"The passion of the Italian or the Italian-American population is endless for food and lore and everything about it. " ~ Mario Batali


"Tuscany Delights" painting by Lisa Lorenz.

Buon Giorno! Come sta?

Are you in the mood for la cucina italiano? *kisses fingertips* 

Recently, I heard about a new molto delizioso book at Diane Lockward's blog -- The Poet's Cookbook: Recipes from Tuscany by Grace Cavalieri and Sabine Pascarelli (Bordighera Press, 2009). Scrumptious food served with provocative poems (with their Italian translations no less)! What more does one need in this life?

        

This tasty little collection is almost as good as taking an Italian lover. Not that I would know about that sort of thing. *cough* ☺ But I do have a fertile imagination, a lust for fine poetry, and an eager palate-in-training. Cavalieri and Pascarelli contributed their favorite recipes, those "that were once purely Italian and are now Italo-American" -- Appetizers, Soups, First Course, Second Course, Vegetables, Salads, Desserts --while 28 of their Italian and American friends provided the poems. Like any good feast, the fare teases the taste buds with spicy, savory, pungent, sweet, sour, and salty -- all the flavors and emotions that constitute the best food for thought.

While the French might create food to love, with the Italians, food is love. Fine cuisine is relished with as much full-out passion as peasant food. There is an inherent earthiness about Italian cooking that makes it universally accessible. French cooking is intimidating -- so many steps, so many tricky procedures, so many fallen soufflés.


Bruschetta from Toscana Mia Cookery School.

With Italian cuisine, worship at the altar of olive oil, garlic, and pomodoro and you're good to go. The wholesome recipes in this book, which celebrate the wonders of fresh ingredients prepared simply, are perfect for cooks who appreciate good food but don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.


Toscana Mia Cooking School Kitchen in Tuscany.

Today's menu features a poem about falling in love, and a Main Course recipe, which I was able to whip together in about 30 minutes. As I breathed in the fragrance of curry, ginger, chili powder, turmeric, saffron, and paprika, I remembered halcyon days in Florence, Italy, where I happily observed people who possessed a genuine zest for life. They didn't focus on money and power all the time, but seemed to achieve a good balance of work and play, more able to live in the moment, never afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Above all, they knew how to make love to food -- to embrace the cooking and consuming and communal rewards a good meal can bring. 

Here's a poem from the Soup Section. A good place for dreaming, methinks, in the most colorful, sensual part of the grocery store.

LOVE AT THE GROCERY
by Carly Sachs


Veggies from Toscana Mia garden.

The worst advice I ever got was
if you're looking for love,
try the produce section at your local grocery.
I've been a vegetarian for two years
and I've never taken a romantic stroll
down the lettuce aisle.
I'm alone from romaine to rapini.
Week after week I dream of my prince.
He'll be wearing faded jeans and a button-down shirt,
preferably periwinkle and he'll have on sandals,
either Tevas or Birks, I can't decide.
He'll be holding a bouquet of broccoli
and a shy smile will tip-toe across his face
as he approaches me. "It's my favorite," he'll say.
"Mine too."
Then he'll slip his arm around me
and we'll fill our buggy with corn and tomatoes,
eggplant and bok choy. Anything that grows
out of earth's belly will be fair game.
We'll measure the days in corn stalks and potato peels
and I'll wear dresses the color of habenero and summer squash.
At our wedding I'll carry a nosegay of cilantro and basil.
We'll push that shopping cart around the aisles,
pointing out produce as if we were on a gondola in Venice.
The sign on the back will read, Just Cookin'. 
(Reprinted with permission, copyright © 2009 Carly Sachs. All rights reserved.)

I cannot resist sharing the first few lines in Italian, because I love saying them, holding their delicious sounds in my mouth:

Il peggior consiglio che ho mai ricevuto era
se sei in cerca di amore
prova al reparto Frutta e Verdura del tuo supermercato.
Sono stata vegetariana per due anni
e mai ho fatto una passeggiatina romantica
lungo il corridoio dell'insalata.
(translation by Sabine Pascarelli)

I'm a big fish eater, so this recipe was a natural choice. Simple as promised, a testament to the magic of herbs and spices. I liked thinking about their ancient origins as I added them.

FISH FILETS IN TOMATO SAUCE
Filetti di Pesce al Pomodoro



1 lb. fish filets (frozen are easiest)
3 stalks celery
1 can tomatoes
1 large onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
6 broccoli florets
1/4 cup olive oil
Chili powder
Saffron
Paprika
Curry
Ginger
Turmeric
Garlic powder

Sauté fish in olive oil (flounder, cod, snapper, sole, trout, whiting). In a separate pan, boil vegetables until soft in 1 can diced tomatoes and broth. Add pinches of saffron, paprika, curry, ginger, turmeric, chili powder and garlic powder. Simmer. Add fish.

*Note: I used fresh cod and a 16 oz. can of diced tomatoes.

-----------------------------------------------------

Check in with poet extraordinaire Julie Larios at the Drift Record for today's Poetry Friday Roundup.

Appropos of nothing, Alan Alda's real name is Alfonso D'Abruzzo.

Ever since I ate Filetti di Pesci al Pomodoro, I've been dreaming about Italian actors: De Niro, DiCaprio, Stallone, Gandolfini, Coppola, Giamatti, Sorvino, Ventimiglia, Braco, Tucci, Danza, Travolta, Rossellini, Aiello. This might have something to do with the Italian lover thing. It almost makes me want to be Diane Lane and restore an old house in Tuscany.

Some of the other featured poets from The Poet's Cookbook: Patricia Gray, Anne Caston, Tina Daub, Moira Egan, Ernie Wormwood, Rose Solari, Diane Lockward, Linda Pastan, Rod Jellema, Judy Neri.

Sample recipes: Mascarpone Tart, Eggplant Antipasto, Tomato Soup with Bread, Manicotti Venetian Style, Tuscan Stew, Country Tuscan Bread Salad.

The Poet's Cookbook: Recipes from Tuscany
Grace Cavalieri and Sabine Pascarelli, eds.
Bordighera Press (2009), 160 pp.
Paperback original
Purchased copy.

Buon Appetito!!

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

#19 in an ongoing series of posts celebrating the alphabet.



Sshhhhhh!

I hope you don't mind my whispering, but I finally got all the lower case letters to go to sleep. As soon as I opened this doozy (or should I say dozy) of a picture book, those little rascals skitter-scattered every which way and their UPPER CASE parents kind of looked at me like this -- :o(.

But I know it's not my fault. Every time anyone tries to read this funny bedtime story the same thing happens. Even though they should be settling down and going to sleep, all the little letters find something they'd much rather do -- jump on the bed, play the accordian, read funny stories, take a bath, giggle and fidget. Typical, I say. Alphabet midgets run amok!



Just between you and me, I like them that way. Judy Sierra's done a brilliant job of capturing all their naughty and nice antics in rollicking rhyming couplets -- the lower case letters have a ball flexing their poetic muscle while they oh-so-cleverly elude bedtime (at least for most of the book). Some of these imps even alliterate: "f is full of fidgety wiggles./g has got the googly giggles."

And the illos? You know how I feel about Melissa Sweet. It wasn't enough she had to nail the impish personalities of letters big and small in all their goggly-googly-eyed glory. No! In addition to a jumble of shapes, textures, patterns and hilarious expressions rendered in pencil, watercolor, and collage, she just had to add a plethora of polka dots! *swoons* I. am. mad. for. dots!

Pint-sized alphabet learners will love all the giggle-worthy detail. Clothed letters with teeny tiny hands and feet. And those toothy grins would make any dentist proud! Each spread includes objects beginning with the featured letter (for "T" there's a telephone, turtle, t-shirt, teddy bear and tea set!). Melissa is famous for all those charming little touches that go straight to the heart of what kids love and look for in a book.

Did I mention the polka dots?

There are a ton of alphabet books out there, but Judy and Melissa have managed to create one that's fresh (slap me!), zany, and vvvvvibrating with energy. Just wait till you see all the little letters going through their bedtime paces, and then finally dozing in their cozy beds. The Sleepy Little Alphabet earned a *starred review* from Horn Book and was awarded a 2009 Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Award. A great read aloud and fun primer. Go out and grab it!

Oops. I shouldn't have yelled. They're up again.

The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra,
illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Knopf (2009), Ages 3-6, 40 pp.
Review copy provided by publisher.

(Finally, somebody besides me who truly believes the alphabet is alive . . .)

                                        ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Judy Sierra's website.

Melissa Sweet's website.

Other blog reviews: A Year of Reading, 7-Imp, Booking Mama.

More alphabetica here.

*Spreads posted by permission, text copyright © 2009 Judy Sierra, illustrations
 © 2009 Melissa Sweet, published by Random House. All rights reserved.

 Certified authentic alphabetica. Handmade just for you with love and a fervent desire to move to Alphabet Town.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.  
 

Show me your ORANGE (or other fall colors) books!

Let's spread some autumn cheer around the blogosphere. Post a pic, leave me your link in the comments and I'll add it to this post so others can enjoy. Whatcha got?

Oh, here's another one ☺!

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum (National Geographic Books, 2009)! Share this one at your Thanksgiving table.♥

And another!

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner (Walker Books, 2009). So leafy-luscious! ☺

More Orange Goodness:

From Tammi Sauer:

Candor
Third Grade Baby
Clementine
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
Stuck in the 70s

From Miss Rumphius:

Once Around the Sun (Katz)
Butter Battle Book (Seuss)
Sisters and Brothers (Jenkins)

From Barb Etlin:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
A Manual of Style
Rules
Firewing
Fast Fiction: Creating Fiction in Five Minutes
Melanie Martin Goes Dutch
Everyday Life in the Middle Ages
How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci
A Dowry of Owls
The Courage to Write
The Embarrassment of Riches

From Jules at 7-Imp:

To Be Like the Sun (Swanson, Chodos-Irvine)

From Kevin Slattery:

Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files (Wiener)

From Douglas Florian:

Positively 4th Street: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Farina and Richard Farina.


Besides the autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the haze.
~Emily Dickinson

  
"It takes a long time to grow young." ~ Pablo Picasso



Yes, the number on the cake is correct! Today, my dad, James, is celebrating his 95th birthday!!

