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!
Strictly No Elephants By: Lisa Mantchev Illustrated by: Taeeun Yoo
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
We have fallen in love with this amazing book and you will, too! It is a story about inclusion, friendship and kindness. Having a pet elephant isn’t easy, but the little boy in our story shows us how to handle being rejected and how to open our hearts to those that are different than us. Please add this lovely book to your reading list.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, read the title to the child and ask him/her to predict what might happen in the story.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you why the little boy was sad.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you if there was anyone else who had been turned away and why were they not allowed to attend the party.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what the little boy and girl decided to do and was it a success.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what they have learned about friendship.
Additional Books:
- What If We Were All the Same! By: C.M. Harris
- It’s OK to be Different: A Children’s Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness By: Sharon Purtill Illustrated by: Sujata Saha
- All Are Welcome By: Alexandra Penfold Illustrated by: Suzanne Kaufman
- Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are By: Maria Dismondy Illustrated by: Kim Shaw
Cooking Time:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Caterpillars
Children will love helping to make these fun caterpillars! They not only have mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but healthy fruit is included. Children can cut and help make the sandwiches and add the ingredients to the skewers.
Bread of choice
Peanut Butter
Jelly of choice
Bananas
Grapes
Marshmallows, large
Strawberries
Candy eyes
1 1/2 inch round cookie cutter
Skewers
- Use the cookie cutter to make rounds in the bread.
- Spread the peanut butter and jelly on the rounds to make mini sandwiches.
- Cut the bananas and/or marshmallows in 1/2 inch slices.
- Assemble the caterpillars starting with a mini sandwich, banana slice, marshmallows or grape, sandwich, fruit, sandwich, strawberry. (Allow children to be creative.)
- Using peanut butter, place the candy eyes on the strawberry.
Make as many as you like.
Animal Cracker Snack Mix
Snack mixes are always fun to make and kids love them. Since our story is about an elephant, we decided to use animal crackers. This mix can be put into snack bags and served at parties. Children can help by measuring the ingredients and mixing the snack.
1 1/2 cups animal crackers
1 cup peanuts
1 cup raisins
1 cup M & M’s
- Using a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
- Store in resealable plastic bags or containers.
Makes 4 1/2 cups.
Smashed Potatoes
If a little elephant stepped on a potato it would look just like these smashed potatoes. These are a unique way to serve potatoes and children will love helping with the smashing part.
1 3/4 pounds baby potatoes
2 bay leaves
2 garlic cloves
Big pinch of salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
Olive oil to drizzle on potatoes
Salt and pepper to season
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water.
- Add the bay leaves, garlic cloves and a large pinch of salt.
- Bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and discard the bay leaf and garlic.
- Toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Use a spatula or measuring cup to smash the potatoes.
- Drizzle the potatoes with additional olive oil.
- Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and pepper.
- Bake until the potatoes are crisp and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
If you like peanut butter and chocolate, this delicious dessert is for you. Children can help by crushing the cookies and candy, adding ingredients and the toppings.
20 Oreo cookies, divided
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 carton (16 ounces) Cool Whip topping, thawed, divided
19 miniature peanut butter cups, chopped (Save 4 for the topping.)
1 cup milk
1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
- Place 16 of the cookies in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- Place the crushed cookies in a bowl and toss with the butter.
- Press into an ungreased 9 inch square dish. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, beat together the cream cheese, peanut butter and 1 cup powdered sugar. Mix until smooth.
- Gently fold in 1/2 of the Cool Whip.
- Spread the mixture over the cookie crust.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanut butter cups. Reserve a few for the top of the dessert.
- Using a mixer, beat together the milk, pudding mix and 1/2 cup powdered sugar on low speed for 2 minutes.
- Let the pudding mixture stand for another 2 minutes or until soft-set.
- Fold in the remaining Cool Whip.
- Spread pudding mixture over the peanut butter cups.
- Crush the remaining cookies and sprinkle over the top.
- Sprinkle the remaining 4 chopped peanut butter cups on the top.
- Cover and chill for 3 hours.
Makes 12 servings.
