Books for your family

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

For Kindergarten through Grade 3: 

A Walk in the Rain with a Brain by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., illustrated by Bill Mayer.

Synopsis: "Lucy is a young girl who meets Manfred, a brain who has lost his head. Together, Lucy and Manfred (or "Fred" for short) go on a search for Fred's head. Along the way, Fred teaches Lucy that everyone is smart in their own way and that there is no "best" brain. The last five pages of the book provide a discussion guide for parents and teachers to help children learn about the power and uniqueness of their brains."

The above-listed book was recommended by Eric Chudler, Ph. D., Washington State University. Dr. Chudler publishes the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter.

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For Grades 3-5: 

The Shoe Tree of Chagrin by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Chris Sheban.

Description from ALA’s Booklist - "For Grades 3-5, younger for reading aloud. Susannah DeClare travels the Ohio Valley taking orders for all types of shoes. Tall enough to repair a bell clapper in a church steeple on her tiptoes, the elderly cobbler makes shoes that last a lifetime. In Chagrin Falls, newcomer Reggie Kinsgsbury is skeptical that the townspeople will ever see the cobbler or their money again. When DeClare fails to appear at the expected time, the worries increase until people discover a tree, hung with dozens of shoes."

We recently drove past "The Shoe Tree," which is located on Savage Rd., in Bainbridge, Ohio. My daughters and I immediately recognized it as the tree from this book, which we had read several years ago. We were with friends who had seen the tree before, but didn't know about the book. I thought there may be more of you who would enjoy reading this story and visiting the tree. Children love visiting a place that they have read about in a story. Frohring Meadows Park is near the "shoe tree," so if the weather is nice, you might want to go there to read the story and then walk over to see the "shoe tree" up close!

Waymarking, a website that lists GPS coordinates for many interesting places, included a fascinating story about “The Shoe Tree.”

A Message for Parents and Teachers

The following story was written by Steve Goodier, whose newsletter

Your Life Support System, has been inspiring me since 1999.  The message is worth sharing.

A PARABLE OF A CHILD

by Steve Goodier

“There is a difference between education and experience. Education is what you get from reading the small print. Experience is what you get from not reading it!

But isn't it true that great learning comes from both education and experience? Let me tell you a parable:

A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to him and said, "You will be given a child who will grow up to become a world leader. How will you prepare her so that she will realize her intelligence, grow in confidence, develop both her assertiveness and sensitivity, be open-minded, yet strong in character? In short, what kind of education will you provide that she can become one of the world's truly GREAT leaders?"

The young teacher awoke in a cold sweat. It had never occurred to him before -- any ONE of his present or future students could be the person described in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise to ANY POSITION to which they may aspire? He thought, 'How might my teaching change if I KNEW that one of my students were this person?' He gradually began to formulate a plan in his mind.

This student would need experience as well as instruction. She would need to know how to solve problems of various kinds. She would need to grow in character as well as knowledge. She would need self-assurance as well as the ability to listen well and work with others. She would need to understand and appreciate the past, yet feel optimistic about the future. She would need to know the value of lifelong learning in order to keep a curious and active mind. She would need to grow in understanding of others and become a student of the spirit. She would need to set high standards for herself and learn self discipline, yet she would also need love and encouragement, that she might be filled with love and goodness.

His teaching changed. Every young person who walked through his classroom became, for him, a future world leader. He saw each one, not as they were, but as they could be. He expected the best from his students, yet tempered it with compassion. He taught each one as if the future of the world depended on his instruction.

After many years, a woman he knew rose to a position of world prominence. He realized that she must surely have been the girl described in his dream. Only she was not one of his students, but rather his daughter. For of all the various teachers in her life, her father was the best.

I've heard it said that "Children are living messages we send to a time and place we will never see." But this isn't simply a parable about an unnamed school teacher. It is a parable about you and me -- whether or not we are parents or even teachers. And the story, OUR story, actually begins like this:

"You will be given a child who will grow up to become...." You finish the sentence. If not a world leader, then a superb father? An excellent teacher? A gifted healer? An innovative problem solver? An inspiring artist? A generous philanthropist?

