Aaron's Preschool: Cranberry Thanksgiving

I fully intended to write up this post the week of Thanksgiving because, as you can see, it's about a Thanksgiving book. But for whatever reason(s) (of which I'm not entirely sure myself), that didn't happen. So now, almost a full week into December, here it is.

It was my turn to teach Aaron's preschool on the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, so I decided to base the lesson on Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin. (I mentioned in an earlier post that we are using the Five in a Row curriculum for Aaron's preschool. The lesson plan for this story can be found in Five in a Row, Volume 1. Many of my ideas came from the Five in a Row manual itself as well as numerous websites that I will link you to.)

Cranberry Thanksgiving is about a young girl named Maggie who lives with her grandmother in New England at the edge of a cranberry bog. When the story begins, Grandmother and Maggie are excitedly getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner. They have each invited one guest. Maggie (much to her Grandmother's dismay) has invited her dear friend, Mr. Whiskers (a rather gruff and unkempt seaman). Grandmother has invited the dashing and elegant Mr. Horace, a newcomer who is visiting from out of town. As part of the festivities, Grandmother is making her famous cranberry bread, the recipe of which is secret and kept hidden behind a brick in the fireplace. When it is time to eat, Grandmother is stiffly polite to Mr. Whiskers and warmly gracious to Mr. Horace. After the meal, Grandmother and Maggie clean up when all of a sudden, Maggie gasps, "He's found it!" (the secret cranberry bread recipe). A wild chase ensues, and Grandmother learns that appearances can be deceiving but there is always room to forgive.

We began the morning by reading the book. All of the children liked it. In fact, it is one that Aaron and Max repeatedly ask me to read, and I have to keep steering them towards the huge pile of Christmas books instead. (I will say that the first time I read it--over a year ago--I wasn't totally enamored with it, but it has since grown on me.)

We then headed to the kitchen to make Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread. The kids were all delighted to find her secret recipe tucked away on the last page of the book. How convenient! They helped measure and pour and mix. We talked about how we add baking soda to the bread so that it will rise. None of them had ever seen fresh cranberries before. They thought they looked so delicious. They're red and round, so of course they expected a sweet, juicy flavor. The boys especially wanted to try them. I warned them that they wouldn't taste very yummy, but they insisted and made quite a face when they tasted the bitter inside.



While the bread was baking, we did a little science experiment so they could see what happens when the baking soda reacts with other ingredients and how it makes the bread rise. We made a baking soda bomb. We filled a Ziploc bag with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of water. Then we folded 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda into a paper towel packet. We went outside, slid the packet into the bag and then zipped it shut as fast as possible. Then we set it on the ground (read: threw it while running away squealing) and watched it bubble and fill with air until it finally let out a pop and "exploded." They liked it so much we had to do it again, and I'm pretty sure we could have spent the rest of the morning just making baking soda packets and dropping them into vinegar.

It was at this point that I said, "I bet you guys are hungry. Let's go back inside for a little snack before the bread is ready to eat." In Cranberry Thanksgiving, there is a picture of Mr. Horace and Mr. Whiskers standing side by side. Mr. Horace looks "pink-cheeked and starched", and it says he smells of lavender. Mr. Whiskers, on the other hand, is not too clean with a wild beard and an old captain's hat, and he smells like clams and seaweed. They could not be more different, but Mr. Horace ends up being none too trustworthy while Mr. Whiskers proves to be a loyal and honorable friend. Grandmother was wrong to judge Mr. Whiskers by his appearance.

