Duchesses, dragons… and snacks

Introduce your little ones to medieval times with these lovable characters. Plus, advice from moms of big kids and my new favorite one-pot dinner.

Feb 24, 2025

I recently stumbled upon a video series on YouTube called “The Dior Book Tote Club,” in which a handful of female celebrities wander a beautiful, iconic library or book store with a Dior bag and discuss their favorite books.

I haven’t watched them all yet, but I enjoyed the one with Rosamund Pike, particularly the part when she validates anyone who is a slow reader (hi, it’s me!): “I think I’ve never been interested in speed reading because I like the sound of the words. I don’t want to just read for information, because I think part of the meaning is in how words work rhythmically.”

Recipe: one-pot baked chicken and rice (This recipe is naturally gluten free and dairy free, and it immediately earned its spot in our family’s regular rotation. It’s easy, quick, comforting, and fail-proof. I hope you like it as much as we do!)

Easy way to be a fun mom: Tell your children stories about your childhood. Any story. A story about how you played with your siblings, what kind of cheese you sprinkled on your butter noodles, a teacher you liked, a shirt you loved to wear. Children love to hear about their parents when they were little, and it’s a great way to subtly let them know that you have felt their feelings before, too.

Fun read: “Family culture and school”

I’ve been following Katey McFarlan for a long time—first for fashion and home decor ideas and then, for the past few years, for her motherhood musings. She recently asked her followers with children past high-school age to share what they would do differently in managing family and school/sports obligations if they could do it over again. All of the responses followed the same theme: prioritize your family.

“Have you heard of the tree analogy? Some things in life are leaves; they are seasonal. Some things in life are branches; they are sturdy, but can break. The essential things in life are the roots. Each component makes the tree beautiful, but we must remember what keeps it in the ground. My takeaway from this feedback is that parents feel much of what we spend our time on is seasonal, and we have to get back to spending more time in the roots.”

“Knight Owl” by Christopher Denise

I can’t write a better description for this book than Booklist: "[A] story with an amusing twist and a cute-as-a-button protagonist that charms on every level.”

Owl has aspired to become a knight ever since he hatched, and one day, he seizes his opportunity. Given his size and tendency to sleep during his daytime knight classes, success seems a bit dubious, but what he lacks in size and stature he makes up for with wit and quick thinking. Owl instantly charmed my children and I, and although there is one slightly scary page, the rest of the book is sweet, charming and full of heart.

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years

“Bakery Dragon” by Devin Elle Kurtz

This book is light on text, but rich in illustration and heart. Ember is a small dragon who has always felt a little different. When a kind baker gives him shelter in a storm, Ember learns not only how to bake his own gold, but that sharing it is the greatest treasure of all.

We don’t do scary in our house, and the dragons in this book are colorful and lovable.

Recommended age: 3 years and up

“The Duchess Bakes a Cake” by Virginia Kahl

On the opposite side of the spectrum from “The Bakery Dragon,” “The Duchess Bakes a Cake” is heavy on text and very simplistic in illustration. That said, this book charms my children just as much, if not more! And the rollicking, rhythmic text is just as much fun for me to read as it is for my children to listen to.

Looking for a way to pass the time one day, a duchess decides to bake a cake. She forgoes her cook’s instructions in favor of her own recipe, and she is a bit too liberal with the yeast. The poor duchess ends up on top of her cake—in the clouds—with no way to get down. In a sweet twist, the most unlikely person whips up the perfect solution.