Author #116: Bil Lepp and the needfulness of little things

The King of Little Things written by Bil Lepp and illustrated by David T. Wenzel.  Published 2013 by Peachtree Atlanta.  What happens when King Normous wants to rule all the world including the King of Little Things?  Read and find out!

Clever illustrations with a wonderful storyline made this a stand out book for how much we rely on little things both alive and inanimate. 

And how wonderful it is to know that there's a God who is aware of each of us and each of us is important to Him just as little things were important to the good king in the story.

Author #115: About CVD with Julie Anderson

As I grew up we called it color blindness but now the more accurate term is CVD-Color Vision Deficiency.  And, just as it was then, there are varying degrees.  A college roommate had a boyfriend who only saw shades of gray  (monochromacy).  I really liked how this book, Erik the Red Sees Green by Julie Anderson and illustrated by David Lopez (published in 2013), describes one form of CVD and how to help.    Here's an example from the book of what Erik sees:

 

You can find more information on the web and specifically at:http://www.colourblindawareness.org/ 

Sunday Randomness #219 Angel Wings

Who are the Angels in your life?

Have you thanked any of them recently?

Author #114: Maryann Cocca-Leffler teaches us with truth and tact

One of the best books we've read on tact.  Princess Kim and too much truth  published in 2011  by Maryann Cocca-Leffler.  After having a lesson in honesty, Kim resolves to always tell the truth with some unkind consequences.  Her teacher shares with her that "Telling the truth doesn't mean you say everything you're thinking."  Kim also learns ways to tell the truth without hurting other people's feelings like finding one little thing that she likes.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans for winter time warmth

 Top picture with some of the ingredients including molasses, kidney beans, pork and beans and butter beans (also sometimes known as lima beans)

Bottom picture of the finished dish topped with cooked bacon.

Baked Beans p. 34 in the VV5th cookbook from 2008
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 small onion, chopped and sauteed
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1/2 c. catsup
2 T. mustard
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1 (16-oz.) can kidney beans
1 (16-oz.) can lima beans
1 (16-oz.) can pork and beans
3 slices bacon, browned and crumbled

Combine all ingredients except bacon in a slow cooker.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Top with bacon.

(Cook's note:  Lima beans and butter beans have a mixed definition- some people say they are the same others that they are different.  I could only find butter beans so that's what I used and we liked them in the dish.  Also, the cans of beans are now 15-oz instead of 16-oz.) 

Author #113: Trees in Israel with Sue Alexander

Text by Sue Alexander with illustrations by Leonid Gore, Behold the Trees chronicles the history of trees in Israel and the Holy Land from thousands of years ago to the present.  Written in 2001, the book tells of the changes in the trees through the years.  With the creation of the independent state of Israel in 1948, the return of trees has greatly increased.  The book also tells of some of the benefits of trees.

I've written about the value of trees before with a post about Wangari Maathai of Africa that can be found here: http://cookingandorscience.blogspot.com/2013/05/authors-107-109-plant-trees-of-wangari.html

Leonid Gore has illustrated many books with his beautiful artwork.  See more at http://www.leonidgore.com/