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!
Simon and the Better Bone By: Corey R. Tabor
Ages: Pre-school through First Grade
Simon is an adorable dog who finds a bone. As he looks into the pond, he spots another dog that also has a bone. At first, Simon is not happy and wants the other dog’s bone and tries all kinds of tricks to get it. In the end, the bone is gone, but Simon thinks that he has made a new friend. Children will love watching Simon and will figure out the mystery in this delightful book.
Tips for Reading:
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how Simon felt about the bone he had found and how did his feelings change about his bone when he looked into the water.
- After reading, ask the child to recall some of the ways that Simon tried to get the other dog to trade bones.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what happened to the bone and why the other dog couldn’t trade bones with Simon.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what Simon did to make a new friend.
- Ask the child to tell you what the mystery is in this story.
Additional Books About Dogs:
- Before You Were Mine By: Maribeth Boelts Illustrated by: David Walker
- Officer Buckle and Gloria By: Peggy Rathmann
- Harry the Dirty Dog By: Gene Zion Illustrated by: Margaret Bloy Graham
- Can I Be Your Dog? By: Troy Cummings
- Dog Breath By: Dav Pilkey
Cooking Time:
Raspberry Jello Salad
Children will love this delicious treat! They can help by adding the ingredients and mixing.
1 box (5.1 ounces) vanilla instant pudding
32 ounces vanilla yogurt
8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
1 package (12 ounces) frozen raspberries
- Take the raspberries out of the freezer to thaw for 10 minutes while making the rest of the salad.
- Using a large bowl, combine the pudding mix and the yogurt. Stir until well combined.
- Fold in the Cool Whip using a spatula.
- Fold in the raspberries.
Makes 12 servings.
Hot Dog and Baked Beans Pizza with Crispy Tots
Most children love hot dogs, tater tots and pizza, so we combined them to make this fun dish. Children can help by spreading the dough, slicing the hot dogs and adding the toppings.
1 ready to use pizza dough
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup thick baked beans with a few tablespoons of sauce
2 hot dogs, sliced into rounds
15 to 20 thawed tater tots (For crispier tots, pre-bake as directed for 10 minutes.)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a round pizza pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Stretch the pizza dough into a 12 inch circle, forming a thicker rim around the edge.
- Mix the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
- Add half of the cheese mixture over the pizza crust.
- Add the baked beans over the cheese layer.
- Add the sliced hot dogs on top of the baked beans.
- Add the tater tots to the top of the pizza.
- Finally, add the rest of the cheese.
- Bake the pizza for 10 to 12 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
Makes 6 servings.
Swiss Roll Dog Cakes
These cute dogs are fun to make and children will love eating them. Children can help by rolling the fondant and putting the dog together.
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls
Chocolate Fondant
Candy Eyes
Black Candy Pearl Sprinkles
Chocolate Frosting
- Using the fondant, form a large oval ball for the head.
- Form small round balls for the feet.
- Form 2 flat teardrop shapes for the ears.
- Form 1 small tail.
- Using the frosting, add the candy eyes, black sprinkle nose and ears to the large fondant oval.
- Slice off a thin layer on one end of the Swiss Roll to see the cream inside.
- Attach the fondant tail and the feet to the Swiss Roll with the frosting.
- Add the fondant head with the frosting.
Make as many as you would like.
