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!
Misty the Cloud, Friends Through Rain or Shine By: Dylan Dreyer with Alan Katz Illustrated by: Rosie Butcher
Ages: Pre-school through Second Grade
This is the second “Misty the Cloud” story that we have highlighted. In this one, Clare and her brother are celebrating their birthdays and hoping for a sunny day. It was also Misty the Cloud’s birthday and at her party they were playing water games which meant rain. There was some conflict, both on the ground and in the sky. However, things worked out and the result was a beautiful rainbow. This charming book also includes a lot of weather information.
Tips for Reading:
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you why it was a special day for Claire and Tyler and why was Claire upset.
- After reading, ask the child to name some of the games that Misty and her friend were playing.
- After reading, ask the child to describe the problem between Misty and Claire.
- After reading, how was the problem resolved and what special thing happened.
Additional Books:
- Misty the Cloud: A Very Stormy Day By: Dylan Dreyer Illustrated by: Rosie Butcher
- Katy in the Clouds By: Piper Johnson Illustrated by: Uliana Barabash
- Worm Weather By: Jean Taft Illustrated by: Matt Hunt
- The Wonder of Thunder By: Sharon Purtill Illustrated by: Tamara Piper
Cooking Time:
Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
Children will love putting together these healthy and fun kabobs.
Strawberries
Mango or pineapple
Orange slices
White grapes
Red grapes
Blueberries
Bananas
Skewers
- Thread favorite fruits onto the skewer, reserving the strawberry for the last.
Make as many as you would like.
Rainbow Pasta Salad
The ingredients in this delicious Italian Pasta Salad are a rainbow of colors. Children can help by chopping, measuring and adding the ingredients.
1 box tri-color rotini pasta
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 green pepper, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
8 ounces salami, diced into quarters
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced into cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup Italian dressing
- Prepare the pasta according to the package directions.
- Drain and rinse with cold water and set aside.
- Using a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, salami, basil, cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and dressing.
- Mix until well combined.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Makes 12 servings.
Rainbow Cupcakes with Cloud Frosting
These cupcakes truly do look like a rainbow covered in a cloud. Kids will love them! Children can help by measuring, adding ingredients, cracking the eggs and adding the colors.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
Cupcakes:
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/3 cups sugar
5 egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk, warmed for 30 seconds in microwave to bring to room temperature
Rainbow colors of Gel food coloring
Icing:
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon clear vanilla
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons milk
- Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light in color, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the egg whites and vanilla and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients and the milk alternately until combined.
- Add one cup of batter to 6 different bowls.
- Color each bowl with gel food coloring using red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
- Mix until colors are fully combined.
- You can use a spoon or add the colors to Ziploc bags for piping.
- If using a spoon, spoon just under a tablespoon of batter into each cup.
- If using Ziploc bag, cut off a tip and pipe into each cup.
- Start with purple, then blue, then green, then yellow, then orange and finally red.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Allow cupcakes to cool on a wire rack. Make frosting.
- Using a mixer, beat the butter until it is light in color, about 1 minute.
- Add the vanilla and combine.
- Add the powdered sugar in 1 cup increments with the milk 1 tablespoon at a time, ending in powdered sugar.
- Mix on high for 1 minute after each addition.
- Frosting should look like a vanilla cloud.
- Using a star tip and a piping bag, pipe frosting to look like a cloud onto the cooled cupcakes.
Makes 18 to 24 cupcakes.