Some of you may remember that I interviewed him exactly one year ago today. He's still my most faithful blog reader and a denizen on the internet. We were so happy to see him last month in Hawai'i. We spent lots of time chowing down, both at home and in restaurants. He accompanied us to the Bishop Museum, walking around with his cane, looking at exhibits for hours. 

Because we get to see each other only once a year (if we're lucky), the internet has been a huge blessing. Not only because of emails, but because it's allowed him to compensate, in some ways, for his hearing loss. He's often left out of in-person conversations. But online, the world is just a click away and he doesn't miss a beat. 


James hand selects all his own papayas. He cut and seeded one for me every morning  I was in Hawai'i.

Needless to say, we are all amazed and awed by him, and are rooting for him to reach 100. Just five more years to go! I asked him three more questions and think we should keep this tradition going every year. 


My mom just turned 85 this year.

Jama: What are your favorite things to do online these days? Have you discovered any especially interesting websites/blogs in the past year?

James: My favorite things? Here are just a few of them:

1) check my email
2) visit your blog and read all the comments from your blog friends
3) read news online -- both domestic and foreign
4) play free games
5) listen to my favorite music that I have compiled in my music folder, both instrumental and vocals.

I have recently discovered that Korean dramas I enjoy watching on TV are available online . . . for free, too! These are dramas and movies with subtitles. There are also other Asian dramas and movies included. One site that I visit most frequently is mysoju.com.

Jama: Do you think the internet has helped prolong your life. How?

James: The internet has increased my knowledge about health and fitness. Therefore, I try to keep myself in top shape by doing chores around the house (vacuuming, laundry and dishes, etc.). The internet also helps a great deal to keep my mind sharp and always in focus.

Jama: What are your current aspirations? What keeps you going from day to day?

James:  Being retired and already blessed with longevity by My Good Lord, I couldn't ask for more. I must be around when our grandson, Jared, graduates from high school. This is my most fervent wish that keeps me going and going.

Thanks, Dad. You are a huge inspiration to all of us. I'm especially happy and grateful that I inherited your writing gene! ☺

Friends, please join me in honoring my dad on his birthday. Dip your spoons into today's celebration soup and slurp some good wishes. Sing the song, if you like, and have a few goldfish crackers.


Today's Special: Jimmy's Birthday Bisque (longevity in a bowl).



95 crunchy good luck birthday fishes!

Of course we have cupcakes for dessert:

photo by love.your.cake.

And because 95 is such a strong, sound number, we're serving a few more treats (all James's favorites, of course).

Lemon meringue is his absolute fave pie,
photo by Gerik Parmele.

followed by pecan.

photo by Way Tru.

And we can't leave out the famous custard tarts!

photo by roboppy.

Happy, happy 95th, James! We feel so blessed to have you in our lives!


photo by Jessica N. Diamond.                                     

More Soup of the Day posts here.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved

       

Okay, you're on alert.

DO NOT bid on this gorgeous original painting by Grace Lin, because I want to win it!

Just look at it. Can you blame me? The warm reds, that cozy fire, the girl wrapped all snuggly in her blue quilt, tucked in with her origami animals? And the proverb! I think it's my favorite so far. I've always always always believed in extending kindness whenever possible. Just one word or a little smile can make someone's day. Things are tough all around. A kind word costs you nothing.

As before, this one-of-a-kind, unpublished gouache on Arches watercolor paper gem is approximately 5" x 5", and comes with a signed certificate of authenticity. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Foundation for Children's Books, a small non-profit supporting underserved schools in the greater Boston area.

On second thought, please click through to Ebay to place a bid ☺. After all, there are only two more Small Graces paintings for 2009, two more chances this year to help raise as much money as we can for a great cause. It's going to be a cold winter. Wouldn't this painting make someone extremely happy this Christmas? It warms my heart just thinking about it!

For more info about the Small Graces auctions, click here.

Happy Monday and Happy Writing!

           

Imagine a warm bowl of steamed custard so incredibly delicious, it inspires a young girl to become a writer. This is exactly what happens to Yeung Ying in Tofu Quilt, a beautiful collection of free verse poems based on author Ching Yeung Russell's own childhood in 1960s Hong Kong.

The thirty eight luminous poems, told in Yeung Ying's lively, engaging voice, are brimming with candid observations and telling, authentic details which reveal a young writer in the making. Russell's lovingly crafted, spare verses flow effortlessly and resonate with simple truths.

While visiting her Uncle Five in Mainland China, five-year-old Yeung Ying reveals her startling ability to memorize and recite classical Chinese poems better than any of her older boy and girl cousins. Uncle Five rewards her with a bowl of dan lai -- a rare, expensive dessert that leaves her ravenous for more.

    
       photo by AppleSister.

When the waiter brings us the dan lai,
it looks like a big, round moon
has fallen into my bowl.
Its surface is as smooth as
my baby sister's bottom.
Its color is as creamy as
Pau Pau's ivory chopsticks.
I can't even describe
the special sweet smell,
I just keep sniffing it,
like a hungry wolf.

Yeung Ying has always heard that boys are better than girls. Fortunately, her mother, one of the few educated women in her age group, believes they are "just the same." The family makes many sacrifices to send Yeung Ying to private school, where she discovers her love for books and studies hard so that someday she can be rich enough to buy more dan lai.

By the age of eight, Yeung Ying is the designated family letter writer, and eventually a couple of teachers praise her writing. But Yeung Ying had never entertained the thought of actually pursuing writing as a career until her conversation with Cousin Yee, who tells her that becoming a writer would give her the perfect excuse to eat more dan lai, because it's made of brain-strengthening protein, something all writers need.

I love the elegant simplicity of Russell's verse, the total accessibility of Yeung Ying's inner and outer worlds, the realistic depiction of  childhood joy, fear, yearning, hope, and disappointment, and above all, the revelation, time and again, that small, seemingly inconsequential events or experiences can play a significant role in shaping a young person's future.

From the very first poem, the words melted away; the carefully chosen images allowed me to enter the world of this tender memoir instantly. Yeung Ying's voice rings true, and her ingenuous, oftentimes humorous remarks are irresistibly endearing and wholly childlike. As she and her cousins climb a banyan tree pretending to be Tarzan, she describes the sounds they make:

For one of us sounds like a chicken
whose neck has just been slit;
one sounds like a pig being hauled to the butcher;
one sounds like a stray cat begging for food;
one sounds like a goat running in the rain.
I sound like a chick peeping for its ma.
Still,
each claims that his or her sound is what Tarzan yells.
None of us really knows,
since my cousin only read it in a book.

Other poems describe Yeung Ying's hardworking father, a tailor who uses fabric scraps to construct a patchwork quilt with pieces "as square as chunks of tofu." We also meet her grandmother, teachers, and other members of the community. Especially notable are Mr. Wong, who "gives us the biggest wontons with the most shrimp inside," and Mr. Lee, Yeung Ying's seventh grade teacher, who praises her story about the wonton man, and tells her to keep trying because someday, she can be a writer.


photo by kattebelletj.

I think Yeung Ying's struggles will resonate with the book's intended audience (ages 9-12), especially her encounters with her teachers -- the good ones inspire and encourage, the bad ones humiliate and demean. Even into adulthood, we remember how crucial a small crumb of encouragement can be. Tofu Quilt touches on so many important themes: self actualization/esteem/identity, family traditions, overcoming oppressive societal conventions, education, and breaking gender barriers.  

As it turns out, Russell did not have her second bowl of dan lai until some twenty years after the first. In recent years, she has stunned her relatives by eating four bowls in one sitting. Just as five-year-old Yeung Ying did not drink tea or brush her teeth after that first bowl of dan lai because she wanted to savor it forever, I found myself reading and rereading these poems very slowly because I did not want the story to end. I can still picture the rows of flower stands at Victoria Park on New Year's Eve, hear the "tak tak, tok tok" of Ma's abacus, feel the elation of the children at the Level-Eight typhoon no school day, and almost taste Yeung Ying's first cup of coffee ("like the flavor of dark-burned rice on the bottom of the wok"). 

Tofu Quilt also includes a glossary and lovely Author's Note. I give this rich and inspiring book my highest five spoon rating. I know that when you read it, you will understand why I nominated it for a 2009 Cybils Award. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make some custard.

TOFU QUILT by Ching Yeung Russell
Lee & Low Books, 2009
Ages 9-12, 136 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

                                        ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

For more reviews of Tofu Quilt, visit Ching Yeung Russell's website or check Lee & Low's webpage.

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted by Greg at GottaBook.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

Simon the Bear by Robert Paul Bolner.

For Authors and Publishers:

I am happy to accept ARCs and review copies, but please keep these things in mind:

1. As this blog is a non-paying, voluntary labor of love, I'm only able to review a select number of titles as time and space will allow. My "reviews," which comprise roughly 1/3 of the content here, are all recommendations. My aim is to only share titles I truly love and to support my fellow writers. Therefore, I cannot guarantee a review for every book I receive. If I have actively solicited a book, it will receive priority in my "TBR and reviewed" pile. Please note that I often do monthly or seasonal themes, so on some occasions I may choose to feature a book at a later time in keeping with that objective. 

2. My primary focus is food-related books for children, fiction or nonfiction, Picture Book through Middle Grade, with an emphasis on picture books. Nonfiction topics of interest include nutrition, gardening, agriculture, cookbooks, culinary history, and food production. I will review the occasional young adult title if it looks especially delicious. ☺

3. In addition to food books, I welcome innovative and/or quirky alphabet books, multicultural titles (especially those by or about Asian Americans), and books by Hawai'i and Virginia authors.

4. Since I participate in Poetry Friday every week, I'd love to see more poetry collections with a food tie-in -- these could be for either children or adults.

5. I feature both new and older titles on alphabet soup, and often obtain copies from the library. So, if you're an author who thinks your book (regardless of when it was published) would be a good fit for this blog, please let me know and I'll check it out.

6. I enjoy interviewing picture book authors and illustrators, and authors of food-related fiction for ages 7-12. Contact me if you're interested in setting something up!

7. What I don't review: e-books, board books, audio books.

8. Feel free to email me with any questions or to get my snail mail address: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com.


photo by dlundbech.

Thank you for visiting and considering alphabet soup!! ♥

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

Image Source: www.flickr.com/photos/75839163@N00/2157314184.

 "A small utensil with tines whines over its inability to dine on soup."

