My daughter Amanda loves to read. Her favorite genres are mystery and fantasy. She loves to cook, too, so when I saw Enchanted Thyme, I knew that she would love it! This is labeled as book one in the Delicious Adventure series, so I assume that more are coming.
The story is fanciful, and imaginative, featuring the adventures of 10-year-old Belinda and her 8-year-old brother Peter who are whisked off to the land of Enchanted Time where the Queen and the land are under the dark spell of the Fricassee Fairy. Three magical mice — Marjoram, Basil, and Rosemary — come to enlist Belinda’s and Peter’s help in breaking the curse by coming up with the perfect meal to satisfy the Queen’s appetite.
In addition to a great story, the recipes look wonderful. They are healthy, yet pack lots of kid-appeal. Since they are mentioned in the story, kids would be even more likely to try them out. Parents could even make themed dinners (with the help of their kids of course), as they are reading the book.
Some of the vocabulary in the story is pretty advanced, which makes it sound more fairy-talish, and would do well in a family read-aloud to give it extra dramatic flair. However, about half of the way through, I began to feel as if the words might burden down a young reader. My daughter is a high-level reading 10 year old, but for an 8 year old who would otherwise enjoy the story, it might be a bit much.
Then I found the glossary at the end of the book which explains, in interesting and kid-friendly terms, the words that are used such as fathom, strenuous, voracious, flourish, and demeanor. There was a note before the first chapter alerting the readers to this as well, but I happened to miss it.
I highly recommend this modern-day fairy tale with a twist (a twist of lemon, perhaps?). Enjoy!
Would you like to win one of three autographed copies of Enchanted Thyme (U.S. addresses only, please)? Leave a comment. I’ll post the winners in next week’s column.
The winners of the Hachette Book Blowout (10 brand new books from that publisher) are
#104 Linda Lansford,
#154 M.A.,
#40 Donna Rinas,
#46 Tom,
#44 Amy Tucker
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{ 157 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like my granddaughter would like Enchanted Thyme! Count me in!
I love the names of the 3 magical mice ~ Marjoram, Basil, and Rosemary! I do have some rosemary and thyme in my garden ~ what wonderful herbs!
For anyone who is interested, come by and vote for J.C. Andersen ~ Thanks!
These sound great for my sister! Count me in.
So cute!
My daughter also loves mysteries and cooking. I am sure she would enjoy giving a book like this a try. Thanks for recommending it.
I’d love to win these!
I have a 10 y.o. daughter and 8 y.o. son and I think this book sounds perfect for them since they love to read and are beginning to love to cook–count me in!
I think both my kids would love this. Maybe as a read out loud book?
I want to win!
Sounds delightful! Thanks for the contest.
my kids would love
What an excellent idea to have recipes with the book! And a glossary so you don’t have to try and think of how to describe a word!
I might have to read this also
I’d love to win one. This sounds perfect for my 10-year old, who is a voracious reader and also loves to cook and invent recipes on her own. Thanks for the review.!
Terrific
Sounds like a book my daughter would love to read. Count me in!
Sounds very promising and the right age group for us.
Cheers
We would love to win this book!
I’d love to win it. Nice prize.
Nice giveaway ~` the perfect gift.
Cool idea
Books are wonderful, would love to win!
What a great idea for a children’s book!
Count me in!
I would LOVE to win this. Best of luck on the new baby!
I think my daughters would love these!
I think that my kids would enjoy this book. Thanks for the chance.
I love fantasy stories.
Sounds like an awesome book (and hopefully, series). I love books that incorporate different genres all into one (cooking, fantasy, and mystery). How fun.
Looks like a good book
This sounds awesome for my girls! It’s certainly right up my older daughter’s alley (age 8). We’d love to be entered to win one of these!
Thanks so much!
My daughter loves to read & this book sounds perfect for her.
This sounds like a lovely book. My kids would love a copy.
What a wonderful prize!
My kids are starting to really enjoy being read chapter books, and the thought of reading them herself is motivating my kindergartener to practice her reading more. I think they’d enjoy this new series, especially my son who LOVES to help me cook.
My daughter would love this!
thanks for the contest
count me in
This would make a great gift for a niece of mine
)
great prize. Enter me please.
Perfect for my niece!
gkstratos@yahoo.com
i’d love one of these
I sure hope I win thanks
My niece would love this book. Please enter me. Thanks for the chance.
I love stories about food and cooking, I would love to read this to my grandchildren!
NIce prize
love to win this
please count me in…thanks
I would love this for my granddaughter. Thank you so much!
Will the fact that my name is Belinda help me win? My kids would LOVE it:) Thanks
It would be a nice for my daughter and me to read this book.
youngest would love this
no fave… hope I win.
Good choice
I would love to win this book for my grandkids.
I enjoy this sites prizes
how fun to read the book and then make the recipes
This seems pretty nifty! would love to win it!
I would love to win this! Please enter me
thanks for the giveaway
Sounds super!
wow
my daughter would love to read this.
herry123_us@live.com
My daughter would love this!
would love to win this!
lovin it!
