The pictures were colorful and clear, and information on the traditions was easy to understand. The kids were able to take what they saw in the book and use it in real life, we saw a Chinese dragon in a Thomas the Tank Engine video and they said "Chinese New Year".



4. I love the illustrations and narrative of this book. It's a rare find amongst a sea of books attempting, but failing, to capture the spirit of this special, cultural event. Most books on the subject are patronizing, offensive, or downright inaccurate. This one is not. I like details, such as the photo of the ancestors on the table with the fruit and flowers--a tasteful way to display Chinese ancestral worship, not just during the new year celebrations. I like the Chinese astrology wheel at the back of the book and the 'make your own dragon puppet' how-to instructions. Those extra touches were a special bonus.



5. My preschoolers enjoyed reading and flipping threw the tabs in this book. The pictures were stereotypical ancient China but it was colorful and vibrant. The story covers what happens in and around Chinese New Year, and the message was clear and simple.

3 comments about New Clothes for New Year's Day.

1. Written and illustrated by Hyun-Joo Bae, New Clothes for New Year's Day is a picturebook cherishing traditional Korean culture. Told through the eyes of a young Korean girl who looks forward to her wearing her special New Year's Day clothes, New Clothes for New Year's Day follows her as she puts on the colorful articles to give luck and celebrate the coming of the new year. A lovely and enjoyable picturebook, and also useful for demonstrating to a child how to put on a Korean-style New Year's Day outfit. "A New Year, a new day, a new morning. / New clothes. / We start the year with new things. / New things, for the year-older me. // Time to go... oh! // New snow for New Year's Day!"



2. "New Clothes for New Year's Day," by Hyun-Joo Bae, is told from the perspective of a small Korean girl. It begins,
   
   "Today is New Year's Day.
   
   It's a new year,
   it's a new day, and
   it's a new morning.
   It's the first day for the beginning of everything.
   
   The new sun hasn't shown up, and there are new clouds in the sky. (I hope we have new snow too.)
   
   But the very best new things of all the new things are..."
   
   Then our narrator begins to dress in her beautiful new clothes for the occasion*: "A crimson silk skirt. A rainbow-striped jacket. Delicate socks embroidered with flowers. A hair ribbon of read and gold." And, there's more: "flowered shoes, a gift from Father," a "warm, furry vest with the gold decorations," and a "special winter hat."
   
   The young girl dresses with care, tying each bow with perfectly, straightening her socks, and checking her progress in the mirror. It's a simple, yet beautiful and optimistic tale, completed by Hyun-Joo Bae's stunning illustrations. And the illustrations are truly something special--colorful, simply composed, and embellished with flowers, gorgeous rooms, and, finally, snow.
   
   Hyun-Joo Bae has included two pages of informational text at the end of "New Clothes for New Year's Day" explaining each item of clothing, its significance, and the role of New Year's Day in Korean culture. "New Clothes for New Year's Day" is highly recommended for children ages four to nine and is an excellent choice for a read aloud on New Year's celebrations. It will also be enjoyed by that dress-up obsessed child in your life.
   =============================================
   * Don't worry. Our hero begins her day dressed in a white robe designed to be worn underneath her costume.



3. I remember at one of those wannabe-author conferences recently, moderators read from a picture book manuscript about a Japanese girl putting on her kimono. None of the panelists--drawn from the publishing industry, wouldn't you know it--went for it. I liked it. Why did it have to have conflict, drama, a character arc? It was a book about playing dress up, who needs more than that?
   
   So I was thrilled to read this Korean version of the same idea: a young girl putting on her new clothes so she can join her family in marking the start of the lunar calendar. That's all she does is get dressed, but I can vouch as the Mommy of an 18-month-old clothes horse that little girls eat this stuff up.
   
   She starts out in her white under-robe, over which she layers the fancy, homemade clothes that will help her start the year fresh. She dons a silk skirt in blazing red, embroidered with the Chinese character for "luck," a rainbow-striped jacket that fastens at her chest, colorful hair ribbons, a good-luck sachet to pin to her jacket, and much else. Even the details on her socks and the embroidery on her shoes are noted with loving detail.
   
   Along the way, we learn much about Korean customs.
   
   The illustrations look like pen and ink, with vivid crimsons and jade greens against a pale yellow background embellished with mazes or stylized flowers. Each page has that signature Eastern blend of simplicity of composition and the harmony of all its elements.
   
   Try to pry this from your daughter's hands, I dare you.

2 comments about Bringing in the New Year.

1. This is a beautiful book with colorful illustrations. The text is simple and makes this a quick, informative story. Being a teacher, I could use this story in a preschool class or with older children. Grace Lin is a very gifted illustrator. My daughter and I enjoy all of her books.



2. Grace Lin's BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR tells of a Chinese family who sweeps out the old year and brings spring-happiness poems, lanterns and celebrations in for the New Year. Lively color drawings bring to life the customs of one family's Chinese New Year celebrations.

3 comments about Provenance Press's Guide to the Wiccan Year: A Year Round Guide to Spells, Rituals, and Holiday Celebrations.

