Kansas Books

This book is well written, easy to understand direction, recipes that are usually hard to find, an all around great book for soup lovers. The perfect cook book for those people intimidated by cooking!! I love this book, so much that I gave it to my mother in law and she too loves it!

Every single recipe is a winner. After thanksgiving I've done the Turkey dinner soup. delicious!!
Whatever ingredients you like on a soup, you'll find a recipe here that will suit you. I totally recommend it!
The hardcover and beautiful drawings makes of this book also a great gift for friends and family.

I love soup cookbooks - so I'm always looking to add some new ones to my collection. The recipes in "Is It Soup Yet?" are good and cover a fairly broad range of soups. In addition to traditional recipes for chicken noodle soup, international soups and "20 minute" soups are represented.

However, I found the format and pictures to be a bit too precious for this male soup lover. Although it's the recipes that ultimately matter, a cook is always influenced by cookbook aesthetics, and this one just didn't do it for me. Fortunately, the pictures are included here, so you can judge for yourself. I do, however, think that it would make a good gift for people who enjoy cookbooks with country flair.

Smaller in size than many other soup cookbooks, this one offers a great recipe on just about every page. Great to use by themselves, more adventurous cooks will also be able to use these recipes as great starting points for some personalized variations. Just a great soup cookbook!

As I write this, there is a pot of Hamburger Soup and a pot of Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup simmering on the stove. Literally, the most difficult step in making the Hamburger Soup was browning the meat. I usually do most of my cooking on weekends so that I don't have to come home from work and start cooking a dinner meal. But these recipes are so easy and quick that you can easily put them together in minutes... I also appreciate that the recipes reflect the trend to use ingredients containing low or no-fat. I used skim milk in making the Broccoli Cheddar Cheese soup with the same amount of flour to make a roux, and it turned out beautifully. This is a book that belongs on a coffee table as the illustrations, similar to those found in a children's book, are striking.

Soup is a great comfort food and this book won't disappoint. This will make a great gift for novice or experienced cooks.

Anyone wishing to experience what Pioneer life [on any frontier] was like for their Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, etc. and their families, this is a must read! There are interesting descriptions of how the Kansas Pioneers built their Sod Homes on the Great Plains. [Pages 54-55]. The description of the Great Blizzard of New Year's Day 1886, that my Grandfather weathered and loved to tell the story [mid Page 92], was an accidental verification I had sought for years. Family researchers might glean some everyday 'Pioneer life' tidbits, tweeked to fit their state's history, to enliven their family stories. Afterall, all of these amazing Pioneer women experienced the same happenings of their day!

Pioneer Women is a remarkable book. A collection of writings from women who experienced our country when it was raw and their families young. The stories are captivating for all ages.

Since I found that my great grandmother's brother and sister went on a Wagon Train to Nebraska from Bedford County PA in the 1870's and 1880's, I have benn interested in reading about Pioneer Families. This book was actual experiences of the women who survived in the early settlements of this country. How can we not be proud of their determination to survive and how much their faith in God played a role in their daily lives?

I read somewhere that a statistically large number of prominent Americans were born in 19th century Kansas. That was perhaps a result of the hard, but ultimately rewarding pioneer life that is described in these pages. Kansas and the West a century ago were in the vanguard of social innovation and progressive politics in the U.S.

Author Stratton re-discovered the oral histories of 800 Kansas pioneer women collected by her great-grandmother in the 1920s. She has taken this mountain of material and organized it into 15 themes in 15 chapters, giving background on each theme and quoting the pioneer women. For example, one chapter details the long journey to the frontier of Kansas undertaken by many of the women and their families. Blizzards, fatal disease, fear of Indians and other dangers greeted them. Other chapters describe the social life of the pioneer women, the education of their children, frontier churches, and the famous Kansas crusades for suffrage and temperance.

It would also be interesting to read some of the 800 oral histories. The author doesn't tell us where they are or if they are available to the general public. Certainly they should be made available as they are irreplaceable primary sources

The role of women on the frontier has been a popular subject of women writers for two or three decades now. This is one of the better books on the subject -- and one that can be enjoyed by readers of either sex.

Smallchief

In a world where history is written by the winners, we often don't find accounts of history from a womans' perspective. This is a compilation of 800 verbal histories of women that lived through all the well documented times. It paints an intimate picture through the voices of the remarkable women that helped to build this country. The book is well written, with good flow. The chapters are formed well, and it ushers the reader smoothly through time. It would be a worthwhile read for a re-enactor. I bought the book at a local goodwill, and can't imagine giving it up. It has a permanent home in my library. I only wish there was a complete, unabridged, publication of the verbal histories available.

