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 Back to Basics

Reading and cooking with kids

Read Your Way To A Good Meal Together

3/18/2021

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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     As we sat down to a meal of corned beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes and soda bread on Wednesday, I thought of how food plays such a central part in not only identifying who we are but in teaching us about life. We aren’t Irish but still enjoy the holiday with good food, stories, music and shamrocks. In our house, we tend to go from holiday to holiday planning early for what we will cook, searching for new recipes, creating a menu and looking for storybooks to teach about, compliment or enhance the holiday experience.
     We here at BTBL always encourage families to bond through cooking and books. Reading through and choosing recipes, going to the store to search for ingredients, and then cooking and baking together...these activities foster stronger bonds and create lasting memories. Look for storybooks that go along with upcoming holidays or books that celebrate both cooking and reading, such as The Storybook Cookbook by Carol MacGregor, Cooking with Mother Goose: Nursery Rhymes and the Recipes they Inspire by Lacey J. Mauritz, Fairytale Baking: Delicious Treats Inspired by Hansel & Gretel, Snow White and other Classic Stories by Christin Geweke, Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers and Eaters by Jane Yolen and Cook Me a Story or Cook Me a Rhyme by Brian Kozlowski.
     Use holidays to learn something new about other people and their culture and then celebrate the time together with a book. Browse through our Baking, Cooking, Gardening & Food Related books list for additional title suggestions.
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Happy reading and cooking together!

-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.

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Learning at Home: More Than Computers & Workbooks

1/30/2021

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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Hang tight, parents, we’re halfway there! The word halfway though is very subjective. Could be a good thing and you’re reaching an end point or a bad thing and you’ve left something behind, but either way, you can’t go back and yell, “do over!”
     It was in the summer with all this virus mess that I realized that homeschooling was going to be the best option for both my daughter and myself, though not without some stress. Mine, not hers. I tell myself that it’s only kindergarten but know that one always needs a strong foundation to build upon and so these early years do matter, so back to stressing. Then I read a blog from a homeschooling mom who said that if she had to do it all over again, she would relax more, read a ton of books and slow down, basically stopping to smell the roses as the saying goes. Slow down and see the value in the small things not missing opportunities that might pass by. And that’s just what I’ve done. I’ve slowed down and look for the everyday teachable moments that might be turned into extended learning opportunities and the end result has been a happier child filled with curiosity and imagination, excited to learn.
     I can’t redo the first half of her “school year,” but I’m not sure that I would want to because making the changes that I have has shown me just how unimaginative and limiting sitting in front of a computer screen and filling out worksheets can be and that learning doesn’t have to be just during the hours of 8:00 to 3:00. I haven’t given up all computer work and still offer worksheets and wipe clean boards but I’ve been reading books throughout the day and have found that learning can also take place when you least expect it. For example:
  • Playing games – card and board games like Monopoly (my five-year-old daughter’s favorite if you can believe it), Uno, Rummy, Scrabble, etc. involve math and reading, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, as well as a bit of planning ahead and plotting. Hmm...should I worry about the plotting and planning part?
  • Movies – can be a great history lesson. During the month of December, I drag out all the Christmas movies and one of my favorites is Meet Me in St. Louis. My daughter and I watched it together and it generated a whole plethora of questions and much discussion ensued. We talked about fashions of that period (she was particularly fascinated with the corset and declared her gratefulness that women no longer have to wear them), the crank wall telephone, ice delivery, doctor house calls, homemade ketchup and that crazy Halloween scene. Still don’t know what that one was about.
  • Baking and/or cooking – our kitchen adventures always turn into a lesson, sometimes positive and sometimes uh, not-so-sure-about that taste, but they all still involve some math, a bit of science and a dash of creativity. Just recently we experimented with the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker my daughter received for Christmas. Boy, oh boy was that a true kitchen adventure! Almost a Lucy and Ethel moment, but fun and educational nonetheless. The activity confirmed that I will never be a Pinterest perfect mom, ha.
  • Hiking – my daughter and I both love to be outdoors and so whenever we take a walk or hike, I’ve been bringing along nature identification books or she brings her camera and then we identify the various plants, insects or critters in the photos she took when we get home. This sparks lively discussions and more in depth research about animal homes, diets and habits, the best environments for certain types of plants (she is quite fascinated by fungus, particularly coral and puff ball mushrooms), birds and what their eggs look like (after finding shells at the end of summer) and much, much more.
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  • Internet – research tells us to limit screen time for children and that reading comprehension takes a dive when reading on a screen, but I’m one of those people that turns to Google when I wonder about something. When my daughter and I see something new or are just curious about a topic, I Google it for the information and for the photos to show her. Just last week we got into a discussion about fashion, specifically the differences between a shawl, stole, and Spencer jacket and what a bustle is, while doing an Usborne Activities Sticker Dolly Dressing book. A visual is always helpful to enhance understanding and make connections. I also like to look things up on YouTube, like recently watching how maple syrup is made. I know that she’s taking it in because she pointed out the maple trees in our area that are already tapped for sap.
  • Books – of course my world always includes books and so I’ve started reading to my daughter at various times throughout the day, not just at bedtime. It has become a habit to pull out books that are related to different questions and discussions that crop up throughout the day. Sitting down to share a story doesn't take very long, but it reinforces my daughter's learning and helps us create a stronger bond through books. I’ve also subscribed to Vooks, 'a streaming service for kids where books come to life,' which has led us to discover new titles we may not have otherwise found.
     These are just a few of the things that I’ve been doing with my daughter that shows me how her curious mind fuels her thirst for knowledge and how excited she gets to find the answers, and as we say that we are lifelong learners, I too have been learning new things when we do our searches. Don’t ever be afraid to tell your children that you don’t know something. It shows them that learning is a life long process and that we all can learn something new, as well as how to go about finding an answer to their question. 

“Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.”

Happy learning!

-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.

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December Is Made for Baking!

11/29/2020

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Let the snow fall and the baking begin!

*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Winter starts off with a month of baking and cooking for Christmas and Hanukkah! December is the National Egg Nog and Fruit Cake month, along with many National Day‘s for various baked goods (Pie Day, Cookie Day, Brownie Day, Pastry Day and others.) My First Baking Book by Rena Coyle and the DK cookbook, Mommy & Me Bake, are great beginner baking books. And don‘t forget to share all of your own favorite holiday recipes! Consider sharing these baking themed stories: The Baker‘s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale by Aaron Shepard, Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles by David A. Adler, or one of Jan Brett‘s Gingerbread stories (Gingerbread Baby, Gingerbread Friends, Gingerbread Christmas). So, get busy in the kitchen and bake some goodies to share. Bring a plate of delectable treats to your neighbors and those who can’t bake for themselves or live alone. Teach your children to pay it forward by spreading the kindness of the season and then snuggle up and read together!
Looking for more children's cookbooks? Find our favorites at the bottom of our book list:
Baking, Cooking, Gardening & Food Related Books

December
National Eggnog and Fruitcake Month
1st: National Pie Day
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Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie by America's Test Kitchen Kids
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Porcupine's Pie by Laura Renauld
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All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin
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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
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Ugly Pie by Lisa Wheeler
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The Perfect Pumpkin Pie by Denys Cazet
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The Apple Pie that Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson
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A Apple Pie by Kate Greenaway
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How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
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How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. by Marjorie Priceman
4th: National Cookie Day
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Cookies!: An Interactive Recipe Book by Lotta Nieminen
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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
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The Cookie Fiasco (Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie Like Reading) by Dan Santat
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The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems
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The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
7th: National Cotton Candy Day
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Fairy Floss: The Sweet Story of Cotton Candy by Ann Ingalls
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Cotton Candy Clouds by Sara D. Moore
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Captain Bad Breaker and the Cotton Candy Ship by L.L. Faer and E. Raven
8th: National Brownie Day
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If You Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Numeroff
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Clark the Shark: Too Many Treats by Bruce Hale
9th: National Pastry Day
10th: Hanukkah Begins
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Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles by David A. Adler
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Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg
12th: National Gingerbread House Day
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The Gingerbread House by Laura Gia West
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Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun
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Charlie's Gingerbread House by Melissa Ivey Staehli
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A Year of Gingerbread Houses by Kristine Samuell
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Gingerbread Houses by Christa Currie
Don't forget about Jan Brett's Gingerbread series as well (see above)!
13th: National Cocoa Day
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From Cocoa Beans to Chocolate by Bridget Heos
15th: National Cupcake Day
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Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly & James Dean
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If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff
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Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake by Thomas Taylor
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Fancy Nancy and the Delectable Cupcakes by Jane O'Connor
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Camilla the Cupcake Fairy by Make Believe Ideas Ltd.
16th: National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
17th: National Maple Syrup Day
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Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton
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Almost Time by Gary D. Schmidt & Elizabeth Stickney
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The Sweetest Season by Elissa Kerr
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From Maple Tree to Syrup by Melanie Mitchell
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M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds
25th: Christmas Day
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Christmas Cookie Day! by Tara Knudson
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The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher by Robert Kraus
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A World of Cookies for Santa by M. E. Furman
For a more complete list of Christmas titles, look at our Holiday Books list.
26th: National Candy Cane Day
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The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
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Katie the Candy Cane Fairy by Thomas Nelson
28th: National Chocolate Day
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No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart and Allen Young
