Abigail the Whale
Title: Abigail the Whale Author: Davide Cali Illustrator: Sonja Bougaeva Genre: Children’s Books, Self-Esteem, Bullies Rating: 3 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: Abigail dreads swimming lessons. Every time she dives into the pool, she makes a big splash, and all the girls in her class shout: “Abigail’s a...
New Year’s Day 2017
Congratulations! If you’re reading this you survived 2016 and have made it into 2017 (assuming that by the time you’re reading this the days have already changed in your time zone). Unfortunately, it also means you have to try and stick to those New Year’s...
New Year’s Eve
What is New Year’s Eve? By Estormiz (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons The day when most New Year’s celebrations take place, New Year’s Eve didn’t always land on December 31st, and in some cultures and religions, it still doesn’t. The celtic new year occurs...
Film Friday: New Year’s Eve
Title: New Year’s Eve Year: 2011 Rating: 4 out of 5 fairies Thoughts: The beginning is funny, but not spectacular. The second half of the movie is really the saving grace for this movie. Trailer:
The Accidental Christmas
Title: The Accidental Christmas Author: : Liz Durano Genre: Holiday Short Story Rating: 4 out of 5 fairies Synopsis: Her only crime was abandoning reason — and her heart. When a marriage of convenience ends in scandal, single mother Cameron Thomas must now make a life for herself and her...
Together for Kwanzaa
Title: Together for Kwanzaa Author: Juwanda G. Ford Illustrator: Shelly Hehenberger Genre: Children’s Holiday Picture Books Rating: 4 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: Kwanzaa is Kayla’s favorite time of year. But this year, it looks as if a heavy snowstorm will keep her big brother, Khari, from getting...
Kwanzaa
What is Kwanzaa? An African-American heritage celebration, observed for the week following Christmas. Kwanzaa became a holiday in 1966 when it was created by Maulana Karenga (this is the 50th anniversary of the holiday, despite misconceptions that Kwanzaa was only recently created). By Apavlo at English Wikipedia...
Chanukah & Christmas
By 39james – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37527783 What is Chanukah? (aka Hanukkah, Hanukah) Hanukkah is a Jewish festival celebrating a miracle that happened centuries ago. It is often referred to as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah lasts 8 days, and where it falls...
Christmas Eve
What is Christmas Eve? The day/night before Christmas, also known as Christmas Evening, Christmas Vigil, Day before Christmas, and the Night before Christmas. By Carl Larsson – Derived from File:Julaftonen av Carl Larsson 1904.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30312624 How do you celebrate Christmas Eve? This...
Strega Nona’s Gift
Title: Strega Nona’s Gift Author: Tomie dePaola Genre: Children’s Holiday Picture Books Rating: 4 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: In Strega Nona’s village, the holiday season is a time of celebrations – and nothing says celebration like a feast! All the kitchens are bustling from the Feast...
A Visit from Saint Nicholas
A Visit from Saint Nicholas (Twas the Night Before Christmas) by Clement Clarke Moore By F. O. C. Darley (1822-1888) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The...
Yule
Mini altar when we were in the process of moving What is Yule? For those of us in the northern hemisphere, this is the winter solstice celebration. For some pagans, Yule is a 2-lunar month celebration starting with the Arra Geola moon (late November/early December). In...
The Baker’s Dozen
Title: The Baker’s Dozen (A Saint Nicholas Tale) Author: Aaron Shepard Illustrator: Wendy Edelson Genre: Christmas Children’s Books Awards: American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, Trumpet Book Club selection, Valerie and Walter’s Best Books for Children Rating: 5 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: Van Amsterdam the baker was well known for his...
Baba Yaga
Title: Baba Yaga (also released as Baba Jaga) Author: An Leyson Genre: Children’s Folk Tales Rating: 5 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: Once upon a time, in a land far away from here, lived a girl named Olga. Olga lived with her father in a beautiful house,...
Reclamation: The Journey of a Lost Soul
Title: Reclamation: The Journey of a Lost Soul Author: Sandy Frediani Genre: Adult fiction, Dark fantasy Rating: 5 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: Frustrated by protesters, real estate developer Benton accepts an invitation to a Cois gathering, hoping to learn why they stand in the way of his...
Shoutout Saturday: Aprons and Stilletos
Why Aprons and Stilletos? I love the craft and party and event ideas. I can’t wait to try some of them out! What They Do A self described “domestic engineer” (which is an amazing title!), Saidah covers so much to help make your house a...
Film Friday: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Title: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Year: 1966 Rating: 5 out of 5 fairies Thoughts: This movie is as much a holiday tradition in my family as the Charlie Brown Christmas special. I love the narrator and the animations. Dr. Seuss has always had a place in my heart....
Throwback Thursday: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Title: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Author: Dr Seuss Synopsis: “The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.” Dr. Seuss’s small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps...
Christmas Truce
Title: Christmas Truce Author: Aaron Shepard Illustrator: Wendy Edelson Genre: Children’s books, historical fiction Rating: 5 out of 5 fairies Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: My dear sister Janet, It is 2:00 in the morning and most of our men are asleep in their dugouts — yet I could not sleep myself...
Inside the Mind: J D R Hawkins
Lily: Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview J D R Hawkins, I enjoyed reading A Rebel Among Us. I’d like to get to know the mind behind the story first. Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to...