Dear Reader,
This Blog is designed for the parents, grandparents and caregivers of young children. Each post will highlight a great book that all children should hear, with tips to enrich beginning reading skills. You will also find fun recipes that go along with each story. Enjoy reading and cooking with the children in your life.
*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
5 Sleeps ‘Til Christmas By: Jimmy Fallon Illustrated by: Rich Deas
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
Many celebrities write children’s books of all kinds, but Jimmy Fallon knocked this Christmas story out of the park. The words and pictures exemplify just how young children might feel five sleeps before Christmas. The illustrations are extraordinary and it is written in rhyming verse. This is a Christmas “must” read!
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child to tell you how he/she feels a few days before Christmas.
- While reading the story, discuss vocabulary and phrases such as, Kris Kringle, visions, dancing in my head, etc.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you some of the things that the boy in the story thought about while lying in bed at night. Why was he having trouble going to sleep?
- After reading the story, ask the child to recall the name of the little boy’s dog and the name of the dog’s chew toy. If he/she doesn’t remember, help the child look back through the text to locate the information.
- This is a fun Christmas story just to enjoy!
Additional Books:
- Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! By: Doreen Cronin Illustrated by: Betsy Lewin
- Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! By: Audrey and Don Wood
- Construction Site on Christmas Night By: Sherri Duskey Rinker Illustrated by: AG Ford
- Little Red Sleigh Erin Guendelsberger
- The Littlest Reindeer By: Brandi Dougherty Illustrated by: Michelle Todd
Cooking Time:
Hot Rolls
Making yeast rolls can be a little intimidating, but lots of fun for children. They can observe how the yeast process works and will love kneading the dough. The hardest part will be waiting for the dough to rise, but will be well worth it after tasting these delicious rolls.
1 teaspoon sugar
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees)
1 cup warm milk (heat till little bubbles appear around the edges)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten and at room temperature
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
- In a small bowl, place the warm water and add the 1 teaspoon of sugar and yeast. Mix completely. Allow to stand for 5 to 10 minutes or until the yeast begins to foam.
- In a large bowl, completely mix the milk, butter, 1/2 cup sugar, egg and salt.
- Stir the yeast mixture into the milk mixture and then gradually add 3 1/2 cups flour.
- Mix until you have a soft, pliable dough. May need to add the additional 1/2 cup flour.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured counter or board. Allow the dough to rest while you clean the bowl and butter it.
- Knead the dough for 4 to 5 minutes, adding flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and silky.
- Put the dough back into the buttered bowl.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise until it is doubled in size. (about 3 to 4 hours)
- Grease a 12 cup muffin tin.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Punch the dough down. Pinch off pieces of dough about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and roll into smooth balls.
- Place 2 to 3 balls into each muffin cup.
- Cover muffin tins with a dish towel and place back into a warm place to rise again. Allow to rise for 45 minutes.
- Remove the cloth and place in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until light brown.
- Serve warm with butter.
Makes 12 to 16 rolls.
Celery Reindeer
These fun reindeer are so easy to make and are a healthy snack. They would be great to serve at a party or family event. Children can help by cleaning the celery, adding the peanut butter, antlers, eyes and nose.
Celery
Creamy peanut butter
Mini pretzels
Candy eyes (Amazon)
Red raspberries
- Wash and cut the celery into 3 to 4 inch pieces.
- Break the pretzels to form the antlers.
- Fill each celery strip with peanut butter.
- Add the eyes.
- Add the raspberry to form the nose.
Make as many as you need.
Banana Santas
This is another healthy treat for the holidays. These Santas are so much fun to make and even more fun to eat. Children can help assemble them. Since the banana is the star and will perish quickly, they must be eaten right away. The red M & M will fade onto the banana, but will still be tasty.
9 inch skewers
Bananas
Strawberries
Regular marshmallows
Miniature marshmallow
Red M & M’s
Chocolate Jimmies
- Cut the bananas into 3 to 4 inch chunks.
- Clean the strawberries and cut off stem.
- Using kitchen scissors, cut the large marshmallows in half.
- Begin building your Santas on the skewers, beginning with the banana, then the large half marshmallow, strawberry and miniature marshmallow.
- Add the jimmies for the eyes and the M & M for the nose.
Make as many as you need.