A well-written real life of a Brittany and its owner in the field over the years. Very authentic, very moving.

I dislike books about dogs as a general rule, but The Rufus Chronicle was an unexpected treasure. Gusewelle speaks with a solid yet familiar voice about the joys and the learning curve of raising a dog from a pup with the intent for it to be a hunting dog. I haven't hunted or had a dog for many years, but with every turn of the page I was transported back to a time when my greatest pleasure was taking to the field with my canine companion. This book has the rare quality of speaking to the reader on a basic human level, causing you to not only remember scenes from your past, but also sounds, smells, and feelings. If you hunt, keep dogs, or are simply an animal lover with a big heart, then you must read this book.

This book catches your attention immediately. The author's style makes you want to curl up and read without putting this book down for even a second! I am a Brittany owner but dog owners of all breeds, especially gun dogs, will find themselves smiling, crying, laughing and more as they take an emotional journey with the author and his dog through the seasons of their collective lives! ....a wonderful, heartwarming experience, don't miss it!

This will warm the hearts of all dog lovers. Dog owners will reflect on their own experiences with dogs as they read about Rufus, his yard mate and his Master, Charles. Do not be surprised if you find yourself smiling, crying and even laughing out loud.

This memoir by columnist Gusewelle of the life of his dog Rufus is rich, funny and gives a thorough explication of what it meant to live with the Brittany Rufus. I was not partial to the passages on hunting, as I am not a hunter, but I was still engrossed in the book, because these incidents told a lot about Rufus, and after all, HE loved the hunt. It's a pleasant read, with a not unexpected end that while sad completes the story satisfactorily. If you know someone who loves to read, hunt and loves his dogs, this book is definitely the perfect gift.

This is the best book I've ever read on de-cluttering and organizing your home. BUT...it also tells you why you have the clutter in the first place. It also guides you thru de-cluttering your life... the emotional clutter we carry with us, which takes up space and prevents us from reaching our goals and full potential.

This is a must read for anyone who struggles with self-worth and self-discipline. Kathryn does a beautiful job in sharing heart-rendering personal moments to becoming a disciplined woman of the Word, not only in her housekeeping but life in general.

The author shares how to set up a system that almost works itself in maintaining a home and a heart free of clutter. With the applications suggested in her book and God's help, all things are possible.

I would recommend this for a really good Christmas gift to all the harried people out there who are standing around with bows in their hair and tinsel in their hands, asking themselves what to do next.

Paulette L. Harris
Author/reviewer

I bought several books on de-cluttering and this was the least useful for me. It's from a Christian perspective, which I thought might be helpful, but that seems rather superficial. I found Cindy Glovinsky's books much more helpful -- especially "Making Peace with the Things in Your Life." (They're not specifically Christian.) Glovinsky gets deep down into your heart much more effectively, I thought. I'm going to de-clutter "Too Much Stuff" by putting it in my giveaways box.

Too Much Stuff is stuffed from cover to cover with techniques on how to de-clutter both your heart and your home. This advice is given in a clear, easy-to-read manner which has us eager to decontaminate our homes of unwanted, unneeded, and unused items. Not only does Mrs. Porter help us make our homes cleaner and our space more effective, but she also gently encourages us to de-clutter our hearts - which is where the clutter really begins.

Kathryn begins the saga of de-cluttering by sharing her own heartfelt story of growing up in a cluttered home and how she brought those habits with her after she'd married and moved out on her own.

Each chapter brings us deeper into our clutter and gives prudent advice on how to start shoveling our way to a neater home. Topics range from defining clutter, planning how to de-clutter in an orderly way, working in the main rooms such as kitchens to less seen rooms like bathrooms and bedrooms. She also tackles the dirty job of paper work and bills - those seldom touched piles on our desks.

But Mrs. Porter doesn't stop there. How does clutter begin? Why do we `need' to keep things? Are we so cluttered in home and mind that we push our time with God aside? Do we go to God with real needs for `food and raiment' or for those sale items we can't seem to pass up?

When I finished reading Too Much Stuff I was taking a second look at my home and my heart.

