In this charming story by Phyllis Krasilovsky and illustrated by S.D. Schindler, the reader learns how tulips first came to Holland. In this fictionalized imagining (since no one knows for sure who first brought the bulbs to Holland), a Dutch merchant named Hendrik brought them back to Holland as a present for his daughter, Katrina. She plants them in her window and when they bloom they attracted the whole town’s attention.
Hendrik is offered everything from gold to a harpsichord to sheep and goats to trade for them but he refuses. Instead, he gives them to his daughter as her dowry when she marries a florist. Her and her husband end up cultivating the tulips and selling them. Hence, the proliferation of tulips all over Holland.
One king in history, Ahmet III, is known as “The Tulip King” for his love of tulips. He was a Turkish ruler who imported hundreds of bulbs from the Netherlands and threw lavish parties every year when they bloomed.
For a time, tulips were coveted items and there was even a run on tulips in 1637 when one tulip was selling for the price of gold today.
Great book about a beautiful flower and its role in history.
I am reviewing the storybook version of Mary Mapes Dodge’s full-length novel of the same name or The Silver Skates that was published in 1865. This version is retold by Bruce Coville.
In this adapted and greatly condensed version, Hans Brinker and his sister, Gretel, are eager to compete in an upcoming skating event. However, they have no money. Their father got in an accident at work where he worked on the dikes in Holland. He has been incapacitated for 10 years now. Through gifts of their friends they are given the money to buy new skates.
In Amsterdam, Hans happens upon a doctor, Dr. Boekman, who feels compassion for Hans and agrees to see his father. Dr. Boekman is able to revive Hans’ father who suddenly remembers being given a watch for safe-keeping. In a twist of fate, this watch belonged to Dr Boekman’s son who ran away 10 years ago in a misunderstanding.
With happy endings all around, Gretel wins the skating competition, Dr. Boekman is reunited with his son, Mr. Brinker is back to normal, and Hans is apprentices to Dr. Boekman and grows up to be a kind and compassionate doctor himself.
Great story about sacrificing for each other and for one another’s family and about helping others in need. Hans himself is the epitome of a self-sacrificing, doting son and brother who always does things for other people. A great role model to follow in today’s society of “me, me, me.”
The illustrations by Laurel Long make this book a stand-out. Beautiful in scope and color, the historical details are fascinating and make this book pop. Bruce Coville is an amazing children’s author who specializes in fantasy books for young readers.
This book has great family values, a thread of always doing what is right, and how things always work out in the end. Although God is not mentioned, one cannot help but think only God could pull off such circumstances and events. Highly recommended.
We are in the market for a new pet again. My pup needs a friend to play with. My son wants a cat. So we head to the local humane society to look at kitties. One we are interested in is 8 years old and cute as can be. Very people-oriented. Loved on all of us when we held her.
She was surrendered by her owner who had owned her since she was a kitten for one reason only: she meows too much. According to him, she meows so much he can’t sleep and the neighbors were putting notes on his door due to the noise. I was disgusted. A member of the family FOR EIGHT YEARS given up because it was an inconvenience to the owner.
One dog we saw on craigslist that was up for “rehoming” (which is such bull. Rehoming should be “don’t want anymore”) because it wouldn’t walk on a leash without pulling and lunging for other dogs and the owner wanted a “nice” dog he could take to the dog park and not have to worry about. They had owned this dog for two years. Beautiful, full-blooded mastiff. I was sickened as well. And they want money! They want to be rewarded for their ineptitude!
Pets are just like people–they come with individual personalities and problems. One of our cats we got from the humane society likes people food and roams the counters all the time. She is also our lap cat. Our other cat does not like to be picked up but loves to sit in the bathroom with you and sleep next to you at night. He lays in windows and purrs constantly.
Our puppy, like most puppies, has a chew problem. She chews stuff left out. She chewed our $3000 couch! She also cries every time I leave the house. But are we getting rid of her because of it? Emphatically no! She is a part of our family and I will love her and care for her till the end. So are the older cats we adopted.
We are renters. Our pets go with us. I’m tired of posts on craigslist saying “I moved into an apartment and can’t keep my dog anymore. She needs a yard to roam around in.” Then you shouldn’t have gotten a dog in the first place! Our dogs go with us (and, yes, even to apartments we have rented) no matter what. I would never give them up. Despite the sometimes outrageous pet deposits and the limited places to rent with pets. Yes, I have had landlords hang up on me once they found out we owned mastiffs. I don’t want to rent from them anyways!