So, all this week, 100 Scope Notes is celebrating book covers, and folks around the blogosphere are having fun creating their own "debut picture book covers." Do you think the universe is trying to tell me something by gifting me with "dale"? "Ah yes," she thought to herself, "perhaps you speak with forked tongue." ☺

Here are the directions if you'd like to try making your own:

1 – Go to “The Name Generator” or click http://www.thenamegenerator.com/

Click GENERATE NEW NAME. The name that appears is your author name.

2 – Go to “Picture Book Title Generator” or click http://www.generatorland.com/usergenerator.aspx?id=243

Click CREATE TITLE! This is the title of your picture book.

3 – Go to “FlickrCC” or click http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php

Type the last word from your title into the search box followed by the word “drawing”. Click FIND. The first suitable image is your cover.

4 – Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Gettin’ creative is encouraged.

5 – Post it to your site along with this text.

Go to this post to see the gallery of covers!
 

"Wong has always been able to take well-loved and highly recognizable dishes and put a spin on them, and nowhere is this talent more apparent than at The Pineapple Room." ~ Jo McGarry, Midweek.

    
    photo credit: Tina Yuen, PBN

Pictured above is internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Alan Wong, whose name is synonymous with the best of Hawai'i Regional Cuisine. Last month when we were on O'ahu, we treated ourselves and nine of our favorite relatives to dinner at The Pineapple Room, one of three restaurants Wong owns in Hawai'i.

  

Though I had dined before at his flagship restaurant in downtown Honolulu (an Obama favorite), and loved his creative dishes which blend different ethnic cooking styles, this was my first time at The Pineapple Room. 

While I was busy taking photos, my 12-year-old nephew Jared took notes for a school assignment. I thought it would be fun to add parts of his restaurant review to this post (they're in italics).

      
         Our budding restaurant reviewer.

When you walk into The Pineapple Room, you get a taste of every aspect of the furniture, to the bar, to the artwork. The restaurant's surroundings are very friendly to the Hawaiian lifestyle. It has a nice, tropical sensation to it. It is a romantic place full of flavor and spice.

The waiters, chefs, and the manager are very friendly. They respond as soon as they can. They serve the food in a timely manner and were faster than I had expected. They were smiley and gave me suggestions for what to order. They welcomed me to my seat when I first arrived, and pushed in my seat when I got up ready to go.

Clearly the staff knew who the expert reviewer was, because I didn't experience the same level of attention Jared describes (I'll have to remember to take out my notebook next time).☺I like that he calls it a "romantic place." He's always been keenly observant of his surroundings and appreciates the finer details. He's right. The Pineapple Room is friendly, casually elegant, and conducive to good conversation.

   
      The book that started it all and changed Alan Wong's life:
      12 Hawaiian chefs collaborate, ushering in the HRC movement
      (Villard, 1994).

But what of the food? Before Wong and several other chefs founded the Hawai'i Regional Cuisine (HRC) movement back in the early 90's, people joked that Hawaiian food was mostly about canned spam and pineapple. Wong began to work closely with local ranchers, fishermen and farmers who were producing fine, high quality ingredients (beef, lamb, hybrid lettuces, vine-ripened tomatoes, sweet corn). With the added bounties of the Pacific Ocean, Hawai'i's abundant supply of fresh fruit (mango, papaya, coconut, guava, passion fruit), and the culinary techniques Wong learned from French chef André Soltner at Lutèce in NYC, he was able to develop and refine an innovative fusion cuisine which forever altered the world's perception of what Hawaiian food is or could be.


photo of Ginger Crusted Onaga by pouryourheartintoit.

With signature dishes such as Macadamia Nut-Coconut Crusted Lambchops, Ginger Crusted Onaga (Long-Tail Red Snapper, Miso Sesame Vinaigrette, Organically Grown Hamakua Mushroom and Corn), and Butter Poached Kona Lobster (Honda Tofu, Nagaimo Potato Cake, Green Onion Oil), Wong, who is Japanese-Hawaiian-Chinese, blends the best of East and West. Island staples are served up with a refreshing flair and twist.


photo of Butter Poached Kona Lobster by Hawbone.

Besides, it's just plain fun to see what's on the menu, with the ever-present reminder that if you want to fully experience Hawai'i, you must taste and savor it. I like Wong's creations because they respect the simple traditions of each ethnicity, while updating them with a crucial eco-friendly, health-oriented consciousness.

So what did Jared eat? His rationale was simple -- order the longest entrée on the menu:



On the dinner menu the foods sounded very appetizing. I ordered the Mango Chutney and Macadamia Nut Crusted Apple Curry Glazed Kurobata 'Berkshire' Pork Chops with Kabocha Pumpkin and Mascarpone Cheese Puree. When it was served, the mango chutney reminded me a bit like baby food. Overall, the food's appeal was quite extravagant, except the mango chutney. I enjoyed the flavors from the sweetness of the mango chutney, to the spiciness of the apple curry.

For dessert, Jared had homemade brownies with vanilla ice cream:


I started with a salad of Locally Grown Nalo Greens, Hamakua Springs Vine-Ripened Tomatoes, Furikake Cucumber, Soy Balsamic Vinaigrette,


followed by New Zealand King Salmon (Ochazuke Risotto and Green Tea),


and finished with Haupia Tapioca "Halo Halo" (Haupia Tapioca served wtih Hamakua Springs Apple Bananas, Pineapple, Mango Kanten, Sweet Corn, Azuki Beans, Coconut Shave Ice):

In a word: ono! It's all about fresh, farm-to-table goodness waking up your taste buds; you're gently coaxed into being fully present and then are happily surprised by the results. Take my haupia tapioca dessert, for example. I've eaten all those ingredients separately at one time or another. Haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) is often served at luaus. Shave ice with azuki beans (a Japanese touch to a favorite island treat). Kanten (agar) is a kind of gelatin used extensively in Japanese desserts. Tapioca? Always loved it. Combining all of these things? Dynamite! So refreshing, not overly sweet -- so many different textures -- smoothness of banana, chill and crunch of the ice, soft chewiness of the tapioca, and a coconut flavor that is never overpowering. Truly, it was like tasting Hawai'i for the first time.

       
          Adventurous cooks: check this out!
 
It's easy to see why Alan Wong has been showered with accolades: James Beard Award for Best Chef/Pacific Northwest, No. 8 in Gourmet Magazine's Top 50 Best Restaurants in the U.S., Honolulu Magazine's Hale Aina Award (numerous times) for Restaurant of the Year. Not bad for a Wahiawa boy who graduated from my alma mater, Leilehua High School. He once said, "I couldn't boil a hot dog. I thought bread came out of a package."


My dad had the Chilled Seared Ahi Steak and Furikake Crusted Honda Family Tofu Salad.

This past summer, President Obama asked Wong to coordinate the White House Luau. Among the ingredients Wong flew in from Hawai'i just for the event: 70 lbs. hearts of palm, 216 lbs. mushrooms, 35 lbs. goat cheese, 84 lbs. macadamia nuts, 44 lbs. chocolate, 130 lbs. salted salmon. Not only was this a great honor for a humble chef, but a nod to Hawai'i's agricultural industry.
 

Coconut the Bear appreciates Chef Wong's desserts.

Jared and I give The Pineapple Room two thumbs up! For now, we'll be dipping those thumbs into some rich dark chocolate from the Waialua Estate on O'ahu. ♥

A LITTLE MORE

Here's a short video of Chef Wong explaining Hawai'i Regional Cuisine:
 

            

Had a lovely time at Sara Lewis Holmes's booksigning yesterday at Hooray for Books in Alexandria, Virginia. It was a gorgeous day -- warm and sunny, in the 60's, and lots of folks strolled in to meet and congratulate Sara on the publication of her second middle grade novel, Operation Yes (Scholastic, 2009), which, BTW, was just named one of Booklist's Top Ten Art Books for Youth!


Sara signing books for my contest winners, Marjorie Light and Jeannine Atkins.

Of course Cornelius came along (he has a big crush on Sara). Happily, there were a lot of little green men about for him to play with.


Above is the awesome book Sara's agent (Tina Wexler) made from LGM photos.

Sara gave an interesting presentation about the genesis of the book, referring to a tack board full of newspaper clippings, drawings, and notes. These bits and pieces of inspiration, along with high school memories of memorizing Shakespeare, a real-life incident of little green men, and of course, first-hand experience with the kinds of challenges kids in military families face, all served as fodder for her imagination.

       

Audience members were given lines to read at Sara's cue.

She then read a chapter from the book, during which time something you don't normally see in a bookstore happened -- Sara dropped to the floor (in tight jeans and heels no less), effortlessly breezed through ten push-ups, then jumped back up and continued reading without missing a beat. She wasn't even out of breath. Aren't you impressed? Now there's one beautifully toned, fit writer -- a fine specimen of athletic prowess. Yes! I want her to be my bodyguard. ☺



Meanwhile, Cornelius was busy checking the bookshelves for more copies of Operation Yes.


Mmmmmm! Trish made brownies again!


And he got to meet Sara's husband, the ever famous Mike Holmes. Cornelius was thrilled and proud to pose with a real-live Air Force fighter pilot!


As always, a nice event at this wonderful indie bookstore. With all the friendly people, loads of great books to read, and an endless supply of brownies, one could just about live there. Congratulations again, Sara. I'm sure your book is inspiring lots of readers to think about their lives a little differently, and to definitely say YES! 


To Sara's right is the board containing some of the things that inspired Operation Yes.

If you haven't gotten your copy yet, order one from your nearest indie bookstore! ☺

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

photo by enzo & lulu.

Hey, you're just in time! Would you like an apple slice with peanut butter? It's my favorite snack. (Don't worry about peanut butter breath. We're all friends here.)

Besides, there's very good reason to indulge: November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month (not to be confused with National Peanut Month, which is in March). No, today it's all about creamy goodness and spreading it on thick, with the help of Shel Silverstein and Kenn Nesbitt. What? You've polished off all the apple slices already? Not to worry.

We've also got these (once I took an entire box to my college dorm and instantly became very popular):

photo by Bob.Fornal.

Don't you love how peanut butter and chocolate are such natural friends? You probably make some of these during the holidays:

photo by jennymarie5.

Or these:

photo by Stoodle.

I've always wondered why pb cookies are marked with the crisscross pattern. Who invented that, anyway?
       
          photo by simply...gluten-free.

When it comes to pb, I'm very nosy. What kind of jam or jelly do you like on your sandwiches? (I love me some raspberry and blueberry.)

photo by erandell498.