If you struggle with holding onto clutter in your home, it can be an act of deep faith to let it go. Kathryn Porter understands a woman's desire to keep "too much stuff."

In her inspiring book, she bares her heart to readers with the story of how she grew up in a cluttered home and took these habits into her adult lifestyle. When she reached a point of desperation, she prayed to God for help and enlisted the advice of wise friends.

In learning to rid her home of material junk, Katherine began to feel deep spiritual cleansing, uncovering peace and joy. She wants to help YOU do the same.

Her book is a powerful tool for today's busy women who need help letting go of things to make room for God. (If you love FlyLady, you'll love this book, and the principles for decluttering come from a Christian perspective.)

--Christian Women Online Book Buzz

I've had this cookbook for years and my most recent purchase of it (used) was to get it for another foodie friend. It is a feast for the eyes, but also has wonderful recipes that are in my regular repertoire. The book also gives you wonderful ideas for presentation and combinations with other dishes.

I have had this cookbook since it was first published and I still find that it is one of the cookbooks that I reach for most often. Beautiful photography. I don't hesitate to try a new recipe on company as I've never had a failure. I consider it to be a "Classic".

This is one of those cookbooks that you can pick up hours before a dinner party, open it to any page, make the dish and have rave reviews. There are VERY few dishes in here that aren't good.

This is an older cookbook, but definitely worth looking into adding to your collection!

We would go hungry without this book! This is the cook book we use far and away more than any other. We have even started some family holiday traditions from the recipes i.e. the green beans with pears - amazing! You never have to worry about making a recipe because they are all fantastic. It is a regular gift from us and we have been told many times it's the receivers new favorite cook book as well. Buy it, it is any cook's must have!

Beyond Parsley is one cookbook I always have nearby -- and I have many, many cookbooks. I am renowned among my family members and friends for e-mailing special recipes -- and many have come from this special gem. I have too many favorites in the book to list but if I had to select just ONE, I would choose Cossack Cheese. That one is a WINNER in every respect, and has gained the love of people around the US to whom I have sent the recipe. D. Ray Fuller Jr., Dallas, Texas

The sepia cover with the altered family photo tips the reader off right away to the time period and family problems. The book takes you to the 1950s where you experience Annette Wood's childhood years as part of a Kansas farm family. The descriptions of home, school, church and family sound as familiar to me as Sunday dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. That could have been my family and childhood she was describing. The difference is Annette's younger sister, Jan, grew up autistic. In the 50s, little was known of this problem and the family struggles with the special needs of such a child.
Annette faithfully chronicles her life, giving us a view into this earlier time. As the family seeks answers to Jan's increasingly disruptive behavior, Annette finds escape through reading. The topsy-turvy family life will strike a chord in anyone with a special needs sibling. The author touches on her own guilt feelings that she couldn't help her mother more and that eventually her sister was institutionalized.
In the latter part of the book, she interviews other families coping with similar situations. Boxed sections provide further information: tips, a list of books by autistic authors, a list of fiction and non-fiction books about autism, and information on research into autism. At the end the book includes an extensive bibliography on the subject and a list of websites.

A Different Kind of Kin was a poignant, insightful and nostalgic yet candid reading experience. The story of growing up with an autistic sibling at a time when autism was a mysterious, almost exotic, and little understood condition was compelling.

Wood's realistic portrayal of her experiences revealed the author's deep love for and appreciation of her sister. But she did not sugarcoat her story. Wood was courageously honest about the positive and negative feelings and effects, in both the short and long term, of her sister's autism. Those effects were portrayed from a personal perspective, that of the immediate and extended family, and the community.

"Kin" also offers support and hope in the form of resources for learning about and living with autism. The research is impressive and a valuable source for others to tap. I recommend reading this book to all, whether or not there is a person with autism in their life, as they will be enriched by the experience.

As faculty in a baccalaureate nursing program I found this book provided a different perspective for nursing students than "this is the disease, symptoms and treatment" typical of a nursing textbook. It offers a touching view inside a sister's heart and a poignant description of how the family is affected.

For nursing students this means helping them to easily "see" feelings that are sometimes difficult to query and then accurately interpret. This would be an excellent reading assignment for students in pediatrics and family oriented courses.

I enthusiastically encourage all faculty in Schools of Nursing to add this to their student's required reading lists.

Awesome book!!

Especially since it deals with her sister and as ABC noted in a piece this week, there is so little coverage of females with Autism. Most stories deal with males.