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Margret & H. A. Rey's Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory
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From Cocoa Bean to Chocolate by Robin Nelson
     This year of focusing our blogs on our Bookworm Bakers division, where we blend baking, cooking and gardening with literacy, has come to an end. We hope that you will embark on filling your children’s growing years and beyond with memories of baking, cooking and gardening. These offer the best way to learn math and reading naturally through real world, hands-on experiences, building life skills and creating lasting memories that will hopefully be cherished and passed down to future generations. That is why we encourage you to write down family recipes and your own memories of childhood, for all too soon they will be forgotten and disappear forever. I think about the stories my mother has shared about my grandmother and her cooking and the get-togethers with other families who came to this country with her. I never had the chance to meet my grandmother, but I do have my mother’s memories and photos, and my grandmother’s own cookbook and handwritten recipes, so I do feel a sense of connection to my past. If we don’t document our life, past and present for our children, a bit more of our heritage will be lost and we will be unable to reclaim it in the future.
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Happy holidays from our family to yours!

-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 2 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.

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November, A Month of Giving Thanks

10/27/2020

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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Thoreau’s quote gives us food for thought. We should all be grateful for what we have and teach our children to be thankful each and every day and not just one day a year. This is not to say that we shouldn’t encourage our children to reach higher and strive for a bit more, but we should remember that there is always something in our life to be thankful for and that the experiences we go through in our lives, ultimately make us who we are. So spend some time with loved ones around the table or walking among the leaves and think about all that you are thankful for.
     It‘s rather fitting that November is National Sweet Potato Awareness month because that is often the vegetable of choice at Thanksgiving and National Stuffing Day is celebrated with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Try out some new recipes for the holiday but also share your old family favorites. Allow children to help out with the preparation of the family meal and when possible, bring the generations of your family together to build lasting memories. A story to consider might be Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen D. Lindsey.
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November
National Peanut Butter Lovers, Pepper, Pomegranate, Raisin Bread & Sweet Potato Awareness Month
1st: National Calzone Day
     We couldn’t find any storybooks featuring calzones specifically, so we suggest you choose a pizza story  to read aloud instead.
1st: National Deep Fried Clam Day
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Clam-I-Am!: All About the Beach by Tish Rabe
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Sam the Clam: Adventures Under the Jetty by Dr. Lindsey Furman Dougherty PhD
3rd: National Sandwich Day
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The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
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Sam's Sandwich by David Pelham
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Carla's Sandwich by Debbie Herman
4th: National Candy Day
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Are You Eating Candy Without Me? by Draga Jenny Malesevic
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
6th: National Nachos Day
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Nacho’s Nachos: The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack by Sandra Nickel
14th: National Pickle Day
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Stop That Pickle! by Pete Armour
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Pickle-Chiffon Pie by Jolly Roger Bradfield
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Pickle Things by Marc Brown
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Pickles to Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett
21st: National Stuffing Day
4th Thursday: Thanksgiving
     Take a look back at our previous blogs, Save a Turkey! Gobble up a good book! and Give Thanks for Books This November!, to see our favorite books to read aloud for Thanksgiving.
26th: National Cake Day
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Let's Bake a Cake! by Anne-Sophie Baumann
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Five Little Monkeys Bake a Birthday Cake by Eileen Christelow
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The Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake by Joanna Cole
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Jake Baked the Cake by B. G. Hennessy
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Froggy Bakes A Cake by Jonathan London
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Marigold Bakes a Cake by Mike Marlbrough
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Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco
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The Fairytale Cake by Mark Sperring
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Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson
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A Piece of Cake by LeUyen Pham
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Piggies in the Kitchen by Michelle Meadows
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Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells
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Warthogs in the Kitchen by Pamela Duncan Edwards
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Mr. Putter & Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant
28th: National French Toast Day
     Josh Funk's captivating series, Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, can be read on a number of special days as each title features an entire cast of food characters.
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Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast (Volume 1)
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The Case of the Stinky Stench (Volume 2)
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Mission Defrostable (Volume 3)
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Short & Sweet (Volume 4)
Happy reading and baking!

