Little David Earl always knows what day of the week it is. He can tell by the clean, snappy-fresh apron Ma Dear is wearing -- a different color for every day. Monday means washing, with Ma Dear scrubbing at her tub in a blue apron. Tuesday is ironing, in a sunshine yellow apron that brightens Ma's spirits. And so it goes until Sunday, when Ma Dear doesn't have to wear an apron and they can set aside some special no-work time, just for themselves. In their first collaboration, Newbery Honor author Patricia McKissack and award-winninng illustrator Floyd Cooper lovingly recreate a slice of turn-of-the-century Southern life as it was for a single African-American mother and her son.

"This material originally appeared as part of A is for apron..."-- P. [1].

Aprons are back! After more than 30 years in the attic, aprons are making a splashy comeback in a happy convergence of nostalgia, pop culture, and contemporary fashion. Vintage aprons and modern designs are turning up in movies, magazine spreads, upscale shops, and hip retail venues like Anthropologie, whose trendy line of aprons is selling as fast as they can stock them. The Apron Book is an infectiously enthusiastic guide to aprons, old and new, that are suddenly everywhere. Aprons take us back to our favorite place-hearth and home. Vintage aprons help us remember home and family the way they used to be, while bright and sassy contemporary aprons confirm that nesting is all the rage. Actress and trendsetter Julia Roberts has a closetful of vintage aprons. Celebrity custom-made apron auctions have become an annual event for several popular charities in the past few years. The Apron Book provides full-color photos of new and vintage aprons from the author's collection, patterns for four basic apron styles and myriad variations, recipes, tips on collecting and preserving vintage aprons, and heart-tugging stories from the author's traveling apron exhibit. The book also explores the heyday of aprons and looks at the various roles aprons still play when worn in the kitchen, around the house, by the backyard grill, on the job, and for special occasions. Warm and inviting-but like an apron quite practical!-this book is a celebration of a great American icon and reminds us of what we loved about the people who wore them.

Aprons can be seen everywhere, from upscale catalogues to trendy stores. What's more, today's versions are so incredibly cute, they're no longer relegated to kitchen wear.

The owner of one of Seattle’s most popular bakeries shares over 80 vegan and gluten-free recipes that will satisfy your sweet tooth or savory cravings Over the last decade, a vegan diet has become a more mainstream choice; food allergies have been increasing at alarming rates; and celiac disease is on everyone's radar. When owner Jennifer Katzinger opened The Flying Apron Bakery in 2002, she wanted to accommodate more people, as well as use healthier ingredients, so she eliminated gluten, dairy, egg, soy, and wheat. The mouthwatering result? Cakes and muffins with a tender crumb, cookies with a chewy bite, frosting that's light yet satisfyingly sweet, and pastry that flakes at the touch of a fork. In Flying Apron's Gluten-Free and Vegan Baking Book, Katzinger shares the delicious secrets of her sweet and savory recipes. Bake yummy pastries like Blueberry Cinnamon Scones and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, or whip up a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies, or Cardamom Spice Cupcakes. In more than 80 recipes, Katzinger offers satisfying treats—whether you're transitioning to a vegan or gluten-free diet, or simply wanting to indulge a sweet tooth using healthier ingredients.

Historical nonfiction genre has been widely divergent in subject matter and approach. There is no reason to believe authorial creativity will dry out anytime soon. The history of food preparation’s attire gives the overall and –long narrative swift movement through time and events in both commercial and domestic kitchens. “I am a Librarian: I bring history in my research, and history of fashion accessories into my books.” (Tomshinsky, 2014) Since ancient times, aprons have been used as the simplest ways of covering the human body while preparing food. Aprons evolved into a practical way of shielding one’s body from more just prying eyes. Aprons were frequently included in the chefs’ uniforms, household servants’ wardrobe, from cooks to maids. From a simple garment to an essential protective layer, from the staid to the designer fashions, aprons have come a long way. They are currently at the center of the Renaissance of chic and practicality of the kitchen attire for chefs and modern women who like to cook and entertain.

“Fancy Aprons and Sunbonnets” is a classic guide to making a variety of traditional women's aprons, with chapters on hat making. Written at a time when women would commonly wear aprons for housework and cooking, this volume will appeal to those with an interest in hand crafting vintage clothing and needlework in general. Contents include: “Dressmaking And Tailoring”, “Fancy And Sewing Aprons”, “Square And Round Sewing Aprons”, “Clothes-Pin Apron And Bag”, “Sunbonnets And Sun Hats”, “Sunbonnets”, “Fancy Aprons And Sunbonnets Examination”, “Questions”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on dressmaking and tailoring.

For decades, smart stylish women have worn different aprons to suit their various needs. They are a must-have in the kitchen and elsewhere. This book brings new life to vintage styled aprons that women of today will find irresistible.

The books that we choose to keep -- let alone read -- can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In My Ideal Bookshelf, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others. With colorful and endearingly hand-rendered images of book spines by Jane Mount, and first-person commentary from all the contributors, this is a perfect gift for avid readers, writers, and all who have known the influence of a great book.

When an eight-year-old boy helps his uncle at his job as a plasterer, he takes a fancy to his workman's apron with a pocket. As a result of his fascination, his aunt makes him an apron of his own and he spends a few days as his Uncle Adam's assistant. The text is brief and simple but clearly conveys the warmth between the man and his nephew and the child's satisfaction in a job well done. The line/tissue paper illustrations are colorful and somewhat geometric, reminiscent of French Cubist Leger's work featuring laborers. - SLJ