My 5 Favorite Read-Aloud Picture Books

Here are five of my favorite picture books to read aloud to, or with, my kids.  

(This post contains affiliate links through which I can earn commission.)

 

1.  Stellaluna


My oldest son had most of this book memorized at 3 years old - we read it that much!  In it a bat gets adopted by a family of birds, but eventually finds his mother.   The story is so touching, the characters so vivid, and the dialog is just wonderfully fun to read. 

The rhythm of the dialogue even seem to fit the characters...the lines spoken by the birds are full of short words that sound chirpy when you read them aloud, while the bat's dialogue has a smoother sound.  And, the illustrations are nothing short of beautiful.






 2.  Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type

We got four fun farm animal stories by Doreen Cronin in various Chick File kids meals (the others are Dooby Dooby Moo, Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Duck for President), and there has never been a kids meal toy we liked better! We have read these over and over and over again and it's always a joy.  They are hilarious.  Click Clack Moo is the one I loved reading aloud the most because I always made the "moo" deep and loud (although after a while the kids usually wanted say this part...which of course is even better!)











3.    We Are In A Book

I love ALL the Piggie and Elephant books.  These are the books that moved my youngest son from hating reading, to wanting to do reading first thing.  Most of the books just have two main characters, Piggie and Elephant, and the book is a dialogue between them, shown in speech bubbles in a large, easy to read font.  I would read one character's part and my son would read the other, which was a fun way to encourage him to read.

I had a hard time choosing just one to feature, but picked this one because I think it's the best one to read first, and because it has a lot of fun features especially for reading aloud.   In it Piggie and Elephant discover that they are in a book, and the way they interact with the reader is super charming and fun.  Plus, you get to say banana...many times, and who doesn't like that?  

I do want to mention my second pick though, also.   I Am A Frog is about pretending, and is super fun to read.  It is fun narrating Elephant as he worries about turning into a frog, lets you do some great animal noises, has a cute, insightful nod to parents mid way through, and a really funny twist at the end.








4.  Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm


My mom grew up in New England and I think she bought this book wanting to share a little of home with us.   I really enjoy reading this with my kids.  It's so matter of fact and down to earth.   The way they describe the personalities and quirks of the different animals on this farm make me think of the animals we've had in our life. 

It's not squeamish about things like cats catching mice and hens being carried away by foxes...but it's not brutal about those things either either.    There's a frank gentleness to it.   One of the last pages is a remembering of beloved animals on the farm that had been buried in a little secluded wooded patch on the corner of a field...it's a touching moment, and I think would be comforting to a child who had lost a pet.  

I have read this book so many times, and never get tired of it.

NOTE:   It is pretty long to read in one setting, so I usually would read a several pages from it over several days (and its easy to split up that way).










5.  A Quiet Night In


This is a charming story about a dad who is too tired for the birthday celebration his family was planning for him, and asks in stead if they can do "a quiet night in."   The humor is really directed at parents, but my children loved these books.   I love how tender the family members are to each other, even when they are mad or annoyed.   I The dialogue is fun to read, and if you have a large family you will really relate. 

(I can't find this story for sale by itself anymore though, which is why I linked to the set.   The only other one of these I've read is All in One Piece which was also a fun read, though I liked A Quiet Night In better). 

What are your favorite read-alouds? 

Educational Games for Middle and High School

Playing games can be a great way to make learning fun, and spend quality family time together.   Below are a list of learning games for middle and high school students you can use to practice and learn about various topics  (for elementary games, click here ).   While there are many great online games too, in this list I'm only listing games you play offline with others (siblings, parents).  

Most of the items on this list are free, but there are a few board games (some of which may already be in your closet) or printable games you can purchase which I've include, which are marked with a $. 

KEY

$ = Not a free resource

$ + $ = Free and not free resources

PK = Preschool

E = All of Elementary

LE = Late Elementary (3rd - 6th)

MS = Middle School/Junior High (6th - 8th)*

HS = High School (9th - 12th)*

K-12 = All school age (not PK)

ALL = All Ages

*Why do I even bother including Elementary in the Key?   Because sometimes its nice to find a game you can play with the whole family that everyone can learn from.

This post contains a few affiliate links through which I can earn commission.

 

Mixed Skills/Any Skill
5 Learning Games (these can be used for various skills)

English/Language Arts

Spelling

Boggle Word Game (E/MS)

Prefixes/Suffixes and Greek/Latin Roots

Affixes and Roots Games (LE/MS/HS)

Greek Roots Tarsia Puzzle (LE/MS/HS)

Roots and Affixes Go Fish (LE/MS/HS)

Languages

French
Various French Games by Ellen McHenry (E/7+/MS)

Latin
Latin Games, Various (ALL)

Geography
(Also see History)

South America

Birds of Brazil Bingo (K-12)


US States - Multiple States

13 Colonies Dominoes (K-12)


US States - Specific States

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Geogrphy/Geology - Bottom of Page (K-12)

Health/Nutrition

Fruits and Vegetable Nutrition Games (ALL)



History
(ALSO look under Religion for religious history games)

Historical Games
These game are actual games played in ancient cultures and other times in the past.   They are useful for living history style exploration. 