And how do you feel about marshmallow fluff? I'd never heard of it till I met Len (same as rice pudding). Aren't fluffernutters mostly a New England thing?

photo by kimberlykv.

Time for a poem:

I'M GETTING SICK OF PEANUT BUTTER
by Kenn Nesbitt

I look inside my lunch box,
and, oh, what do I see?
A peanut butter sandwich
staring glumly back at me.

I know I had one yesterday,
and, yes, the day before.
In fact, that's all I've eaten
for at least a month or more.

(Rest is here.)

I hope you don't mind my asking, but do you have arachibutyrophobia? That's fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth. If so, better skip the next poem:

PEANUT-BUTTER SANDWICH
by Shel Silverstein

I'll sing a poem of a silly young king
Who played with the world at the end of a string,
But he only loved one single thing --
And that was just a peanut-butter sandwich.

His scepter and his royal gowns,
His regal throne and golden crowns
Were brown and sticky from the mounds
And drippings from each peanut-butter sandwich.

His subjects all were silly fools
For he had passed a royal rule
That all that they could learn in school
Was how to make a peanut-butter sandwich.

(Rest is here.)

Mamautizschuk!

*takes a swig of cider*

Okay, enough of the polite peanut butter poetics. We've got some serious polling to do. We can talk all day about jelly, fluff, cookies, or apples, but when push comes to shove, there's only one really significant question.

Creamy or chunky?

Before you answer, consider this: usually more women and children prefer creamy, while men go for chunky. Also, more people on the East Coast prefer creamy, while they are ga-ga for chunky out West.

Are you typical? If you live in the middle of the country, I imagine you throw caution to the wind and pig out on enjoy both. ☺

Whatever your preference, here's your homework for the weekend:

Recipe for Black Bottom Peanut Butter Pie by Pillsbury.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

Peanut butter was first developed by a St. Louis doctor in 1890 for his patients who had bad teeth.

Americans eat 700 million pounds of pb every year (that's enough to coat the bottom of the Grand Canyon), and it's found in about 75% of American homes.

One acre of peanuts will make 30,000 pb sandwiches.

The high protein content of pb draws moisture from your mouth, making it sticky.


photo by vzonabaxter.

(At the time of this posting, today's Poetry Friday Roundup host is a mystery. Will update when info is available.)

ETA: Elaine at Wild Rose Reader has generously agreed to host the Roundup today. Thanks so much, Elaine!

"If you don't mind smelling like peanut butter for two or three days, peanut butter makes darn good shaving cream." ~ Barry Goldwater

"Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter." ~ James A. Garfield

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

"It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man." ~ Henry David Thoreau.

                 

Come November, the best of the apple crop has been harvested. Is your larder stocked with your favorite varieties for the chilly days ahead? Nothing says fall like the aroma of cinnamon wafting through the kitchen, promising a freshly baked apple pie, cobbler, or crisp.



While I'm waiting for my pie to bake, thought I'd add several more apple picture books to the list I started last year. I was happy to discover some wonderful new titles for 2009, as well as some older books I missed before. One can never have too many apples, right?

Bite into any one of these for a crisp, juicy, flavorful treat. Enjoy!

NONFICTION:

APPLES FOR EVERYONE by Jill Esbaum (National Geographic, 2009). This inviting, photo-luscious charmer begins with basic facts about the life cycle of the apple from blossom to harvest, and then tempts the reader with delectable examples of how apples are consumed -- dipped in caramel, baked in pies, cooked into applesauce, pressed for cider.

Esbaum's simple text is punctuated with wonderful sensory detail. Apples are described with "golden spreckles or snazzy stripes," "round as a ball or tall and bumpy bottomed." She polishes off the feast with Johnny Appleseed, apple anatomy and apple names. The familiar sensation of the all-important CRUNCH, followed by juice dribbling down the chin, will keep this satisfying introduction to America's favorite fruit fresh through repeated readings. (Picture the Seasons series, paperback original.)  

  

APPLES by Ken Robbins (Atheneum, 2002). Another fetching photo-essay covering cultivation, pollination, harvesting, and consumption. Texture rich close-ups pull the reader right into the pages -- apple picking, drinking a cold glass of cider, biting into big fruit. An Author's Note provides a bit of history, lore, and literary references. Accessible with a highly appealing format.



THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE APPLE by Charles Micucci (Orchard Books, 1992). A bountiful harvest of information sure to please any little apple eater who's curious about life cycle, harvesting, uses, varieties, history, and legend. The book contains over 100 detailed, full-color illos and diagrams presented in a clear, concise, lively format. Especially interesting: Parts of an Apple Flower, Apple Uses (yum!), Apple Timeline and dispersion throughout the U.S. Perfect for upper elementary readers.

FICTION:

APPLESAUCE SEASON by Eden Ross Lipson, illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein (Roaring Brook Press, 2009). If ever there was a lip-smacking, body-and-soul-satisfying book, this is it. Liberally flavored with love, family tradition, and a young boy's sheer joy over every aspect of applesauce making, this story will inevitably inspire readers of all ages to make some of the tasty stuff for themselves. 

       

The frantic energy of Gerstein's ink and watercolor illos, rendered in a predominantly red, green, and blue palette, keeps the reader happily engaged and salivating page after page. Whether it's the bushels teeming with apples at the farmers' market, sliced apples resplendent on cutting boards, bobbing about in a big pot, or the table set with roast beef, potato pancakes, apple cake and crepes, the spirit of seasonal celebration comes through loud and clear. Adorable endpapers, featuring apple varieties and character faces, are worth the price of admission alone, and of course, the author's applesauce recipe is included (also available online here). 



AN APPLE PIE FOR DINNER by Susan VanHecke, illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee (Marshall Cavendish, 2009). Based on the English folktale, "The Apple Dumpling," this toothsome tale features Granny Smith, who seeks apples to make a pie for dinner. She sets out with a basket of plums and travels the countryside, trading off feathers, flowers, a gold coin, and a puppy until she finally gets her apples. Everyone she's met follows her home, where they help make and devour the pie. Baicker-McKee's remarkable three dimensional, mixed-media bas-relief illos give the book a decidedly homespun flavor (oh, the wonders of baked polymer clay, found objects, wood and pipe cleaners). Recipe for apple pie included.



APPLE COUNTDOWN by Joan Holub, illustrated by Jan Smith (Albert Whitman, 2009). Kids will enjoy counting down from 20 to 1 in this lively story about a school field trip to an apple farm. The rhyming text keeps things moving right along, as the class boards and rides the bus (imagining what they might see), rides a train, counts cows, ducks, trees, even bee hives. Best of all is picking the apples and, of course, apple pies. Smith's 'loose tooth' subtext adds humor, and it's nice to see a racially diverse group of students. 

 

APPLE FARMER ANNIE by Monica Wellington (Puffin, 2001). There is something decidedly sweet and charming about this simple story featuring Annie, who picks the apples from her orchard, sorts and sizes them, then makes cider, applesauce, muffins, cakes and pies. She takes her apples and baked goods to the farmers' market in the city, where she sells everything and then returns home with a wonderful feeling of satisfaction. The brightly colored illustrations with their clean lines are eminently pleasing to the eye, and the spare text is great for reading aloud. Includes recipes for applesauce, apple muffins, and applesauce cake. Yum!


My recipe for Apple Crumb Pie is here!

Well, it looks like my pie is done. Would you like some? Be sure to let me know if I missed any of your favorite apple books!

Click here to see my first batch of apple picture books, and here for more apple recipes.

There are some apple pie picture books in my Upper Crust Pie List, too.


*licks lips*

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 

from kandeland's photostream.


Happy November!

As crisp autumn leaves dance and swirl outside, these things are making me smile:


1. alphabet soup was named one of the 100 Best Book Blogs for Kids, Tweens, and Teens by Online Universities. We are very honored to be listed in the Picture Books and Younger Readers category!

2. Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Little, Brown, 2009) has been selected for Al Roker's Book Club for Kids! You may remember how much I raved about this book when it was released in June. I am thrilled for Grace and can't wait to see her NBC television appearance on December 4th, when the Book Club Kids will ask her a few questions. School Library Journal recently published a really lovely article about Grace's life and work,"A Touch of Grace," which is a must read for its thoroughness, depth and sheer inspiration.

3. Diane deGroat and Shelley Rotner's Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth (Scholastic, 2009) was just awarded an Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award! Hooray for those kooky canines! My review/short interview with Diane is here.

4. Big growls of approval for Old Bear by Kevin Henkes, which just received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor citation in the Picture Book category. The alphabet soup kitchen helpers were especially elated with this news, because Mr. Henkes's bear artistry is sublime in every way. My review of Old Bear is here.

5. Every month I can hardly wait for Maira Kalman's next Pursuit of Happiness picture essay. She always makes me so happy, and this time there's a turkey dinner, floors shined to the point of ecstasy, bipartisan bathrooms, and spiffy elevator operators. Read E Pluribus Unum here.

6. Have you seen YA Author Holly Cupola's Book Cook Series? She's posted a raft of delectable author recipes, including Chris Eboch's Graveyard Cookies, Janet Fox's Nesselrode Pudding, and Megan Frazer's Goat Cheese Pizza! 


photo by master fighter.

Hope you had a great Halloween weekend, and that the week ahead is fun and productive with a nice surprise or two tucked in. Good luck to those of you participating in NaNoWriMo! ♥

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

My great-nephew, Logan (8), and great-niece, Marin (6).

AUTUMN SONG
by Katherine Mansfield

Now's the time when children's noses
All become as red as roses
And the colour of their faces
Makes me think of orchard places
Where the juicy apples grow,
And tomatoes in a row.

And to-day the hardened sinner
Never could be late for dinner,
But will jump up to the table
Just as soon as he is able,
Ask for three times hot roast mutton --
Oh! the shocking little glutton.

Come then, find your ball and racket,
Pop into your winter jacket,
With the lovely bear-skin lining.
While the sun is brightly shining,
Let us run and play together
And just love the autumn weather.

We're serving up a big platter of happy autumn wishes today. I just love Logan's and Marin's faces -- do they know how to pose or what? They look like they're ready for some good, old fashioned fun!

Today, I wanted to share this wonderful day at the Cox Farms Pumpkin Festival in Centreville, Virginia. After two rainy weekends, the sun finally came out. Drink in all the shapes and colors of this beautiful season (and watch for my monster feet). Enjoy the slideshow!

