Award Winner Wednesday: The Cheshire Cheese Cat

Also on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list this year is The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright.  Skilley, tired of life on the streets, jumps at the chance to become the mouser at the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in London.  But when resident mouse Pip discovers his deep, dark secret, will he be able to keep it hidden from evil Pinch?  The mouse population of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese hangs in the balance as Charles Dickens writes A Tale of Two Cities...

Texas Bluebonnet Award Suggested Activities:
Read Dickens Aloud:  To get the flavor of Dickens’ prose, read parts of an unabridged Dickens book aloud.  Suggestions:  A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, The Magic Fishbone, A Child’s Story, or The Pickwick Papers.
Lesson on book’s themes:  Do an activity based on some of the themes of the book:  bullying, loyalty, friendship, being different, or what makes a hero.
Printable Victorian Activities for kids: http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/access/victorian/print_victorian.htm
Victorian Tea Party:  Do a lesson on manners and throw a Victorian tea party with tea or lemonade, scones with clotted cream and jam or tea cookies using real linens, dishes and utensils.  An appointed host or hostess at each table could be prepared to pour the tea and have conversation topics ready to lead a conversation.
Cheese related activities:

• Cheese Tasting Party
• Make cheese with the kids.  (See Book Trailers & Other Links page for websites with recipes.)

Recipes for making cheese with kids:
http://notecook.com/main-course/dairy/how-to-make-cheese-with-kids-a-cheesy-experience/http://www.farmersalmanac.com/food/recipes/cheeses