Today - July 23rd - is Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day

There are SO many ways to combine peanut butter and chocolate for truly enjoyable treats - whether you make cakes, cookies, candies, pies - all are wonderful for sure! So a special day to celebrate this tasty combo makes perfect sense. I'm going to share with you my family's favorite recipe for homemade peanut butter balls, but first, let's look at some fun facts for peanut butter and then chocolate - did you know . . .

Summer Reading - Late Today

Today I'm happy to let you know about another new book from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers - Late Today by Jungyoon Huh, illustrated by Myungae Lee, and translated by Aerin Park.

Tomorrow - July 23rd - is Vanilla Ice Cream Day, So Make Lemonade Pie!

Yes, tomorrow is Vanilla Ice Cream Day, and while you could certainly enjoy a bowl of vanilla ice cream - possibly topped however you most enjoy - you could also use this day to make Lemonade Pie! You will learn more about vanilla ice cream at this link, but I thought I'd share a few fun facts as well - did you know . . . 

Summer Reading - Consider the Birds

Saturday I received three more books from Eerdman's Books for Young Readers, so today I'm going to let you know about the first one - Consider the Birds by Jennifer Grant and illustrated by Julianna Swaney.

Fluffy Cinnamon Biscuits!

Okay, I admit it, I have always struggled to make a perfect, fluffy biscuit. My biscuits typically turned out resembling a rock more than anything you actually wanted to eat. But, I found a recipe one day and discovered, not only was it easy and quick, but the biscuits turned out fluffy and wonderful! Plus, when you add cinnamon and make a little icing on the side for the children you love to top their biscuits with as they like, it makes a fantastic breakfast biscuit! So, of course I have to share this recipe with you.

Summer Reading - Do Your Ears Hang Low?

For the past few weeks I've been sharing book reviews with you in my Summer Reading reviews. Reading to and with the children we love is one of the most important things we can ever do to help them speak sooner, develop a larger vocabulary, begin to read, and do better in school, so reading to and with them in the Summer - and all year - is one of the best ways we are able to spend our time with them. Since I'm waiting for more books to arrive, today I'm very happy to let you know about a book I reviewed a few years ago from Union Square Kids - it was one of my grands' favorite books! Do Your Ears Hang Low? illustrated by Jenny Cooper is a "must-get" book and is sure to be a favorite of the children you love, too! 

Today is International Chess Day

All three of my grands enjoy playing chess. They often want to play chess with me when they are at my house - primarily because they always beat me. My middle grand has won games with me by making fewer than five moves - I still do not know how they did that! My oldest grand likes to play chess with me - he also often beats me with fewer than ten moves. My youngest grand will play chess with me IF he is able to start without his queen - the last time we did this he managed to get two queens back, and yes, he won. 

There are many reasons teaching children to play chess is something which benefits them - did you know . . . 

Summer Reading - Do NOT Open This Book!

 

I have reviewed this book before, but as I think about books my grands have loved which I am able to recommend for Summer Reading fun, this one is definitely a book I happily recommend! It was sent a few years ago for review from Scholastic - and today I am very happy to let you know about, Do NOT Open This Book!

Tomorrow is National Ice Cream Day!

By the way, did you know tomorrow, July 20th, is National Ice Cream Day?! I do enjoy a nice bowl of ice cream, but since I've been focused on losing weight (I've lost 100lbs since the start of 2020!), I rarely eat this sweet treat. I have found, however; sorbetto on a stick - especially the mini-size only has 50 calories per serving! Hooray! 

But back to ice cream - let's look at some ice cream fun facts - did you know . . .

Summer Reading - My Heart is Like a Zoo

Every once in awhile a book comes along which is so unique, so delightful, so much fun . . . My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall is one such book, so today as I wait for more books to arrive for my Summer Reading reviews, I'm very happy to let you know about this book.

Water-Wars for Hot Summer Fun!

Many places in our country are downright hot today, so, what might the children you love want to do if it is a warm, sunny, even a hot day and they are at your house? 

Play in the water! And, not just play in the water, but use squirt guns if you have them.

Summer Reading - Duck!

A few years ago I received a box of books from Candlewick Press - I am "re-sharing" one with you today for my Summer Reading posts which I absolutely loved!  Duck! by Meg McKinlay and illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom is most certainly a book you will want to have in your own library - and give to your grandchildren as well.

Hot Summer Fun!

In many parts of the country it is hot, so . . . what could be more fun than making and playing with sponge bombs! I found this link on  Pinterest, but when I tried to follow it to the site with the directions, it told me it had been reported the site had spam, so I found another one for you!

Summer Reading - Fluffle Bunnies - Buns Gone Bad

Last year I received a package of wonderful books from Penguin/ Random House Canada/Tundra and today I'm sharing with you again about one of the books from last year - it was so excellent, it is absolutely well worth getting for the children you love if you didn't last year. One of the best and most important things we are able to do for the children we love is to surround them with books from their youngest ages, read to and with them, because when we do they will begin talking sooner, they will have a larger vocabulary, will begin reading sooner, and will do better in school. Plus, all this reading and spending time together will help build strong relationships with you and the children you love.

So, this Summer be certain to surround the children you love with books - such as Fluffle Bunnies - Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey and Irma Kniivila.