1. As the introduction to this book explains, "there are many ways to acknowledge the passage of time." The Wiccan Year presents "spiritual expressions grounded through clear intentions and repeated on auspicious days at carefuly chosen times so that we may attune with the power of the changing Earth and allow this Power to transform our lives."
   This book provides an orientation to some of these "chosen times" according to the cycle of the year. It gives an overview of legends and folklore associated with each season, meditation, spellwork, chants and ritual suggestions for each.
   It would be a helpful reference for a novice, as well a a more experienced person looking for some ideas to add to their ritual practice.



2. This book really gives you some great tips and tricks to help you plan your sabbats -- whether you are solitary practioner or a coven witch, you will find great material from in this book which will in turn help you write great rituals. I find myself referring to this book for ideas when each sabbat rolls around.
   
   Much Love & Many Blessings,
   Thorn Nightwind



3. What an awesome book! It's definately one of my very favorites. There is a great deal of information that is new. There are meditations and other great ideas and information for each sabat. It's a very unique book, I love the pages! Get this one for your collection.

5 comments about The Dancing Dragon.

1. This book is beautifully illustrated, informative, and entertaining as it unfolds.... literally unfolds.... into a giant dragon like the ones that dance in the festival. My students were amazed and enchanted!



2. My son is in love with Dragons and this story is a great book to help educate him about the role Dragon's play in the Chinese culture. The way the book is designed is a wonderful surprise.



3. I used this book for a Chinese New Year presentation in my daughter's class. The children really enjoyed the story about the Chinese New Year, and also the full picture of the dragon.



4. Perfect book for preschool-kindergarten. I love how the book pages unfold to reveal a long long parade dragon! Read it to my son's preschool and they really enjoyed it.



5. This remains one of the best books available for classroom reading for Chinese New Year. However, it is great for pre-K or K, but too easy for 1st and 2nd grade, since kids nowadays are more sophisticated and know all about dragon dance by then (at least they think they do).

5 comments about The Runaway Rice Cake.

1. I teach 3rd-4th graders with learning disabilities who often also have short attention spans. This book held their interest until the very end. Our class made the recipe for rice cake that is provided in the book. We baked it while I read the story. It is a beautiful story with a nice moral about being unselfish. Illustrations are wonderful too. I loved it and so did the kids. I highly recommend.



2. This book is an excellent addition to a library collection on China or on various types of New Year celebrations around the world. A recipe for both baked and steamed nian-gao is included at the end. In the reading aloud, this book has a subtle message about sharing and compassion although I think the text gets a little irritating when, over and over, "something incredible happened". Just as a description is not made more so by the endless use of "very", an event is not made more incredible when it is announced in advance that it will be incredible... and, in fact, it detracts a bit from the magic. I think the text could be a bit more sophisticated but, overall, this is still a wonderful story to share.



3. First, let me say that we own many children's books that represent Chinese culture, particularly since my husband is Chinese. So, we try to be culturally sensitive to different views of what makes a happy ending. However, both my daughter and I found it disturbing that the adorable rice cake which had been anthropomorphized for several pages was eaten. My daughter and I discussed how the gingerbread gets eaten in some versions too, and that this reflects different views of storytelling. However, this did little to make her feel better for the cute eaten rice cake. She couldn't sleep--definitely not a bedtime story. Beware if you are used to sanitized fairy tales.



4. This is a variant of the gingerbread man. It also has magic and a moral. My older daughter, 6 enjoyed this and took it to school.



5. we loaned this book from library, and it fascinated my 3 yr old. It's a typical Asian morality story, but with vivid characters and country theme illustrations. the rice cake recipe works really well.

5 comments about The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year.

1. Speaking as a beginner to wicca myself, i often get mixed up with moon days and calender days because often these things are in different books. happily, the pagan book of days solves a big chunk of that problem. it's all here -- everything a beginner and possibly a full time wiccian would need to keep track of the different festivals and sacred days that happen throughout the year. i could only wish the descriptions of each days were a little longer, but as some beginners (like me) have a short attention span and just want the facts, then thats pretty much for the best I'd say.

   I'd also love to give a personal kudo's to the author, Nigel, for giving a short but sweet explanation on the moon phases, as well as the tides of day. all and all, a great resource for the novice who wants it all in one place and doesn't want to delve too deeply but wants a good overview of them all. (p.s: it's fluff free. enjoy)




2. On the down side there are quite a few missing entries for days. On the upside there is some very interesting information on the tides of the day and other calendars. I would give this 3 1/2 stars.



3. This book is chuck full of information for each month and encompasses many different Pagan cultures. A wonderful resource for the curious, newsletters, calendars, event planning and for teaching/lectures. I highly recommend this book for personal and group libraries.



4. The comprehensive listing of Pagan events for the year is a must have for all practitioner libraries. All paths covered in effecient detail. I highly recommend it for everyone.



5. This is not as new-agey as it sounds, really. It is more of a straight up calendar type book. It goes through and does mention a whole lot of festivals and rituals and associations for the various days of the yearl.
   
   You will get a lot of surprises about what was worshipped when, or was worthy of a festival or celebration.