</div>

No doubt you're a little hungry after perusing all those orange orbs.

How about a Pumpkin Burger?

 photo by Mr. Miyagi.

For smaller appetites, we're offering a little Finger Food:
    
       photo by Jennifer Bailey.

Mmmwwwwaaaahhahahahaha!!

Happy Halloween and Happy Autumn!

Marin as Half-Pint, Logan as Indy.

Toodle-oo, and ooo and oooooooo!

Today's Poetry Frightday Roundup is being hosted by Jennie at Biblio File. Don't miss all the cool poems being shared around the blogosphere!

Click here to read about Marin's love for the Little House books.

More 2009 Poetry Friday posts here.

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a signed copy of Sara Lewis Holmes's new book, Operation Yes!

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

          
          
Now here's a book that's got my name written all over it.

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed my subtle tendency total obsession with baking and sweets. Like most writers, I am especially mad for chocolate. Dessert First by Hallie Durand features some particularly decadent chocolate and more than satisfied my present craving.

Eight-year-old Dessert Schneider (whose family owns the Fondue Paris restaurant), is just the kind of spunky, quirky little minx I love to read about. She follows in the tradition of Eloise, Ramona, Junie B., and Clementine -- the type of character who gets into the kind of mischief we'd secretly like to, if only we had the nerve.

When her third grade teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody, encourages the class to march to their own drummers, Dessert decides eating dessert before supper is the way to go. She doesn't succeed with lemon squares or rice pudding, but cleverly finds a way to win her parents' approval with hermit cookies. 

Crediting Mrs. Howdy Doody with changing her whole life, Dessert is then committed to forever blazing her own trail, even if it leads straight to trouble -- notably, scarfing down an entire box of verboten Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. How could she resist? They called to her from the refrigerator in all their dark, fudgy glory. It's inconceivable that something so good could make her feel so bad. Dessert must find a way to redeem herself for this terrible mistake, as well as go an entire two weeks without any dessert at all, after she's tricked by her arch nemesis, Amy D., in a class fundraising project.


Hallie (center) with Normana Schaaf, the real Mrs. Howdy Doody.

A fun, fast read, Dessert First is well paced with a good balance of scenes taking place at school, home, and at the family's restaurant. The other characters are appealing and keep things lively and interesting. Mrs. Howdy Doody, who champions individualism, is the kind of teacher every parent appreciates -- patient, kind, and there to offer much needed comfort and understanding when a child is troubled. Dessert's younger sister, Charlie, and her brothers Wolfie and Mushy (the Beasties) round out the rambunctious family unit, providing lots of noise and laughs. And of course Guston and Dominique from the restaurant add a French flavor to the mix. How tempting to read about Dessert dunking strawberry hats, cookie braids and animal pretzels into bowls of Maisie's Melted Lollipop Fondue!   

All fun aside, Dessert's flaws make her human and believable. Sneaky, persistent, crafty and brazen, her genuine remorse endears her to the reader. The way she handles the fundraising project illustrates her ability to successfully meet a challenge without compromising who she is. At the end, we see that her love of dessert remains undiminished, though her perception of just what is best and how it should be eaten has changed: "sometimes dessert tastes better when you save it for last" -- a great sentiment in this day and age of instant gratification.

    
      Fondue Paris is based on loulou, a French bistro in Brooklyn
      formerly owned by Hallie's friend, Christine Snell,
      who also gave her the famous red fondue pot.

Durand (a.k.a. Holly McGhee of Pippin Properties), says Dessert popped into her head after sharing a slice of iced lemon cake with her best friend. A character who signs her name with a maraschino cherry seemed destined for some pretty tasty adventures. Add to the recipe a red fondue pot Hallie received from a French bistro-owning friend, a favorite family recipe for those scrumptious Double-Ds, and you have the inspiration for an irresistible story that gently teaches many life lessons: taking responsibility for your actions, the importance of self control, and knowing that even though you make mistakes, you are still loved and can find a way to make amends.

Guaranteed to induce hunger, Dessert First is recommended for those who like to taste their words while reading them: pineapple upside-down cake, Snickers cake, flourless chocolate cake, petit fours, snickerdoodles, raspberry truffle bars, apricot pockets, seven-layer bars, et. al. You get the idea. Selected for the Summer 2009 Indie Kids' List, it's the first book in what promises to be a divinely delicious series.

Now let's get to those scrumptious Double-Decker Chocolate bars, shall we?


Nom nom.

Back in her 4-H days, Hallie typed a bunch of recipes, including Double-Ds, for her sister Laurel's birthday:

     

MORE GOODNESS:

For an excerpt from the book, click here.

Great interviews with Hallie Durand at Hope is the Word and The Children's Book Review. Find out what her favorite desserts are, and about the time she worked the 3 - 6 a.m. shift with a baker named George!

Nice review at The Reading Zone.

Keep up with Dessert news at Hallie Durand's Facebook Fan Page!

    
       Don't miss the surprise under the book jacket!

Dessert First by Hallie Durand
Illustrated by Christine Davenier
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2009
Ages 7-10, 153 pp.
Source: Library Copy


Dessert and her classmates will be back for the second book in the series, Just Desserts, to be released May 2010!

More 2009 Fall for Restaurants posts here.

*Photos posted by permission of author, copyright © 2009 Hallie Durand. All rights reserved.

*Spreads posted by permission, text copyright © 2009 Hallie Durand, illustrations © 2009 Christine Davenier, published by Simon & Schuster. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
 

          


Cornelius loves loves loves Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes!

He likes Bo and Gari and their way cool teacher Miss Loupe, but most of all, he loves all the little green army men! They came spilling out of the story and have invaded the alphabet soup kitchen.
 
Whether they are busy with breakfast maneuvers,


steadfastly guarding the marmalade,


checking out the Great Pumpkin,


securing giant egg cups,


or hurling raisins instead of grenades,


these guys know where the action is. 


Cornelius wants everyone to read this inspiring, important story and experience the joy of LGAM too, so we are sponsoring a little giveaway.



You may have heard that Sara will be signing books at Hooray For Books in Alexandria, Virginia, on Sunday, November 8th,
from 1-2 p.m. To share the love with those of you who won't be able to attend, we're giving away two signed, personalized copies. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment at this post, telling us who your favorite teacher was/is (real or fictional), and why. If you mention this giveaway on your blog, FB, Twitter, etc., you can earn extra entries (just tell us about it in the comments). *If you're shy about commenting, just send me an email: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot com).

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: Thursday, November 5, 2009 (midnight EST), U.S. residents only, please.



For more about Operation Yes, visit this special website. There's a terrific Teacher's Guide available now. Fabulous book for classroom use, great gift choice for your favorite middle grade readers!

For more details about Sara's booksigning, click here. She's donating a dollar for every book sold to Musicorps!! Yay!



So, who's the coolest teacher on the planet?

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved. 

</div>

Hello there!

Here's a slideshow of some of the places we visited in Hawai'i. For me, the best parts of "going home" are hanging out with family and friends, revisiting childhood haunts, and of course, EATING (I will include some of these experiences in my Fall for Restaurants series).

What you're seeing:

♥ MATSUMOTO GROCERY STORE: People come from all over the world for their Matsumoto's shave ice fix. It's definitely a Hawai'i landmark, a place I visited a zillion times while growing up. There's nothing like a lemon shave ice with ice cream and azuki beans after a hot, salty day at the beach. If you're lucky, you can plop down on one of the benches to tap, mix, scoop, sip and slurp your icy treat to your heart's content. Matsumoto's makes their own syrup, the ice is shaved very fine, and the ground outside is always sticky. Best part: the place hasn't changed for decades -- still small, quaint, unassuming, and quintessentially Haleiwa. And I can always find my childhood there in a paper cone -- plus flip flop bug swatters!

♥ BISHOP MUSEUM: Founded in the 19th century, it's one of the premier museums in the world -- especially known for its natural history specimen collection and Pacific Island cultural artifacts. I loved visiting the museum on school field trips, seeing the giant whale mounted on the ceiling of Hawaiian Hall, the feathered capes of kings and queens, the braided human hair and animal teeth necklaces. It was here that I first saw samples of antique kapa (Native Hawaiian handmade cloth) years ago when I was working on The Woman in the Moon, where I experienced my first planetarium, and where, this time around, I felt the presence of Mary Kawena Pukui, who worked at the museum for five decades, and whose life I'm researching for a WIP. 

Aside from a beautiful renovation of Hawaiian Hall, there are now two new buildings -- one featured a dinosaur exhibit, the other is a science center housing permanent exhibits relating to volcanology, biodiversity, and oceanography. Can you believe my 95-year-old father walked around all three buildings with us for hours? We were all so proud of him. He said he wasn't even tired!

♥ NATIVE BOOKS, WARD WAREHOUSE, ALA MOANA BEACH, HONOLULU HARBOR: It's always fun to browse the shops at Ward Warehouse. I like Native Books for their Hawaiiana collection (books, videos, CDs), and high quality souveniers and artifacts. More than a retail store, they are committed to sharing and helping others obtain accurate information about Hawaiian culture, and are a valuable community resource.

I did manage a quick photo of Diamond Head, along with the piers. I guess it's more about the romance of seeing boats at dock, their masts yawning in the breeze, the water lapping at their hulls, cause I'm not much of a sailor or fisherman. ☺

Hope you enjoyed this little Polynesian interlude. Have a great day, and happy writing!

               
          photo by Zerberus.

Good morning! 

Time to wake up and smell the coffee! I've poured a steamy cup just for you. Mmmmmm. Breathe in that rich, divine aroma of freshly brewed Arabica beans. Would you like it black, or with a little sugar and milk?


photo by lepiaf.geo.

Sip, sip, sip and join me in a jazzy java jive, because today, Kristina Springer's very first YA novel, The Espressologist (FSG, 2009), is officially out! Yay!!

      

Whether or not you worship at the altar of caffeine, The Espressologist is sure to tickle your fancy and lift your spirits. I've always believed the old adage, "you are what you eat." In this fun, breezy story, which School Library Journal has called "compulsively readable," the main character, Jane Turner (a 17-year-old barista), believes people are what they drink -- at least when it comes to a cup of Joe.

Jane works with her friend, Em, at a local Chicago coffeehouse, where she enjoys correlating customers' personalities with the type of drinks they order. A medium iced vanilla latte? Sweet, smart and gentle. Pumpkin spice latte? Lots of fun and a bit sassy. What about a toffee nut latte? Watch out -- very hot and sexy!


