Charlotte’s Blog

Being Orthodox — with asthma

Being Orthodox — with asthma

Guest post by Jeanie Murphy When I developed asthma, thanks to a mold exposure, I suddenly found that liturgy was often unbearable. The incense was thick, the windows tightly shut, and the priest, apologetically, said he could not change this. I said that I...

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Book activity: Hot chocolate mug project

Book activity: Hot chocolate mug project

In The Saint Nicholas Day Snow, Catherine and Elizabeth play outside in the snow until they’re so cold they have to go in. And Catherine’s mom makes them hot chocolate. You can extend the story by having your children make these hot chocolate mugs from popsicle sticks...

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Looking for the real St. Nicholas

Looking for the real St. Nicholas

The stores are already filled with ornaments and decorations that feature a man with a big white beard, dressed all in red. He might have children with him, or a bag of toys. There might be Christmas trees in the background. There might be elves. Who is this man? How...

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Of Such Is the Kingdom by Summer Kinard

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...

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Elegant crescent cookies in a hurry

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...

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St. Dositheos, recluse of the Kiev Caves

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...

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Just Ask: A picture book by Sonia Sotomayor

Just Ask: A picture book by Sonia 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...

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Sweety: A naked mole rat with orthodontic headgear

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...

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How Theodora of Alexandria became a monk and a mother

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 Theodora was beautiful....

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Arabella: A sailboat, a storm, and a grandfather’s love

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...

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When an autistic adult goes to the hospital

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...

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Orthodox Saints of World War II

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...

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THE MAGIC OF BOOKS

Share the joy of the Pascha through the magic of a book: Catherine's Pascha.

To find more posts on any topic, check the index.
Charlotte Riggle, author of Catherine's Pascha and The Saint Nicholas Day Snow, is a silver sponsor of Multicultural Children's Book Day

CONTACT CHARLOTTE

Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of tea, and drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you.
Charlotte Riggle    Sharing books with faith and philoxenia

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