High Lexile (1000+) nonfiction: Fine Arts, Machines, Making Stuff
Stuff to do instead of watching TV: Make mini pizzas
Stuff to do instead of watching TV: Make pretzels
Stuff to do instead of watching TV: Make an Ancient Egyptian snack
Cookbooks
Kids can cook too! For some kid-friendly recipes for Thanksgiving (and maybe a few unconventional menu ideas), try these cookbooks…
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The Children’s Step by Step Cookbook by Angela Wilkes
A general cookbook with excellent photography of all the ingredients, tools and steps needed to complete each recipe. Recommended recipe: Kabobs (turkey kabobs could be a fun new family tradition for Thanksgiving!)
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Salad People by Molly Katzen
A vegetarian cookbook that includes recipes written in a visual format for children (as well as the same recipes conventionally written for adult helpers). Recommended recipe: Sweet Potato Surprise
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Pilgrim Foods and Recipes by Sarah Florence
A beginning reader briefly covering the history of the Pilgrims and life in colonial America with a few recipes. Recommended recipe: Baked Butternut Squash
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Native American Foods and Recipes by Shannon Moore
Discusses Native American cultures by focusing on their foods and recipes. Recommended recipe: Pumpkin Corn Sauce
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The United States Cookbook by Joan D’Amico
Explore all our 50 states through recipes. Recommended recipe: Bread Pudding
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Super Simple Snacks by Nancy Tuminelly
No-bake recipes that require only a few ingredients per recipe. Recommended recipe: Cranberry Nut Crunch
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Cool Carrots: from garden to table by Katherine Hengel
A nifty series of books that discusses planting, growing, harvesting and using various plants. Recommended recipe: Pickled Carrot Sticks
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Cool Potatoes: from garden to table by Katherine Hengel
A nifty series of books that discusses planting, growing, harvesting and using various plants. Recommended recipe: Tempting twice-baked potatoes
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Cool Green Beans: from garden to table by Katherine Hengel
A nifty series of books that discusses planting, growing, harvesting and using various plants. Recommended recipe: Cheddar Pecan Green Bean Casserole
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Super Simple Desserts by Nancy Tuminelly
No-bake recipes that require only a few ingredients per recipe: Recommended recipe: Maple Cranberry Drops
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For a different take on the traditional meal…
A Superhero Cookbook by Sarah Schuette
Recommended Recipe: Crime-Fighting Carrots
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Star Wars Cookbook by Robin Davis and Star Wars Cookbook II by Frankie Frankeny
Recommended recipes: Tusken Raider Taters and Qui-Gon Jinn-ger Snaps
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A Pirate Cookbook by Sarah Schuette
Recommended recipe: Scurvy Soup
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A Princess Cookbook by Sarah Schuette
Recommended Recipe: Princess and the Pea Salad
Stuff to do instead of watching TV: Drying Apples Pioneer-Style
Make a tasty snack with the quintessential fall fruit.
Thinkspiration: Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco
A young girl who is afraid of thunderstorms discovers she is braver than she realized when she helps her grandmother gather the ingredients for a “Thunder Cake” just as a storm is rolling in. This classic picture book about overcoming one’s fears includes a recipe for a chocolate-tomato (yes, tomatoes!) cake.
Picking tomatoes for the cake
I already had all the ingredients indoors, but it was a stormy night when I tried making a Thunder Cake of my own (without frosting or strawberries though). Scrumptious!
My Thunder Cake
For more ideas for activities related to this book and to get the Thunder Cake recipe online, see Patricia Polacco’s website
Patricia Polacco. Thunder Cake.
Children's Reading Suggestions 