-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 2 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.

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October, The Color and Flavor of Fall

9/26/2020

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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Fall continues in October with National Apple, Caramel, Chili, Cookie, Dessert, Pasta, Pizza, Popcorn Poppin‘, Pork, Pumpkin, Seafood and Tomato month. We in Michigan think of it as the time to head to the farmer‘s market, cider mill and apple orchards as well as the pumpkin patch. Share a non-fiction book about apples, such as Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum or Apples by Gail Gibbons, and then consider going apple picking. Search cookbooks for tasty recipes in which to use your apples. Think about making your own applesauce, which you can then use instead of oil in your baked goods. When picking out your pumpkin for Halloween, grab some pie pumpkins as well for baking and share Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum. Now is a great time to also include a book about fall while partaking of one of those delectable desserts that you and your child(ren) have baked or pop some corn out around a bonfire and tell your favorite story.
     This is also a great time to use fall and all its natural splendor to enhance home learning through cooking and baking and identification, using the leaves, apples and pumpkins of fall. Cooking and baking utilizes math and reading skills, and you can use the different varieties of apples and leaves for identification. For younger children, count the apples you pick, count the seeds from the pumpkin, measure the circumference of the pumpkin and collect leaves and discuss the different colors and shapes. Search online for craft ideas using leaves, apples, pumpkin seeds etc. Read a fall storybook and then extend the learning with a craft.  
Refer back to our previous blogs to find fall book recommendations:
Fall Into Books!
Autumn is almost here!
Good-bye Summer, Hello Fall!

-  -  -
October
National Apple, Caramel, Chili, Cookbook, Cookie, Dessert, Pasta, Pizza, Popcorn Poppin‘, Pork, Pumpkin, Seafood & Tomato Month
National Apple Month
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Hello, World! How Do Apples Grow? by Jill McDonald
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Applesauce Day by Lisa J. Amstutz
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Apples A to Z by Margaret McNamara
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From Apple Trees To Cider, Please! by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky
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Secrets of the Apple Tree: A Shine-A-Light Book by Carron Brown
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Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo. LeSieg (Dr. Seuss)
     Use this book as part of a math lesson:
           -Count from 1 - 10 by ones
           -Count by tens
           -Practice Addition
     You can also draw, color or cut out apples from red paper and stack them just as the animals do (dot markers would also fun to use). Expand this into a science lesson by attempting to stack real apples, whether on a table top or your head!

For even more books about apples, take a look at our blog:
Back to Basics at the Orchard
National Chili Month
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Armadilly Chili by Heather Ketteman
National Cookbook Month
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Grandpa's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Cookbook by Judi Barrett
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The Great Fairy Baking Competition by Thomas Nelson
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The Tasha Tudor Family Cookbook
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Start to Cook by Abigail Wheatley
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The Bake-A-Cake Book by Marie Meijer
     "Come bake a cake with the cake-bakers!"
     We found this title at a used book sale some time ago and it has been a favorite ever since. Truthfully, we have not actually made the cake that the two bakers in the book make, but we have used this book countless times during imaginative play in my daughter's little kitchen. She gathers all of the utensils, tools and ingredients together and then carefully follows each step as the little bakers create a most scrumptious looking cake. It is a wonderful learning through play experience!

