Charlotte’s Blog
Moon Watchers: A story about prayer, fasting, and good deeds
First things first. In Moon Watchers, Reza Jalali tells the story of a Muslim family’s observance of Ramadan. I'm not Muslim, of course. So why am I reviewing a book about a Muslim family? I'm reviewing Moon Watchers because it is a story about a little girl...
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Almsgiving and the Annunciation
Tomorrow, when we celebrate the Annunciation, we celebrate the moment when God, the King of heaven and Creator of all, saw Himself as a homeless person and made Himself a beggar. All of heaven was His throne, and the earth His footstool. And yet He asked a human...
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Facing the dragons of hate
I never know how to respond when there are horrors in the news. I’m a picture book author. What can I say about a terrorist attack in New Zealand? I am sure that Mister Rogers would have known what to say. He wouldn’t have tried to hide the horrors from the children....
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Easter picture books for a child’s Lenten journey
Pascha is coming! And before Pascha, there will be Lent. So you're planning meals to use up the meat and cheese in your refrigerator. You're stocking up on tofu and beans. You're looking forward to the longer services and Lenten melodies. All of these things are gifts...
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When Jesus was the guest of Zacchaeus the Publican
In today's Gospel, we hear the story of the publican and the pharisee. And one of the publicans we know from the Bible is Zacchaeus. Little children often learn to sing a song about Zacchaeus. You might remember it. It starts like this: Zacchaeus was a wee little man,...
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Home: A picture book built with love and dreams
If your kids like the I Spy books, or Where’s Waldo, they are going to love Carson Ellis’s Home. If anything, Home is more interesting and more intriguing than any of the other books in the “can you find it” genre, because Ellis doesn’t tell you what’s going on in the...
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Honey bunnies
Honey bunnies are the sweet, sticky, bunny-shaped rolls that Catherine’s mom makes every year at Pascha. As Catherine says, “They are the best!” Honey bunnies You can use this recipe to make between 8 and 32 bunny-shaped rolls, depending on how you shape them....
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Anastasis icon of the Resurrection
Explanation and icon by iconographer Randi Maria Sider-Rose The icon called Anastasis (ah-NAH-sta-sis), or The Resurrection, is a symbolic depiction of Christ’s descent into Hades in order to redeem humanity. He is grasping the hands of Adam and (usually) Eve, who...
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Paska and kulich
Paska, or pascha, is a sweet spread made with cheese and eggs. You eat it with kulich, which is a sweet, rich Easter bread. Depending on where you're from, kulich might also be called paska, and paska (the cheese kind) might go by other names as well. Whatever they're...
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How did Easter get its name?
Why is Easter called Easter? For all Christians, the heart of the faith is the Resurrection of Christ. At first, the celebration of the Resurrection was called Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover, because the Passover feast was being celebrated when Jesus was raised...
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Cheese and sausage balls
Cheese is traditional in a Pascha basket. So is pork sausage. So I decided, many years ago, that cheese and sausage balls would go in my Pascha basket every year. I'd make a big batch, leave a small bowl of them at home for us to have with breakfast on Pascha morning,...
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Peeps in marshmallow nests
Peeps in marshmallow nests are adorable. And they are so easy and fun to make, you can have your little ones help you make them. You can make these treats dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free if you're careful about the brands of the ingredients you use. Rice...
read moreTHE MAGIC OF BOOKS
Share the joy of Pascha through the magic of a book: Catherine's Pascha.
AN INVITATION
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