   Latte Art mosaic from Eat-My-Heart-Out's photostream.

Jane records all her observations in a notebook, and soon decides to indulge in a little matchmaking. She succeeds at hooking up several happy couples, but when her competitive boss, Derek, decides to turn Jane's espressology into a holiday in-store promotion (a free match-up with every drink order), it creates havoc in her personal life. Seems there's one thing Jane hadn't counted on -- feeling a little jealous (?) when Em (medium hot chocolate) and Cam (toffee nut latte) start dating. She's the one who set them up, so why can't she be happy for them?


photo by cieya.

Kristina, who shares Jane's favorite drink (Iced Venti Skinny Mocha/No Whip) is eminently qualified to write this sweet, romantic tale -- after all, when she and her future husband first met, they walked into a coffee shop and he ordered a triple espresso. In an interview at Making Stuff Up for a Living, Kristina said, "I remember thinking, 'wow that's hot . . . ' I decided then and there he was perfect for me." Kristina routinely spends a lot of time in coffee shops observing people. A busy mother of four, she does all her writing in a local Starbucks.  Frankly, I can't wait to read the book to find out what it says about medium hot chocolate lovers like Em, because coffee or tea aside, I gotta have my chocolate!

Okay, whether you're an espresso, cappuccino, caffè latte, frappuccino, cafe mocha or cafe americano -- even if you're more into tea or hotsa totsa chocolat, join me now in congratulating Kristina for brewing up this fine, fun, frothy read. But I do have to warn you about today's soup. Slurp in moderation, lest you find yourself falling in love with a Caramel Macchiato, Mocha Valencia, or Espresso Con Panna. Or maybe you'd like to?


Today's Special: Matchmaker Mocha (proceed with caution).

Now that you're all juiced up, a little dessert. But before you bite into it, why not sing a few choruses of "Happy Birthday?" Yes! It's also Kristina's birthday!! Can there be a more perfect day to celebrate the publication of one's first book? Here's wishing you many happy returns, Kristina, and many more published books!!

      
         Starbucks Mini-Cake by LoveysConfections.

Like me, I know you just can't wait a second longer to devour The Espressologist. I think it'll be a pleasant diversion from the routine, the perfect light read to share with a friend, a happy stocking stuffer for the holidays. Drift on down to your local indie or order your copy online. I plan to drink some hot chocolate while reading mine. How about you?

♥ Love and Bottoms Up,

Java Mama Jama
Aspiring Bearista


 Bearista teddy from first Starbucks store in Seattle (photo by Chris_Inside).

                                       ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥



♥ Visit Kristina's official website and Live Journal Blog. She also blogs weekly at Author2Author, where you'll find several cool posts about The Espressologist, including this timeline from concept to publication.

♥ Interviews at Saundra Mitchell's Making Stuff Up for a Living, AuthorsNow, the Sunshine Edition, and the Book Butterfly, where you can enter a contest to win a signed edition of The Espressologist, plus a $10 giftcard from Starbucks (deadline: November 15th)!

♥ For those of you in the Chicago area, Kristina's having a Launch Party at the Fat Bean Bistro and Coffee Bar in Naperville, Illinois, on Saturday, November 7, 2009, 2 - 4 p.m.

♥ And check out the Facebook Fan Page for The Espressologist, where you can take the What Kind of Coffee Drink Are You Quiz!

ETA: Kristina has just announced this contest: take The Espressologist out for coffee and snap a photo for a chance to win a signed copy and other goodies. Deadline: November 27th. Details here.

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009
Young Adult Fiction, 192 pp.
On Shelves now!


Cappuccino teddy from The Adventures of Steph en Heckman.

More Soup of the Day posts can be found here.

And see all the 2009 Fall for Restaurants posts here.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

#18 in on ongoing series of posts celebrating the alphabet.


photo by tenebrismo.

I am quite quazy about Q.

Quick and quiet, quacking or quaking, Q's a letter of quintessential quality.

Unlike O, who sometimes doesn't know which end is up, Q sits next to me on the couch and stays put. I like a letter who's quaint, a little quirky, sometimes questioning, always forever faithful to U.


photos by jazzejunqueinc and crissygarcia333.

You know how Ramona Quimby signs her name, drawing Q like a little cat? Ever since I saw that purr-fect Q, I've been a goner for Q's tail; it's got to be the coolest fashion accessory in the alphabet!

Okay. Right now, say "q." See how it makes you purse your lips just so, like you're ready for a kiss? ☺ I love that!

Now, look at your keyboard. Q occupies the farthest left position there (good politics, eh?). See how the word, "Qwerty" is spelled out in the second row? After decades of typing, I only recently learned what QWERTY is, and now it's my favorite Q word.


   Sholes Qwerty Keyboard Layout (1878)

Qwerty is the most widely used keyboard layout on English language typewriters and computers, patented in the 1870's by editor and printer, Christopher Sholes. Seems he spent years trying to find a layout that would prevent typebar clashes and jams. That meant studying the most common letter combinations in words, and arranging the keys so the typist would have to stretch and/or alternate hands to type them! That's why "q" is left hand, "u" is right hand.


First commercially successful typewriter (Sholes and Glidden by Remington, 1874),
(photo from sftrajan's photostream).

Another reason to love Q? It's withstood much malignment over the years. Like X and Z, it's not called upon quite as often as everyone else to form words. Moreover, Q's been called redundant (bite your tongue, Quintilian!) -- C and K (Q's staunch rivals) can easily stand in for Q without a fuss (quail = kwail, liquor = licor). Ben Jonson said things were just fine with Old English until the French (Norman Conquest), made Q part of the game: "The English Saxons knew not this halting Q, with her waiting woman 'u' after her."


photo by Afid wa Istafid.

As for me, a firm believer in minding her Ps and Qs, I think life would be quite bland without the exotic, specialized je ne sais quoi Q brings to Suzy Q, Bar-B-Q, Q & A, Q-Tips, and that rapturous word, "quiver." *fans self* And of course, there's this exquisite poem by Sharon Olds. True to form, Q knows how to really bring it.

Q
by Sharon Olds


photos by lowtech511 and sky_mitch.

Q belonged to Q.&.A.,
to questions, and to foursomes, and fractions,
it belonged to the Queen, to Quakers, to quintets --
within its compound in the dictionary dwelt
the quill pig, and quince beetle,
and quetzal, and quail. Quailing was part of Q's
quiddity -- the Q quaked
and quivered, it quarrelled and quashed. No one was
quite sure where it had come from, but it had
travelled with the K, they were the two voiceless
velar Semitic consonants, they went
back to the desert, to caph and koph.
And K has done a lot better --
29 pages in Webster's Third
to Q's 13. And though Q has much
to be proud of, from Q.& I. detector
through quinoa, sometimes these days the letter
looks like what medical students called the
Q face -- its tongue lolling out.
And sometimes when you pass a folded
newspaper you can hear from within it
a keening, from all the Q's who are being
set in type, warboarded,
made to tell and tell of the quick and the
Iraq dead.

~ from The New Yorker (August 10, 2009).

When I first read the poem, the ending stunned me. Everything was kind of playful until Q's final appearance, at the end of a word. Talk about surprise and impact.

What's your favorite Q word? (One Q word I don't like = query.)

Enjoy the rest of the poems being shared around the blogosphere by checking in with Kelly Herold at Big A little a.


Easy ham and broccoli quiche recipe here (Pillsbury.com).

                                     ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

DID YOU KNOW?

♥ When Remington mechanics finalized the qwerty layout before manufacturing the first commercially successful TYPE WRITER, they moved the R so that the word "typewriter" could be typed solely from the top row of letters (to impress customers).

♥ The first Remington typewriters were mounted on sewing tables and embellished like sewing machines to appeal to women. Instead of a lever, one used the treadle to return the carriage. Read more at the Virtual Typewriter Museum.

       

♥ Qwerty favors lefties; thousands of words can be typed using only the left hand vs. only about 200 using the right.

More alphabetica here.

 Certified authentic alphabetica. Handmade just for you with love and quivering loins quiche. 

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
 

                                

          
         Pamela Coughlan, Conference Organizer

In KidLitCon 09 Part One, I featured some of the brilliant and amazing authors and book reviewers I met, because they were really my primary reason for going. It's always fun (and sometimes surprising) to finally see the people behind the blogs.


Maureen Kearney blogs at Confessions of a Bibliovore. What secret is Cornelius sharing?

Speaking of brilliant and amazing, a big thank you to Pam Coughlan (MotherReader) for making the conference possible through all her hard work, perseverance, good humor, patience, and ingeniousness. In addition to setting up all the inspiring and informative panel discussions, she pulled off the coup of all coups by inviting a representative from the FTC to address our widespread panic concerns about how their new Endorsement Guidelines will affect book bloggers. Suffice to say, a collective sigh of relief has now blanketed the kidlitosphere because of Mary Engle's reassuring words.

The bywords of the conference were Purpose, Passion, Professionalism, Participation, Perseverance -- and Connection! Here is how I reacted to the three conference events that resonated with me the most:

♥ THE BLOG WITHIN: AN INTERVIEW WITH YOUR INNER BLOGGER

To start things off, Pam asked us to jot down answers to a few probing questions related to Purpose. Every blogger should reflect on these questions from time to time -- reassess, re-prioritize, and re-energize. What's working? What needs improvement? Don't let things get stale and rote. Here are my responses:

Why are you blogging? 

Writing practice, engage in dialogue with other kidlit enthusiasts, research topics of interest, gain confidence, learn how to write more spontaneously for a "public" readership on a regular basis, discover more food-related books, develop critical thinking skills (book reviews), support fellow writers, explore blogging as an art form.

What is unique to you that you can bring to your blog?

Though I share with most other bloggers a love of reading, writing, art, poetry, and music, I most want to document that love as it relates to my passion for food. Special or unique content? The fascinating things I learn from culling through literary cookbooks and studying culinary history. Quirky discoveries related to my alphabet obsession. Pub Day Celebration Soups. Fun posts featuring some of the teddy bears from my personal collection.

Who are you blogging for?

Fellow writers, parents, teachers, librarians interested in me and/or my books, picture book, alphabet and bear fans, anyone interested in food-literature connections. Anyone who eats to live or lives to eat.