With that as background, we returned to the kitchen where I had placed two bags filled with snacks: a pretty gift bag with tissue paper and a regular, plastic grocery bag. I asked the children if they would like the snack in the gift bag or the one in the plastic bag. Immediately, they pointed to the gift bag. "Why do you want this one?" I asked. "It's so pretty! And it looks so nice!" they shouted. I don't think this would have worked with 6- or 7-year-olds. Maybe not even 5-year-olds. They would have suspected something was up. But these 4-year-olds could not have fallen into the trap any more perfectly. I made a big show out of taking away the tissue paper. Their eyes were literally aglow and their faces rapt with excited happiness at what the contents might be. I seriously wish I'd taken a video of their faces when I pulled out...a head of cauliflower! Their faces instantly fell from joyful anticipation to the bitterest expression of disappointment. It was so funny and by far my favorite moment of the morning. We then talked about the book and how Mr. Horace's appearance was deceiving, just like the gift bag. And then I pulled out chocolate chip cookies from the grocery bag, and they were happy again.

After that, we moved onto learning about cranberries. I showed them pictures of a cranberry bog and harvest (from here and here), and then we watched this How It's Made video. In the video, they got to see how the cranberries float on the water after the cranberry field is flooded at harvest time. We wanted to see for ourselves if cranberries really float. So I filled a bowl with water, dumped in a few cranberries, and they took turns looking and touching.


By that time, the bread was out of the oven, so I cut up a loaf, and we all tried it for a (second) snack. It was so delicious! When Mike got home that night, he tried a leftover slice and loved the combination of orange and cranberry. (You can find the recipe here. I replaced the nuts with raisins, or if you don't like either, you could just use more cranberries).

Since the book was about Thanksgiving, I wanted to talk a little bit about the history behind the holiday. So we played the game "Sail on the Mayflower." (I'm almost certain I downloaded it from here, but I didn't have to pay $1.50, so something must have changed in the last two weeks.) It was fun and taught them things about the Pilgrims' voyage, but I think they were getting a little bit tired by this point because they seemed to have a harder time focusing.

Finally, we talked about similes. The first line of the book reads, "Maggie darted about like a black-stockinged bird." We talked about how we can compare ourselves to animals or other things to describe a certain quality we might have. I went to each child and said, "Aaron [or Emmy or Reese or Laura] is as fast as a..." and then I let them fill in the blank. I wrote their descriptions on paper and then told them they could draw a picture of what they were as fast as. That was the idea anyway. Unfortunately, I think similes were a bit of an advanced concept for them, but they still appeased me a drew a picture.
 

It was a fun morning. I'm just sad about all of the things I had to leave out of the lesson because of time. It really is amazing how a simple story can be the beginning to so much learning. For more ideas on how to use this book, visit School Time Snippets, Blog, She Wrote, and Delightful Learning.

(If you like Cranberry Thanksgiving, you might also want to check out Cranberry Christmas and some of the other Cranberry books.)

I am linking this post to The Children's Bookshelf and the Kid Lit Blog Hop.

Reading With the Seasons: Christmas Edition

When it comes to Christmas books, I like cheese with more cheese on top. In other words, sappy, heartwarming, and ridiculously sweet. I don't know what comes over me. Through the other eleven months of the year, I look down my nose at such writing, and in December, it is almost as if I embrace it. Bring on Richard Paul Evans! (You think I'm joking. I'm not.)

What's more, one good, ol' tear-jerking story is not enough. I read book after book through the entire month of December. Don't believe me? Here's what I read last year:

Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans (See? I told you.)
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck (Yes, I really did.)
How Will Christmas Find Us? a collection of short stories by various authors
The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens (my only redemption of the month)
Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace (I not only liked this book, I loved it so much I took it home to Colorado with me and made my mom and my sister read it, too. And I really would like to read it again this year.)

Some of you may want to wait until January to check this blog again. But if there is anyone else like me (please tell me who you are!), then here's what I have planned for the month:

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans (I didn't get to it last year, but now it's already loaded onto my iPod ready for me to start anytime.)
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci (I've had my eye on this one for a couple of years. I've never read anything by Baldacci, but I'm going to try it this year. It may be one of those that I only read the first few pages of.)
A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid (I don't like dogs, but last year my family had me watch the Hallmark adaptation of this, and I have to admit, I really liked it. So this year, the book.)
Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett (I love A Christmas Carol, so it's only natural that I'd want to try this prequel...or is it natural? I get the feeling I'm not quite normal with my book taste in December.)
The Mansion by Henry van Dyke (Ever since President Monson mentioned this a couple of Christmases ago as one that he always reads, I have wanted to read it. But it is a hard one to get your hands on in December--especially in Utah.)

