Mrs. Winterbloom Presents: Cooking

Art by Krista V.

Everybody's talking about healthy food and cooking with kids these days. You wouldn't think your local library could help--but check out this list of great cookbooks, videos, and more for the budding chef.

Hopefully you won't have to serve tea to a monster--but with this guide, you'll be prepared if one shows up!

Books:
The Usbourne First Cookbook, by Angela Wilkes, is a time-tested first guide to cooking with bouncy illustrations and easy treats
The Toddler Cookbook by Annabel Karmel uses lots of clear photos of tiny kids cooking crowd-pleasing snacks
Pretend Soup and Salad People are Mollie Katzen's vegetarian cookbooks for little folks
Cook it in a Cup by Julia Myall comes with 6 little sillicon baking cups, just the right size for kid-sized meals they can make with adult supervision

Multimedia:
Cooking Art by MaryAnn F. Kohl, Jean Potter, and Ronni Roseman-Hall takes us back to the first post--art is in everything, even in food, and it's especially delicious there
Fabulous Food by Pam Schiller has 25 songs and 250 activities for food-loving kids and their parents

DVDs:
Yummyfun Kooking is a magical cooking show just for kids, where hostess Clare Crespo makes candy bugs, monkey pops, and spooky drinks. Spookyfun and Spring has Sprung are the best.
Love him or hate him, Elmo certainly has a hold on tykes, and Elmo's Magic Cookbook combines classic Sesame Street wit with celebrity cameos and field trips to show how food is made

Websites:
FamilyFun: Cooking with Kids has lots of clearly-illustrated recipes for classic family favorites
Spatulatta is where kids teach kids to cook! Recipes, videos, and fun learning activities with a focus on healthy foods and ecology

Mrs. Winterbloom Presents: Nature

Art by Krista V.

It's spring! The perfect time to learn about the blossoming, buzzing world around us.

Books:
How Does a Seed Grow? by Sue Kim lets your young reader lift the flaps to discover the mysterious underground goings-on of seeds and plants
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert is a color-filled, collage-style first guide to planting and harvesting a rainbow of flowers.
Earthdance by Joanne Ryder is a joyous celebration of the interconnections of life and nature, all over the world
Fairy Went a-Marketing by Rose Fyleman is a simple rhyme about appreciating living creatures while letting them have their freedom
Eddie's Garden by Sarah Garland tells the story of Eddie's family and their vegetable garden, giving the reader lots of instruction on how to start their own along the way

DVDs:
The Lorax speaks for the trees in a Suessian animated classic
National Geographic Really Wild Animals combines edutainment and stunning photography in a child's first nature documentary series
Disneynature: Earth edits Planet Earth for a young,more sensitive crowd, following the lives of animal families all over the world

Books and CDs:
Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin Lullaby puts watery,delicate pictures to John Denver's soothing tune
The extensive Read, Listen, and Wonder series by Candlewick Press pairs animal stories, old and new, with narrations on CD

Websites:
All Round Magazine is a wonder-filled, hand drawn nature, science and art magazine with plenty of activities for the online browser.
Build Your Wild Self and learn about animals' adaptations in the process

Mrs. Winterbloom Presents: Art

Art by Krista V.

From the fingerpaintings hanging on the fridge to elaborate mud pies offered in lieu of dinner, art is all around kids. They love color and expression from the minute they can express themselves. What are some of the best resources on art for kids?

Books:


Ish and The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds are slim, poetic stories about creation that resonate with even the youngest readers.
The Touch the Art series puts classics by the likes of Monet, Picasso, and Van Gogh in your childrens' hands. Make Van Gogh's Bed, Feed Matisse's Fish, and Tickle Tut's Toes!
Art by Patrick McDonnell, knows best that "THERE'S NO STOPPING ART...WHEN ART IS INSPIRED."
A Day with No Crayons, by Elizabeth Rush, has its punished protagonist find color and art in everything.
Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman is an irresistible rhyming tribute to the humble line, the foundation of art--with monsters and whales in!

DVDs:

Kristen's Fairy House is a gentle, beautiful filmed story about a girl who visits her aunt, an illustrator, and discovers mysterious fairy guerilla art sculptures in the woods
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a classic tale about the power of imagination--and one purple crayon!
Painted Tales animates original stories based on masterpieces by Van Gogh and Monet

Books and CD:

Ian Falconer's Olivia lives a charmed life, imagining herself an actress, a lion tamer, a ballerina, and always believes in her own talent. Try watercoloring in two colors, just like Ian Falconer.

Want to make cut-paper collages like Matisse? Let Chicka Chicka Boom Boom be your inspiration.

Websites:

The Imagination Factory has lots of instructions for handmade toys and recycled art
NGA Kids is packed with activities, pictures, stories, and even an animated musical adventure!