Mama, is it Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure

Nikki McClure's work has for a long time charmed and warmed my heart, but her latest effort could have been written just for us.  Mama, Is It Summer Yet echos the same conversations I've been having with my son and I know I am not alone.  McClure's intricate paper cut images are both innocent and sophisticated and capture perfectly the essence of mother nature and motherhood.

McClure celebrates the mundane and sacred.  That precious moment when you get to taste your first strawberry of the season, planting seeds in the garden and watching them sprout... those fleeting moments that make life so beautiful.  As always, it's about living in the present, savoring the moment.

We have been reading this book over and over, and my son has it memorized and reads it to himself.  This book reminds me to stop and really absorb the gifts summer has to offer, now bittersweet as each season marks the lightening fast passage of time and my son growing up.  Summer is a time to get closer to your children, see the world the way they do--as the magical place it is.  Mama, Is It Summer Yet depicts this touchingly and is one of those books your child will remember as one of their favorites when they are adults. It's printed on recycled paper.  Find it HERE. 

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Book Review: FEEDING THE WHOLE FAMILY, by Cynthia Lair

As the title suggests, along with the enticing Nikki Mcclure artwork on the cover depicting a child participating in the cooking process, Feeding the Whole Family, by Cynthia Lair, is a kid friendly cookbook. From the forward by Mothering Magazine's Peggy O'Mara, to the accessible and practical content, moms will find straight forward information and recipes to nourish their little ones. There is a chapter about "Raising Healthy Eaters," wherein Lair gives tips on being a good role model, not using food in a punishment-reward context, and what to do when your kid "won't eat vegetables." There are also a sections on lunch box meals, and what to feed babies.

I have been eating a whole foods diet for so long now, sometimes it's hard to remember that not everyone eats this way. For those that don't, this would be an excellent primer. Those that do will appreciate this book's simplicity and unassuming tone. I've tried several recipes with success, with the Coconut Peanut Sauce ranking as my favorite so far.

Feeding the Whole Family is Not vegetarian, but leans heavily in that direction and includes many vegan recipes. There are also plenty of options for those that prefer Gluten Free food. Of course I wish it were vegan and I wish it had photos but overall I think this is one of those cookbooks that will be heavily worn in no time.

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