Thanks for trudging in the cold and snow to drop by today!
The soup kettle’s on at this very moment, and the savory aroma of Mulligatawny has drifted upstairs to my office. Mmmmm, it’s a new recipe, and I can hardly wait to taste it.
thematic book roundups
picture book restaurants, part two
What, you’re back again?
I was sure visiting all those restaurants last time would have kept you satisfied for at least two days, what with dinosaurs, a wild menagerie of zoo animals, Chinese take-out, greasy bugs, sprinkly seaweed and a mountain of cherry pies.
*looks at you and recognizes lean, hungry look*
Well, I can’t really blame you, because we seem to have the same habit: we like to eat every day. No problemo. I’m happy to take you on another restaurant tour. Hope you’re in the mood for more Chinese, some burgers, wild tigers, a troublesome bee, and a stampede of oinkers. Oh, and you have to mind your table manners.
picture book restaurants, part one
Any time you and your munchkins are in the mood to eat out, no need to call ahead, dress up, or risk the ho-hum food often found on children’s menus.
Just skip over to your local library and grab a few of these tasty picture books for meals that will excite, inspire, and feed the imagination. I’ve been doing my own literary restaurant tour the past few weeks, and am happy to report there are mucho picture books featuring chefs and restaurants. Most of them seem to favor cafés and diners, with lots of animal characters and cumulative tales ramping up the action with every bite.
Read More
more a’peeling apple picture books
“It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man.” ~ Henry David Thoreau.
Come November, the best of the apple crop has been harvested. Is your larder stocked with your favorite varieties for the chilly days ahead? Nothing says fall like the aroma of cinnamon wafting through the kitchen, promising a freshly baked apple pie, cobbler, or crisp.
While I’m waiting for my pie to bake, thought I’d add several more apple picture books to the list I started last year. I was happy to discover some wonderful new titles for 2009, as well as some older books I missed before. One can never have too many apples, right?
end-of-summer picture book picnic!
Before we bid a fond farewell to summer, I think we should celebrate with one last picnic.
My favorite picnic scene in children’s literature takes place in the opening chapter of The Wind in the Willows, where Mole meets Ratty for the first time, and he is astonished with the contents of Ratty’s veddy British picnic hamper:
“There’s cold chicken inside it,” replied the Rat briefly;
“coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkins
saladfrenchrollscresssandwichespottedmeat
gingerbeerlemonadesodawater –“
“O stop, stop,” cried the Mole in ecstasies: “This is too much!”
“Do you really think so?” enquired the Rat seriously. “It’s only what I always take on these little excursions; and the other animals are always telling me that I’m a mean beast and cut it VERY fine!”
So begins a fine friendship and bucolic adventure that includes messing with boats in the best way, gypsy caravans, wild car rides, and forays into the wild woods and back. No matter your age, or what ails you, this classic by Kenneth Grahame is just the ticket.
Say what you will about your own brand of picnic; the British are definitely onto something with their wicker picnic hampers, real china, and sumptuous provisions. In this story, the delicious dreaminess of glorious summer days is spread upon an expansive cloth for all to savor, as the longings and foibles of dear Ratty, Mole, Badger, Otter, and even crazy Mr. Toad feed our imaginations and touch the heart.
Today I’ve rustled up some picnic-friendly picture books to satisfy your cravings for sandwiches, fried chicken, cold ham, pickles, watermelon, hunks of cheese, and crusty bread. It’s good to know that this wonderful feeling of sharing food outdoors with good friends need never end, because the picnic, whether you prefer yours at the beach, in a park, or on a river bank, is essentially a state of mind. Hold onto it as we move into the cooler days of autumn!
*spreads checked picnic cloth on the grass*
Continue reading
Jama's Alphabet Soup 