Home >

Rosie O’Donnell’s Crafty U This book is on a mission—to encourage families to spend more time together. Rosie has compiled projects the whole family will enjoy ...

Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America Calling all women! This is a must-read. Refresh your memory of some of the famous women who have shaped our country, and learn about other...

The New Rules of Lifting for Women Interested in strength training but want to know more about working with weights as a woman? This book may have some useful info.

Things I Learned From Knitting…whether I wanted to or not This knit-happy tome is a real charmer. Pearl-McPhee has taken 45 sayings and wittily adapted them for a knitter’s sensibilities. There are a number of laugh-out-loud moments and many smiles.

Every Monday Matters The book delivers exactly what the title implies—a way for the reader to take charge of Mondays. According to the authors, this universally loathed day actually is important, and not only that, can actually be good and meaningful! Who knew?

The Prairie Table Cookbook Media celebrity Bill Kurtis, now turned Tallgrass Beef rancher, offers a fascinating look at life and food on the cattle trails of American history.

660 Curries: The Gateway to Indian Cooking IACP Award winning author, culinary educator and recipe developer, Raghavan Iyer offers this huge and important master’s thesis of Indian food, culture and resources in nearly 832 pages. Yes, there really are 660 curries according to Iyer ...

Rosie O’Donnell’s Crafty U
by Rosie O’Donnell
Simon & Schuster, 2008

This book is on a mission—to encourage families to spend more time together. Rosie has compiled projects the whole family will enjoy, organized by season, so kids will have something to look forward to working on all year round.

Projects range from a magical-beans mosaic and lickety-split ghosts to super-star shells, beads of wonder and light-up-your-life switch plates. I love the tips on reusing ordinary household items for eco-friendly crafting. My other fave is the Everyday Is Decoupage Day section—packed with easy-to-do but unique ideas, this chapter can appeal to all age groups.

With good rainy-day projects and others that involve getting out and about, this DIY gem comes just in time for summer break!

Her Story A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America
by Charlotte S. Waisman & Jill S.Tietjen
Collins, 2008

Calling all women! This is a must-read. Refresh your memory of some of the famous women who have shaped our country, and learn about other important women whose names might not be so familiar but whose actions truly made a difference.

Structured as a timeline, the book’s format helps readers connect the dots historically. Subjects include scientists, entertainers, politicians, chefs, musicians, physicians, leaders, Nobel Prize winners, professors, advocates, athletes, writers and visionaries.

From the earliest entry in 1587, of Virginia Dare, to the last entry in 2007, of Drew Gilpin Faust, these stories serve as a powerful reminder of the great strides women have made—and have yet to make.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women
by Lou Schuler
Avery, 2007

Interested in strength training but want to know more about working with weights as a woman? This book may have some useful info.

With a spotlight on women’s health, Schuler maintains that focusing on both fitness and nutrition is vital. He explores muscles, metabolism and nutrition, offering specific weight-training exercises plus nutritional guidelines and menus.

For me, the most practical info in the book concerns metabolism. Schuler explains that it’s critical to keep up your calories when you work out, because failure to do so actually slows your metabolism.

Before you can make positive changes in your body, you have to know your body. This book aims to be your guide.

Things I Learned From Knitting…whether I wanted to or not
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Storey, 2008

This knit-happy tome is a real charmer. Pearl-McPhee has taken 45 sayings and wittily adapted them for a knitter’s sensibilities. There are a number of laugh-out-loud moments and many smiles.

“Good Things Come in Small Packages” reflects on the need to have yarn and not feel guilty about how much. “You Can’t Have It All” is woven into a tale of a sweater that does not go according to plan.

Whether for your mom, your knitting instructor or your pattern-savvy friend, the book makes a perfect gift for the knitter in your life.

Every Monday Matters
Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza
Thomas Nelson, 2008

The book delivers exactly what the title implies—a way for the reader to take charge of Mondays. According to the authors, this universally loathed day actually is important, and not only that, can actually be good and meaningful! Who knew? This manual contains everything you need to make the most of the next 52 Mondays.

Activities range from turning off the TV and giving a hug to having fun with an elderly person and donating clothes. Each page is dedicated to an idea and three sections: facts, action and why the idea matters. These 52 ideas are sure to spark your awareness to the world around you and how you, family and friends can make a difference, even on dreaded M-days.

This is a great read for a college student headed home for the summer or a teen that needs some motivation. The format is fresh and young, but the message is universal. It may even inspire you to look forward to Monday! Who knows? Crazier things have happened!

Sharon’s Corner
Sharon Meyers brings international journalistic experience to for her information magazine, having published five books and a lifestyle magazine, and promoting corporate and government issues in the media across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Now back in Chicago, she currently serves as department editor and writes select features for the magazine.

The Prairie Table Cookbook
by Bill Kurtis
Sourcebooks, 2007

Media celebrity Bill Kurtis, now turned Tallgrass Beef rancher, offers a fascinating look at life and food on the cattle trails of American history. As a cookbook, this colorful hardcover includes 77 great-tasting recipes suitable for the modern kitchen using grass-fed beef. Noted chefs such as Charlie Trotter and Rick Bayless provide their favorites, alongside other recipes that are presented as historical artifacts for the truly adventurous chef.

660 Curries: The Gateway to Indian Cooking
by Raghavan Iyer
Workman Publishing, 2008

IACP Award winning author, culinary educator and recipe developer, Raghavan Iyer offers this huge and important master’s thesis of Indian food, culture and resources in nearly 832 pages. Yes, there really are 660 curries according to Iyer, and the bottom line in this book is 701 recipes. This book is nothing short of a treasure chest of authentic Indian dishes with the true flavors of India’s many regions.

Return to top

* The Good Reads Girl was drawn by Denise Simon, a Chicago-based freelance illustrator.
Check out her work at deniseannsimon.com.

Return to Table of Contents