Read, Discuss, Bake: Books about bread!

  One of my favorite memories from my childhood was my dad’s baking. He’d often bake a simple white bread, which we would use for sandwiches or snacking. He’d sometimes turn some of it into cinnamon rolls, which came in second only to my mom’s chocolate chip cookies. On special occasions he’d whip up a batch of Orange Cinnamon Swirl, a loaf of mildly orange flavored bread with a swirl of cinnamon and sugar in the center, glazed with an orangey icing. In my mind, there was no better treat. And it wasn’t just the eating of the bread that was enjoyable, but the anticipation. And the smells. Is there any better smell than bread baking in the oven? My dad taught me how to bake bread, and I still have the copy of  Bernard Clayton’s New Complete Book of Breads  that he gave me nearly 30 years ago. I bake from it often. Bread is a staple all around the world. And bread, like books, can do wonders to foster human connection. So our hope with this list today is that it will inspire...

Highlights from the Summer Challenge

 We are continuing the celebration today with some highlights from the Summer Challenge. If you participated in the challenge, and even if you didn't, we'd love to hear from you about how you connected with your kiddos with books and activities this summer.

Enjoy these highlights, and be sure to come back on Monday for some easy art projects to pair with your future story time reads.

Our own Rebecca J. Gomez enjoyed the book
Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sis, then
enjoyed some ice cream her hubby!

What goes better with ice cream than cake?


Salem didn't get to play in the dirt, but he 
did hear a story about a worm who lives in the dirt,
and that's good enough for us!

More dirt-themed book recommendations!

A great story time idea for the setting sail theme!


Mindy Baker recommends this fun, interactive
picture book!

For the red, white, and blue theme, Rebecca
shared 
United Tweets of America by Hudson Talbott


Some books about fireworks: 
Lion of the Sky: Haiku for all Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Merce Lopez
The Fabulous Firework Family by James Flora
Red, White and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

Mindy Baker shared a wonderful review of 
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall for the pool theme,
complete with story time discussion ideas and a craft!
Here's a link to the original post

Some activity ideas for a night time story time:
toast marshmallows, play hide-and-go-seek in the dark,
make shadow puppets, look at the stars,
sit around a campfire, explore with flashlights,
listen for night sounds, make a starry sky art project.

Sharing a book and a zoo trip with the grandson,
just not on the same day!

It's not just about picture books! Mindy Baker
recommended this book for older readers as part 
of our wilderness theme.

Rebecca recommends a family favorite for back to school!

This is a great book to foster discussions about
wasteful habits, plastic dependence, and recycling.


 Julie (@365learnandplay on Instagram) made 
sand art (including this unicorn) on the beach
with her family. She recommends
Sandcake by Frank Asch.

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