For even more cookbook recommendations, take a look at our list:
Baking, Cooking, Gardening and Food Related Books
National Cookie Month
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Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? by George Shannon
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The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
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The Cookie Fiasco (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) by Dan Santat
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The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems
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Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? by Bonnie Lass & Philomen Sturgess
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Cookies!: An Interactive Recipe Book (Cook in a Book) by Lotta Nieminen
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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
National Pizza Month
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Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly & James Dean
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Pizza!: An Interactive Recipe Book (Cook in a Book) by Lotta Nieminen
Find even more pizza books, as well as related activity ideas in our previous blog:
Pizza, Pizza!
National Popcorn Poppin' Month
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Tomie dePaola's The Popcorn Book
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Popcorn! by Elaine Landau
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Popcorn Country: The Story of America's Favorite Snack by Cris Peterson
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Popcorn by Alex Moran
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The Popcorn Shop by Alice Low
National Pumpkin Month
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The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Kimball Moulton
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From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer
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How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
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Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
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How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? by Wendell Minor
National Tomato Month
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I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
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Fruit Bowl by Mark Hoffmann
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Too Many Tomatoes by Eric Ode
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Alien Tomato by Kristen Schroeder
1st: National Homemade Cookie Day
     Refer to 'National Cookie Month' above.
4th: National Taco Day
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Tacos!: An Interactive Recipe Book (Cook in a Book) by Lotta Nieminen
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Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
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Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin
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Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine
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This is a Taco by Andrew Cangelose
4th: National Pumpkin Seed Day
     Refer to 'National Pumpkin Month' above.
6th: National Noodle Day
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Everybody Brings Noodles by Norah Dooley
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Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni by Marilyn Sadler
8th: National Pierogi Day
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Every Culture Has a Pierogi by Lorraine Krusinski
9th: World Egg Day
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An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston
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Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller
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Egg: Nature's Perfect Package by Robin Page & Steve Jenkins
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Egg by Kevin Henkes
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The Good Egg by Jory John
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Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
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Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
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Scrambled Eggs Super! by Dr. Seuss
10th: National Cake Decorating Day
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Decorate Cakes, Cupcakes and Cookies with Kids by Autumn Carpenter
12th: National Farmer's Day
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Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson
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On the Farm, At the Market by G. Brian Karas
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A Farmer's Life for Me by Jan Dobbins
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On the Farm by David Elliott
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The Farm that Feeds Us by Nancy Castaldo
For more information on farmers and farming, refer back to our previous blogs:
Celebrate National Farmers Market Week!
How Does Your Garden Grow?

17th: National Pasta Day
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The Pasta Family (Goes to Marinara Beach) by Cory & Laureen Tilson
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The Great Pasta Escape by Miranda Paul
18th: National Chocolate Cupcake Day
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Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly & James Dean
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If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff
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Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper
22nd: National Nut Day
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Let‘s Go Nuts!: Seeds We Eat by April Pulley Sayre
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Who Stole the Hazelnuts? by Marcus Pfister
24th: National Food Day
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How Did That Get In My Lunchbox?: The Story of Food by Chris Butterworth
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Peanut Butter, Apple Butter, Cinnamon Toast: Food Riddles for You to Guess by Argentina Palacios

For more recommendations, browse through our past blogs about food by looking under the 'Bookworm Bakers' tag. Also, look at our book list: Baking, Cooking, Gardening & Food Related Books.
26th: National Pumpkin Day
     Refer to 'National Pumpkin Month' above.
27th: National Breadstick Day
28th: National Chocolate Day
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No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart and Allen Young
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Margret & H. A. Rey's Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory
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All About Chocolate by Madison Spielman
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
29th: National Oatmeal Day
30th: National Candy Corn Day
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Julius's Candy Corn by Kevin Henkes
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“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
A quote from Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor and philosopher who lived from 121 AD to 180 AD yet the sentiment still applies today. Let’s do our best to keep our thoughts positive as we go through these challenging times and teach our children to favor others with kindness and respect as we are surrounded by the beautiful colors of fall.
Happy fall!

-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 2 and 10 months) 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.

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    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.

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