Charlotte’s Blog
Of Such Is the Kingdom by Summer Kinard
If Summer Kinard’s new book, Of Such Is the Kingdom, were a child, I’d be the godmother. The book is not flesh of my flesh; I didn’t suffer the birth pangs. But I walked with Summer while she brought this book to life. I prayed for her fervently, asking God and the...
Elegant crescent cookies in a hurry
These elegant crescent cookies are dairy-free (unless, you know, you decide to use dairy butter instead of the vegan butter substitute the recipe calls for). They're also incredibly fast and easy to make. They're the perfect solution when you want a batch of cookies...
St. Dositheos, recluse of the Kiev Caves
On September 25, 1776, the monk Dositheos, recluse of the Kiev Caves, died at his prayers. That was the end of his life. It was not what anyone would have expected at the beginning. Daria and her grandmother In 1721, in a little town east of Moscow, a child was born...
Just Ask: A picture book by Sonya Sotomayor
You may have seen some of the buzz around Just Ask! And you might be wondering whether author and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor can write a picture book. The answer is, yes, she can. Just Ask! is not a perfect picture book. But it’s a good one. And it’s...
Should children read during Liturgy?
Pros, Cons, and Considerations from Amber Metz Many young families bring books for their children to read during Liturgy. Let’s face it, Liturgy is long, and it can make our lives easier as parents. Or does it? Will bringing books enrich our children’s spiritual lives...
Sweety: A naked mole rat with orthodontic headgear
The moment I saw the weird little girl on the cover of Sweety, I knew I had to have it. I didn’t know what the story was about, and I didn’t know what kind of a creature Sweety was. It didn’t matter. I could see that she was wearing orthodontic headgear. And that was...
How Theodora of Alexandria became a monk and a mother
There are many saints named Theodora. This Theodora lived in Alexandria in the fifth century. She was married to a man named Paphnutius, and by all accounts they had a happy marriage, living together in harmony and love. Theodora’s temptation But Theodora was...
Arabella: A sailboat, a storm, and a grandfather’s love
Arabella is a rare thing in picture books: it is a genuinely exciting story. The main character, a boy named Matthew, impulsively takes his grandfather’s sailboat out after a storm. But he doesn’t read the weather right. Away from the shore, the high winds and...
Did You Hear: A Story About Gossip
I have to be honest with you: I have mixed feelings about Did You Hear? A Story About Gossip by Frank J. Sileo. Dr. Sileo is a psychologist in New Jersey who works with children, teens, and families and who writes picture books on topics such as Crohn’s disease,...
When an autistic adult goes to the hospital
I realized last week that, in raising my autistic children, I failed to teach a set of skills that are crucially important: I failed to teach them how to be a patient in the hospital. These skills are hard for anyone. But they are particularly hard for autistic adults...
Orthodox Saints of World War II
Orthodox Christians treasure the stories of our saints. The Holy Scriptures, the Creeds, our prayers and our hymns, tell us what we believe. The lives of the saints tell us how we should live. We look to them to guide us and to show us by their examples the Christian...
The Zero Dads Club: A Father’s Day story for kids without dads
Father’s Day can be hard for children who don’t have a father. At school, there may be crafts and projects celebrating fathers. And those are wonderful! But not for the children who feel left out. If the teacher’s plan doesn’t include the kids who don’t have a dad,...
THE MAGIC OF BOOKS
Share the wonder of St. Nicholas through the magic of a book: The Saint Nicholas Day Snow.
AN INVITATION
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