The third week of every month is pretty special around here. On Saturday, we’ll welcome our Will Write for Cookies author, Joan Leotta. And that means that today, we’ll be featuring one of her picture books for Perfect Picture Book Friday. If you’d like to see all of this week’s other wonderful perfect picture book reviews, please hop on over to Susanna Hill’s blog.
With the end of the summer closing in on us, I found the perfect one.
SUMMER IN A BOWL
Written by Joan Leotta
Illustrated by Rebecca Michael Zeissler
Published by Theaq Publishing (2016)
Age: 5-9
Themes: Gardening, family togetherness
Synopsis:
From Amazon: “Summer in a Bowl” is a wonderful introduction to the joys of gardening and cooking with children. Rosa spends every Thursday helping Aunt Mary tend her garden. On this last Thursday of the season, they harvest the vegetables and cook them. Rosa finds that vegetables can be delicious and discovers a new way to preserve all of her summer fun.”
Why I love this book:
- I love stories that promote family togetherness
- It reminded me of the fun my children had helping me in our big vegetable garden when they were growing up…my younger son still loves to garden…and enjoys cooking with fresh vegetables all the time
How parents can use this book:
- Great opportunity for intergenerational family activities
- Perfect way to help a fussy eater expand his or her choices
- Children will gain an appreciation for where food comes from
Related Activities
- Plant an herb garden: herbs are fun and easy to grow, even in the winter…all you need is a sunny spot near a window. You can buy seeds or plant seedlings. http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/10-herbs-to-grow-inside-all-year-long
- Right now, in many parts of the country, apples are being harvested. I went last year with my 7-year old grandson…he had a ball! Why not make a day of picking apples and then, when you get home, make applesauce or an apple cobbler for dessert? http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-things-to-make-with-apples.html
This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susannah Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, dear friends and readers. If you enjoyed the post, please share it on Facebook or Twitter or whatever social media channels you prefer.
And please do come back tomorrow for:
WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES
WITH
JOAN LEOTTA
AND ANOTHER BOOK GIVEAWAY!
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
What a great book for rounding off your summer Vivian. When growing up I loved spending school holidays and weekends (if I was lucky) with my grandmother. She was a great gardener and cook. I always had such fun with her. I have gained her green fingers and love of cooking (when in the mood) 😉 Kids will certainly love this and learning about different plants and vegetables. Years (and years) ago my hubby and I went apple and peach picking on the back of a tractor down country. Was such fun. Thanks for sharing Vivian.
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Diane…I am a huge fan of fruit picking and vegetable gardening! And my grandmother also had a green thumb…don’t know that I inherited it, but I hobble along as best as I can. The basil did great this year, but I won’t talk about the beans and peas that a deer helped himself to..or the tomatoes that are just now coming into their own…and it’s going to get cold pretty soon. I got stuff in late this year…will try to do better next year. 😉
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I’ve got heaps in the garden again this year. Just finished planting bean seeds, radish seeds and tomato plants. I’ll post pics sometime for you.. 🙂
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This book looks lovely. I’m getting hungry reading your review. I look forward to tomorrow’s post!
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Yes..it is 11pm and I am getting ready to make a big salad…that is my reward to myself at the end of the evening each night…crunchy, healthy, and low in calories. 😉 See you tomorrow, Patricia.
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What a wonderful choice, Vivian, with so many great related activities! And now I totally want to go apple picking and make apple crisp! 🙂
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Oh yes…apple crisp…that is Stuart’s favorite. I actually make it every week…it is his dessert whenever he has a cup of coffee or tea. 😉 Thanks for stopping by, Susanna…and thanks for being our Perfect Picture Book Friday fearless leader. 😉
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I really love your choice for the end of the summer. I loved working in the garden with my dad and eating raw vegetables. I loved helping my mother can vegetables for the winter and make fresh applesauce. Great activities!
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Yes, I can remember my son, Peter, eating the corn as we walked up the hill to the house…he couldn’t wait, Patricia. My mother wasn’t into baking or canning…but my grandmother was…and luckily we lived with her from the time I was 10…that was lots of Saturday mornings of baking apple pie. 😉
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I love that cover, Vivian! I look forward to checking this one out too 🙂
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Glad you stopped by, Maria…wish I could offer you some summer in a bolwl right now. 😉
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I like books with different kinds of family relationships and especially ones that show how fun gardening can be!
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Totally, Andrea…it’s a great combination…families can have a lot of fun if they garden together…even in the city, they can do container gardens or find a community garden plot.
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What a fun title! We joined a CSA this summer and the fresh veggies are amazing. What a wonderful book to discuss healthy eating with kids. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Gotta love those fresh veggies, right Keila? There is nothing like growing your own or getting them fresh from people’s gardens. 😉
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This sounds like a great book for my little niece. She’s only 3 but she already loves to help Grandpa in the garden.
Thanks for posting about it, Vivian.
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Such a good activity for little ones to join with their grandparents, Linda…glad that happens around your house. 😉
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Great review! 😀
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Thanks for stopping by, Erik. Do you and your family have a vegetable garden during the season?
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the cover looks yummy! what better way to end the season than with food! We’ve been making salsa this week – too many tomatoes.
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Too many tomatoes??? Wish I had that kind of luck…my garden this year was a bit wimpy. 🙂
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Wonderful idea for a book! My grandkids love helping me plant the garden and harvesting when it’s time. Just like my daughter did. 🙂
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Yes…my grandson helped a lot last year because he spent a couple of weeks with me…his favorite was to water the garden with the sprayer…and of course, he probably got wetter than the veggies did. Thanks so much for stopping by, Pam.
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What a lovely book! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
Tina
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It’s always a pleasure to join your book hop, Tina. 🙂
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