Where would you place your blog within the larger community?

I find it difficult to categorize my blog. I guess it's equal parts author blog, review blog, foodie blog.

When will you revisit your mission?

I'm constantly doing this, but will take an even harder look once a year, on my blog birthday.

How do the answers to these questions support or change what you are doing now?

This blog will always be a work in progress. I will remain open to refining my focus and adding new features when good ideas come along. My mantra is simple: "take the reader by the hand and show him what you love."

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOUR BOOK: WRITING IDEAS FOR BLOGGING AUTHORS (A panel discussion featuring Wendie Old, Sara Lewis Holmes, Caroline Hickey and Laurel Snyder)


Wendie, Sara, Caroline and Laurel.

Like Wendie Old, I never thought I would ever blog, but once I screwed up the courage, I was excited at the prospect of being free to write whatever I wanted, to create a blog that would allow me to share my passions (writing-related or not), and to take full responsibility for what I posted. I think everyone on the panel agreed that the best kind of author promotion is to simply be yourself, be consistent, and blog about things that truly matter to you.


Mary Bowman-Kruhm and Wendie Old show off their books.

Like Sara, I read various blogs for different reasons -- some for daily inspiration, some to learn about other writers' processes, some for industry news, some for book reviews, still others for entertainment or sheer love of the blogger's writing style or voice. It's all good.

      
         Author Pam Bachorz smooches with Cornelius.

When considering one's own content, it's important to maintain professionalism and mind boundaries. Sara cited the example of discussing at the outset how much she and her editor (who also blogs), should reveal about their work together during the revision process.

Then there's the whole issue of authors reviewing books, which can sometimes be a little tricky. Caroline decided to stop reviewing because once she said a few negative things about a book, only to find herself in the awkward situation of serving on a panel with the author. How objective can an author/reviewer be when many of the books are written by friends? Sara posts responses to what she reads, rather than reviews. Most agreed that it's also good to post responses to reviews of their own books, good or bad (use common sense and discretion). Never blog when you're angry and never bad mouth your publisher!

The importance of disclosure and transparency came up on several occasions throughout the day, and naturally this is good advice for authors who review books. It's crucial for any blogger to gain the trust and respect of readers by disclosing special relationships or conflicts of interest. 

Laurel brought up the interesting point of children's book blogs feeling a little too safe and careful. Again, a tricky issue for
authors -- should we avoid controversy at all costs or bravely stand up for our convictions? Because a book reflects not only the work of the author -- but also the editor, most likely an agent, ultimately the publishing house as a whole, authors have to be careful about what they say on their blogs. It's so easy for a seemingly harmless remark to be misconstrued, and then it's out there for all eternity. Laurel shared funny stories about some of her past blogs. She's been quite fearless about revealing aspects of her personal life. It's good to keep in mind your own comfort level -- good author blogs are accurate reflections of personality.


Cynthia Cotten blogs at Writing It Down.

Caroline stated the importance of showing both the ups and downs of a writer's career, using the example of a book she'd written that her agent didn't like. She ended up abandoning the project altogether. Struggle, disappointment, and frustration are all part of the process -- things fellow writers can identify with and the general public may find interesting and/or surprising. As always, use discretion about how much you share and how you present the situation.

When all else fails, post pictures of dogs, cats, and Alan Rickman! 

Most authors blog with the underlying purpose of promoting their work. My own preference is for those author blogs that are not totally about school visits, bookstore appearances, awards and starred reviews. I am more apt to pick up a book by someone who has taken the time to share who they are as human beings, engage with others, voice honest opinions, and express an interest in something other than "me, me, me." Insights about writing process are interesting only if they go beyond daily word counts, whining, and details which are too specific to have any meaning for someone not familiar with a current WIP. A blog that candidly and consistently displays the passions of its writer is the most effective promotional tool.

(Sara Lewis Holmes has extended this conversation at her blog, Read*Write*Believe.)

SOCIAL MEDIA WITH GREGORY K. PINCUS

     
       Greg blogs at GottaBook and The Happy Accident.

In my opinion, Greg's one hour slideshow talk was the highlight of the conference. He offered a wealth of practical information via an entertaining, dynamic, compelling presentation. It was fascinating listening to how he started his blog, GottaBook, and steadily built his audience, extending his reach far beyond the kidlit world to other communities who might be interested in his personal passions.

It's all about connection: reading and commenting on other blogs, becoming emotionally invested in what others are experiencing, assigning proper credit, exchanging links, and selectively using Twitter and Facebook as tools to amplify your blog posts. He stressed the importance of not becoming overwhelmed but remaining in control -- making the various social networking tools work to help you achieve your goals, whether they are to establish a platform for yourself as a writer, kick up your promotional efforts, or pull in new blog readers.

I like the idea that he tracks where his visitors are coming from, and then goes back to their blogs. Each gesture, no matter how small, can build towards something bigger. He takes every opportunity to connect, and is living proof that "happy accidents" (in his case a two-book deal with Scholastic) can indeed occur if the stage is properly set.  

FINAL THOUGHTS

With thoughts of Search Engine Optimization, Avatars, Gravatars, Technorati Authority, and Anchor Links swirling around my brain, I know there's probably a lot more I can and should do. I fully agree that one should blog as part of a community, give back whenever possible, and strive to offer content (regular features) that can't be found elsewhere.

I also believe in reading other blogs on a regular basis and commenting whenever possible (with the best comments being those that offer something of value, whether it be an informed opinion or expertise).

Having said that, and envisioning what an ideal blog could be, I do know that one important issue, a crucial factor for all bloggers, wasn't mentioned at any of the panel discussions I attended --TIME. Creating interesting, entertaining, and informative content takes time. So does trying to keep up with hundreds of blogs and leaving comments of value that might prompt others to seek out your blog in turn.

Authors, in addition to their real-life jobs, parenting, writing their books, speaking at conferences, leading workshops, doing school visits, etc., must somehow maintain their blogs, too. Many on Live Journal have abandoned their blogs in favor of Facebook and Twitter, seemingly because of time constraints, and the need to keep abreast of industry news with an eye out for opportunity. In an ideal world, there would be time to negotiate all the different forms of social media to our best advantage. Greg inspired me to consider all the possibilities. But he also said to remain in control.

I think this is the main reason I've poured most of my "networking" time into writing this blog. I can't control the vagaries of the publishing world any more than I can meaningfully establish any semblance of "popularity" on FB or Twitter. But I can control what and how much I write here, which is probably more accurate a picture of who I am than a hundred FB updates put together. Ironic that I started out trying to blog about my passions, and after two years, blogging itself has become a passion.

Truthfully, I find it hard to understand those writers who are not taking advantage of this unique opportunity. It's a kick to discover that some of your readers are not part of your so-called "intended audience." It's a kick to know that a review or essay you wrote two years ago is still accessible to anyone around the world at any time. Not the same as keeping a private journal, not the same as writing a book or story for print publication, not the same as emailing, and a whole lot more personal than a Tweet, the blog's full potential has yet to be realized. I think kidlit bloggers, who are just a bit more willing to embrace and support each other through thick and thin (and who, for the most part, remain among the most polite and "civilized" of bloggers), should be the ones to lead the charge, don't you? 

      
         Anamaria Anderson blogs at BooksTogether.

--------------------------------------------------

For more about KidLitCon 09, check in with Pam at MotherReader, who is posting her own series of reports (Part I, Part II), as well as rounding up links from around the kidlitosphere.

Click here for Jenn Hubbard's guest post about the conference at Shrinking Violet Promotions.

Greg has posted the KidLitCon Twitter Chat transcript at his Social Media blog, The Happy Accident. He also has a nice post about the Value of Community -- Online and Offline.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 

          

So, Cornelius and I spent Saturday hobnobbing at the Kidlit Conference in Arlington, Virginia. Here he is greeting the one and only Ellsworth of Ellsworth's Journal. This was a rare pleasure, because we've been fans of Ellsworth, her co-blogger, Winchester the Cat, and The Writer (Candice Ransom) for quite some time.



Candice (prolific author of more than 100 books!) and I had met before, but hadn't seen each other for many years. What fun it was to compare notes about the many ups and downs of blogging and trying to keep abreast of the whole social networking thing. And, there are some uncanny similaries between us: we're about the same age (28) ☺, bear collectors/antique lovers, long-time residents of Virginia, we both had gotten up at 4 a.m. that morning, ate the very same thing for lunch, and left the conference at the same time. Oh, and, you know the woods around our house I always talk about? They just happen to be the very same ones Candice grew up in, where she collected chestnut acorns, sat on big logs and made up her first stories! How cool is that?

Other Decidedly Awesome People I Met:

   
     Fellow VA author Moira Donahue  (whom I had met previously
     at Kristy Dempsey's booksigning) and Tricia (holding Cornelius).

Tricia Stohr-Hunt: *swoon* Yes, I already knew how brilliant and talented and amazing she is (case in point: Poetry Makers interview series for National Poetry Month this past April), but I didn't expect her to be so dang adorable (and she's a good hugger). When she greeted me at breakfast, all my pre-conference jitters vanished. I'm big on first impressions and trust my intuition when it comes to new people -- from her I got very warm, positive vibes. I guess you could say I experienced firsthand The Miss Rumphius Effect!

Mary Lee Hahn: What a pleasure to see Mary Lee there. I know her from Poetry Fridays and her blog with Franki Sibberson, A Year of Reading. Can you say, "cool purple glasses"? Can you say, "I wish I could be in her class?" Mostly, I wish there had been more time to just sit down and chat with her some more.  

 

Jennifer Hubbard: I was especially glad to meet her, as she was the only other Live Journal blogger on my friends list there. I first spotted her from across the room. It was one of those surreal moments when a photograph comes to life -- and she was just as warm and friendly as I had imagined. We both missed Kelly Fineman, who had to cancel because of illness. (Hugs to Kelly -- feel better soon!) Don't miss Jenn's excellent post about what Mary Engle (FTC Associate Director for Advertising Practices), said regarding the new Guidelines and how it affects independent book reviewers/bloggers. And don't forget: Jenn's debut novel, The Secret Year, will be out in January 2010!

     

Justine Rowden: During the Meet the Author session I had a lovely chat with Justine, author of Paint Me a Poem (Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press). Who could resist a picture book featuring poems about famous paintings? We shared our love for words, art, England and Brussels! I hope to feature her book on a future Poetry Friday.

