18th December Bake Cookies Day

It's time to bake again, and this time it is cookies. What are cookies? Well the dictionary says that a cookie is 'a small, flat, sweet food made from flour and sugar'. As a child I would have called that a biscuit. As I lived in a family of six, my mother made a batch of biscuits and a slice most days. We never had bought biscuits.

I thought biscuits were English and Australian and cookies were American, but more and more the word 'cookie' is used in Australia too. I even see labels that say 'Anzac Cookies', something that to me was always 'Anzac Biscuits'.

Whatever they are called, it is the time of year for making cookies of all sorts, be they shortbread, gingerbread, sweet or savoury. You will have no trouble finding recipes. Then if you want to read before, during or after the cooking look for some well known books where cookies or biscuits are shared.

And just to prove me wrong about the word 'cookie', here is a very new Australian picture book that uses the word 'cookies'.

So to offset this, I'm sharing the latest in the Frank and Bert series.

15th December National Cupcake Day

It is Cupcake Day in America on the 15th December. In Australia, Cupcake Day is on the third Monday in August and it is a fundraiser for the RSPCA.

Whenever you decide to celebrate it, it is a day to make cupcakes! Kids love cooking things that they can eat.

Use a book such as:

There are other picture story books about cupcakes and some of them even include a recipe. Go to the library and look for:

19th May World Baking Day

World Baking Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in May each year. This day is dedicated to the art of baking and encourages people around the world to bake and share their creations with others. This day is meant to show people just how much fun it can be to make a cake or some cookies. Baking can be a great way to spend time with family and friends.

Baking is not only a fun and creative hobby, but it also has numerous benefits for your mental health and wellbeing. Here's a few benefits:

• Baking can be a stress-reliever and help you to unwind.

• It can boost your self esteem and confidence as you learn new skills and have success.

• Baking can be a social activity, allowing you to do it with others and build relationships.

So many children's picture books include a recipe, meaning that if you want to,  baking can happen as a result of reading the book. See these:

And if you can't bake a cake, bake a story!

26th November Cake Day

It's Cake Day tomorrow! Let them eat cake! 

This post is for my cake-loving, book-loving friend who had her birthday yesterday. I feel guilty because I didn't make her a cake and made her make do with a cinnamon bun.

There are so many picture books to satisfy any love of cake. Here's weeks worth:

• I Love Cake!  by Tammi Sauer and Angie Rozelaar

• I Really Want the Cake!  by Simon Philip and Lucia Gaggiotti

• Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson and Will Hillenbrand

•  Cake  by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet

• Every Cake Has a Story  by Christina Tosi and Emily Balsley

•  Just the Right Cake  by Christina Tosi and Emily Balsley

• Where Has All the Cake Gone?  by Andrew Sanders and Aisha Awaad

and a series Monkey and Cake by Drew Daywalt and Olivier Tallec

If you can't find these at your library, substitute any of these other titles.