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!
How to Catch the Easter Bunny By: Adam Wallace Illustrated by: Andy Elkerton
Ages: Toddlers through First Grade
In this fun story, the Easter Bunny, or E.B. for short, tells the reader why it is so hard to catch him. He takes us on a journey through his life and how it always ends with treats delivered to boys and girls everywhere. The story is in rhyming form and the illustrations are very detailed and colorful.
Reading Tips:
- Before reading the story, ask the child how he/she might try to catch the Easter Bunny.
- While reading the story, discuss with the child any new vocabulary that he/she may not know such as burrowing, supersonic, etc.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you a couple of ways that were tried to catch E. B.
- After reading the story, go back to the text and pick out rhyming words, such as home/roam, sad/mad, etc.
- After reading, ask the child who he/she thinks is the Easter Bunny’s favorite kid.
Additional Books;
- The Easter Egg By: Jan Brett
- Corduroy’s Easter Based on the Character Created by: Don Freeman Illustrated by: Lisa McCue
- Pete the Cat, Big Easter Adventure By: Kimberly and James Dean
- Turkey’s Eggcellent Easter By: Wendi Silvano Illustrated by: Lee Harper
Cooking Time:
Deviled Egg Chicks
A friend of ours, Carolyn, sent us a picture of these Deviled Egg Chicks. They were so cute that we had to give them a try. Children can help by peeling the eggs, adding the ingredients, decorating the chicks and kitchen cleanup.
7 eggs, hard boiled and peeled
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Carrot slivers for the nose
Black beans or black olives for the eyes
- Place 7 eggs in a pan and completely cover with cold water. Place on stove and heat on high until you get a hard boil. Remove from the heat and cover. Let sit for 22 to 24 minutes. Immediately cover eggs in cold water so that they stop cooking. To peel, crack each egg, role in your hand and peel under the water.
- To remove the yolk from each egg, cut off the peak of the egg which will be the hat portion.
- Carefully remove the yolk and place in a small bowl.
- Smash the yolks with a fork.
- To the yolks, add the mayonnaise, pickle relish, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Mix completely until fairly smooth.
- Fill each large egg white section with the egg mixture, mounding it up to form the face of the chick.
- Place the top on the chick for the hat.
- Cut slivers of carrot to form the nose.
- Place pieces of beans or olives on the chick for the eyes.
**We used a clean egg carton lined with lettuce to hold the chicks.
Makes 6 to 7 baby chicks.
Bird’s Nests
This is such an easy treat to make and is perfect for Easter and any Springtime event. Children can help by adding the ingredients, forming the nests, adding the jelly beans and kitchen cleanup.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper.
1 package (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening (Crisco)
1 can (5 ounces) chow mein noodles
2/3 cup flaked coconut (optional)
45 to 60 jelly beans
- Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe dish.
- Microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Stir after each 30 seconds. Takes about 1 1/2 minutes until mixture is smooth.
- Add the noodles and coconut to chocolate mixture.
- Mix until all of the noodles are completely covered with chocolate.
- Spoon the mixture in mounds onto the parchment lined baking sheet.
- Form 12 to 15 mounds making an indentation in the center of each.
- Add jelly beans to each nest.
- Allow the nests to cool.
Makes 12 to 15 nests.
