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!
The Runaway Bunny By: Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by: Clement Hurd
Ages: Preschool through First Grade
The Runaway Bunny is another classic that children will love to hear. It is a beautiful story about a mother’s unconditional love. In our story, little bunny tells mother bunny that he will run away. Mother bunny explains how far she will go to find him. This is the security that all children need to feel. Please put this one on your nighttime reading list.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child if he/she has ever thought about running away.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you what mother bunny will do if little bunny runs away.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you some of the things that little bunny would become if his mother ran after him.
- How does mother bunny feel about little bunny and how do you know.
Additional Books:
- Guess How Much I Love You By: Sam McBratney Illustrated by: Anita Jeram
- Goodnight Moon By: Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by: Clement Hurd
- Pat the Bunny By: Dorothy Kunhardt
- Good Day, Good Night By: Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by: Loren Long
Cooking Time:
Bunny Cinnamon Rolls
These adorable bunnies are cute and delicious. Children will love forming the bunnies with the dough and decorating them.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 can cinnamon rolls with icing
Spring sprinkles
Spring colored M &M’s
- Separate the cinnamon rolls to begin forming bunnies.
- Use hands to pull the outer end out and up to form one bunny ear and then the other.
- Press down on the ears to secure them to the round part of the cinnamon roll.
- Place on a baking sheet and reinforce the bunny shape.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven for 6 minutes.
- Remove and reinforce the bunny shape with a spoon handle.
- Return to the oven to continue baking for another 6 to 10 minutes.
- Place the baking sheet on a rack to cool.
- Drizzle on the icing while the bunnies are warm.
- Immediately, sprinkle with the sprinkles and use the candy to form the eyes and nose.
Makes 8 bunnies.
Glazed Carrots
Children will love these sweet carrot treats. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients.
1 pound baby carrots
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
- In a medium pan, place the carrots, butter, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and salt.
- Over medium heat, cook the carrots until they are tender and a glaze has formed, around 12 to 15 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
- Serve warm.
Makes 4 servings.
Bunny Parfaits
What fun are these parfaits! Children can help by cleaning and preparing the strawberries, cubing the cake, assembling the bunnies and the parfaits.
1 1/2 cups strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup Cool Whip
1 cup Angel Food Cake or Pound Cake, cubed
Marshmallows
Pink sugar crystals
White sugar crystals
M & M’s
2 small parfait dishes
- Slice the strawberries and mix with sugar. Set aside for 20 minutes to allow the juices to form.
- Slice the cake into small cubes.
- Begin layering some prepared strawberries on the bottom of each dish.
- Add a layer of cake and then a layer of Cool Whip.
- Put some slices of strawberries around the inside of the dish for decoration.
- Repeat with strawberries, cake and end with Cool Whip.
- Use a large marshmallow for the bunny head.
- Roll the head in white sugar.
- Cut another marshmallow to form the ears.
- Sprinkle the ears with pink sugar.
- Assemble the bunny and place on the parfait.
- Add M & M’s for the eyes and nose.
- Garnish top of parfait with additional strawberry slices.
Makes 2 servings.
