*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
Room on the Broom By: Julia Donaldson Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
Ages: Toddlers through First Grade
Room on the Broom is one of our favorite Halloween stories. The book is done in rhyming text and tells a great story about a very nice witch and the many friends that she makes along the way. In the end, her friends save the day. Children will enjoy the colorful illustrations. This book also provides the opportunity to review rhyming words.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the book, go through each page and ask the child to look at the pictures and tell you what they think is happening in the story. This is called a picture walk.
- After reading the story, ask the child to recall the animals that asked if there was room on the broom.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how the witch was saved from the mean dragon.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how the witch repaid her friends for saving her.
- After reading, pick any page, reread and ask the child to tell you which words rhyme.
Additional Books:
- On Halloween Night By: Ferida Wolff and Dolores Kozielski Illustrated by: Dolores Avendano
- When the Clock Strikes on Halloween By: Lisa Ferland Illustrated by: Pei Jen Contributor: Calvin Ferland
- The Gruffalo By: Julia Donaldson Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
- In the Haunted House By: Eve Bunting Illustrated by: Susan Meddaugh
Cooking Time:
This recipe is very easy and perfect to make with children. These Pretzel Bites are great for Halloween, but can be made for any fall event. Children can help by putting candy kisses on the pretzels, adding the M & M’s and kitchen cleanup.
Pretzel Bites
24 mini pretzels
24 candy kisses
144 orange M & M’s *
24 green M & M’s *
*You can find M & M’s by color in bulk candy stores.
- Place 8 mini pretzels on a flat microwave safe dish.
- Place one candy kiss on each pretzel.
- Microwave until the chocolate is gooey, about 60 to 80 seconds.
- Using a knife, flatten the chocolate over the pretzel.
- Remove from the microwave and begin placing 6 orange M & M’s to form the pumpkin.
- Put 1 green M & M at the top for the stem.
- Continue this process 2 more times.
- Place the Pretzel Bites in the refrigerator until the chocolate is solid.
Makes 24 servings.
Pumpkin Muffins
These muffins are very moist and the streusel topping makes them perfect. Children can help by adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs, adding the streusel topping and kitchen cleanup.
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 cups canned pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with liners.
- Using a mixer, blend the sugar and oil together.
- Add the eggs and blend.
- Add the pumpkin and blend.
- Add the water and blend.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the pumpkin mixture and mix until blended.
- Stir in the nuts. (optional)
- Using an ice cream scoop or a measuring cup, fill each muffin liner about two thirds to three fourths full.
- Make Streusel Topping
Streusel Topping
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
2 tablespoons cold butter, sliced in small pieces
- Using a food processor or chopper, add all of the above ingredients.
- Pulse until the mixture resembles course crumbs.
- Top each pumpkin muffin with a tablespoon of the streusel topping.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Do not over bake.
- Put muffins on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.
- Remove the muffins from the muffin tin and return them to the wire rack to continue cooling.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen muffins.