And that is how I'll be spending these next few weeks. I can't wait. These kinds of books are one of the things I look forward to the most come Christmastime. I save them up all year, and then just go for it. It is a little bit embarrassing to admit, but I am not ashamed of it. I like feeling happy and excited and Christmas-y.

There is one more book that I'm looking forward to. I didn't list it with the others because it's different, but I think it might invite the spirit of Christmas better and faster than any of those other, perhaps gushy, titles. And that is The God Who Weeps by Terry and Fiona Givens. Christmas is nothing to me without focusing on the Savior. I really mean that. And so what better way to celebrate the season than by improving my relationship with Him?

Surely I'm not the only one out there who loves Christmas books! Please say I'm not! And please share what's on your agenda for the month (or what you've read in the past). As before, I'll compile all suggestions into one master list at the end of the month!

Reading With the Seasons: Thanksgiving Wrap-Up

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to read at least one book during the month of November that helped you get ready for the day.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the month, I had a few books I wanted to get to--books that would make me hungry or historically-minded or cozy or grateful. I asked for your suggestions as well, and several of you came through, especially in the historical category, which was the hardest one for me to fill. Over the course of the month, I found a few more ideas as well.

In no particular order:

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness by Joel Ben Izzy was suggested by Stephanie. She said that it is one of her favorite books and makes her feel cozy and grateful. It's a new title for me. I can't wait to try it!

Witch Child by Celia Rees was suggested by Joanna. This one takes place in the 1650s and revolves around the witch trials. I knew there had to be some books set during this time period!

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick - Partway through the month, I saw this book featured by Michele @ The Great Read. It is exactly what I was looking for! I even put it on hold at the library, but by the time it came in, the month was too far gone for me to want to start it. But next year...

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl - I mentioned that I was reading this one to help get me in the mood to eat. It maybe worked a little too well. (Full review here)

Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach - This is the other food book I talked about at the beginning of the month. I haven't finished it yet, but since I'm more than halfway, I can definitely recommend it and say that it is full of scrumptious-sounding recipes as well as being very entertaining and down-to-earth.

The Heretic's Daughter and  The Traitor's Wife (both by Kathleen Kent) were suggested by Lisa. They are historical novels set in the 1600s. The first one is about the Salem witch trials (I'm getting the feeling the witch trials are far more exciting to write about than the landing of the Mayflower), and the second one is a romance that takes in some of the political tension of the day. Really grateful for another historical suggestion!

Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret B. Pumphrey - I found this one suggested by Debbie @ Our Cup of Tea. Because I had been on the lookout for books about Pilgrims, it immediately caught my interest. It is written for children, but I still think it could provide some good information about America's early days.

So there are a few titles to get you started when November rolls around again. Up next: CHRISTMAS! (I have a feeling it will be a little bit easier to think up books for this season! Get ready to share!)

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl

For many years, anytime I had to list my hobbies/interests/talents on a random questionnaire, I would faithfully include "cooking" on the list. But one day, Mike blatantly and honestly told me, "You do not love to cook." He could make this judgment because he does, in fact, love to cook, and he could tell we were not having even close to the same experience in the kitchen. (He breathes in the aromas as he minces garlic and sautees onions and does a little happy dance; I observe the minutes on the clock slipping away while I practically slice off a finger chopping vegetables and take in the mess of my kitchen with a discouraged sulk.)

I do, however, love, love, love food. So if I could list "tasting and savoring" or "reading  a recipe and dreaming of eating it" or "watching with fixed fascination practically any show on Food Network" on my list of hobbies, then that would probably be a more honest indication of my relationship with food.

So did I love Garlic and Sapphires? Yes, I loved it.

