If You Give a Moose a Muffin / by Laura Numeroff

"And chances are…if you give him the jam, he'll want a muffin to go with it."

we love Laura Numeroff
and we adore illustrations by Felicia Bond

For this 'home sweet home' activity you will need to be prepared with: 

1. your child's favorite muffin mix 

2. cupcake liners (if you choose) 

3.  a cupcake pan.

(*don't forget you will need to make sure you have all ingredients required for your muffin mix!*)

This sweet story offers MANY ideas for creating fun and active involvement.  I chose to share an activity for the kitchen.  You may also paint a mural, sew button eyes onto a sock for a puppet show or even make some homemade jam?!?  The activity possibilities are many….so be creative!

Read "If You Give a Moose a Muffin"

Allow pauses in the story for a giggle or two and questions!

When the story comes to an end…invite the children to help you make the muffin mix!

The nice thing about muffin mix is that you can find it for pretty cheap!
I pulled this muffin mix from my food storage cabinet
and dug around for some festive cupcake liners I had bought for another project.
Ready to go….& I didn't spend a dime!

While the muffins are baking you may want to involve the children in a painting activity or sewing activity!  Something that will take about 20 minutes.  At random moments ask the kids if they can smell the aroma of the baking muffins…smells SO good!

everyones ready for their splendid blueberry muffin,
milk and, of coarse, homemade raspberry jam!

When the muffins are done, poor some milk, pass out the warm muffins and sit at the table (or better yet, go outside for a small picnic)  Discuss with the children what they thought of the story about the very silly moose.  "Why did the moose have a hard time focusing?"  "What did the moose make with the socks?"  "When the moose saw the blackberry bushes, what made him want to go to the store?"

Having a daughter with ADHD and having a slight case of ADD myself, I find this book amusing and understandable!  The creativity and desire for fun, in which the moose possesses, is refreshing and sends the imagination on a wonderful adventure!

I would love to hear how your children felt about this book and the activities that are derived from it's story!  Have a great time!!

Peace and simplicity!

Lisa

The Red Hen / by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

Who will help Red Hen bake a cake?

The Red Hen  by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

A little work never hurt anyone…especially when it comes to getting something we REALLY want!  Talk about this with your children.  "Is it fun to work hard?" "How do you feel when you make something and it turns out awesome!?"  "What would you do if someone took something that you made?"

This particular take, on the classic story of The Red Hen, is my favorite.  I love the bold & abstract illustrations.  I particularly like the recipe for 'Red Hen's Simply Splendid Cake' at the back of the book!  A simple recipe children can easily help with…IF they decide to?!?  So, now the only question is…"Who want's to help me bake a cake?"…but, don't read the book yet!

We are cooking today, so you will need:

1.  medium mixing bowl

2.  9 inch pan or muffin pan

3.  sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder and milk (or a boxed cake mix)

4.  food coloring *optional*

My favorite part of the book!
Pictures help children easily determine which ingredient comes next.
Large text makes it easy for beginning readers to follow.

This step is completely optional (& NOT in the book)!
I only added the food coloring because today is April Fools Day!
I know my kids won't be expecting a BLUE cake underneath the frosting!

If your children choose, have them help you with each step of making the cake.  Have fun together by licking the beaters, choosing a food color, or maybe even a little bit of a flour fight?  While the cake is baking READ THE BOOK!  Ask the obvious questions after…"Who made the cake?"  "Who chose NOT to help make the cake?"  "Do you think it's fair that Cat, Rat and Frog were not allowed to help Hen eat the cake?"  "Why?"

When the cake is done baking you may choose to frost and decorate it.  That is up to you.  However, it is definitely time to EAT IT!  Invite all children who helped make the cake to come and enjoy eating it.  Have those who declined to help stand by to watch the others take their first couple bites…this is really hard to do, but if you want to prove a point it really works!  Then ask them if they would like to join you?  When they say yes, let them…BUT…ask them how they felt when they were not allowed to enjoy in something they didn't work to accomplish?  This is a great moment to discuss the importance of hard work and its benefits!  It is also a good time to discuss the importance of sharing and showing compassion.

Any questions?  As usual, PLEASE ask!

Peace, love and happiness!

Lisa