Lucy is the youngest of four children who have been sent to the English countryside to live in a large, old manor house with an elderly gentleman until the bombings of London in WWII have ended. While exploring indoors on a rainy day, she crawls into a deep wardrobe, and out into the land of…
Category: children’s fiction
“How to Catch an Elf” Book Discussion and Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake Recipe
Some children have decided that instead of trying to catch Santa, it would be easier to catch an elf! With candy cane temptations and tinsel traps, it’s hard to catch this clever elf, especially when one boy uses an avalanche of food and a dinner cannon! How to Catch an Elf is a fun Christmas story about…
“Dream Snow” Book Discussion and Coconut Cupcakes Recipe
In Dream Snow, by Eric Carle, a farmer dreams of snowflakes falling in a white blanket on his five farm animals and barn. Beautifully and colorfully illustrated in the same manner as his famous The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this is a great book for celebrating December, winter, and Christmas. It teaches young children about counting to five and…
“Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf” Book Discussion and a “Donut” Cupcake Recipe
Shmelf is a new elf employed by Santa to look over the list of nice kids. He notices that some nice kids are not on the list for Christmas presents! When he asks why, Shmelf is told that these children are Jewish and they celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday when their parents give them eight nights…
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Book Discussion and Grinch Cupcakes Recipe
Every Who down in Whoville loves Christmas, but the Grinch hated the Whos and their Christmas celebrations, especially the noise and singing. So the Grinch devises a wicked plan to steal all the Christmas decorations and presents and food from every house, hoping it will ruin Christmas for the town. The Grinch dresses his dog…
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Book Discussion” and Pumpkin Pasty Cupcakes
On 4 Privet Drive, Surrey, a baby was delivered to the most unmagical family that ever lived. He was famous in the wizarding world for being the only “boy who lived” after facing the most wicked wizard of all time. Harry Potter is raised by an unkind aunt and uncle who make him sleep in…
A Wind in the Door and Hot Cocoa Cupcakes with Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Charles Wallace frequently visits the glacier rocks not far from the Murry’s house, a place where a wise old snake named Louise lives. But one day Charles Wallace finds what he believes to be a dragon’s feather. When he returns with Meg, they find a many-eyed, winged creature called a Cherubim, and a very tall,…
A Wrinkle in Time Book Discussion and French Toast Cupcakes Recipe
Synopsis: Meg is hot-tempered and awkward at school. The only person who seems to really understand her is her odd youngest brother, Charles Wallace. He is exceptionally intelligent and eloquent for his age, but then, both of their parents are brilliant physicists. His father, however, Charles Wallace has never met. Sent away on a government…
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
A murderous maniac named Sirius Black has escaped from the Wizard prison, Azkaban, and was heard murmuring in his sleep about Hogwarts. In his new Potions class, Harry keeps encountering an ominous portent called a Grimm and the terrifying creatures that haunted Azkaban which are now surrounding Hogwarts. Harry has much to master in only…
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” Book Discussion and Treacle Tart Cupcakes with Golden Lemon Frosting
Tension is already thick at the Dursleys with the addition of Harry’s new “pet,” Hedwig, but then a house elf named Dobby appears in Harry’s room with a mysterious warning, and threatens to upset Uncle Vernon with his racket on the night of a very important business dinner. At Diagon Alley, Harry not only has…