Book Review Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Guitar and Rocked the World

Kim Tomsic writes a delightful story about childhood learning, play, invention, perseverance and success. Music strums through the pages along with disassembly and reassembly of household electronics such as telephones and radios. Illustrator Brett Helquist evokes the early days of jazz and musicians such as Nat Cole with whom Les Paul performed. Guitar Hero is a fun read for all ages and Ms. Tomsic includes notes and a bibliography which will help those parents educating at home.

Parents may wish to have a separate box of older electronics for their children to take apart and reassemble.

Learn more about Kim Tomsic:  http://kimtomsic.com/books/

Learn more about Brett Helquist: http://bretthelquist.com/

Learn more about Les Paul:  http://lespaulfoundation.org/

Support your local bookstore:  https://www.tatteredcover.com/

Key Lime Pie, Easy

Key Lime Pie, Easy

9 inch diameter graham cracker crust, store bought

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Key West Lime juice

Whisk or stir the condensed milk, whipping cream and lime juice together. Pour into graham cracker crust. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Cool on counter for 15 minutes. Then place on flat hot pad or folded towel, in freezer and chill for an hour before serving.

Serves 6 – 8.

Biscotti with Oatmeal and Blood Orange

Biscotti with Oatmeal and Blood Orange

1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 stick

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/16 or less teaspoon lavender salt

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup oatmeal

3 smaller, older blood oranges

Cream butter, sugar, vanilla and lavender salt. Add eggs and mix, thoroughly. Add first cup of flour with the baking powder and mix. Add second cup of flour and mix. Add oatmeal and mix. Peel, removing all pith and then chop the blood oranges, removing any seeds. Stir into mixture. Drop by spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.

Yield: 3 dozen cookies.

Note: Authentic biscotti are baked twice and uniform in size. This is a quick, tasty biscotti recipe.

Book Review: An Inconvenient Alphabet: Benjamin Franklin & Noah Webster's Spelling Revolution

Beth Anderson writes about evolving goals and long term projects in her book about the first American English dictionary, An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin & Noah Webster’s Spelling Revolution (Simon & Schuster). Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley, bright colors and lively characters draw the reader through history. A fun read for elementary students and older readers as Ms. Anderson includes a bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

Learn more about Beth Anderson: https://bethandersonwriter.com/

Support your local bookstore: https://www.tatteredcover.com/