Building an Igloo

Hi everyone,

December Chirp is all about Winter Fun! You can make your own reindeer hat, play a winter board game and find out how igloos are made. For more wintry fun, watch as builders make an igloo in this cool video for kids:

And find out how to make your own marshmallow igloo in December Chirp. Happy winter, everyone!

Katherine, Chirp Editor

Cars Galore

Hi everyone,

If you can’t get enough wheels this month, you’ll want to check out Cars Galore, written by Peter Stein and illustrated by Bob Staake. The playful, bouncy rhymes remind me of classic Dr. Seuss: Black car, green car, nice car, mean car. Near car, far car. Whoa! Bizarre car! We had fun matching the rhymes to Staake’s whimsical, retro illustrations, which feature loads of kooky cars and plenty of quirky characters. Cars Galore offers miles of driving — and reading — fun.

Let me know what you think!

Katherine, Chirp Editor

Pizza Wheels

Hi everyone,

Here’s a wheely great snack idea for kids and parents to do together: pizza roll-ups. Spread a whole-wheat tortilla with two tablespoons (30 mL) tomato sauce. Sprinkle with a handful of grated mozzarella cheese. Then add pizza toppings you like, such as sliced red peppers, cooked mushrooms or ham. Microwave or heat in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese. Roll up and slice into five or six “wheels.” Enjoy!

Katherine, Chirp Editor

Photo: Royalty-free/Dreamstime

Would You Rather?

Hi everyone,

Sometimes when my kids are looking for something fun to do, we play a game called Would You Rather? I ask them a bunch of questions, something like these ones:

• Would you rather eat a mountain of carrots or a tree of broccoli?
• Would you rather have a pet from outer space or the deepest part of the ocean?
• Would you rather live in a treehouse or a castle?

What would you rather do? Let me know! And if you send me your own Would You Rather questions (chirpblog@owlkids.com), I’ll post them here at the blog. Have fun!

Katherine, Chirp Editor

Illustrations: Royalty-free/Dreamstime, iStockphoto

Happy Halloween!

Hi everyone,

Are you excited about Halloween? I am, too! I love looking at our neighbours’ creepy decorations and checking out all the amazing costumes as I take my kids from one home to the next. But we’ll remember to play it safe as we go. Here are our trick-or-treating safety tips:

1. Make sure your costume isn’t too long so you don’t trip.
2. Wear face paint instead of a mask to see better.
3. Wear reflective tape or carry a flashlight so you’re easy to see in the dark.
4. Only cross the street with a grown-up.
5. Keep your costume away from lit candles or pumpkins.
6. Don’t enter a neighbour’s house unless a parent says it’s okay.
7. Ask an adult to check your candy for holes or missing wrappers.

After we come home, we’re going to have a special Halloween-style story time before we settle in for a night of sugar-coated dreams. We’re going to check out a book called Creepy Carrots written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown. It’s about a rabbit who’s crazy about carrots — until they start following him home! (Or do they?) Find out when you read this funny book.

And don’t forget to send a picture of you in your Halloween costume to chirpblog@owlkids.com. I’ll post some here at Chirp Family Fun. Have a spook-tacular Halloween, everyone!

Katherine, Chirp Editor

(Illustration: iStockphoto)