Jennifer Sommer
Contact me
  • "Jen"reflecting
  • Book Reviews
    • Children's Book Reviews >
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
      • 2005
      • 2004
      • 2003
      • 2002
      • 2001
      • 2000
      • 1999
      • 1998
    • Young Adult Book Reviews >
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
  • Published Articles
  • Autographs
  • Contact Me

Santa Coats

12/15/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is an easy snack to prepare for those Rice Krispie treats lovers, and I know a few. The hardest part was decorating. The color and flavoring come from Jell-O. The decorations can be about anything you have on hand. I had Jelly Belly's and chocolate chips to try out different button looks. I ran into a few problems with the decorating icing, which I'll explain in more detail later. Once you know the tricks, this would be a fun project to do with the kids.


Read More
0 Comments

Chocolate Snowballs - or as my mother named them - Truffle Kisses (which I like better)

12/13/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Looks familiar, right? But this cookie is not anything like the Angel Pecan cookies I made last. Except for the shape and the powdered sugar, of course. This snowball has a very unexpected surprise inside. Ooey-gooey chocolate cookie surrounding a Hershey's chocolate kiss. You could also try a peppermint flavored kiss and I think it would be equally good. Rod loved these. Warning: they are so rich, a couple will do you.


Read More
0 Comments

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Angel Pecan Cookies

12/8/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I whipped up a batch of these to drop off with my sister-in-law after she rushed to complete a quilt I was giving as a Christmas present. They turned out to be so delicious that I know I will make another batch next week. They are light and would be great with hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. And I have a great occasion coming up next week to do just that.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening (I used Crisco)
3/4 confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans​



Read More
0 Comments

The Story of Gatlinburg

12/1/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
Well, I guess we asked for it. On our trip to Gatlinburg over Thanksgiving, we were half-jokingly saying that we wanted to see a bear. There they are...the three cubs and the mom behind the car supervising. Wow. Just wow! But, as it turned out, the bear family was not the highlight of the trip. But I'm getting ahead of myself, as I often do. Let me back up a moment and tell you have we got to this point.


Read More
1 Comment
    Picture








    I am a writer of Children's and Young Adult books. I received my MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and am an active member of SCBWI. I also have my MLS in Library Science with an emphasis on children and happily worked as a Children's Librarian for nearly 20 years. One of my favorite activities was reading books aloud to kids, especially to school-aged kids. Like the kids, I enjoy having stories read to me, so I listen to many of my books on audio and serve on audio judging committees.
    Another favorite activity is creating fun snacks for library programs, friends, and family. I do that a lot and continually search for more ideas.
    I have a very large Russian Blue mix cat named Bosley from the shelter, and a rescue dog named Prince Albert. He's a Cavapoo, which means he's part Cavalier King Charles and part poodle, and adorable. I am married and live in Dayton, Ohio with my husband Rod.

    Picture
    You can find more detailed information about me by clicking the link below:
    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    September 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    ALA Youth Media Awards
    Alumni Weekend
    American Library Association
    Audie Awards
    Brandon Marie Miller
    Characterization
    Christmas Cooking
    Cinquains
    Debut Author
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Easter
    Enhancing Books With Activities
    Fantasy
    Fox Stories
    Fun Snacks
    Gatlinburg Fires
    Halloween
    Hamline
    Harold Underdown
    Highlights Founders Workshops
    Holiday Distractions
    Illustrator Notes
    Karen Cushman
    Katherine Kellgren
    Kathy Wiechman
    Keila Dawson
    Kerrie Logan Hollihan
    Kirby Heyborne
    Late Bloomer Award
    Libba Bray
    Mad Scientists Lab
    Marcus Sedgewick
    Mary Kay Carson
    NaNoWriMo
    Nature Bootcamp
    New Year's Resolutions
    Non-fiction
    Octopus Capers
    Odyssey Awards
    Peter Jacobi
    PiBoIdMo
    Picture Books
    Pizza
    Redhot Carolinas Conference
    Robert F. Sibert Award
    SCBWI
    Showing
    Soups And Stews
    Steve West Interview
    Submissions
    Summer Listens
    Tara Lazar
    Techniques For Revealing Physical Emotion In A Story's Narrator
    Teen Books
    Telling
    The King Cake Baby
    Thoughts On Halloween
    Trends
    Understanding ABC Books
    Valentine's Day
    Vocabulary
    Writing Areas
    Writing Conferences
    Writing Craft
    Writing In Dialect

    Categories

    All
    ALA Youth Media Awards
    Alumni Weekend
    American Library Association
    Audie Awards
    Brandon Marie Miller
    Characterization
    Christmas Cooking
    Cinquains
    Debut Author
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Easter
    Enhancing Books With Activities
    Fantasy
    Fox Stories
    Fun Snacks
    Gatlinburg Fires
    Halloween
    Hamline
    Harold Underdown
    Highlights Founders Workshops
    Holiday Distractions
    Illustrator Notes
    Karen Cushman
    Katherine Kellgren
    Kathy Wiechman
    Keila Dawson
    Kerrie Logan Hollihan
    Kirby Heyborne
    Late Bloomer Award
    Libba Bray
    Mad Scientists Lab
    Marcus Sedgewick
    Mary Kay Carson
    NaNoWriMo
    Nature Bootcamp
    New Year's Resolutions
    Non-fiction
    Octopus Capers
    Odyssey Awards
    Peter Jacobi
    PiBoIdMo
    Picture Books
    Pizza
    Redhot Carolinas Conference
    Robert F. Sibert Award
    SCBWI
    Showing
    Soups And Stews
    Steve West Interview
    Submissions
    Summer Listens
    Tara Lazar
    Techniques For Revealing Physical Emotion In A Story's Narrator
    Teen Books
    Telling
    The King Cake Baby
    Thoughts On Halloween
    Trends
    Understanding ABC Books
    Valentine's Day
    Vocabulary
    Writing Areas
    Writing Conferences
    Writing Craft
    Writing In Dialect

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly