Review: The Icecutter's Daughter

The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Merrill Krause promised her dying mother that she would watch over and care for her family. But her family doesn't know about her promise as her father tells her she needs to step down from the ice harvesting family business.
Rurik Jorgenson also made family promises. He moved to Merrill's town to help his uncle's carpentry business. He hopes to one day open his own shop, but he needs to care for family, before striking out on his own.

I forgot how much I enjoy Tracie Peterson's historical fiction stories. I fell in love with the character's occupations, talents, and family loyalties. It was a story I couldn't put down and wanted to share with others immediately. I'm looking forward to her next book in the Land of Shining Water series.

Time Period: 1800's
Location: Waseca, Minnesota, USA

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House Publishers!!

Review: God is on the Cross

God Is on the Cross: Reflections on Lent and Easter by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God is on the Cross: Reflections on Lent and Easter offers forty devotional readings during the Lenten season leading up to Easter. Dietrick Bonhoeffer is listed as the author, but he died in 1945. O. C. Dean Jr. translated Bonhoeffer's letters, sermons, and writings while Jana Reiss compiled and edited the book.

The readings are arranged by themes of prayerful reflection, self-denial, temptation, suffering, and the cross. Each day includes a reflection written by Bonhoeffer, scripture, and occasionally additional material for further reflection. The readings can be enjoyed in one sitting for the busy individual. If readers want a longer study during Lent, they can re-read each entry throughout the day or find a biography about Bonhoeffer to pair with this devotional.

Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Westminster John Knox Press (WJK)!

Storytime: Horses

The day of storytime for horses, it was Levi Strauss Day. Cowboys wear jeans and most cowboys wear jeans while riding horses, so let's go with horses. (I also previously hosted a Cowboy storytime for National Cowboy Day. I like to experiment with new themes, rather than repeat old ones.)

The librarians at Neenah Public Library shared an awesome puppet prop at the Wisconsin Library Association conference several years ago. They created barn doors from a red paper box cover. Unfortunately, our paper box covers were black and I didn't want to waste my time covering them with paper or painting them. I explained my dilemma to my amazing co-workers and they helped to create barn doors from bookends and file folders. I secured the doors to the storytime cart and gleefully sang ...

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had a POLAR BEAR!
No?

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had a MONKEY!
No?

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had an OCTOPUS!
No? Okay, that's try one more time.

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had a HORSE!
Yes? Yes! Let's sing the rest of the verse ...

It was a great puppet surprise element for the audience that provided a unique introduction to the theme of storytime. We jumped right into the usually storytime agenda...


Hello SONG from Dragon Tales: Dragon Tunes
Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash
Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee
In My Barn by Sara Gillingham (This book has a built in finger puppet!)
Let's Sings a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas 

Announcements
Good-bye, So Long, Farewell, Toodle-oo SONG from Hap Palmer: Two Little Sounds Fun with Phonics and Numbers 



Craft Project from Banta friends: Humpty Dumpty coloring page with ... horses! We also recited the nursery rhyme together before leaving the story room.