Great!
My 12 year old will love this book, as she loves fantasy and is always trying to become a chef as well.
What a cute idea for a book. Thanks.
i think this is a cute book for everyone to read
Well, the family that cooks together stays together, is my motto. (grin) Are there recipes in the book? That would be cool. . . I have an eleven year old, who I think would really enjoy this book. Thanks for the opportunity to win!!
Love to win this for my grandchild
i woild love to read this with my grandkids.
This looks great. My daughter is really excited about cooking and we could enjoy this together!
My disabled wife of more than 38 years gets such a kick out of being able to read to our grandchildren.
Thanks for all the great contests and prizes!
Looks like a fun book.
Would love to win!
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
wonderful title, would love to read this with my kids
I want to win for my son!!!
Please enter me
Hello! “Enchanted Thyme” has a wonderful book cover. I love that it uses the herbal names and has recipes to try with my children. Please enter me in your darling drawing. Thanks, Cindi
I want to win
Count me in!
would love to win…thanks for entry!!!
Please enter me. Thank you!
Sounds like a fun book!
I know just who I would pass these on to at Christmas time!
Looks like a lot of fun!
I love to cook and bake with my two girls, this sounds like a great book to add to my list.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Yime
Please enter me. Thanks!
I’d love this for myself!
Sounds like a fun book to read and my daughter would improve her vocabulary at the same time!
Thanks
please count me in
enter me
Please enter me in this contest.
Christmas is right around the corner and this would make a great gift.
My daughter would love this book. Please enter me.
I have a 10 year old who would enjoy this
Sounds like a fun book to share. It’s about thyme.
What a great giveaway thank you for the opportunity
I would love to have this for my daughter – she loves this type of book!
want to win this
We’d like some enchantment at our house please!
Sounds great. Thanks!
Looks great!
We would love to win this. It looks so fun.
This would be a great one to read together.
Great contest! I would love to win this!
Please enter me–thanks!
This looks like the type of my book my daughter would love!
Thank you for the chance to win.
My daughter wants this bad!!! Great for family reading night at our house!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a great book!
Sounds great! Count me in!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
Sweet niblets!
Great giveaway, thanks!
Sounds like a winner.
This would be great for my daughter who loves to read! Thanks for the chance!!
Looks like a really good book for kids, I love the cover.
This looks like a lovely book for my daughter.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
Books from my own children are all worn out. Could use extra help with these nice books for grandchildren.
We love to read these types of books aloud!
Thanks for a great giveaway!
perfect for my daughter
I would love to win this
I would love to share this story and cooking lesson with my son.
This would be wonderful for my daughter.
My daughter would love this. She is always looking for recipes to try and to tie that in with her favorite thing reading would be great.
My kids are interested in cooking because I am an avid home cook and I think that we would enjoy reading this book together.
Thanks for the contest! As an herb shop owner trying to introduce herbs to my step daughters, this would be wonderful.
Please enter me.
I think my 8 year old would love this. Thanks!
Looks like a great book and I like the idea of the “glossary” at the end.
Fantastic Giveaway! Count Me In! What a way to have an enchanting time reading. In addition to a great story, the recipes sounds exciting.
This book sounds wonderful for my 12 year old Niece! Perfect! We spend allot of quality time together including, reading, her homework, working on arts & even having her friends over.
At the moment She is learning to cook. What a super way to introduce the recipes. Dinner for a Queen! As We both love Fairy tales + have been working on a Quilt with a collection of fairy & ethereal prints for her room.
This book would be a Delight!!
This Summer we had/have planted Container gardens with lots of colorful flowering plants & many herbs including Marjoram, Basil, Rosemary & Thyme along with a variety of fragrant & tasty Mint plants. We even have a few miniature Rose bushes. With art paper, colored inks & rubber stamps. My Niece made beautiful Fairies that were fastened on long metal tin rods to play amount the foliage! ~SMILE~
(LOVE to win a copy of “Enchanted Thyme”)
Great contest, thanks!
My granddaughter would love this book.
A great book for my grandkids.
Everyone needs an Enchanted Time–I would love to get and share this book.
These books look fabulous. I would love to share this with my son.
Sounds like a really cute book!! Thanks for the giveaway.
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY
this would be perfect for my little one
Combines two of my favorite hobbies..reading and cooking.
Sounds like I would like Enchanted Thyme!
I would love to win this book for my family! Thanks!
Reading and creating/following recipes are two of our favorite family pasttimes! Creating and consuming a meal fit for a queen would certainly encourage trying new dishes. I’m happy to see that there is a glossary included! It is sometimes difficult to come up with a good definition out of the blue. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Great article
This is a cute book. My granddaughter would love it. Thanks for the contest!
I sounds good. My daughter would like it.
ty 4 the great contest!
Thankyou for the giveaway.
I’d love to win these!
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
I’d love to win because my daughter Heaven loves to read herself!!
What a cool idea for a book!
Sounds good. A copy for us maybe?