Where and how you will encounter this child is a mystery. But believe that one child's future may depend upon influence only you can provide, and something remarkable will happen. For no young person will ever be ordinary to you again. And you will never be the same.

Reprinted, with permission, from “Life Support,” a free newsletter sharing life, love and laughter, published by Steve Goodier, Life Support System

So, What Can You Do With Food?

This post is filled with resources for teaching about and learning about food.

Lesson Plans:

Food Science Curriculum (High School Level)

Food history lesson plans  

History and culture through food lesson plan

Food for Thought: Hunger—Around the Block, Around the World

Unit of 4 lessons - 9th-12th Grade  

When Food Becomes A Problem  

Lesson plan on eating disorders

Organic, Slow or Local: Exploring Food-based Communities

Minus the Meat: Analyzing and Creating Healthy, Vegetarian Meals

Gluten Free Cooking School Lesson Plans

Other Internet Resources:

Mental Floss a thought-provoking magazine featured a great article titled, "Masters of Food Art" by Ransom Riggs.

Garnishing and Food Presentation

Information, photos, and resources focusing on garnishing your recipes and food presentation.

Creating a Family Cookbook by Kimberly Powell, About.com

"Almost every family has a treasured recipe, beloved as much for the memories it evokes of family get-togethers or a special family member, as it is for its taste. Most families have many such recipes, handed down through generations, taught to children, or squirreled away on index cards or scraps of paper. A wonderful gift for family and friends, a family recipe book is a wonderful way to combine favorite family dishes with memories of treasured family moments and members. But how to turn those family culinary favorites into an actual family cookbook?”

Books:

The Cambridge World History of Food By Kenneth F. Kiple, Kriemhild Coneè

"a smorgasbord of information about virtually everything edible on the face of the globe"

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel

Children Just Like Me by Anabel Kindersley, Barnabas Kindersley

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage - (beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, Coca-Cola)

Cooking Up U.S. History: Recipes and Research to Share with Children

by Suzanne I. Barchers, Patricia C. Marden

The U.S. History Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past by Joan D'Amico, Karen Eich Drummond

Honest Pretzels: And 64 Other Amazing Recipes for Cooks Ages 8 & Up by Mollie Katzen

Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual by The editors of Klutz

Everything Kids' Cookbook: From Mac'N Cheese to Double Chocolate Chip Cookies-All You Need to Have Some Finger Lickin' Fun by Sandra K. Nissenberg

Kids Cook!: Fabulous Food for the Whole Family by Sarah & Zachary Williamson

The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories by Barbara M. Walker, Garth Williams

***The following series is my personal favorite.

Exploring History Through Simple Recipes (Series) by Mary Gunderson

- American Indian Cooking before 1500

- California Gold Rush Cooking

- Civil War Cooking: The Confederacy

- Civil War Cooking: The Union

- Colonial Cooking

- Cooking on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

- Cowboy Cooking

- Nineteenth-Century Lumber Camp Cooking

- Oregon Trail Cooking

- Pioneer Farm Cooking

The books contain information about everyday life, family roles, cooking methods and common foods, combined with recipes from the historical period. The recipes are based on originals from the time, but they have been updated and simplified. Many period illustrations and photos are included. An excellent series for young cooks. Each book runs about 30 pages. Our family loved these books, and the recipes were delicious!

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Fun Activity

You might want to create your own homeschool cookbook. We did, and it's somethng that we treasure. Each daughter has her own book, and it includes recipes she cooked on her own, as well as pioneer recipes we tried, ethnic foods we enjoy, recipes for our favorite holiday foods and recipes from favorite stories, like the Little House books. We used 3-ring binders with covers that allow you to slip a personalized page in a clear pocket on the front.