The rhythm of family Discovering a sense of wonder through the seasons

Amanda Blake Soule (The Creative Family; Handmade Home), who authors the popular blog SouleMama, and her husband document their family life over a year, sharing personal reflections on the seasons, photographs, and suggestions for crafts, recipes, and various activities. Organized chronologically by month, chapters begin with essays from both authors, which are followed by "Make" and "Do" projects appropriate for the month or season; e.g., in May the family makes flower essence lotion, tempura dandelions, and a book of flowers. Some "Do" activities, such as January's project for making an ice mold sun catcher, provide clear directions; others are more ambiguous suggestions, such as September's "Have a Preserving Party," which encourages this social event without instructions for preserving or canning (though the authors do provide suggested reading for these endeavors). VERDICT The book has lovely visual appeal, with numerous photographs in the style of those featured on Soule's blog. Fans of the blog and Soule's previous books will enjoy this intimate look into her family's life.-Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.