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Our September Reading List Theme: Home Economics Oh, were we impressed! Yes, our home ec teacher put a block of ice cream on a cookie sheet . . . and turned on the oven! We wondered if she had experienced some sort of brain damage, but she first slathered the frozen “yummyness” in a layer of meringue . . . and that made all the difference. Out came Baked Alaska a few minutes later. That class failed to make a chef out of me, but it did fuel my interest in the science of kitchen phenomena. Ah, the power of insulation . . . but I digress. The point is that home ec may interest some directly, while it may be a jumping-off point for others. Let’s get creative and see what connections we can make— connections that will send our kids burrowing into great books for lifelong learning!

Michelle Miller www.TruthQuestHistory.com www.ChildrensPreservationLibrary.com

Special mention . . . right off the bat! Hidden Art of Homemaking, by Edith Schaffer

Grades 9-12

The wife of the honored Christian philosopher, Francis Schaeffer, and an outstanding woman in her own right shares her enjoyment of, and ideas for, bringing art to each phase of homemaking . . . You may also enjoy her Celebration of Children.

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Home Management Miss Suzy, by Miriam Young

Grades K-2

A squirrel enjoys homemaking in a dollhouse! I loved this as a girl. Gone is Gone, by Wanda Ga'g

Grades 1-4

A husband and wife trade work, each thinking that the other’s labor is easier, only to find the importance of their own skills in making the family run smoothly. Mousewife, by Rumer Godden

Grades 1-5

Lovely, soft, sweet story of mouse who loves to be a “mousewife/housewife.” The Homemakers, by Leonard Everett Fisher

Grades 4-10

Interesting look at homemaking in colonial America. Large Family Logistics, by Kim Brenneman

Grades 9-12

The Duggars: 20 and Counting! by Michelle Duggar

Grades 9-12

Miserly Moms, by Jonni McCoy

Grades 10-12

Cooking . . . and Literature (Hey, beloved literary figures must eat too!) Note: If you like the American Girls series, there are cookbooks (and craft books) related to each. Mouse Soup, by Arnold Lobel

Grades pre-K-1

Mouse tells his weasel captor that he must add “stories” to his mouse soup recipe, thereby giving the mouse a chance to escape home and finish reading his book!

3 / 10 Peter Rabbit’s Natural Foods Cookbook, by Arnold Dobrin

Grades 2-5

Well, wouldn’t a famous bunny rabbit eat raw, healthy food?! There is also Peter Rabbit and Friends Cook Book, by Naia Bray-Moffatt. Mary Poppins in the Kitchen, by P.L. Travers

Grades 2-10

The famous nanny shares her recipes, and tells a story too. Little House Cookbook, by Barbara Walker

Grades 3-8

Recipes for the foods mentioned by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Pooh Cook Book, by Virginia Ellison

Grades 3-8

Recipes that Winnie the Pooh would surely enjoy! Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook, by Laura I. Wilder & W. Anderson Grades 3-12 Recipes that Laura collected herself. Little Women Book, by Lucille Penner

Grades 3-12

Recipes, crafts, and more from the classic story Little Women. Boxcar Children Cookbook, by Diane Blain

Various

What do you cook when living in a train car?! Louisa May Alcott Cookbook, by Gretchen Anderson

Various

Recipes from Little Women and Little Men.

Cooking . . . and Geography How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, by Marjorie Priceman

Grades K-3

4 / 10 Tour the globe to reach the source of all the ingredients in a single pie, all in a fun and colorful picturebook! Amish Cooking for Kids, by Phyllis Young et al

Grades 1-12

Round the World Cookbook, by Caroline Young

Various ages

Many such cookbooks exist, so feel free, of course, to select whichever version is in your library.

Cooking . . . and History Food in Grandma’s Day, by Valerie Weber

Grades 2-7

There are others in series that relate to our topic: Shopping in Grandma’s Day and Home Life in Grandma’s Day. Food, by Piero Ventura

Grades 3-12

Cute illustrations star in this history of agriculture and cooking through the ages. Colonial Cookbook, by Lucille Penner

Grades 4-12

Eating the Plates, by Lucille Penner

Grades 4-12

What the Pilgrims ate, and how they cooked it, with recipes. Hunter’s Stew and Hangtown Fry, by Lila Perl

Grades 4-12

What the pioneers ate and how they cooked it, with recipes. Native American Feast, by Lucille Penner

Grades 4-12

Slumps, Grunts, and Snickerdoodles, by Lila Perl

Grades 4-12

Interesting look at colonial American cooking, with recipes.

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Medieval Cookbook, by Maggie Black

Grades 6-12

First Ladies Cookbook, edited by Margaret Klapthor

Grades 7-12

Many such cookbooks exist, so select whichever version is in your library. Foods the Indians Gave Us, by Wilma Pitchford Hays

Grades 7-12

A great author shows how to plant, harvest, and cook the natural Indian way!

Cooking . . . and Science Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake, by Joanna Cole

Grades 1-3

The “chemistry” of cooking made easy in this fun book! Science Experiments You Can Eat, by Vicki Cobb

Grades 3-12

There is a sequel also, More Science Experiments You Can Eat. Acorn Pancakes, Dandelion Salad and… , by Jean Craighead George

Grades 4-12

How to cook wild food from nature.

