*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
Don’t Laugh Joe! By: Keiko Kasza
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
The first step in inspiring children to read is to capture their interest. Find books that you think children will love. Don’t Laugh Joe! is a book children will find enjoyable and funny as they follow Mother Possum’s attempts to teach her son how to play dead.
Tips for Reading:
- To model fluent reading, read with expression as you read Don’t Laugh Joe!
- As you read, occasionally ask the child to look at the picture on the page and try to predict what they think is happening.
- After reading the entire book, ask the child what the problem was in the story, and how it was resolved.
- After reading, discuss with the child any problem that they might have had and how it was resolved.
Additional Books:
- Chicken Little Retold and illustrated by: Steven Kellogg
- Corduroy By: Don Freeman
- Diary of a Worm By: Doreen Cronin
- Pigsty By: Mark Teague
- The Red Racer By: Audrey Wood
- Swimmy By: Leo Lionni
*All of the books listed can be found on Amazon and most can be found in your local bookstore or library.
Cooking Time:
Dirt Cake
Eat dirt cake? No way! But, I bet children will have fun making this delicious Dirt Cake. Read about Joe and enjoy your cake, worms and all! Children can help add the ingredients, add the crushed Oreos and definitely add the worms to the top.
Get 2 new plastic flower pots or a new beach pail.
1 package (14.3 oz.) Oreo cookies
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups whole milk
2 packages (3.4 oz. each) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 carton (12 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed
Gummy worms
- Using a rolling pin or a food processor, crush the cookies until they resemble potting soil. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. (3 minutes)
- In another bowl, put in the pudding and milk.
- Whisk the pudding and milk for 2 minutes or until thick.
- Fold the thawed whipped topping into the pudding mixture.
- Gently fold the pudding mixture into the cream cheese mixture until well blended.
- Alternately layer the Oreo crumb mixture and the pudding mixture into the pots or pail, ending with the Oreo mixture on the top.
- Refrigerate.
- Add the gummy worms to the top before serving.
Makes 10 to 12 servings.
