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!
Hope is a Rainbow By: Hoda Kotb Illustrated by: Chloe Dominique
Ages: Toddler through First Grade
Hoda Kotb has done it again! She brought us a beautiful and positive book about “hope”. She describes hope in many ways and the need for hope in many circumstances that occur in the lives of children. The book is done in rhyming verse and is a perfect bedtime story.
Tips for Reading:
- Just read this book for enjoyment.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you some of the things that they hope for in the future.
Additional Books by Hoda Kotb:
- I’ve Loved You Since Forever
- You Are My Happy
Cooking Time:
Rainbow Snack
These sweet treats do look like rainbows and are easy to make and fun to eat. Children can help by adding the icing and putting on the marshmallows and rainbow candy.
Graham Crackers
Canned vanilla frosting
Blue food coloring
Mini marshmallows
Rainbow Airhead Extreme Candy
- Color the needed amount of icing with blue coloring.
- Spread icing onto a graham cracker square.
- Form a slice of the candy to form a rainbow and attach to the icing as shown in the picture.
- Add marshmallows for the clouds.
Make as many as you would like.
Froot Loop Rainbow Bars
These are traditional marshmallow treats, but made with Froot Loops. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients.
4 tablespoons butter
12 ounces mini marshmallows
7 cups Froot Loops Cereal
Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with butter.
- Add the butter to a large pot on medium low heat until the butter is melted.
- Add the marshmallows. Stir until they are melted.
- Add the cereal and mix until all of the cereal is coated.
- Gently press the cereal mixture into the prepared baking pan.
- Allow the bars to cool. Cut into squares.
Makes 16 servings.
Rainbow Chocolate Chip Cookies
Kids will love eating one of their favorite cookies, but this time they look like rainbows. Children can help by measuring, adding ingredients, cracking the eggs and forming the cookie strips.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
3 cups plus 3 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, cold
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups white chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Additional to place on the tops of each cookie.
3 to 8 colors food coloring
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
- Using a mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter, brown sugar and sugar. Mix until smooth and mixed together well.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined.
- Add the flour mixture and blend until just incorporated.
- Divide the dough into the number of colors you intend to use.
- Using food coloring, color the batches of dough. Stir to mix completely.
- Add the chips to each batch of dough and combine.
- Role each colored dough into a 14 inch rope.
- Place the colored rolls next to each other on a large piece of parchment paper or cling wrap.
- Wrap up tightly, pressing the doughs together, forming a log. Twist a bit.
- Remove the wrap and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Roll into a ball.
- Add more chocolate chips on the tops of each cookie.
- Place on the prepared baking sheets, 2 to 3 inches apart.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 t0 12 minutes or until the edges are set. Do not overbake.
- Place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the baking pan and place back on the rack to complete the cooling process.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
