Reading in the Park

Ah Spring. There is nothing better than a picnic in the spring. Well, perhaps, it would be better if you brought along a great read. I love the idea of having mini parties as often as possible. So here are a few of my thoughts on having a themed picnic with your favorite little ones.
Pebbles and Picnics
The book: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble By: William Steig

The Menu: Has to be the same as Sylvester’s parents of course (with a few re-interpretations)

1. Alfalfa Sandwiches (A BLT or any lunch meat heavy on the lettuce, I mean alfalfa)
2. Pickled Oats (yogurt with toasted oats)
3. Timothy Compote (strawberries and sugar)
4. Red Pebble Punch(any red drink)

After dining on donkey food and enjoying the great book search for pebbles. You will be amazed that the day you go to the park there will be so many magic ones! You may even want to pick up a non-fiction book about rocks so that you can identify your treasures. Oh, be sure to bring a few tissues along as many adults seem to tear up during this book.

A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Picnic
(This picnic is dedicated to my husband as it was his favorite book as a child)

The Book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

The Menu:

1. Going to Australia Ale (sprite with fruit punch)
2. Nothing but the Crust Sandwiches (slice bread very thing to appear like crusts, toast them and serve with thin slices of deli meats and cheese)
3. Grewl (apple sauce with dried fruit)
4. Forgotten Desert Mud (chocolate pudding, whipped cream, crushed oreos and lots of gummy worms)

Read the miserable book, eat the wretched food and be sure to have an awful time. Your attire should be drab, your talk should be boring and be sure to not be caught smiling.

Monster Munch

The Book: Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems (yeah pigeon wants a puppy!)

The Menu:

1. Hector’s just plain weird drink (ginger ale, sparkling grape juice and weird ice cubes-anything creepy and gummy placed in an ice cube tray, pour in water and freeze)
2. Eleanor’s BIG toes (this is so gross so kid’s will love it)
3. Tony’s toothy smile (It’s the classic English muffin pizza. Pre-spread the tomato sauce than bring the fixings with you to create monster faces. Make sure to slice cheese sticks to make great teeth)
4. Best Buds Baking (the day of the picnic or a day or two before bake up some cup cakes and let your child make Leonardo, Sam or their own friends)

Devour the book and the munchies like little monsters! This would be a great picnic to bring a best friend along. Have the kid’s pretend to be monsters. Ask your kid’s to describe what they would look like if they were monsters. If you dare, even ask them what their teachers would look like if they were monsters! Just try not to get nightmares.

Any other ideas?