Chapter Ten also shows how far we have come when it comes to mental health issues, since in the past most children with Autism may have had parents who were told by doctors or teachers that the only place for the child was an institution or state hospital. One can only imagine what parents went thru when told to do something like this to a seven year old child which was the age of Jan the authors sister.

Pages 108-110 have some excellent suggestions for parents as well as the whole family. A must read book for anyone interested in Autism.

Especially those who have friends with a family member with autism because the authors firsthand experiences are like a great for helping you be a better friend to the family.

The author of this book offers the reader a very personal view of autism from her vantage point as the older sister of an autistic child. The book, although quite small in size, comes up big as an informative guide, incorporating not only family photographs and resource lists, but also a peek into the fifties when the disorder was less common and often misdiagnosed.

From personal experience, the author shares the ups and downs, highs and lows, and the often stressful and chaotic lives of families where at least one member is autistic. It also illustrates the effects of the disorder on the other family members who are determined to deal with each day as it comes.

I would recommend this book to parents, siblings and relatives of autistic persons, not only as a resource guide, but also for the sharing of experiences about a disorder that requires a loving and supportive family network.

Rated: 4.5 stars



Amanda Richards, February 10, 2008

When I first saw the book, I was stunned by the originality and beauty of the artwork. Then when I looked inside and read it, I just fell in love with the story. I love trees anyway, and don't we all often wonder what tales they could tell if they could talk? This wonderful old tree stands right along the Santa Fe trail and so has tales to tell of history that is fascinating to all ages. I bought several for my grandchildren, and I consider them heirloom books which they will pass down to their children. There is so much to fascinate children--the story, the artwork, the intriguing lettering, and most of all the idea that trees and nature are worthy of respect and care. I highly recommend this book.

If This Old Tree Could Talk To Me! is a children's picturebook featuring gaily ornamented rhymes and vibrant colored pencil illustrations to recount the wonderful moments an ancient tree has observed over the course of its life. "Buffalo once gathered / To graze beneath my boughs. / And once, a loving couple / Stood below to say their vows." A sense of wonder and longevity permeate this thoroughly enjoyable tale, ideal for read-aloud sharing with young people.

Speaking from the perspective of an early childhood educator and mother, this book has so much to offer children and adults alike. This book could be used in the classroom or at your child's bedside as a springboard for many discussions about science, Kansas history, timelines, and sociology. The words spring to life on each page! I love the visual detail they add! The rhyming text and artwork keeps children's interest making them want to revisit each page. I hope Jancy Morgan has many more ideas to share with us! We look forward to collecting and reading many other books by her!

As an elementary teacher, this versatile book can provide a launch for obvious extensions in reading and history but also in writing (point of view/ voice) and science (conservation/ life cycle of a tree). The book is written in lyrical rhyme and the artwork is amazingly detailed. Students especially love that the inspiration for the story was from a real tree, whose picture is shown on the back sleeve. It allows them the opportunity to have a new perspective on the world around them.

This book is gorgeous and could be on display as a piece of art. The story is written well, and is not only easy to read with captivating rhyme, but educational, teaching children (and adults) about history and appreciation of nature and changing society. Buy this book for a loved one and you will not regret it! If you get a chance to meet the authors and have them sign your book, the signature they provide is unbelievable!

I served in the maintenance department a West Coast A-6 squadron that deployed for Vietnam in 1971. Reading this book reminded me of many long since forgotten details and events that were part of life aboard a carrier at war. I enjoyed the authors look at the squadron, the individuals, and their families, and the impact of family separation, politics, duty, honor, fatigue, and endless routine. I read many passages and thought "a different squadron, but mine really was not much different". Life in a flying squadron aboard a carrier (and any other ship) makes people close and losses are personal.

Professor Reardon, while writing about one A-6 squadron, honors all the Navy's flying community.

Having served on 4 Carriers in my 20 years in the Navy,
I could relate to these fine men. I think this is the
finest book ever written regarding the life and terror
a Navy pilot faced on each and every launch from a Carrier deck. A fantastic job was done by the author connecting their family life with the everyday life
aboard ship while fighting a war. JOB WELL DONE
Jim Rice,U.S.Navy retired

It is written: now let us praise famous men. Professor Reardon,though an academic, has told a very human, very touching story about the men who answered their nation's call during turbulent times. They all served aboard USS SARATOGA. This book is a great tribute to that ship and her men. A momentous accompishment!

