*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
By: Amy Krouse Rosenthal Illustrated by: Jane Dyer Ages: Preschool through First Grade
All parents and grandparents want to teach their children and grandchildren “life lessons” such as cooperation, honesty, and respect. Cookies, Bite-Size Life Lessons accomplishes this task in a very understandable way for young children. It does this through the process of making and enjoying cookies. This book is exceptional for vocabulary development and teaching values and social skills.
Tips for Reading:
- Read the entire book just for enjoyment.
- Select the pages with concepts that the child can understand. Discuss these concepts as they relate to his/her own life.
- Revisit the pages to instill and reinforce positive behavior. (Example: If your child is not showing compassion appropriately, reread the pages on compassion for further discussion.)
- As you make the cookies, incorporate lessons from the book. (Example: Be generous by giving cookies to a neighbor.)
Additional Books:
- All the Colors of the Earth By: Sheila Hamanaka
- The Rainbow Fish By: Marcus Pfister
- I Call My Hand Gentle By: Amanda Haan Illustrated by: Marina Sagona
- Shades of Black, A Celebration of Our Children By: Sandra L. Pinkney Photographs by: Myles C. Pinkney
- Sugar Cookies, Sweet Little Lessons on Love By: Amy Krouse Rosenthal Illustrated by: Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer
*All of the books listed can be found on Amazon and most can be found at your local bookstore and/or library.
Cooking Time
Chocolate Chunk Cookies
There are many varieties of chocolate chip cookies, but this will be a family favorite. The blended oats give these cookies a great texture and add nutritional value to these sweet treats. Children can help add ingredients, crack the eggs and add all of the chips. Reflect on the concepts in Cookies, Bite-Size Life Lessons as you prepare the cookies and share them with others.
1 cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar 2 1/2 cups blended oats*
2 extra large eggs, room temperature 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup dark chocolate chips
2 cups flour 4.4 oz. milk chocolate Hershey candy bar (chopped)
1 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
*Blended Oats: Place old fashioned oats in a blender or food chopper and blend into a fine powder. Measure after blending.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Use a mixer to blend the butter and the sugars until light and creamy (3 to 5 minutes).
- Beat in eggs and vanilla into the butter mixture.
- In a separate bowl, using a whisk, mix together the flour, blended oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Gradually add the dry mixture beginning with the mixer on low speed.
- When the dry ingredients are incorporated, stir in the chips, candy bar, and nuts (optional) using a spoon.
- Refrigerate cookie dough for 1/2 hour.
- Using a one inch melon scoop or a tablespoon, roll dough into 1 inch balls.
- Place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Cookies will be light brown.
- Place trays of baked cookies on racks to cool for 5 minutes. Remove cookies from the tray and place on racks to completely cool.
Makes 4 1/2 to 5 dozen cookies.
