Great Read-Aloud Books to Fire the Imagination

Though our children are now school age (save one), we still believe in reading to them.  My husband has a knack for picking great books to read.  On our honeymoon, he read The Chronicles of Narnia to me.  And he finally read the Narnia series to our children this past year.  But we did not stop there.  We've developed an evening ritual of Daddy reading to the family, and more often than not, we can be found entering the imagined worlds found in the pages of a book.  It is delightful for all of us.

Books We've Read Together: 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

The story of Edward proved captivating, as the main character was gradually transformed by his experiences and hard knocks. This book was actually one of the choices in the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program, though that is not where my husband got his copy.  Sadly, my daughter chose a graphic novel over this, but I think she might choose differently after hearing it read.



The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

We read this tale on a long road trip to Canada.  When he drove, I read, and vice versa.  Hearing it together was a thrilling way to travel.

A Kingdom Far and Clear: The Complete Swan Lake Trilogy 

My husband just started reading this trilogy by Mark Helprin to the children. While it is a bit above my five-year-old's comprehension, he still enjoys the reading ritual that has been established. So far we're getting the background to the main story, and I look forward to discovering how the plot unfolds.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 

While having our garage sale this summer, we discovered that a 12-year-old friend from our church had never read these classic fantasy books, though she had read The Hunger Games. What a travesty! We immediately thrust our well-loved set into her arms. And then my husband ordered a new set (Book One Through Book Seven) for us to devour again. 

 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  by Roald Dahl   

My 5-year-old son absolutely loved this book, as did the rest of us. Prior to reading the book aloud together,  I had only seen the movie version, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which is also a classic. We watched the movie after finishing the book. And then we read Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

 

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 

I thought this book might be a little scary for my son, but he mostly enjoyed it along with his older bug-loving sisters. The movie was a bit too intense for him at points, but diverged from the book considerably, and was therefore more palatable to young viewers than the original story would have been.

  

The 13 Clocks by James Thurber  

The theme of heroism rings through the absurdity of the language and the ordeals that the protagonist encounters. This book was an unexpected treat, and demonstrated to me again why it is wonderful to have a husband who excels at selecting great children's literature.

Their Imaginations Will Thank You 

Perhaps this list will inspire you to search the shelves of your library or bookstore and slake your family's thirst for stories.  These books would also make great holiday gifts for other families with school-age children.  But the key is to invest time as a family reading together, entering other worlds and gaining new perspectives as we strengthen our imaginations via the written word.

 

Batik-Style Pocket Warmers

The Plan:

• To have six girls make pocket warmers as a craft for my daughter's birthday party.  
• To be prepared for the craft by sewing the pockets ahead of time. Then the girls could decorate the cloth, fill the pockets with popcorn, and stitch them shut. 

Materials used:

• Cloth (I cut up some old shirts)
• Pinking shears
• Needle and thread
• Popcorn kernels (or rice grains)
• Cotton balls, optional
• Essential oil, such as lavender, optional
• Permanent markers or highlighters
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• Fusible hem tape (to keep kernels from escaping)

Directions:

1. Cut out squares of cloth with pinking shears (or zig-zag stitch edges to avoid fraying).  For each pocket warmer you will need 2 squares of cloth that measure about 3 to 4 inches on each side.
2. Decorate one or both squares with permanent marker.  In a well-ventilated room, dip the cloth with design in a container filled with isopropyl alcohol, about one inch deep.  Remove cloth when ink has faded a little.  Squeeze out excess alcohol.  Rinse cloth with water and blot with a paper towel.  Allow cloth to dry completely.
3. Pin two squares of cloth together so that the design faces inward.  Stitch around three sides of each square (I used a sewing machine for this, but hand-stitching would work as well).
4. Turn pocket inside out.  Press flat with an iron and press a folded hem along the top opening.  Fill pocket with popcorn kernels, leaving at least 3/4 of an inch of room so the pocket can be sewn shut.  Before closing, insert half a cotton ball infused with essential oil if desired.
5. Pin fusible hem tape in between top opening and iron together.  Reinforce the closure with hand stitching.
6. Before using the pocket warmers, warm them up for 30 seconds in the microwave.  If you do not have a microwave, put them in the pockets of clothing and let them tumble in a warm electric clothes dryer for a few minutes.