Senet - Ancient Egyptian Game (Printable, LE/MS/HS)

Ancient Egyptian Snake Game (Printable, ALL) 

Ancient Rome - Tabula, an Ancient Roman Game (LE/MS/HS)  

Rota - Roman Tic-Tac-Toe (Printable, ALL)

Native Americans - Games from the Aboriginal People of North America (ALL)

World History

History Buffer Games (Various Eras - Printable, LE/MS/HS $ + $)

Egyptian Trivia Game (Printable, LE/MS/HS)

Digging Up Greece (LE/MS/HS)

Viking Voyages (LE/MS)
    + Viking Voyages Expansion Pack (LE/MS/HS)

The Great Italian Wars (Unsure of Age Range)
This is an card game that recreates the atmosphere of the Italian late Renaissance (1494-1527) during the famous period called the "Italian Wars".  The Game is free in pdf form, but you have to register for free at Board Game Geek.

Sail the Seas - Explorers/Bodies of Water (LE/MS/HS)

Storming the Bastille (French Revolution Game) (LE/MS/HS)

US History

History Buffer Games - US History (Printable, LE/MS/HS $ + $)

13 Colonies Dominoes (K-12) 

Bluebird Math Circle (All)
Math activities for various ages, many of which are related to Native American history and culture.


Math

For more math before Algebra/Geometry, see the math section of my page for  Learning Games for Elementary.  

MISC

Traditional Native American Games Organized by Math Skill (ALL)

Bluebird Math Circle (All)
Math activities for various ages, many of which are related to Native American history and culture.

ALGEBRA

Prime Numbers
Loot the Pirate Ship (Printable, LE)

GEOMETRY

Area/Array Game (Printable)

Area of a Triangle Card Game (MS/HS)

Science

Anatomy

Find My Wound: An Anatomical Directions Game (Requires File Folder, HS)

Bone Bingo (HS $)

Lymphatic System Board Game (HS $)

Animals and Habitats

Various Animal Games by Ellen McHenry (All)

Phyla Ecology Game (LE/MS/MS)

Birds of Brazil Bingo (K-12)

Birds of Prey (LE/MS/HS $)

Gastropods (Mollusks) Bingo (K-12)

Poison Dart Frog Habitats/Rainforest (Requires cardboard, Lots of Set Up, E/MS)


Biology
(See Animals, Botany, Cells, Human Body/Anatomy)


Botany

Various Games About Plants by Ellen McHenry (ALL)

Photosynthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Plant Taxonomy Game (MS/HS $)

Cells
 
Pond Scum - A Protazoa Game (LE/MS/HS)

Translation Taxi RNA Game (MS/HS $)

Cellular Respiration Game (MS/HS $)

Photosynthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Protein Synthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Thanksgiving Protein Synthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Earth Science

Nitrogen Cycle Game (HS $)

Chemistry

Various Free Games by Ellen McHenry  (K-12)

Periodic Table Battleship (Requires File Folder, MS/HS)

Make 5 - A Game About Mineral Chemical Formulas (LE, MS, HS)

Carbon 14 Game (MS/HS) $

Nuclear War/Radioactive Decay (MS/HS) $

AP Biology Games  (HS $)


Human Body/Anatomy

Various Games by Ellen McHenry


Habitats (see Animals and Habitats)

Pond Scum - A Protazoa Game (LE/MS/HS)


Nature Study

Nature Scavenger Hunt (K-12)


RELIGION (Christian)

Journeys of the Apostle Paul Game (LE/MS $)

St. Patrick of Ireland (LE/MS $) 

MISC
 
Family Friendly Version of Cards Against Humanity (LE/MS/HS)

Lego Building Game (Requires Legos, ALL 4+)

Bible Games, Various (ALL)

Concentration, Memorization, and Observation Games (LE/MS)

Click Here Elementary Learning Games

Ocean Themed Party Cake and Snacks

My son loves anything to do with sea life, so of course I had to have an ocean themed party last year.    I had some fun decorative food for this party I want to share with you all.

Ocean Cookie Cake

First, we had I think my favorite cake I've ever made.  

This post contains affiliate links through which I can earn commission.

The funny part is, this wasn't my original plan.  I was going to make the cookies separately from the cake, but the jumping place we were going to only allowed a cake and fruit and veggie trays.   Anything else cost extra to bring.  

