Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids

This wonderful little book has lots of fun things to make with your children or grandchildren, or if like me, you are a child at heart. My kids used to love “making a craft”, and we did lots over the years. I saw some of the same projects we did included in this book. I remember making little paper houses, sea shell creatures, rock friends, and paper bag puppets. There were also lots of projects I’ve never done and would like to try; like duct tape accessories, felt flower barrettes, bottle piggy banks, and leaf alphabet. So chase away the winter blues with a fun craft, with the kids or just by yourself!

Compound Fractures by Stephen White

  This is the last book in a long running series featuring Boulder psychologist Alan Gregory and detective Sam Purdy. I’ve enjoyed the series not only for the stand alone story of each book, but also for the insight the author gives to the practices and ethics of psychologists (as John Grisham does for legal matters).
   “Compound Fractures” continues a storyline that began in the previous book, “Line of Fire”. That book ended with a shocking event that didn’t make sense to me. In this book, White slowly reveals details that explain the previous events, and wraps up the storyline and the series in a satisfying way.     If you enjoy John Sandford or Jonathan Kellerman, check out Stephen White!

27 by Howard Sounes

This was a fantastic book about the 27 club.  What is the 27 club?  It is the pop culture thought of being a famous rock star will ultimately bring you an untimely death at the age of 27.  This book explores the notion with actual lives of 6 different rock stars through the ages.  I found it interesting just as a book full of mini-biographies of some famous rock stars that I liked who died much too young.  I found it very informative and entertaining.

Snowblind by Christopher Golden

A deadly winter storm tears apart the lives of several families in a small New England town.  Twelve years later, a new storm may prove to be even worse.  Snowblind is a good, old-fashioned ghost story, perfect for a cold and snowy winter night!
 

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

One morning John and Marta find a young boy asleep on their porch with a note reading “Plees taik kair of Jacob.  He is good boy.  Wil be bak wen we can”.  Jacob does not talk but finds a way to communicate with John and Marta through music, art and his bond with the animals on the farm.  Not knowing when those that left him will return, they start to wonder what has happened and start looking for his family.  This a very quick and short read but a great read aloud for families to start the discussion that families can be made up for many different people and people leave lasting impressions on your life even when they leave.