Reading Report

I read two more good books this week: one for myself and one out loud to the kids. If you have any reading recommendations, I would love it if you would share them in the comments below. To read more about my 2012 reading goals, click here.

The Quarter-Acre Farm: How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn, and Fed My Family for a Year written by Spring Warren

Spring, an amateur gardener, makes a commitment to feed her family 75% of their food for a year. It seems unbelievably unrealistic to take on such a task in a suburban neighborhood with a small back yard. However, Spring plunges in and learns how to think like a farmer, cultivating her yard, and growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and raising chickens all while maintaining a good relationship with her neighbors. Her mishaps, blunders, and finally her achievements are enjoyable to read. And, she made me feel as if I could do the same thing and succeed. However, what I enjoyed most was the recipes that were included at the end of each chapter using her home grown produce. All were unique and born out of the necessity to consume what she grew without letting all of her hard work go to waste.

More Adventures of the Great Brain (Great Brain, Book 2) written by John D. Fitzgerald

This is the second book in the Great Brain series about Tom, an eleven year old in the late 1800’s. Tom uses his “Great Brain” to create elaborate schemes to swindle and profit from both kids and adults alike. He is a true con artist and his efforts create all kinds of chaos and confusion. But, his Great Brain is also known to help others in their time of need, taking on seemingly insurmountable tasks with ease. There are many moral lessons to be found in these books and my son, who is eight, has enjoyed The Great Brain series the most.