Cooking . . . and Math Pigs in the Pantry, by Amy Axelrod

Grades K-2

Chaos ensues when the pigs confuse liquid measurements when baking!

Cooking . . . and Biography Fannie in the Kitchen, by Deborah Hopkinson

Grades 1-4

6 / 10 Lovely picture biography of Fannie Farmer: famed early cookbook author.

Cooking . . . and Boys (especially) Elliot’s Extraordinary Cookbook, by Christina Bjork & Lena Anderson

Grades 4-8

From the creators of Linnea in Monet’s Garden, a boy learns the sources of food and how to cook.

Cooking . . . Just for fun! The Doorbell Rang, by Pat Hutchins

Grades K-2

Friends are sure to arrive when they smell your cookies baking! Little Bear Learns to Read the Cookbook, by Janice Brustlein

Grades K-3

The desire to cook motivates Bear to learn how to read. Duchess Bakes a Cake, by Virginia Kahl

Grades 1-3

OK, so I wanted an excuse to mention this adorable, vintage book! Try Kahl’s Perfect Pancake also! You’ll love them both . . . Three Stalks of Corn, by Leo Politi

Grades 1-3

A Mexican girl and her grandmother raise and cook their family’s corn.

Hospitality Mud Pies and Other Recipes, by Marjorie Winslow

Various ages

OK, so the “guests” are your dolls, but such fun things to make for them! Red Carpet, by Rex Parkin

Grades K-2

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The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Ryland

Grades 1-3

Appalachian family enjoys a visit from cousins. Medieval Feast, by Aliki

Grades 1-4

Much is involved in preparing a medieval home for arrival of the king!

Nutrition Each family will have its own preferred nutritional outlook and literature. So, these are mostly for fun and inspiration. Something Good, by Robert Munsch

Grades K-4

Girl thinks she only wants junk food. Avocado Baby, by John Burningham

Grades 1-3

Healthy eating makes a baby very strong! Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food, by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Grades 1-3

Good Enough to Eat, by Lizzy Rockwell

Grades 1-3

Easy, colorful introduction to healthy eating. Gregory, the Terrible Eater, by Mitchell Sharmat

Grades 1-3

A goat—that is supposed to eat only tin cans—instead wants healthy fruit! Eating Right, by Alice McGinty

Grades 1-4

Introductory information on food groups, vitamins, etc. Health Can Be Fun, by Munro Leaf

Grades 2-6

Wonderful, tender, vintage encouragement to healthy eating, sleep, exercise, etc.

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Good for Me! by Marilyn Burns

Grades 4-12

A thorough introduction to traditional ideas of nutrition, with activities.

Sewing/Quilting Charlie Needs a Cloak, by Tomie de Paola

Grades K-1

A boy makes his own cloak, from tending the sheep to piecing the wool. Quilt, by Ann Jonas

Grades K-1

A girl’s quilt offers memories . . . and adventure! Dorcas Sews for Others, by Alberta Miller

Grades K-2

This is in the well-known Arch Books series . . . about biblical figures. Pelle’s New Suit, by Elsa Beskow

Grades K-2

Boy receives a coat made from his own lamb’s wool, so each stage is shown in this tender, vintage picture book. Josefina Story Quilt, by Eleanor Coerr

Grades K-3

A girl sews the tale of her pioneer journey to the west into her quilt. Quilt Story, by Tony Johnston

Grades K-3

A mother and daughter love their quilt. Sewing Quilts, by Ann Turner

Grades K-3

Lovely, evocative picture-story of pioneer family working quilt together. Rag Coat, by Lauren Mills

Grades 1-3

9 / 10 Poor Appalachian girl receives patchwork coat when others sew and quilt for her. Similar episode actually happened to young Dolly Parton as told in her Coat of Many Colors, and in her song of the same name. Patchwork Quilt, by Valerie Flournoy

Grades 1-4

An African-American grandmother relates her life story, as shown in quilt. The Keeping Quilt, by Patricia Polacco

Grades 1-5

The quilt of a Jewish immigrant family helps them keep memories alive. The Quiltmaker’s Gift, by Jeff Brumbeau

Grades 1-5

A generous quiltmaker is able to influence a selfish king. Sewing by Hand, by Christina Hoffman

Grades 1-6

A great place to start. Fun, colorfully illustrated instructions for each projects. Patchwork Quilt, by Adele de Leeuw

Grades 2-8

Grandma relates her life story to sick girl by sharing events behind quilt patches. Seasons Sewn, by Ann Whitford Paul

Grades 2-8

Each pattern reveals aspect of colonial/pioneer life, as is also done in her Eight Hands Round. Canada Geese Quilt, by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Grades 3-8

A girl and her ill grandmother prepare for a new life in the family by sewing a baby quilt.

Handicrafts There are so many that it would be silly for me to cover each topic, but I can mention a unique one here.

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Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts, by Tovah Martin

Grades 5-12

The handiwork of a famed children’s author and illustrator, such as soapmaking, basketweaving, etc.