Eats & Reads: The Very Best Pumpkin!

For our pumpkin theme, one of the books we enjoyed was The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Moulton.  A small portion of the story depicts various people coming to Pumpkin Hollow Farm trying to find the perfect pumpkin for their particular needs (decoration, prize pie making, etc.).  The main character in the story, a young boy named Peter, helps them to do just that!  :)  This is a very cute book with beautiful illustrations and well worth a snack along those same lines!

Why I Like This Book:

I love this sweet story which follows a boy who faithfully tends a lonely pumpkin he finds on his grandparent's farm and which tells of the friendship which develops between himself and his new little neighbor.  The book's tea-stained style illustrations are a beautiful complement to the text as well!  :)

NOTE:  Later this week, I plan to post about an art activity my daughter and I did together to go along with the story.

Snack Details:

Main pumpkin - cream cheese and brown sugar dip (colored orange) with Nutella details and fruit roll up vines sitting on a patch of peanut butter "soil" (peanut butter for dipping or just eating straight).

Muffin cups # 1 & 3:  mandarin "pumpkins" with pretzel stems.  I found the cute idea of using mandarins here:  http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/muffin-tin-monday_16.html

Muffin cup # 2:  orange slice "pumpkin" with pretzel stem.

Details:  Nutella wording and mini candy pumpkins.

Linking to:
http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/
www.letkidscreate.blogspot.com
www.makingtheworldcuter.com

http://www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com/
http://www.singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/
http://www.abcand123learning.com/
www.amommysadventures.com
www.tatertotsandjello.com

Eats & Reads: The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree

Today begins a new type of post that I hope to come up with at least once or twice a month:  Eats & Reads.  These will be snack or lunch related posts that go along with a book we have read or are currently reading!  :)

This past week, we thoroughly enjoyed the book "The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree" (see link below) during our "Apples" theme.  I decided I just had to make something fun to go along with the book, and it HAS been a while since I posted one of these (snack/lunch ideas), so here you go!  :)

What it looked like before my daughter began the seasonal transformations below...

SPRING!

SUMMER!

AUTUMN!

WINTER!

SIDE NOTE:  I love the craft/activity we made to go along with this book as well and will be posting it later in the week with some other apple related activities.  :)

Why I Like This Book: 

I love how Gibbons portrays the seasonal changes, not only with the tree itself but in Arnold's activities and wardrobe as well.  I also enjoy the subtle tie that Arnold has with this tree - it seems to be his special spot for playing, imagining, etc.  Perhaps it speaks to the child in me....  :)

Snack Details:
Tree Trunk: peanut butter and apple butter sandwich with Nutella details. Fruit roll-up tree leaves.
Muffin cup#1: string cheese flowers and celery leaf buds.
Muffin cup#2: cut up snow pea leaves and M&M red apples.
Muffin cup#3: carrot and dried cranberry leaves for Autumn.
Muffin cup#4: marshmallow snow!
Wording details: Nutella



Linking up to:
http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/
www.gigglesglitzandglam.blogspot.com
http://www.craftyconfessions.com/
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/
http://www.sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/
http://www.bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/
www.tatertotsandjello.com