Cranberry Thanksgiving

I checked out Cranberry Thanksgiving, because it has a recipe for cranberry bread on the back cover (you can view the recipe on Amazon's instant view of the book, too). I didn't really pay attention to the authors, just to the fact the story is set on a cranberry farm, is part of a series, and takes place at Thanksgiving.

I was in for quite a treat, and not just from the bread. The story is an excellent one, about sharing what you have, with those who don't, and not judging people by appearances. Opening it up, to read it to the children, I had one of those Ratatouille-ish "wah-waaah" type moments, of being drawn straight back into my own childhood.

The authors, it turns out, are Wende and Harry Devlin. They are the same author/illustrator pair who wrote Old Black Witch, that I just loved as a child, but was conflicted about sharing with my own children. In fact, after reading Cranberry Thanksgiving, I'm pretty sure we had it when I was little, too. It is very familiar, and this time there's no witch to feel conflicted about.

There is however singing. I was thrilled to find the characters gather together to sing...well..."We Gather Together". I've assigned that same song, in differing degrees of difficulty, to several of the children for their piano work, and told them to learn the words, so we can sing it on Thanksgiving. Now I have proof that sort of thing is, or at least was, done - and it's not just a crazy-Mom idea.

As to the cranberry bread, A(age 9), and T(age 13) teamed together to make us a batch. I helped a little, when it came to running the blender.

But, for the most, the recipe was well within their skill/age level. And, it turned out, quite well.

I've been nibbling on a piece (the last piece), while writing this, and have to say, it's pretty tasty. Though the children all agree, they would prefer it without raisins.

It's great to be a homeschooler.