The Reality:

The girls had fun decorating the cloth squares, but I did not manage to sew up the pockets beforehand.   What really happened was me struggling with the sewing machine while they watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox.   I finished sewing the pockets together the day after the party.  My daughter delivered the pocket warmers with the thank you notes she wrote.

Dairy-Free Caramel Apples (made with honey)

Caramel apples are a classic autumn indulgence.  So it seems unfair that some people can partake of such luscious caramel treats while others are left out because they cannot have dairy (like my daughter and I). Thankfully, with this recipe, everyone can enjoy the sweet caramel dip without the worries of milk or corn syrup.  This faux caramel is also lower in sugar than the typical caramel candy-based version.

Gourmet caramel apples can cost several dollars a piece; these homemade treats came in at about a dollar per apple and use healthier ingredients.  The cost would go down even more if pick your own apples or opt for peanut butter in place of the almond butter.

Recipe for Dairy-Free Caramel Apples:

• 6 to 8 whole apples (I prefer organic)
• 2/3 cup almond butter*
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup raw or creamed honey
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*add 1/2 teaspoon salt if using unsalted almond butter. 

1. Wash and dry apples.  You may want to insert wooden popsicle sticks (though I just used the stems to grasp the apples).  Place sheets of waxed paper on the counter and spray or lightly grease with oil.
2. In a small saucepan, combine almond butter, brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup.  Heat over medium low heat, stirring frequently.
3. When the sauce starts bubbling on the bottom, begin dipping the apples.  Continue stirring between each apple dipped.  Place apples on waxed paper to cool.
4. Serve dipped apples whole or cut into slices.

I'm sharing this recipe at Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Reflecting on the Day of my Mother's Birth

On this day more than sixty years ago, my grandmother went into labor with her first child.  She and my grandfather drove their truck to the nearest small Saskatchewan town with a hospital.  Unfortunately, when the doctor arrived, she smelled alcohol on his breath.  And then he gave her something (ether? chloroform?) to knock her out before he delivered her baby.  So it is likely that no one but a half-there doctor and a nurse actually witnessed the amazing moment that my mother was born.

Soon after her birth, my mother was "put on the bottle," my grandmother recalled.  And what was the reason?   Her milk didn't come in soon enough (it usually takes a few days the first time around I've learned).  So my grandmother's chest was wrapped tight instead of being encouraged to nurse her baby.   She told me this story of my mother's birth about ten years ago, when her memories were more lucid than now.  And it is a story I treasure, shocking though it seems to me, that she endured such a rough start into motherhood.

Nevertheless, she and her newborn daughter lived on.  My grandmother cherished children and had four more that after that.  But it was her firstborn that grew up and became my mother.  And so I celebrate my mother's life this day.  My mother is someone who prays, gives generously, stays in close contact with her relatives, and is eager to help others whenever she can.

Earlier this year, my mom came to stay with us for a little while after our fourth child was born.  Neither she nor I knew the extent to which we would need her help.  But God did.  So when our little girl was rushed to Omaha in an ambulance for surgery, we left three sleeping children in my mother's care.  She stayed for three weeks, serving our family and loving my children, while my husband and I took turns with the baby at the hospital.

My mom and my daughter

Thus I marvel that the same God who watched over my mother's birth here in Canada kept her in his care and knew she would one day become my mother.  I am impressed by her example that I should also pray for the children He has given me to raise.  And I must rely more on His love, that my children may know they are deeply loved, and grow up with the same assurance of their mother's love that I had.