Dear Reader,
The 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!
Rainbow Fish By: Marcus Pfister
Ages: Preschool through First Grade
Rainbow Fish is another classic and a must read for children. Rainbow Fish was the most beautiful fish in the sea, but didn’t have any friends until he decided to share his shiny scales with the other fish. This beautiful book is the ultimate story of giving and friendship.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the book, ask the child to look at the cover and tell you why he/she thinks the fish is called the Rainbow Fish.
- After reading, ask the child how Rainbow Fish reacted when the little blue fish asked for one of his scales.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you why Rainbow Fish was lonely.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what advice the octopus gave to the Rainbow Fish and did he follow his advice.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how the Rainbow Fish’s life changed after he gave his scales away.
- Make the Rainbow Chocolate Truffles (recipe below) and share with friends.
Additional Classic Books:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar By: Eric Carle
- Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom By: Bill Martin and John Archambault Illustrated by: Lois Ehlert
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By: Bill Martin and Eric Carle
- Goodnight Moon By: Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by: Clement Hurd
Cooking Time:
Veggie Bobbers
Trying to keep with a “fish” theme, these healthy vegetable bobbers are fun to make and delicious. Children can help by cutting the vegetables and assembling the bobbers. There are knives made for children that are safe for them to use. (See picture.)
8 sweet cocktail tomatoes or very large cherry tomatoes
8 cucumber slices cut 1/4th inch thick
8 carrot sticks, 4 inches by 1/4 inch
- Slice the carrots into strips.
- Use a hard plastic straw to make a hole through the tomatoes and the cucumber slices.
- Cut each tomato in half.
- Thread the carrot stick through half of the tomato, cucumber and other tomato half.
- Serve with your favorite veggie dip.
Makes 8 servings.
Hook, Line and Sinker Mix
This savory trail mix is really good and very easy to make. The added spices make all of the difference. Children can help by measuring and adding all of the ingredients, stirring mixture and kitchen cleanup.
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
3/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 cup cheddar goldfish crackers
1 cup pretzel sticks
1/2 cup Cheerios
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts
- Place the butter in a large microwave safe bowl and place in the microwave to melt.
- Add the parsley flakes, tarragon, onion powder and celery salt to the butter and mix completely.
- Add the crackers, pretzels, Cheerios and peanuts to the butter mixture and stir to coat.
- Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 1/2 minutes, stirring once.
- Place on a baking sheet to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
Makes 3 cups of mix.
Rainbow Chocolate Truffles
Here is a little sweetness to go along with our Bobbers and Mix. These wonderful truffles are so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Children can help by adding the ingredients, rolling the truffles into balls and coating each one with their favorite toppings.
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
5 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Toppings such as colored sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, walnuts, pecans, coconut, powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa
- Place the chocolate in a microwave safe dish. Heat 30 seconds at a time until melted.
- Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese. Beat until smooth.
- Add the vanilla and mix.
- Add the melted chocolate and mix until smooth.
- Refrigerate truffle mixture for at least 1 hour.
- Using a 1 1/2 inch melon scoop, form the mixture into balls.
- Roll the balls into the toppings.
- Store in refrigerator.
Makes about 30 truffles.
