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!
Good Night, Gorilla By: Peggy Rathmann
Ages: Toddlers through First Grade
This absolutely adorable story is about a very clever gorilla and how he tricks the zookeeper. Children will need to follow the story by looking at the pictures to see what is really happening. A bonus attraction is to have them look for the mouse and the banana in every picture. This fun book illustrates the importance of using book illustrations to help in the reading process, which is a vital literacy skill.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child to look at the cover and predict what the story might be about. After reading, ask the child if his/her prediction was correct.
- After the gorilla lets the armadillo out and before reading the rest of the story, ask the child to tell you where he/she thinks the animals will go.
- After reading the book, ask the child to tell you why the gorilla released all of the animals.
- On the second reading of the book, ask the child to read “Good night” with you.
Additional Books:
- Go Go Gorillas By: Patrick Wensink Illustrated by: Nate Wragg
- Little Gorilla By: Ruth Bornstein
- Z is for Zookeeper By: Marie Smith and Roland Smith Illustrated by: Henry Cole
- The View at the Zoo By: Kathleen Long Bostrom Illustrated by: Guy Francis
Cooking Time:
Banana Bites
This is such an easy and healthy bite-sized snack that children can make themselves. Children can slice the banana, dip the peanut butter and add the nut topping.
1 banana
Creamy peanut butter
Dry roasted peanuts
- Cut the banana in 1/4th to 1/2 inch slices.
- Top each slice with a dab of peanut butter.
- Add peanuts to the top of each slice.
- Enjoy!
Banana-Apple Caterpillar
This is a very healthy dish to have for a dessert and children can help put it together. Using a child-safe knife, they can cut the banana and apple and add the raisins.
1 medium banana peeled
1/2 medium red delicious apple
2 raisins
- Cut the banana into 6 parts and place them on the serving plate.
- Cut the apple in half, remove core and slice into 1/4 inch wedges.
- Use 5 of the wedges to separate the pieces of banana.
- Add the raisins to make the eyes. Can use peanut butter to glue them on.
Makes 1 to 2 servings.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
This is such an easy recipe and the muffins are delicious. The addition of applesauce helps make the muffins moist. Children can help by measuring, adding the ingredients, stirring, filling the muffin tins and kitchen clean-up.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup very ripe banana, smashed (about 1 medium banana)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup mini chocolate chips
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, oil, smashed banana and applesauce.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture.
- Stir until moistened.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, fill each muffin tin 2/3rds full.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove and place on a wire rack to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove muffins from the tins and return to the rack to cool completely.
Makes 12 to 16 muffins.