Ruth Reichl was the restaurant critic for the New York Times from 1993 to 1999. A few months before beginning the job, she was on a flight and was shocked to discover that New York's best restaurants were preparing for her; they knew what she looked like and everything, from professional to personal, about her. She knew there was no way she could possibly write honest reviews if she was always getting the red carpet treatment, so she set out to create a vast array of disguises for herself--everything from a dumpy old lady to a hot platinum blonde. She was wildly successful and learned a whole lot about herself in the process.

This book was fun and interesting in so many different dimensions:

First, of course, the food dimension. I have never read anyone who can write about food the way Ruth Reichl does. It is an experience in and of itself. For example: "I tasted the linguine, fragile ribbons as delicate as butterfly wings with curls of white truffle skittering between them." Yum. My mouth watered through the whole book. Even things like sea urchins or squid ink that would almost certainly hold no appeal to me in real life sounded tantalizing.  All of the reviews really made me want to go to an expensive, well-known restaurant in New York City someday (although we would stick out like the cheapskates we are and consequently would get the worst service, I'm sure). As it was, Mike and I did go out to eat while I was in the middle of this book (a rare occurrence for us, and by our standards, it was not a dumpy restaurant), and I felt like I was enjoying the meal on a whole new level simply because I was paying attention to every detail and wishing I could dissect the food just like Ruth.

In between the restaurant reviews were sprinkled Ruth's own favorite recipes. I enjoyed these because they demonstrated Ruth's love of food in a whole different way. I tried "Nicky's Vanilla Cake" (hey, I didn't say I don't like to cook/bake--trying out a new recipe can be quite fun), and it was really spongy and yummy. Even Mike, who really doesn't like cake all that much, can't stop talking about it.

Second, there was the disguises dimension. In the course of the book, she talks about six of the different women she became over the six years she was at the New York Times. These disguises were more than a wig and makeup. She actually took on a completely different persona with each one. But what I found absolutely fascinating was the way she could see a tiny bit of herself reflected in each character. For example, "Brenda" was a flamboyant and friendly and very fun redhead. After going out as Brenda with her family, her son, Nicky, said, "I like eating with Brenda. She talks to people. Being with her is fun!" Ruth felt a little bit bad about this, but then her husband reassured her, "[Brenda] is really you. She's just you in a particularly good mood." Some of her other characters, Emily in particular, brought out her worst qualities. (And Chloe, the blond bombshell, made me the most uncomfortable, just because I could see how easily pretending to be someone you're not could lead to dangerous relationships). I loved the contrast between what she said when she was Brenda ("Brenda was my best self, the person I've always wanted to be. She was generous and funny, optimistic and smart. She was kind.") and when she was Emily ("It was extremely unpleasant to find how easily I had been able to summon this mean, petty person who was waiting inside me."). It really gave me a lot to think about--that we each have a whole mix of attributes inside us, but it really is a choice which ones we let shine through.

Finally, there was the "personal journey" dimension. When the story began, Ruth was at the height of her career. Being the restaurant critic of the New York Times? Can you climb any higher than that? But the longer she spent tasting exotic and gourmet dishes, the more she longed to be at home preparing her own food for her own family. She realized she wanted the added experience that being intimate  with her own food would bring her. She also realized that spending a good deal of her time as someone else was taking its toll. She said, "I saw that when I became Emily I had played with fire." Instead of spending her life pretending to be someone else, she wanted to work on becoming the best self she could possibly be.

My one criticism of the book is that, as so often seems to happen with memoirs, many of the events, names, and dates just didn't match up for me.There was too much jumping around for me to make a cohesive line in my mind. I don't know if I just wasn't following it correctly, but often she would talk about something new, and I would think she had already mentioned it, or vice versa, or she would mention people I didn't remember--things like that. It definitely could have been due to reader error though.

I listened to part of the book, and the narrator, Bernadette Dunne, was quite good. Even though it is nonfiction, Ruth describes so many different people (both real and created), and Bernadette Dunne was able to bring all of them to life.

