CRANBERRY THANKSGIVING

Today is slated for cooking, and Traditional Family Recipes rule the day!  My potatoes, for a yummy potato casserole that my mother-in-law handed down (and which my children won't ever allow me to deviate from!), are almost boiling. Meanwhile I have a quick minute, before starting on my sister's delicious recipe for a spiced Zinfandel cranberry sauce, to share about a fun children's book by Wende and Harry Devlin, appropriately titled Cranberry Thanksgiving.

Cranberry Thanksgiving is the story of a young girl named Maggie who lives with her Grandmother near a cranberry bog in New England. Maggie and her Grandmother traditionally each invite a guest to their Thanksgiving feast. But this particular year, Grandmother almost loses her secret recipe for cranberry bread to one of the guests. (The book includes the secret recipe.) This classic was published in 1971 and is a traditional family read for many families each year - you can read it while the cranberry bread is baking.



Cranberries are amazing little powerhouses of nutrients and they go a long way back in the history of the traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Long before the Pilgrims came to North America, the Indians combined crushed cranberries with dried deer meat and melted fat to make pemmican - a convenience food that would keep for a long time. As the Pilgrims began to settle and thrive, cranberries became a staple in their lives as well.

Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. Instead, they grow on vines in impermeable beds layered with sand, peat, gravel and clay. These beds, commonly known as "bogs," were originally made by glacial deposits. Normally, growers do not have to replant since an undamaged cranberry vine will survive indefinitely. Some vines in Massachusetts are more than 150 years old! (Cranberries are also grown in the Pacific Northwest.) Photo sources and more information here.


Well, I'm off to start my cranberry sauce!  Scroll down for the recipe below, or find it here (it's not a secret recipe, like the Grandmother's)...

SPICED CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH ZINFANDEL

INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cups red Zinfandel wine
1 cup sugar
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 3x1-inch strip orange peel
1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
PREPARATION:
Combine all ingredients except cranberries in medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1 3/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Strain syrup into large saucepan. Add cranberries to syrup and cook over medium heat until berries burst, about 6 minutes. Cool. Transfer sauce to medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until cold. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR PARENTS, AND GOOD NEWS FOR "REAL" BOOKS

source

I can't tell you how happy reading these words made me today: "Reading forges connections between parents and children... It's also good for little brains. But does the form in which the words appear matter? The New York Times reports that parents — even those who are avid digital downloaders — are shunning kids' e-books for the real thing. It seems that the feel and texture of paper pages dappled with colorful illustrations trumps the static dimensions of a screen."

source: Oleana's Blog

The above quote is from an article, "Why Parents Still Want to Read Real Books, Not E-Books, to their Kids", from TIME Magazine which is citing a New York Times report, "For Their Children, Many E-book Fans Insist on Paper."

from PARENTS CONNECT:
 "Best Loved Books - A Dozen We Love"

The TIME Magazine article also mentions two previously published pieces that parents of very young children should read before plopping their little ones in front of a television or handing them an iPad: "Should You 2-Year-Old Be Using an iPad?" and "'Educational T.V.' For Babies: It Doesn't Exist".


Hurray for books!

PILGRIMS, TURKEYS, AND THE WOMAN WHO SAVED THANKSGIVING

First, the Turkeys:
Creative mom Vanessa Rough, over at Silly Eagle Books blog, posted a really cute popsicle-stick turkey craft for Thanksgiving, and a picture book I can't wait to get my hands on, Mousekin's Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to find the book at my library, because it's out of print. The whole series of Mousekin books by Edith Miller, published from 1964 to 1992, can be found listed at Loganberry Books.


From Library School Journal:  In another cozy installment in the "Mousekin" series, bright-eyed Mousekin rushes from animal to animal searching for the mysterious creature who has eaten his winter food stores. The happy ending shows a wild turkey digging up food for Mousekin and his friends. Muted watercolor wash drawings capture the quiet atmosphere of the forest at the time of the first snowfall. Miller gently conveys accurate information about nature while she tells a good story. A read-aloud for the whole year, not just Thanksgiving. (ages 3-7)

MY GOOD BOOKS THANKSGIVING PICKS FOR THIS YEAR:
If You Were At... The First Thanksgiving, by Anne Kamma, illustrations by Bert Dodson.  From Scholastic: Nearly half of the fifty-two Pilgrims at the First Thanksgiving were children ages sixteen and younger. What was it like being part of the historic harvest festival that inspired our modern holiday? How did the children contribute to the feast? What did they wear? Did they have turkey and pumpkin pie?

My own kids loved this style, so helpful in exploring history: written from a child's perspective and using a question-and-answer format, this book answers many questions about the early pilgrims and what it was like being part of the historic harvest festival that inspired our modern holiday. (Ages 7 and up)



Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrations by Matt Faulkner.  In doing some research last year about Thanksgiving, I discovered that the woman attributed to starting a letter writing campaign (of 38 years!) to garner support in making Thanksgiving a national holiday was none other than Sarah Josepha Hale, the writer of the nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb"!  If you didn't see that post, click here for the short version of her story and her 1858 article from Godey's Lady's Book.

This year, I'm recommending a children's book about this historical heroine and her success in securing our nation's unique Day of Giving Thanks.  Told in a humorous style with silly caricatures, this book will interest children ages 5-10. (and parents will like it too!)

Below are my Good Books Thanksgiving recommendations from last year. Click HERE for details.

HAPPY THURSDAY TO YOU!

Frances was in the broom closet, singing:

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday, dear Alice,

Happy Thursday to you.

"Who is Alice?" asked Mother.

"Alice is somebody that nobody can see," said Frances. "And that is why she does not have a birthday. So I am singing Happy Birthday to her."

"Today is Friday," said Mother.

"It is Thursday for Alice," said Frances...