The United States does not have a pet population problem–it has an owner problem. Irresponsible owners who want pets only when it is convenient for them but give them up as soon as it becomes “inconvenient”. As soon as a needy cat decides to meow because it’s left alone all day. As soon as a dog is not a “trophy” dog and pulls too much. As soon as the idea of work is involved and dog training is something “I don’t have time for”, the dog is gone and probably forgotten.
I am also tired of people thinking the rules don’t apply to them. At soccer yesterday, no dogs are allowed at the soccer complex. Yet here’s a lady, walking her boxer right by the sign that says “no dogs allowed”. The scary thing is she has her 4 year old daughter with her. What is she teaching her? She’s just lucky we were too far away and I wasn’t dressed officially or I would have had to say something.
Whoever Said Cats and Dogs Don’t Get Along?
Pets and dogs especially aren’t “show animals” that get you attention or make you feel better about yourself…
I’m just so saddened really. And these are just two stories. There are hundreds and probably thousands more. My heart bleeds. I want to rescue all of them and upbraid their owners but I can’t. And the upbraiding I’m sure wouldn’t do any good.
Sigh…
Not for sure why I am sharing. Venting really (and thanks for listening!) as I have no solution. I wish I did…
I pray for these people that they’d have a change of heart. I also pray they don’t get any more pets until they do. I pray some day I’ll sell a book and can donate more money to unwanted pet organizations who rescue these animals and find them a forever home where they will be loved and cherished, idiosyncrasies and all.
For now, I do my part. Trying to convince my husband we should adopt another cat (which would make three). And get another dog (that would be three as well). My husband is against the idea because we are renters and it’s not our home.
And I post my thoughts and my heart-ache to you all. Which helps me. And maybe encourages you to help where you can (either adopting or donating). For collectively we can make a difference much more than individually…
For God gave Adam domain over all animals (Genesis 1:26). And we need to honor that responsibility and care for God’s creatures.
Every living creature is precious in God’s eyes. So should they be in ours as well.
Seven at One Blow by the Brothers Grimm is one of my all-time favorite fairy tales. This is the story of a common tailor who one day kills seven flies with one swat of a towel. Thinking this quite the accomplishment, the tailor makes himself a belt that reads “Seven at One Blow” and then he sets off to seek his fortune.
He first meets a not-all-that-smart giant who assumes seven at one blow means the tailor has killed seven giants at one blow. The tailor is able to trick the giant into thinking he is very strong and gain all of his treasure.
Next, the tailor meets a king who has an ogre problem–they are ravishing his kingdom. Again, through trickery, the tailor manages to kill both ogres. The king however does not want to reward the tailor (which is his daughter in marriage and his kingdom upon death) so he sets him about taming a unicorn and capturing a wild boar, hoping the tailor won’t return. Of course, the tailor does return.
Finally, the king plans to just kill the tailor while he sleeps at night. Learning of the plan, the tailor once again defeats the king who runs off along with his daughter to never be heard from again. The tailor is left with the kingdom to rule.
Seven at One Blow
There are many, many adaptations of this story. This one is retold by Eric Kimmel, a favorite children’s author of ours who specializes in re-telling tales from around the world.
My kids and I love this story. It’s such a feel-good tale of how even the not-too-bright succeed in this world with determination, self-confidence, and a little bit of luck, fortune, or God. These tales are what kids need to hear in this world full of hate–tales of where the good guy succeeds in the face of not-so-good guys who are out for themselves. Very enriching and inspiring tale that all (even parents) should read. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
I wrote on this tale almost 4 years ago and it’s amazing how a story can speak to you in different ways no matter where you are at in your life. It’s the same with the Bible. Yeah, they are the same stories over and over again. But every time you read God’s Word, He speaks. He speaks to you right where you are at and you are guaranteed to be enriched. Original Post HERE
Stories from the New Testament with Masterwork Paintings is a kid’s book published by Simon & Schuster for Young Readers. This book follows the life of Jesus from the moment Mary was told by Gabriel she was to bear God’s Son until Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Bible excerpts are taken using the King James Version and accompanied by famous paintings from Renaissance artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, Botticelli, Veronese, and others.
Stories From the New Testament
Highly recommended both as a synopsis of Jesus’ life and as a study of artists as well. I love seeing how artists picture in their minds the events of Jesus’ life. The only reservation I have about this is that is it the King James version so reading it out-loud to my kids was a bit boring at times due to the barrier of the language. My six year old son just liked the pictures. My older girls thought it difficult to understand.
I love art. I love studying art. I love famous artists. And I love Biblical scenes. Worthwhile even as a flip-through and perfect accompaniment for BSF’s Study of Matthew.