I did think it was funny that while I was reading, I kept thinking, This would be such a fun job, but then I realized I could never do it since I don't drink alcohol. I had no idea how big a role alcohol plays in the melding and highlighting of different flavors. Although, Mike was quick to point out that he thinks root beer is a perfect complement to pizza, so he could totally see how wine would do the same thing. (Yes, we really are that naive.)

And so the book ends with Ruth leaving the New York Times in pursuit of some other dreams and goals. I thought it was a perfect ending and really gave this memoir a lot more depth than I was expecting. I actually read this for my book club this month, and it made for a really wonderful discussion. Mike also read it and liked it almost as much as I did. It really is so much more than a food book.

Note of caution: There is a little bit of language, including one scene with an F-word.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny--Detectives Extraordinaire by Polly Horvath

With a title like that, I don't know how you could not want to read it. Seriously.

One evening when I went to the library alone (a semi-rare occasion, and one that I relish every time), I was perusing the children's audio book section when I happened upon Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. The title alone would have probably been enough to make me pull it off the shelf for a closer look, but I had also read several things about it and was therefore even more curious. I was just about to check it out when I thought, Wait. Maybe this would be a great one to read aloud to Aaron. I put it back on the shelf. And turned to go. And then I thought, Actually, since I really don't know what age it's geared for, I should probably read it first. I picked it back up. And then I thought, But it's about bunnies. Of course, it would be appropriate for a four-year-old! He will want to hear it! I put it back down. Finally I thought, If I like it well enough the first time, then it will be a pleasure to read it a second. And with that, I thrust it into my library bag without giving myself another chance to change my mind. (If I'm this indecisive about children's books, is it any wonder I'm terrified about buying a house someday?! And Mike does not make definite decisions any better. We're doomed.)

As it turned out, despite the adorable bunnies on the cover, Aaron would most definitely not have understood much about this book, especially the hippie, irresponsible parents (who may or may not be a little high on drugs). So I'm glad I didn't dive into it with him. But I am glad I read it myself. I maybe laughed my head off in a few places.

Madeline is a young girl with ridiculous parents. How ridiculous? They insist on being called Flo and Mildred (not Dad and Mom), they don't keep track of anything (addresses, appointments, etc.), and they would rather spend their time making paper lanterns than working a real job (or paying attention to Madeline). In fact, they're so ridiculous, they end up being kidnapped by a group of power-hungry, and also just plain stomach-hungry, foxes. Madeline knows her parents will never be able to save themselves, so she tackles the problem herself. Fortunately, she runs into Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, who, even more fortunately, have just purchased fedoras and decided to become detectives. Madeline hires them on the spot, and the three put their heads together to find the diabolical foxes.

Okay, so if you want a taste for what this book is like, just picture a rabbit in purple platform shoes and a fedora driving a smart car. (He has to wear the platform shoes in order to reach the pedals.) I wish I had a hard copy of the book, so I could quote a few passages for you, but what I just described actually captures the flavor of the book really well.

So, yes, it is uproariously funny, but not in a way that a four-year-old would get at all. In fact, I'm trying to think which age would enjoy it the most. Maybe 9-12 year-olds? (I think that's who it's written for at any rate.) That is, if they don't feel too self-conscious reading a book with bunnies (in fedoras) on the cover. But I don't know. In all honesty, it was pretty down-right enjoyable as an adult.

The audio is narrated by Polly Horvath. I always love it when authors narrate their own books, and this one was no exception. I especially loved the voices she used for Flo and Mildred. They were so perfect and seriously made me laugh every time.

All in all, this is a fun book, and it makes me want to read some more by Polly Horvath.

Note: This book is also my third potential-Newbery read of the year. I wanted to read at least three before the award is announced in January. Of the three I've read, I think Wonder has the most likely chance, but there are still several more contenders I hope to have time for.

