Books read Dec 27

Dear Santa: Children’s Christmas Letters and Wish Lists, 1870 – 1920 by Chronicle Books
What I like about this book are many things. Not only for children but adults as there is so much history to learn about.
love that they show color photos of a scene during the book.  So much history: how the Santa letter came about over the years, the origins of Santa.
Each section of years has a summary and toy terminology and the charm of children, living history section and a don't miss area before it gets into the letters. Amazing to learn when tinker toys were invented among other toys that we in our 60's remember.
So many fond memories over the years, what a treasure this book is.

MEAL PREP: The Beginner’s Guide to Meal Prep and Clean Eating for Busy People to Lose Weight and Save Time (low carb diet, clean eating, batch cooking, weight loss,meal planning,healthy cookbook) by Maria Cook
This book starts out with a table of contents divided into meals in nos specific order.
An introduction about the preparation and why it's important to do it and how it can save time.
Color photos showing examples.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook time. Serving size is listed in grams and servings and calories.
List of ingredients which includes low fat ingredient sin some recipes.
Directions are included along with notes. There is no photo.
There are no other nutritional information but you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs by using low fat products and low sugar as well.
Problem with this book is not all the recipes have the same format. In some cases there is just a title, ingredient list and directions . No times, servings or anything else.
Wonder what it doesn't retain the same format.
Not impressed with this book at all.

The Deep and Snowy Wood (Christmas Picture Book) by Elwyn Tate
Children's colorful book about the snow in the woods.
Digital book has to be read sideways. Find it hard to read the words as they are sometimes on the same shade background.
Shows all the animals that live in the woods. They can't figure out where the deer is running to and the other animals.
As you watch you look up into the sky. this book should be read on Christmas eve to get the most out of it.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

The Christmas Kitten by Jessica Spawn
Colorful children's book that has to be read sideways. Print is small and hard to see on some pages with a dark background.
Like how the reindeer make an appearance along with Santa. Great holiday book to read.
Santa is there to make his wish come true and give him a family.
Favorite picture is the one at the end with the ball of yarn as I am a knitter for charity these days.

Mediterranean Diet Cookbook (2nd Edition): 61 Mediterranean Recipes That Keep You Slim & Healthy by Olivia Rogers
Starts with a table of contents where the recipes are not categorized in any specific order.
Intro talks about the diet and why it's different.
Recipe starts with a title and color photo and a summary.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for an every healthier dietary needs by using low sodium, low fat, low sugar products.
How to prepare the dish and a tip at the end about why a certain food in the meal is beneficial.
There is no nutritional information.  NO servings, or size.
Also has fitness tips at the end.

Brightley & Glow by Sophie Carmen
Children's colorful book about stars. The problem I have with this book is that the kindle has to be turned sideways. The print on the pages are on the dark side with very dark backgrounds.
Like how magic things happen and the sparkle starts.

Crock Pot Express Recipes Cookbook for Everyone: Crock-pot Express Multi-cooker Recipes Cookbook for Quick, Easy and Healthy Meals by Samanta Klein
Table of contents and intro about multi purpose pressure cooker, crock pot and what the buttons all do.
Few color photos.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings and prep time. Nutritional information includes calories, carbs, fiber, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad and protein. NO sodium levels.
Ingredient list and how to make. There are no photos for the recipe.
To make even healthier meals you could use low fat, low sodium products especially for your dietary needs.
Nothing really struck my fancy as I've reviewed over 50 pressure cook books.

Bright Star, Night Star: An Astronomy Story by Karl Beckstrand
Colorful children and adult book about the stars and galaxies.
Starts out with a treasure hunt. Love the picture of all the constellations specified on the next page.
Never knew they also had signs in the constellations. Dark background with handwritten letters makes it difficult to read but the pages can be enlarged.
Love rhyming parts also. So much to learn about them all. Other works by the author are listed at the end.

The 12 Days of a Great White Christmas by Chris Bresky
Children's colorful book that has to be read sideways. Some of the print is hard to read because it's not dark enough on a white background.
Story of a typical 12 days of Christmas but using fish and sealife.
Very detailed photos. Lots of strange names making it very interesting.
Lots of holly jolly shark facts at the end .

Chicken Cookbook: Healthy Chicken Soup, Salad, Casserole, Slow Cooker and Skillet Recipes Inspired by The Mediterranean Diet (Free Gift): Mediterranean Diet Cookbook (Healthy Cooking on a Budget 1)  by Vesela Tabakova
This cookbook arts out with a table of contents where chapters are broken up into different parts of a meal in no particular order.
Intro about fast and easy chicken recipes combined with the Mediterranean diet.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings and list of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat, etc.
Directions on how to make are included. There are NO photos. There is NO nutritional information.
20 superfood smoothie bonus recipes are included at the end.