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It’s supposed to be cold this week.
I say supposed to be because I’ve found that my sense of “cold” has been permanently altered by bone-chilling, damp afternoons on the wet side of Washington, where the only thing to be done for a long stretch of shivers is to sit by a fire with a mug of something hot, a book, and a generously-sized lap blanket. I have beautiful memories of those grey afternoons spent bundled on a couch with a dog draped over my feet and children of various ages and stages playing quietly around the room, straining to hear the next chapter.
Life in the southeastern United States provides very few opportunities for that special kind of reveling. I admit that news of a possible storm makes my heart yearn, just a little, for a true snowmageddon, the kind that leaves every member of my family stranded within these four walls just long enough for me to lose my voice narrating the perfect winter read-aloud.
As I write this, I have my doubts that a single flake will fall in our neck of the woods. But since I’m aching for a snow day, I offer you these winter reads, paired with the perfect hot drink to complement the tale:
Do you really need an excuse to revisit The Long Winter? I didn’t think so. Still, this tale of a winter so brutal it seemed endless is an enchanting read that is perfect for drawing the whole family into one snowy bubble of imagining. Now, you could mix up some of the “ginger-water” Laura references, but let’s be honest … you want something hot. How about Pioneer Woman’s hot chocolate? Because, Pioneer Woman. Get it? Of course you do.
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain is the perfect cold-weather adventure. A boy, a mountain, and … bears! Read this in short sittings to really drive home the suspense. Couple it with a spicy Easy Chai Tea and enjoy!
Rabbit Hill has a special place in my heart; I read it for the first time on a long, boring car trip south as a pre-teen. The rabbits– especially Father– were far better company than my perpetually napping baby brother or my old-school Walkman. Pair this enchanting story of wonder with some Paris tea (one of Mary Hannah’s favorites) and read until you’re hoarse.
Not unlike Despereaux, Christopher Mouse is an adventurer. Prepared for a life of uncertainty by a mother with foresight, he’s bounced through homes and hazards, but always, as he says, “copes.” Christopher would definitely enjoy hot mulled cider, I think.
Nazis, sleds, and an untold fortune; the setting for Snow Treasure is enough to grab even a disinterested teen boy, to be honest. To complement this nail-biting story, try some homemade European drinking chocolate. Don’t forget the spoons!
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We know and love all those books except Christopher Mouse. Will have to add that to our library list! And we love to make foods that are associated with the stories we read.
Try it! It’s a sweet adventure story that hits multiple ages.
Snow Treasure is such a good book! We read it aloud a few years ago. And the Long Winter? I think that should be read every single winter. I haven’t heard of Rabbit Hill….
Give Rabbit Hill a try! Have you read The Green Ember? It’s like a cross between that and Poppy and Rye.