Josefina's Cookbook has a variety of foods that are common in the traditional New Mexican diet. New Mexican food is unique to the region and includes items that are not even in the Hispanic diet in neighboring states. In a state whose State Question is "Red or Green?" (as in "Do you prefer red or green chile?"), caution must be taken in trying new foods if you are sensitive to spicy-hot foods, as many children are. If you are unfamiliar with what is HOT in the New Mexican diet, going out and buying a New Mexican cookbook to introduce your children to this type of food may meet you with watering eyes and children reaching for tortilla chips to neutralize the burn.

Josefina's Cookbook is a much better choice for children because it is filled with child friendly recipes that still represent the New Mexican diet. Some of the recipes are for small items, like home-made tortillas, hot chocolate, soft cheese, and pinto beans. Empanaditas (little empanadas), posole, green chile stew, and carne adovada are more meal oriented recipes. Just remember the sopaipillas if you are cooking with chile!

The format of this book is a joy to look through even if you want to learn about New Mexican cooking without preparing the more adventurous items. The ingredients and cooking equipment are listed at the beginning of each recipe and the recipes themselves are well written and illustrated. It won't be hard for a girl to find something that she'll want to try.

Is your daughter wandering the aisles of the craft store with you, looking for her next weekend craft project? If your daughter is also a Josefina fan or is interested in New Mexico history, this is the book for her! There are fifteen crafts for a variety of abilities and interest levels, and all of them can turn into something a girl would be proud to have made. Crafts are divided into different sections: "Around the Rancho", "Spanish and Mexican Traditions", "Indian Traditions", "A Stitch in Time", and "Frontier Fun". The Straw Broom, Glass-Bead Necklace, clay Coil Pot, and Cornhusk dolls are quick crafts. Crafts like the Stamped Leather Bookmark require special tools. Making a Colcha embroidered Place Mat or a Hen Pincushion take some previously learned skills. But projects like making a Fringed Shawl or Sash could turn out well enough to show off to friends! Whichever craft you choose, the directions are well written and have a materials list and clear pictures for each step. The format and the pictures are so well done, that girls will eagerly want to browse through it to find their next craft project.

Josefina is part of The American Girls Collection. This paper doll set makes a wonderful addition to the books. In addition to the doll and her 10 outfits and pet goat Sombrita, there is also a storybook to assemble. There is a sheet of instructions for using the stand and making the book and accessory envelope. There is also a card to send away for an American Girls Catalog. The cardboard envelope she comes in can be used to store everything. Josefina, Sombrita and their stands come on heavy card stock. Her outfits, accessories, and book pages come on glossy paper. They are beautifully colored. Josefina lived in 1824 New Mexico when it was still part of Mexico. The odd book pages tell a story about Josefina; the even pages give historical information about New Mexico and the life there. The backs of the outfits and accessories give their names. The large items give details about how they were made, when worn, where the material came from and how to cut them out and use the accessories. In addition to the clothing there are jars and pots, food and decorations, books, toys and even a piano. The outfits range from work clothes to party clothes for summer and winter. You get a real feel for what life was like back then. This is a wonderful paper doll. While it's great for readers of The American Girls books, it's also appropriate for anyone interested in Hispanic culture.

Kit's stories center around America during the Great Depression. Kit Kittredge is a nine-year-old with a nose for news, but she has a hard time finding interesting stories--everything in the papers during her time is about the hard times of the Depression.
Kit starts out as a proud, somewhat selfish character who doesn't realize what she has until it's gone. But the changes begin in the first book, when Kit has to stand up to the fact that her father has lost his job and that the Kittredges now face an uncertain future.
The subsequent books, Kit Learns A Lesson, Kit's Surprise, Happy Birthday, Kit!, Kit Saves the Day and Changes for Kit show Kit as she slowly grows up and deals with the Depression. In Kit's stories readers will see the effects of the Great Depression on a nine-year-old girl who refuses to lose hope, even when the bank threatens to take her family's home.
Kit's stories also feature "Peek into the Past" selections detailing different aspects of the Great Depression. The sections also explain what caused the great Depression.

Kit's stories are great. I higly recommend the boxed set.

I have loved Wallace Tripp's illustrations since I was a child- he puts an amazing amount of character and detail, and wonderful coloring, in his work! The verses in this book were penned from authors ranging from Emily Dickinson to Groucho Marx- and the illustrations enrich them in every case! Recommended for adults as well as little folk!

It was the first American Girl book that I read and that is what got me into American Girl Books. I love the Molly doll and I loved the Molly books so you should call me a Molly lover.

Like plays? Acting? Directing? History? American Girls? Molly? If you said yes to one of these, then this fantstic play kit is for you! Have fun preforming a great play about Molly with your friends!

I have always been fascinated with American History. It was my favorite subject in junior high/high school. Growing up my mom would tell me stories of when she was a little girl growing up during World War II. I was fascinated with her stories/antics of what she,her siblings,family and friends did during this time. Valerie Tripp has done a beautiful job of capturing the essence of growing up on the homefront in her series about Molly. The storyline is very much like the stories my mom used to entertain me with as a little girl. The historical viewpoint is accurate while the storyline is so well written you feel like you are watching a movie. I highly recommend this series to parents everywhere.

I find this book very humorous and true to the real military life. The characters are realistic and delightful, many chuckles. A romance that is not "lacking". The Bunny Hutch Hotel and the Boom-Boom Bar in Alaska provide a great background for a wonderful WW2 romance. Have another beer and enjoy like I did.

Excellent humourous book. I originally purchased it for a friend who was going through chemotherapy treatments to keep her spirits up. She shared it with others in our workplace and it's now so beat up that I am purchasing a second copy. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to have a good laugh without having to read the entire book at one time.