So, I thought...I'll just add the cookies to the cake!

First, of course, I made the cookies with the ocean animals from a larger animal cookie cutter set I'd been given.    You can use your favorite sugar cookie recipe, but we used this eggless sugar cookie recipe I found on a allergy forum.

I made a lot more cookies than I needed for the cake, and only used the best ones.  The rest we saved for after the party.

TIP:  When icing a cookie, add outlines and small detail first, and then fill in around it.  It was something I learned AFTER I did that messy starfish below.

 

Then I baked my cake (just regular store bought cake mix).   I baked two layers in a square cake pan.  

Make sure the icing on the cookies is totally dry and firm before beginning to ice the outside of the cake (don't touch the icing...just leave it for a long while or chilll it in the fridge and it should be fine).   If you put them on too soon, the icing on your cookies may drip once turned sideways.   You want to chill the cookies before frosting the cake because you want to stick the cookies on right after the frosting goes on the cake.

I used store bought frosting, which I added food coloring to.   You will need A LOT of frosting...so make or buy more than you think you will need).  This particular cake is nice because it's all one color frosting and you don't need to frost it smoothly.  When mixing in the food coloring, it's ok to not mix the blue and white completely.  It actually ads a little "ocean foam" like texture if there are parts with a little white, or a slightly darker blue.     

Frost between each layer and cover the cake generously.    After you have frosted it, use the flat side of a frosting spreader or rubber spatula to dab at the frosting to create the frothy wave affect.   Then smush your cookies of choice into the frosting on the side of your cake, and stick your dolphins straight into the top of the cake. 

Sea Life Snacks

Dolphin Bananas in a Grape Sea

So, I did not come up with this idea...it's something I saw on pinterest and thought was adorable so had to do it.  You can try it with blueberries or jello too.

It's pretty simple.  You cut bananas in half, only using the end with the stem (eat the other ends or save them for something like banana bread).  Slice the stem in half to make a mouth, and put them in a sea of "grapes"  (or in my case a casserole dish pool...can be in clear plastic cups too).  Add eyes with a sharpie.  Put some grapes in the dolphins mouths (some will fall out, but some will stay and that's all you need).


Octopus Pear

This little guy I did come up with on my own, and I'm quite proud of him.  To make him, I cut a pear in half, and then cut two grapes at an angle, stem side up.   I attached the grape eyes with toothpicks.  The legs are slices from a green bell pepper.



Coral Reef

OK, this one I've seen online with veggies, and it looks much cooler the way other people do it (check out this cool veggie reef that was what I was originally intending to duplicate).   But I was running out of time at this point, so I just sliced some celery and added a coral looking piece of ginger into a bowl of strawberries.  The carrots got put on the plate with the octopus and the "cauliflower coral," which I suspected they wouldn't eat anyways, got skipped.

The rest of the party wasn't themed, since we had it at a trampoline place.   But the kids really thought the snacks were cool...and most importantly, the birthday boy loved it!





 

Eggless Sugar Cookies

The following recipe was suggested to me by someone I met at an allergy forum.  They came out great!

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Eggless Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 Tbsp Water
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder (for separate step)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter or butter substitute, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla


Put butter out to soften about an hour before you are ready to bake.

Whisk together the water, vegetable oil, and 1/2 tsp of baking powder in a small bowl.   Set aside.   (This substitutes for an egg).

Whisk together the flour, salt and other 1/2 tsp baking powder in a medium bowl.   Set aside.

Cream together the softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.  (To cream the butter and sugar, cut the butter into small chunks, and then beat it with a long handled spoon until soft.  Then add the sugar to the butter and mash it with the tines of a fork.  Stir the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy, using a rubber spatula to scrape the sides back into the middle occassionally.   It should end up a yellowish-white color and double the size it was originally.)


To the creamed butter/sugar, stir in the small bowl of oil/water/baking powder you've already mixed together.

Using an electric mixer, mix at low speed while gradually adding dry ingredients, until just combined.   Refrigerate for 1 hour.


Preheat over to 350 degrees, and line several cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Empty dough only a lightly floured surface and knead slightly, and form into a ball.  If the dough seems sticky, knead in more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it is the right consistancy. 

Roll flat, to about 1/4 inch thick. 

Lightly dust cookie cutters with flour and cut out shapes.  Move the shapes to the parchment-lined cookie sheets.

Put cookie sheets in the over and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Let cookie sheets cool for a minute or two, then transfer to a wire rack to cook (or if you don't have that, you can lay out on a clean cutting board or on a single layer on plates. 

Once cooled, you can add icing. DO NOT TRY TO ICE COOKIES WHILE WARM! 

I used this eggless royal icing recipe for my eggless icing, and also used some store brand icing which was also eggless.
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