This is another one of the American Girls Short Stories series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, when the family goes searching for pine nuts, Josefina's father offers a reward for the one who gathers the most, and Josefina can't wait to collect the most and impress her aunt Dolores. But, when she is ordered to stay at camp and watch her nephews, Josefina is crushed. She refuses to give in though, and seeks a way to do both what she is told, and what she wants to do!

The final chapter of this book looks at rancho life in 1824, and gives directions for making a pastel (a spicy pie that includes pine nuts). As always, Jean-Paul Tibbles has produced some excellent illustrations that add a great deal to this already excellent book. My daughter and I both highly enjoyed this book, and we recommend it to you.

"A Reward for Josefina" is the first Josefina short story that was published. It is set in the Fall shortly after Tia Dolores's arrival to Josefina's family, possibly putting it shortly before or during the time period in "Josefina Learns a Lesson". Tia Dolores is a new adult in the family, and Josefina desparately wants her to think of Josefina as being special. The family and their hired hands go out to gather pinon nuts (pine nuts from a Pinon tree), and as a motivator, a reward is offered to the one who gathers the most. Josefina hopes it will be her, until she is left behind to tend to her oldest sister's two young sons. Josefina and her three year old nephew, Juan, find a way to gather the biggest treasure of nuts without leaving their camp site. Somehow, the reward, a cone of sugar, has run off with a squirrel (in exchange for the nuts?), but Josefina finds the reward that she is looking for.

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Samantha Parkington, a nine-year-old orphan girl living in the America of 1904. In this book, when Samatha's Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia present her with a beautiful new bicycle, she's overjoyed. However, when her she suffers an accident, she finds her love for the bike turned to fear. She wants to ride the bike, but what can she do?

The final chapter of this book is a wonderful look at bicycling in 1904. We found this so entertaining, that we had to share it with the whole family! This is a great book, with very good illustrations, and an excellent lesson. My eleven-year-old daughter and I loved reading it, and we think that you will too!

I first read "Samantha's Blue Bicycle" when I was 12, under a different title in American Girl magazine. This mini book takes place between Samantha's Surprise and Happy Birthday, Samantha!. Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia come back from their honeymoon with a present for Samantha..a blue bicycle. Samantha likes it at first, until she discovers that her skirts always get caught in the bike. Samantha refuses to ride her bike, but then gets help from an unexpected source. A great read!

This is another one of the American Girls Short Stories series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, as the sisters work on blankets to save the rancho (see Josefina Learns a Lesson) the excitement of the project turns into drudgery, as each of the girls finds different chores irksome, and they begin to quarrel. But, while out gathering roots and nuts and things to make dyes for the wool, Josefina suddenly realizes that there is something that can bring the sisters back together.

The final chapter of this book is on Mexican blankets of 1824, and gives directions for dyeing a shirt with supplies from around the house. As I have always been quick to point out, Jean-Paul Tibbles' illustrations are excellent in quality and add to the experience of reading this great book. My daughter and I both enjoyed this book, and we recommend it to you.

This is the fifth short story published about the American Girl, Josefina. The setting of this book is around the time period of "Josefina Learns a Lesson". Josefina's family has just experienced a terrible financial loss where a sudden flood killed many of the rancho's sheep. Tia Dolores and the girls have decided to recover the loss by weaving stored wool into wool blankets for trade to build up new a flock.

Josefina eagerly wants to please her Aunt with the new weaving business, but her sisters quickly turn on her for the hard work they now have to do "Thanks to Josefina". Teresita, Tia Dolores servant who teaches Josefina to weave, takes the discouraged Josefina on a walk to look for plants for dyes and gently helps her understand how many colors can contribute to each rug they weave. Soon, her sisters find something that they can genuinely thank Josefina for as they learn to work together more peacefully!

I enjoyed this short story because it integrated Josefina's skill and knowledge of plants, which was introduced in "Happy Birthday, Josefina". "Thanks to Josefina" identifies several regional plants for dyes, and includes a project where readers can make their own dye from an onion to tie-dye a t-shirt.

If you haven't already heard about the American Girls Collection, it's about time you should! The A.G.C. deals with girls from the past, each girl a different series, covering 6 books... Addy is one of the best of the girls! a former slave, she excaped and made it to Philidelphia-- This play has to do with her life throughout the books, or to be more specific, a small scene out of an average day of her life... Not only do I highly recremend you buy this fun, educational skit-kit, I suggest you go and buy the series of her books as well-- Hand-in-hand they go together (altho' they are plenty enjoyable on their own!) , and make your daughter feel like she's right along in the time-period... Buy this Play-Kit and the American Girls Collection books of Addy today! :)

The postcard book features 5 cards per American Girl and features the bright, full-color illustraions featured in the books. I liked this set better than any of the ones currently out, which feature less cards per American girl.

I've enjoyed the American Girls Collection books for years, and was thrilled to see that Josefina's books from the American Girls Series were printed in Spanish as well as English. Jose Moreno does an excellent job translating Josefina's books into Spanish--the story stays the same as if you were reading the original English version--nothing is lost. This book, like the English one, tells the story of how Josefina's family copes with the death of Josefina's mother, and how Tia Dolores comes to stay with them. Even more funny is the story of Tia Dolores's piano, which sounds even more funny in the Spanish version than it does in English. I hope that one day the rest of the books in the American Girls series--the adventures of Felicity, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Kit, and Molly--will one day be available in Spanish as well.

Candace

This is the greatest books i have ever read .They are everything you would want in a book !They'r so good I have my own collection and i think if you like to read and love you would love these books!BEST BOOKS!!!

This was a great Theatre Kit! I recommend this to anyone who loves to act or direct! My sister and I are in the process of getting ready to preform it.

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.