"I am sure Alice will have cake and candy on her birthday," said Mother.

"But Alice does not have a birthday," said Frances.

"Yes, she does," said Mother. "Even if nobody can see her, Alice has one birthday every year, and so do you. Your birthday is two months from now. Then you will be the birthday girl. But tomorrow is Gloria's birthday, and she will be the birthday girl."

"That's how it is, Alice," said Frances. "Your birthday is always the one that is not now."

-From A BIRTHDAY FOR FRANCES, by Russell Hoban, with charcoal illustrations by his wife Lillian Hoban.  November 17th last year, marked the 50th birthday of Russell Hoban's endearing and mischevious badger, Frances.  Today she's 51!  Read a "Frances Book" to celebrate!
  

AUTHOR JEAN FRITZ: BRINGING HEROES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO LIFE

Jean Fritz was born on this day in 1915, to American missionaries in Hankow, China. She lived there for thirteen years with her family before coming to the United States. I'm sure you and your children would enjoy her autobiography, Homesick: My Own Story.


Jean has written several informal historical biographies for 9-12 year olds about the American Revolution in a style that makes distant historical figures seem real and brings their stories to life...

“I realized when I started doing research for my first book that history wasn’t what I’d been taught in school. History is full of gossip; it’s real people and emotion. I kept being surprised by the real people I met in the past. They all had their foibles and idiosyncrasies.”

One way she accomplished such realistic tellings is that she never made up the dialogue.  She found actual letters, diaries, and journals of the people she was writing about, using only their own spoken or written words. Her books are very readable and capture young readers' imaginations.  She wrote her books like a journalist, explaining "my approach is that of a reporter, trying for a scoop, looking for clues, connecting facts, digging under the surface".

Here are some of our family favorites:

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED, PAUL REVERE?, illustrated by Margo Tomes.

CAN'T YOU MAKE THEM BEHAVE, KING GEORGE?, illustrated by Tommie dePaola.

WHY DON'T YOU GET A HORSE, SAM ADAMS? illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. 

WILL YOU SIGN HERE, JOHN HANCOCK? illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. 

WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, BEN FRANKLIN? illustrated by Margaret Tomes.

LET THE FORTY DAYS BEGIN...

November 15 is here, and for me that means the start of Advent. Yesterday I came across a pretty incredible advertisement on YouTube - yes, a commercial - that captures a child's perspective on the difficulty of waiting during Advent and the joy of giving at Christmas. (Watch all the way through, for the twist at the end.)



For me, as an Eastern Orthodox Christian, Advent is not just a countdown for the arrival of Christmas and the day's festivities. It is a time to prepare my heart and draw nearer to God in anticipation of his coming through prayer, fasting, the reading of Scripture, and acts of charity.  This time of joyous expectation is also called the "Nativity Fast".

Whether you observe an Advent countdown for 40 days, or just during the month of December, hopefully some of the books on my "40 Books For 40 Days List" will be helpful as you and your children begin preparing your hearts for the Child whose arrival we anticipate during this holy Nativity season.

40 BOOKS FOR 40 DAYS LIST
November 15 GOD GAVE US CHRISTMAS by Lisa T. Bergren
November 16 MY FIRST CHRISTMAS, by Tomie DePaola
November 17 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Suess
November 18 WHO IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE? by Joseph Slate
November 19 THE TOMTEN by Astrid Lindgren
November 20 I SPY CHRISTMAS
November 21 THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN by Allan Ahlberg
November 22 LOOK ALIKES CHRISTMAS by Joan Steiner
November 23 CHRISTMAS TROLLS by Jan Brett
November 24 BABAR AND FATHER CHRISTMAS by Jean De Brunhoff
November 25 CHRISTMAS IN NOISY VILLAGE by Astrid Lindgren
November 26 THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY by Ezra Jack Keats
November 27 THE NUTCRACKER by Susan Jeffers
November 28 MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEEPS! by Julie Stiegemeyer
November 29 CHRISTMAS MICE By Richard Scarry
November 30 CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Walter Wick
December 1 ONE WINTER'S NIGHT by John Herman, Diane Dillon, Leo Dillon
December 2 UNCLE VOVA'S TREE by Patricia Polacco
December 3 LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS by J.R.R. Tolkien
December 4 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: A MAGICAL CUT-PAPER EDITION, Niroot Puutapipat
December 5 SANTA, ARE YOU FOR REAL? by Harold Myra
December 6 (St. Nicholas Day) THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS by Demi
December 7 CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER by Nola Buck
December 8 B IS FOR BETHLEHEM, by Isabel Wilner
December 9 THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY
December 10 THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, by O. Henry, illustrations Lizbeth Zwerger
December 11 THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson
December 12 THE FIRST CHRISTMAS; THE FIRST NOEL by Jan Pienkowski
December 13 BABUSHKA AND THE THREE KINGS by Ruth Robbins
December 14 THE FRIENDLY BEASTS by Tomie DePaola
December 15 CHRISTMAS NIGHT FAIR AND BRIGHT by Julie Stiegemeyer
December 16 THE MIRACLE OF ST. NICHOLAS by Gloria Whelan
December 17 TAKE JOY! TASHA TUDOR CHRISTMAS BOOK
December 18 WE THREE KINGS by Gennady Spirin
December 19 ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Children's version) by Frank MCourt
ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Adult Edition)
December 20 THE NATIVITY by Ruth Sanderson
December 21 CHRISTMAS POEMS Edited by Hayes and Laughlin
December 22 CHRISTMAS! by Peter Spier
December 23 CHRISTMAS ANGELS by M.J. Hummel
December 24 (Christmas Eve) PREPARE O BETHLEHEM By Niko Chocheli
December 25 (Nativity) THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD by Mother Melania

Click here for more Advent ideas and activities.