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!
Little Blue Truck’s Valentine By: Alice Schertle Illustrated by: Jill McElmurry
Ages: Toddler through First Grade
The Little Blue Truck is back, just in time for Valentine’s Day. In our story, our friendly truck delivers valentines to all of his farm friends, but is feeling a little sad when he doesn’t receive any in return. Do not despair, our story has a very happy ending. Children will love the rhyming text and colorful illustrations.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading, discuss with the child any previous Little Blue Truck books that he/she has heard.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you what special day it was and what Little Blue Truck was going to do.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what was special about the valentines that Little Blue Truck gave to his friends.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how Little Blue Truck felt as he was headed home.
- After reading, ask the child why Little Blue Truck was surprised when he got home and why does he/she think his friends gave him a blue heart.
- After reading, ask the child to find rhyming words such as treat/eat, boat/float, etc.
Additional Little Blue Truck Books:
- Little Blue Truck
- Goodnight, Little Blue Truck
- Little Blue Truck’s Springtime
- Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
- Time for School, Little Blue Truck
Cooking Time:
Apple Love Bugs
These fun to make apple treats are healthy and perfect for Valentine’s Day. Children can help assemble the love bugs and enjoy eating them.
You will need a mini heart cutter, 1/2 inch.
1 red apple
1 green apple
1 tablespoon lemon or orange juice
4 purple grapes
8 edible candy eyes (can find on Amazon)
White icing or cream cheese (need just a little)
- Cut each apple in half. Use a knife or corer to cut out the stalk, leaving a space for the grape head.
- Brush the cut sides of the apples with juice.
- Using a knife, cut a thin triangle down the center of each apple half to form wings.
- Push the mini heart cutter into the apple skin to make the heart spots. Using the tip of the knife, take out each heart and brush the flesh side with juice.
- Transfer to the opposite colored apple, red heart to green apple and green heart to red apple.
- Cut a grape in half and put into the top of each apple half to form the head.
- Attach the candy eyes with a drop of icing or cream cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Makes 4 love bugs.
Bacon Cheeseburger Sweet Roll Sliders
These delicious sliders are perfect for a gathering or family dinner. Children can help with chopping, adding the ingredients and kitchen cleanup.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 pound ground chuck
1 cup onion, diced
12 ounce package of bacon, fried and chopped
1 teaspoon steak seasoning such as Montreal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
12 slices cheese (American or cheddar)
1 package (12 count) sweet Hawaiian rolls
4 tablespoons melted butter
- Cook the bacon until medium crisp and chop into pieces. Set aside.
- In a medium skillet, cook the meat and onions until the meat is no longer pink. Drain.
- Return to the skillet and add the Worcestershire sauce, steak seasoning, salt and garlic powder. Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat.
- Using a serrated knife, cut the rolls through the middle leaving individual rolls attached.
- Brush both cut sides with melted butter, reserving some butter for the tops.
- Place the bottom side of the rolls on the baking sheet. Arrange 6 slices of cheese on the rolls.
- Top the cheese with the cooked meat.
- Sprinkle the bacon on top of the meat.
- Top with the additional 6 slices of cheese.
- Place the top piece of rolls over the cheese.
- Brush the top of the rolls with the remaining butter.
- Cover loosely with foil.
- Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
- Remove the foil and return to the oven for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted and the cheese is melted.
- Use a sharp knife to cut between rolls. Serve immediately.
Makes 12 servings.
Peanut Butter Sweethearts
These Valentine cookies are a play on peanut blossoms. These soft peanut butter cookies are perfect with the added chocolate heart. Children can measure and add the ingredients, crack the eggs, roll the cookies in sugar and place the chocolate pieces on each.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
36 dove chocolate hearts (milk or dark)
Additional sugar for rolling the cookies
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, beat the butter for 1 minute on high speed until creamy.
- Add the brown sugar, sugar and cream on medium high speed for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and beat until combined.
- Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Beat on high speed until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and beat on low until combined.
- Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball. Roll each ball into sugar to completely coat.
- Place on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool for 8 minutes.
- Press a chocolate heart into each cookie and allow to cool completely.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
