This is the most beautiful book I have ever read. It’s at once a memoir, an ode to favorite literature, a glimpse into teaching – and writing. Joelle Renstrom’s new book, Closing the book: Travels in Life, Loss, and Literature, is a work of art. 

Ready for a fun, interesting read, one that crosses cultures and makes you laugh? If so, jump into Who Is Mr. Plutin?, a new novel by author Rebecca Strong. I picked it up and couldn't put it down - for here is a heroine somewhat like the rest of us, who blunders around, tries her hardest, and is stunned at the way her life has turned out. It's a tale of Russia and New York, of memory and spying, of family and money.

I recently read a novel that completely pulled me into the universe –and what a universe it is! Fling!, the new novel from writer and educator Lily Iona Mackenzie, is set in many countries. It’s at once a glimpse into new, interesting characters - and new, interesting worlds. It’s a saga that spans time, all at once. It’s color, and cold; light, and dark; memory, and forgetfulness; mothers, daughters, granddaughters; culture, and chaos. I love it.

My favorite book genre is YA (young adult) - it perfectly captures that magical time of life when anything is possible, while also discussing the very real problems of life, growing up, and finding yourself. It's the ultimate genre of hope, possibility, and growth. 

FREAK Circus is a bold new concept in literary magazines from the successful team who brought you the immensely popular Poetry Circus performance poetry nights and slams at the Dalraida Bar, Portobello.

You know those books - the ones that grab you and don't let go? The ones that teach you about a place, culture, people? Such is the case with a new book written by Eleni Gage, entitled The Ladies of Managua. Eleni is a journalist who writes regularly for publications including Travel+Leisure, The New York Times, T: The New York Times Travel Magazine, Dwell, Elle, Elle Décor, Real Simple, Parade, and The American Scholar.

The sun was shining when I stopped my motorbike by an old tractor in rural Norway. 15 years earlier, I had worked on a machine just like it for my brother-in-law and I was looking forward to telling him about it at the kitchen table one evening in the future. At the same moment I remembered what I had seen and tried in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and England. My travelogue was getting too long for me to tell it over a single cup of tea.

Wandering Educators will remember the extraordinary photography of Ugo Cei - he has been featured as one of our photographers of the month. Now there is more goodness to see and read - Ugo recently published an excellent new ebook with his business partner, Massimiliano Cremascoli, called Urban Morocco. This book? It's an intimate glimpse into the vibrant culture of Morocco.

I've recently been entranced with a guidebook series, written by James Kaiser (see our interview with this award-winning author and photographer here).

We have a 6-year old daughter, and she just loves to cook. I am always on the lookout for excellent kids cookbooks - ones that teach, besides having quality recipes. Too often, kids cookbooks contain recipes for food that just isn't healthy - promoting blue frosting, or coloring your macaroni and cheese red. YIKES!