Toddler Book Club: Apples

Fall is almost here and since we went apple picking the other day I went ahead and set up a toddler book club based on apples for my daughter and her friend. 

My daughter's friend is a bit younger than her so we only read the little board book in front "Apple Farmer Annie" it's about a girl who has her own apple farm and sells her apples and talks about things she makes with them. Informative, short, and fun for kids. The other books we had were "Apple Picking" "Apple Pie ABC" and "The Life Cycle of an Apple". The ABC one is great for most toddlers to and the life cycle one you can just look at the picture of the life cycle and discuss that. "Apple Picking" is a longer book, but my toddler loves to hear it too! Plus I think setting out a few books on the subject adds to the cuteness of it all.

I set out some pretend apples and some little red and green apples that we sorted into their colored groups. We also played with apple pie play dough and cookie cutters.

Recipe for Apple Pie Play Dough:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of all purpose flour
• 1 cup of water
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 TBSP vegetable oil
• 1 TBSP lemon juice
• A few squirts of red food coloring
• Several good shakes of cinnamon 

Step 1: Stir all ingredients together in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Step 2: Put the pot over medium heat on the stove and stir continuously with the wooden spoon until it forms a ball.

Step 3: Once it forms a ball transfer it over to a bowl, let it cool for a bit and then knead it until it is not sticky anymore!

Last, but not least I cut up a real apple and showed the kids the core and the seeds (also known as pips). Then we used the apple halves to do apple printing, which I think I've made a post on before!

Oh, we also ate apple slices dipped in sunflower seed butter. Yum!