...as a Puncher who served with VA-75 during this period and the men mentioned within,I can personally attest to the accuracy and detail that the author has so wonderfully and painstakingly written.She does the men a high honor,and is a class act herself.I found myself sucked in reading it and reliving my time with them.Not a better book written on the A6 Community.Very highly recommended.

I flew Intruders with several of the people who were prominent in the book - I wish I had been able to read about what they had been through at that time. As students and young pilots we heard bits and pieces about this cruise, but never an end to end account. The squadron and their families are captured very well by the author, as good people doing their best under trying circumstances. Top Gun captured the glamor of Naval Aviation, but this book has the real story, the real people, and the real hurt that goes with the job.

You should read Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner and it is historical fiction. The Muldie boys and their dad were going to the West. They came to Kentucky to make their wood house. In Kentucky, it was a free land. One day the Muldie boys' dad went to find a new place to build a new house. It is a good book because the Muldie boys try to find their dad. It makes me feel very happy to read the book because it was historical fiction. I learned about the Homestead Act and I learned that you can help each other.

This was the first chapter book I ever read by myself. It was a great adventure. It is about a family of black pioneers. I was sad in the beginning when I read that the Muldie boys' Mom had died on their way west. When they made their first friend out west, and learned to make a dugout, the story began to get exciting. My favorite part was when they made friends with a group of Native Americans. Later, the three Muldie boys traveled over a hundred miles on their own to find their father on his new homestead. I was thrilled to read on the back page that my first reading adventure was based on a true story. I would recommend this adventure to any new reader.

This novel is about an African American family who moves from Kentucky to Nicodemus, Kansas during the time of westward expansion. The father left his sons in Nicodemus, while he went on to find a place for them to settle, the children followed. The family has a positive encounter with Native Americans, who give them food during the harsh winter. The family experiences a prairie fire, wild animals. This easy-to-read yet adventurous story about boys of various ages would work well with the informational book about Nicodemus.

The main idea of Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner is how the Muldie boys survived when their father went to find free land. The book is historical fiction. The Muldie boys went to look for their father because their dad went to find a place to live better. The important events are that the Muldie boys and their father went to find free land. The Indians helped the Muldie boys by giving them food to eat. I like the book because it was interesting. It was based on a true story. It was good and made me want to read it again. I learned that families help each other when they have a problem.

Another great offering from the "I Can Read Book" series. This book is also a Reading Rainbow Book, and it is a true story!

My kids loved the fact this amazing little story about black pioneers in 1878 is true. Considering that I used to have qualms leaving them alone in the house while I went to our mailbox at the end of our pipestem, they find it fascinating that three boys (8, 11, and 3) were left alone while their father went further west to find a good piece of land to settle. Then he sends a letter with a map and tells them to come find him 150 miles away - which they do. Simply amazing.

Straightforward writing, simple sentences, my 1st and 2nd graders loved it.

I seldom find a book that they come a lot of number. the design is cute too.

The author/illustrator is very talented. The pictures capture my 16-month-old's attention. He loves to look for the hidden cat on the pages and most often grabs this book first at storytime. Colorful, unique. Recommend this highly for kids >1.

We first checked this book out at the library. My daughter loved it so much that I went and bought the board book version. The artwork is incredible, and my daughter, who is 2, loves finding the cat on each page. She also loves all the animals, and, of course, the counting and number concepts in the book are an added bonus.

My son loved this book as a toddler. Unlike my daughter, he had a shorter attention span when we sat down for story time. I would keep his interest in other books by having him hunt for objects in the pictures. This was a favorite.
He loved searching for the cat in this book. "There he is!" he would shout and point. Most board books do not count as high as twenty so this left us with plenty of opportunities to search for the cat. The board book format makes for easy holding and durability that stands up to frequent reading.
As much as you love that your child is enjoying books, it can somethimes be hard with this age group for the parent to enjoy mulitiple visitations to the same book with the same excitement as the child.
I always ejoyed this one. The aplliqued felt illustrations are so attractive. The colors are beautiful. The pictures give you much to look at without being too cluttered for the age group for which it is intended.
Quite lovely. I give starter baby board book collections as shower gifts and this is one I always include.

My 2-year-old son has loved this book since he got it more than a year ago, and I love it too. The pictures are beautiful and fun to look at on their own, but now we like to count the animals on each page. Looking for the cat hiding on each page is the best part of all.