Brief Encounters Where Cornelius Got Hugged, Kissed, Whispered to and Cooed Over by Old Friends and Perfect Strangers:

Here he is with tween author Caroline Hickey (Cassie Was Here, Isabelle's Boyfriend). Can I just say how wonderfully photogenic kidlit peeps are? 

     

It's always fun to run into Sara Lewis Holmes (Cornelius has been crushing on her because of the Little Green Army Men in her new book, Operation Yes):

    

Met Laurel Snyder for the first time (she's had mucho restaurant experience, so I'm doubly anxious to read her books, Inside the Slidy Diner and Any Which Wall):


Here's Bill from Literate Lives,

(He's a fellow Barbara O'Connor fan!)

and three totally delightful authors with personality plus (Varian Johnson, Diana Peterfreund, and Paula Chase Hyman). BTW, hearing Varian Johnson's laugh was worth the price of admission (besides authoring, he's a civil engineer who works for the same company as Len)!

      
        Varian bonded with Cornelius instantly.

There were many others whom I didn't have a chance to meet (since we were kept quite busy with panel discussions throughout the day and I didn't stay for dinner). Glad I was able to say hello to Jen Robinson, though, and was tickled to run into Minh Lê of Bottom Shelf Books, who came at the last minute. The master of picture book satire was much younger than I imagined (I think he said he was 29) -- a breath of fresh air who is actually quite sweet (I know this probably isn't good for his reputation so don't tell anyone). ☺

         
            Is that a great smile or what?

In Part 2, I'll share a few of my thoughts related to Pam's "Interview with Your Inner Blogger," the Blogging authors panel, and Greg Pincus's talk about social networking. More pictures, too!

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
 

       

It's Small Graces time again!

Don't you love the deep, intense colors of this month's painting? The year will soon be coming to a close, which means that counting this one, there are only three more pieces to bid on. As before, 100% of the auction proceeds will benefit the Foundation for Children's Books, a small non-profit serving underprivileged schools in the greater Boston area.

Click through to Ebay to bid on this beautiful Grace Lin original, unpublished 5" x 5" gouache on Arches watercolor paper painting which comes with a certificate of authenticity. The auction runs through Friday, October 23rd.

*Image copyright © 2009 Grace Lin. All rights reserved.

Sampling a peach at Kroger's Supermarket in Bristol, VA (July 2009).

Do I dare to eat a peach?

Thanks to this man, I can proudly say, "Yes!"

Exactly one year ago today, the very first African American was elected President of the United States. On that day, the universe, and our consciousness, shifted (and my heart soared to the stars and beyond). A President born in Hawai'i? Surely now anything is possible.

It seems like every day I find something new to love about the Obamas. No surprise, much of it has to do with food. Everyone's talking about Michelle Obama's White House Kitchen Garden and her food initiatives to encourage healthy eating, curb childhood obesity, support small and family farmers, promote food literacy and nutrition education, and to simply make good food more accessible. (She's the only First Lady in the history of this country to have a food policy team!) Even when it comes to children's books, there's a focus on food, gardening and agriculture.

    
       The Prez is especially good at growling.

You may remember President Obama reading, Where the Wild Things Are, at the 2009 Easter Egg Roll. He has admitted it was one of his favorite books growing up. Some of the titles on the "approved" Obama administration Children's Reading List include, Duck for President (Doreen Cronin), The Curious Garden (Peter Brown), Stone Soup (Marcia Brown), If You Give a Pig a Pancake and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (both by Laura Numeroff). Note to these books: I'll eat you up!


Sasha and Malia read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

With my focus on restaurants this fall, I was quite interested in this post from Obama Foodorama, discussing some of the restaurants the Obamas have visited since they moved to Washington. Though I've lived in Virginia for over twenty years, I've yet to dine at any of the places mentioned. The menus have got me positively salivating, and I now consider it my civic duty to engage in some "blog research" and report back (stay tuned).

Naturally, many of these eateries source organic, local, sustainable foods. I'm especially looking forward to the big, fat $8 apple pie at The Blue Duck Tavern (where the Obamas celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary), the "super-moist carrot cake" at The Source, and the historic Majestic, where "dessert feels like a home-baked treat from Mom." Sigh.


Biden and Obama at Ray's Hell Burger, Arlington, VA (May 2009).

Fancy places aside, the Obamas still love their comfort food. Ben's Chili Bowl, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Ray's Hell Burger, and Good Stuff Eatery, home of the Prez Obama Burger and the Michelle Melt (health-conscious turkey burger) are some of their favorite spots. Good Stuff is where the Commander-in-Chief orders secret takeout! That's what I love most about these people. They're so real. They're also very good about patronizing local businesses and taking a genuine interest in community cultural and social events -- hands-on, grassroots all the way. 

Here's a video shot at Five Guys Burgers and Fries in D.C. back in May, part of Brian Williams' NBC Special on the day in the life of the President, who ordered his "usual." It must be the longest burger order on record, and proves that amazing things can happen in ordinary places.



Happy First Anniversary, Mr. President! (I expect all of you to celebrate with your burger of choice today --- beef, turkey, or veggie.) ♥ Recipe for Michelle Melt is here.

P.S. Did I mention that the Obamas also love pie, and that the President has a cupcake habit? And how cool that the shortbread cookies they passed out for Halloween were made with honey from the White House beehive!

P.P.S. Have you checked out Assistant White House Chef and Food Initiative Coordinator, Sam Kass? Ladies, take out your oven mitts; there's a hottie in the kitchen! Boy, would I love to watch him cook! (As one commenter said, "For him, I'd eat lima beans -- all day, every day.") 

   
     Sam has been added to the official alphabet soup Stud Muffin List.

More 2009 Fall for Restaurants posts here.

*Photo Sources: White House flickr photostream and Obama Foodorama.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

            

Today, November 5th, 2009, is the last day to enter the Operation Yes Book Giveaway!

Don't miss your chance to win this truly inspiring middle grade novel by Sara Lewis Holmes , spotlighting military kids, cool teachers, improv theatre, and the amazing things that can happen when people work together.

To enter, go to this post, and sound off about your favorite teacher. You have until midnight, EST! Well, what are you waiting for? 

photo by Seven_Hundred.

Everybody: Smile and say, "Cheese!"

Oh yes, you do have a killer smile (you really should pose for pictures more often). Has anyone ever told you your face could launch a thousand chips ships?

*licks lips and continues to munch on extra sharp cheddar lens*

Okay, I need to focus. Today's another hugely wonderful super duper landmark day, because we're congratulating debut author L.K. Madigan on the publication of her brand spankin' new young adult novel, Flash Burnout (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009)!! Yay!

     
        FLASH BURNOUT by L.K. Madigan,
        Young Adult Fiction published by HMH, 2009, 336 pp.      

*flashbulbs explode all over the world*

Yes, do continue cheering and clapping, because as I've said often enough, there is only one first book in a writer's lifetime and the occasion should be savored, shouted from the rooftops, and celebrated in every way possible.

In Flash Burnout, Madigan (a self-admitted boyaholic), presents the funny, compassionate character of Blake, a fifteen-year-old who must  negotiate the delicate balance between having a beautiful girlfriend who adores him (Shannon), and a friend who needs him (Marissa). After he takes a photo of a homeless woman for a class assignment, he learns she is actually Marissa's drug-addicted mom. Blake is inadvertently pulled into Marissa's life, and soon Shannon makes it very clear that she is not thrilled with him helping Marissa. While trying to navigate the tricky waters of love and friendship, Blake begins to see who he really is in a much clearer light.

In an interview at 2010: A Book Odyssey (an LJ community for 2010 debut authors), Lisa mentions her sources of inspiration for Flash Burnout: a previous (as yet unpublished) novel featuring Blake as a minor character, a conversation with a medical examiner, a photo of a girl with heartbroken eyes, and the idea that "some parents are toxic." The term, "flash burnout," is photo lingo for "overexposed," a cool title for what appears to be a very compelling book. Can't wait to read it! 

So far, word on the street has been very positive. Enthusiastic early readers have cited the believability of Blake's voice and the dilemmas he faces, the interesting combination of the serious and the comic, and the realistic treatment of themes such as first love, teen sex, boy-girl friendship, death, family relationships, and substance abuse. The book is enriched by the inclusion of photography tips at the beginning of each chapter, a reflection of Lisa's personal interest in the field.

Kirkus found the dialogue "genuinely alive;" "the details are just intriguingly bizarre enough to hook teens of both sexes and keep them engrossed by the naively unsteady love triangle." 

Booklist gave Flash Burnout a *starred review*: ". . . this rich romance explores the complexities of friendship and love, and the all-too-human limitations of both. It's a sobering, compelling, and satisfying read for teens and a promising debut for a new young adult author."



Did you know that Lisa's favorite color is robin's egg blue?

So, are you all ready to strike a pose? Gather round the soup bowl, don your bibs, and dip your shiniest spoons in honor of Lisa K. Madigan, our author of the day. No need to wait for the click!


Today's Special: Photogenic Potage (will brighten your smile and help you charm the camera).

Good job! I like the way you slurp. Now help yourself to a crab wonton, Lisa's favorite snack:

photo by mooshee85.

When you're ready for a little dessert, nosh on a cammie cupcake,

photo by Ciak Kiah.

or bite right into this Nikonic beauty:

photo by cupcakeenvy.

By now, you know the drill. Zoom on down to your nearest local indie, or order Flash Burnout online. (I'll be watching you through my telephoto lens.)

Our deepest, heartfelt congratulations, Lisa! We're thrilled for you!

                                          ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

MORE:

L.K. Madigan official website and Live Journal blog, Drenched in Words.

Interviews at 2010: A Book Odyssey, Fumbling with Fiction, Writing for Children and Teens, and The Tara Tracks.

Reviews at ten cent notes and TeensReadToo.

*For those of you in the San Francisco area, L.K. Madigan will be appearing at the Not Your Mother's Book Club Third Annual Fall Book Bash at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2009, at Books, Inc., along with Sara Zarr, Barry Lyga, Andrew Smith, and Allen Zadoff!

**This just in: Would you like to see your name in L.K. Madigan's next book, a YA fantasy called The Mermaid's Mirror (to be released Fall 2010)? Click here for details of the special auction she's running!

More Soup of the Day posts here.

**Robin's egg blue mosaic photos by confections, hine, Isaiah 12:2, and ConanTheLibrarian.

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.