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!
Turkey’s Eggcellent Easter By: Wendi Silvano Illustrated by: Lee Harper
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
Our favorite turkey from Turkey Trouble is back. This time Turkey wants to participate in the Easter egg hunt, but animals aren’t allowed. With the help of the other farm animals, Turkey decides to disguise himself in order to go unnoticed and find one of the special eggs. In the end, it turned out to be an “eggcellent” Easter for everyone. This delightful book has great vocabulary and is just fun!
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child to tell you if he/she has ever been to an Easter egg hunt and what it was like.
- While reading the story, discuss with the child vocabulary that may be new to him/her such as bolted, thwarted, sabotaged, etc.
- After reading the story, ask the child to name some of the disguises that Turkey tried.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you why it turned out to be an “eggcellent” Easter for Turkey and his friends.
Additional Books:
- Pete the Cat, Big Easter Adventure By: Kimberly and James Dean
- How to Catch the Easter Bunny By: Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
- The Easter Egg By: Jan Brett
- Happy Easter, Mouse! By: Laura Numeroff Illustrated by: Felicia Bond
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick By: Lucille Colandro Illustrated by: Jared D. Lee
Cooking Time:
Bacon and Egg Nests
This fun recipe is perfect for an Easter breakfast. It is an egg snuggled in bacon. What could be more perfect? Serve with fruit and toast and you have a great morning treat. Children can help by cracking the eggs into the bacon cups as well as kitchen clean-up.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray.
12 to 18 strips of bacon
6 large eggs
Salt and pepper
- In a large skillet, fry the bacon until cooked but not super crisp.
- Drain the bacon on a paper towel.
- Cut six slices of cooked bacon in half and line the bottom of each greased muffin tin.
- Take the full slices of bacon and line the sides of each muffin tin to form a nest.
- Crack a large egg into each bacon nest.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake in a 325 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Serve with fruit and toast.
Makes 6 servings.
Peanut Butter Eggs
If you like Reese’s eggs at Easter time, you will love this homemade version. They are actually better! For readers from Ohio, this is a basic Buckeye recipe shaped into eggs. Children can help by adding the ingredients, mixing the peanut filling, forming the eggs and kitchen cleanup.
Place parchment paper or waxed paper on a large cookie sheet.
2 sticks butter, softened
Creamy peanut butter, 16 ounces
3 cups powdered sugar
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
Easter sprinkles, optional
- In a large bowl combine the softened butter and peanut butter until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and mix completely. Use your hands to mix when you add the last cup.
- Using a small ice cream scoop or a 1 1/2 inch melon scoop, measure the mixture and form into an egg shape.
- Place the peanut butter eggs on the lined cookie sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the unsweetened chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments. Stir after each. Takes about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Dip the frozen eggs into the chocolate mixture. Yes, this is very messy. Can also use a small spatula to cover each egg with chocolate.
- Add Easter sprinkles.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Makes 18 large eggs or 30 smaller eggs.