The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell

I am extremely behind with my book reviews (and when I say "extreme," I mean about four books-worth, but that feels extreme to me). So I'm going to try to catch up this week.

I picked up The Aviary back in October (is it really almost December now?!). It was on my to-read list, and I honestly couldn't remember what prompted me to put it there, but it looked like a great pre-Halloween read; it is set at the turn of the (20th) century, and the main character lives in a large, old, somewhat dilapidated house. Add in a few murders, a fifty-year-old mystery, a few hints at a ghost, and a flock of enchanted birds, and it was even more perfectly spooky than I thought it would be.

Clara Dooley is eleven years old. She and her mother live with Mrs. Glendoveer (along with the housekeeper, Ruby) and care for her in her old age. Clara is never allowed to leave the mansion because she is frail and sickly from a weak heart. Mrs. Glendoveer keeps a cage of five exotic birds. One morning when Clara is out on the grounds, one of the birds begins frantically screaming, "Elliot! Elliot!" Clara tells Mrs. Glendoveer about the bird's strange behavior, and Mrs. Glendoveer doesn't seem all that surprised. She alludes to some disturbing events from her past, but Clara doesn't want to pry. Then, Mrs. Glendoveer gets very sick and dies (sorry, that was a bit abrupt). Without quite intending to, Clara sets out to solve the Glendoveer mystery: What happened to the Glendoveer children? Why do the people in Clara's small town regard the Glendoveer's with such distrust and fear? Why is Clara never allowed beyond the grounds? And what are the birds trying to tell her?

I didn't even realize this was a mystery when I started reading it, but I loved that it was. And really, it was just the kind of mystery I like: while it does involve up to seven possible murders, they happened fifty years before the book takes place, so there wasn't anything descriptive or graphic. Also, I thought the book was paced really, really well--the first half was set up with lots of unanswered questions, and the second half brought all of the pieces together one by one.  I also liked this story because there was just a hint at the supernatural/fantastical--nothing too crazy or unbelievable but enough that it was different and intriguing.

And then, I have to say that the setting was perfect. I tend to like stories that are set in the early 1900's anyway, but in a creaky old mansion with dark closets and dusty trunks and a locked up attic room? Mmmm, yes. Definitely worth getting lost in.

I wish I could say more about the birds because they ended up being some of my favorite "characters," but I don't want to ruin it for anyone, so I'll leave it at that.

I also really liked Clara's friend, Daphne. She complemented Clara really well, although I did think their friendship took off a little too quickly. Then again, Clara was so starved for friendship that I guess it was only natural for her not to waste any time.

I've read other books like this one where I liked everything about them until the very end, but then all of a sudden things wrapped up much too quickly. I think this is an easy trap to fall into when you've set up the whole book trying not to reveal too much so that then, when the questions do start being answered, everything gets answered all at once because it's too difficult to continue to pace the story and hold back little bits of information. Anyway, I'm happy to say that did not happen with this book. By the end, all of the dangling strings were tied up, but Kathleen O'Dell maintained a perfect pace throughout. What's more, even though some of the resolutions were a surprise, they all made sense and nothing was out of character with the beginning of the book.

This definitely was a good book for October, but you could read it at any time of the year, and as long as you're in the mood for a good, old-fashioned mystery, you will come away satisfied.

Four Facts for Friday (4)

A fact about Thanksgiving: it was great. Check out this spread of pies:

A fact about my stress: I spent the evening frantically trying to finish a free calendar from Shutterfly. I finished, but I'm not entirely sure I'm going to be pleased with it when it comes in the mail.

A fact that I'm gloating over: I mailed my Christmas cards today. Yes, I did. See that stack of stamped envelopes sitting on the seat of my car? Last year, I felt like I saved too much for the week before Christmas (including Christmas cards). So I made a goal to be more on top of at least this one thing this year. And I did it! Pat on the back for me!

A fact about Christmas: I am super excited for it, but I have waaaaay too many projects I want to do. This blog might just be hijacked to showcase my craft and sewing projects instead of book reviews.