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 tis 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!
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving By: Kimberly and James Dean
Ages: Toddler through First Grade
“Pete the Cat” books are very popular with young children and this one is perfect to read before Thanksgiving. This is a flip book and Pete does an excellent job of presenting the history of the first Thanksgiving in a very understandable way. Children will love the story and enjoy the flip cards on each page.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child to tell you why he/she thinks we celebrate Thanksgiving.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you why Pete was so nervous.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you who was traveling to the new world and why.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what the Pilgrims had to do when they arrived in the new world.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you why the Pilgrims had a feast on the first Thanksgiving.
- After reading, ask the child how Pete felt at the end of the story.
Additional “Pete the Cat” Books:
- Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete
- Pete the Cat: Falling for Autumn
- Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins
- Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus
- Pete the Cat: Talent Show Trouble
Cooking Time:
Turkey Pineapple Cheese Ball
This is the perfect appetizer for any Thanksgiving event. The pineapple adds a fun flavor to an ordinary cheese ball. Children can help by chopping the onions and peppers, adding the ingredients, forming the cheese ball and adding the pretzels, beef stick, eyes and face.
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2 tablespoons finely diced green onions
2 tablespoons finely diced green pepper
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Stick pretzels
Beef stick
Candy eyes
Candy corn
Crackers
- Mix the cream cheese, pineapple, onions, peppers and salt until completely combined.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Press the cheese mixture into a ball.
- Roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans.
- Put the cheese ball onto the serving plate.
- Add the pretzels to form the turkey’s tail.
- Cut the beef stick, if needed, and then add it to form the turkey’s neck.
- Add a dab of cheese ball mixture onto the back of each eye and place on the beef stick.
- Add a dab of cheese ball mixture to the candy corn and place below the eyes to form the turkey’s face.
- Serve with crackers.
Makes 16 servings.
Gobbler Fruit Tray
This is a healthy addition to any Thanksgiving event and it is also fun for children to assemble. Children can help by preparing the fruit and arranging the fruit onto the plate.
1 pear, cut in half
Blueberries
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Kiwi
Red seedless grapes
Can also use other fruits of your choice
- Place the pear half, cut side down, onto a large round plate.
- Arrange the fruit as you would like to form the layers of feathers.
- Add a dab of peanut butter on each eye and place on the pear.
- Cut a small piece of cantaloupe to form the beak and place on the pear with peanut butter.
- Cut a small sliver of strawberry to form the wattle and attach with peanut butter.
- Cut small slices of cantaloupe to form the turkey’s legs.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
These fun Thanksgiving desserts are perfect for the holiday and so easy for children to make. Children can cut the pie circles and add all of the turkey toppings.
1 pumpkin pie, 9 inch (Can make your own or purchase one.)
1/8 cup chocolate chips, melted
4 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
8 candy eyeballs
2 orange M & M’s
20 pieces candy corn
- Cut out circles from the pie using a 2 inch biscuit cutter. Enjoy eating the rest of the pie.
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds until melted.
- Using the melted chocolate, adhere one of the peanut butter cups toward the edge of a pie circle.
- Using the chocolate, attach two eyes to the peanut butter cup.
- Cut an M &M in half lengthwise and, using chocolate, attach under the eyes to make the beak.
- Press 5 pieces of candy corn into the pie to form the tail.
- Refrigerate the finished turkey to allow the chocolate to harden.
Makes 4 servings.
