*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
“A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.”
|
Since the beginning of March is when the sap really gets flowing and maple madness begins, my daughter and I visited the maple syrup farm, H&H Sugarbush, in Chelsea during their Michigan Maple weekend to learn firsthand all the ins and outs of tapping trees, boiling sap and making pure maple goodness. We got to walk through the woods to see the taps and lines and then visited the sugarhouse itself to see the huge evaporator. Oh, what a smell! We left with two kinds of syrup (one amber and one dark), maple cream and maple candy and went directly home and made some pancakes.
|
Then the next day we visited the Storybook Trail mentioned above and they happened to be featuring a book on maple syrup called Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton. In the story you get to join a family as they go about making maple syrup step-by-step, from placing the taps to boiling down the sap. This was a great compliment and finish to our own experience at H&H Surgarbush, as we were able to reflect on all that we had seen as we read the story and explored the trail.
|
|
-Kate @ BTBL
Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
- Before heading out to look for bugs, with younger children, review the -ug word family with them: bug, dug, hug, jug, lug, mug, rug, slug, tug.
- After observing their bug, have them draw or build their bug from clay, play dough or some other craft item.
- Identify all the parts of their bug, and count the number of eyes, legs, wings etc.
- Look up their bug in a field guide such as Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies (Take-Along Guides) by Mel Boring or a title from National Geographic Kids.
- For older kids, have them write down their observations and after looking their bug up, have them write down some interesting facts they learned about their bug.
- Encourage your children to create a journal to keep their information in and to add to, creating their own unique field guide.

Usborne Books & More
-Kate @ BTBL
Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
- Arugula Flowers: Peppery flavor, just like arugula leaves. Use in salads or other savory dishes.
- Chive Blossoms: Delicate, oniony flavor. Use whole flowers or separate the individual petals.
- Hibiscus: Tart and sweet. Often used in teas, and salads.
- Jasmine: Very sweet, floral fragrance and flavor. Use in teas or desserts.
- Lavender: Floral flavor that's perfume-y and faintly citrusy. Use in teas, desserts, or other baked goods.
- Lemon Verbena: Light lemon flavor that's well-suited for sweet or savory cooking.
- Violets: Sweet and floral. Use in dessert or freeze into ice cubes for decorative drinking.

- The Secret Garden: A BabyLit Flowers Primer by Jennifer Adams
- The Secret Garden: A BabyLit Storybook by Mandy Archer
- The Secret Garden by Igloo Books (an enchanting retelling of a modern classic)
- Secret in the Garden, A Peek Through Book by James Mayhew
- The Illustrated Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford
- The Secret Garden Cookbook by Amy Cotler
-Kate @ BTBL
Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
C.S. Lewis
National BBQ, Egg, Hamburger, Salad, Salsa & Strawberry Month &
Get Caught Reading Month
Bake the world a better place!
-Kate @ BTBL
Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
Author
We are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children.
Archives
June 2022
January 2022
November 2021
September 2021
July 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
July 2017
April 2017
September 2016
August 2016
Categories
All
ABC Books
Alphabet Books
Arbor Day
Autumn/Fall
Background Knowledge
Back To School
Ballet Books
Banned Books Week
Board Books
Book Advent Calendar
Book Finds
Book Quotes
Books
Book Sales
Bookworm Bakers
Boredom
BTBL Rocks
Bugs/Insects
Calendars
Censorship
Children's Book Week
Christmas
Coloring
Cooking
Creativity
Dewey Decimal System
Dr. Seuss
Early Literacy
Earth Day
Easter
Environmental Print
Extended Activities
Fairy Gardens
Fairy Tales
Family Literacy Month
Farmers Markets
Flowers
Gardening
Get Caught Reading Month
Gratefulness
Halloween
Hands-On
Hanukkah
Holidays
Homeschooling
Imaginative Play
Inspiration
Intellectual Freedom
Kids In The Kitchen
Kindergarten
Kindness
Kindness Rocks Project
Language
Learning
Libraries
Library Card Sign-up Month
Magnets
Manners & Etiquette
Math
Natural Playgrounds
Natural Reader
Nature
New Year Resolutions
Number Books
Nursery Rhymes
Outdoor Play
Picture Books
Play
Poetry
Puzzles
Read Across America
Reading
Reading Aloud
Reading Comprehension
Reading Month
Repetition
School Libraries
Screen Free Week
Spring
STEM
Storytelling
Storytime
Summer
Summer Slide
Teaching
Tell A Fairy Tale Day
Thanksgiving
Toys
Unplug
Used Books
Valentine's Day
Vocabulary
Winter
Winter Books
Words & Word Play
World Read Aloud Day