Read about the latest books, films, recipes and events for kids and parents – everything you’ll need to plan a fun family weekend.
Books for kids
This week’s children’s books recommendations from ReadingZone.
www.ReadingZone.com is for parents and children who want to know more about children’s books and authors with reviews, recommendations, extracts and competitions.
5+
Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree
By Andy Stanton
Published by Egmont
ISBN 978-1405252188
Mr Gum fans will welcome the latest story about the people-hating Mr Gum and his strangely wonderful town of Lamonic Bibber.
Spring has sprung in the town of Lamonic Bibber. “The sun was shining, the birds were playing Quidditch in the treetops and the ground was just sort of laying there letting people walk all over it.”
The townspeople believe that the mighty Runtus is back, living in a cherry tree in the forest and ready to rule over them once again. Polly suspects that Mr Gum is behind it all but can she unmask him before the townsfolk give him their most precious possessions?
These books really do offer a laugh a minute and are ideal shared reading because the adults will enjoy these jokes as much as the children do. David Tazzyman provides great black and white illustrations.
9+
The Ogre of Oglefort
By Eva Ibbotson
Published by Macmillan Children’s Books
ISBN 978-0230746473
A Hag, an ordinary orphan boy and a troll called Ulf are sent on a mission to rescue a princess from a terrifying ogre. While they don’t rate their chances much, the three reluctant heroes embark anyway on what they expect to be a straightforward (if frightening) fairytale adventure.
Instead, they find themselves facing a deeply depressed ogre and a princess who doesn’t want to be rescued.
Ibbotson weaves a wonderful story peopled with great characters and dubious spells as well as a healthy dose of humour.
The story also carries a gentle environmental message, that people must stop destroying the habitats and livelihoods of trolls, hags and other Unusual Creatures before they are gone forever.
Books for Parents
200 Recipes For Kids
Emma Jane Frost
Published by Hamlyn
ISBN 978-0-600-619291
There are so many fantastic family cookbooks out there that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to decide which ones are worth buying over others. Well, we heartily recommend 200 Recipes For Kids.
As soon as we read the introduction, (which accurately describes the chaos of a family kitchen as an inevitable modern-day curse for any time-pressed parents, usually busy ferrying their kids to and fro from school and activities), we realised that Emma Jane Frost knows what she’s talking about.
So amongst the regular chapters reserved for ‘Delicious Dinners’ and ‘Desserts’, there are whole sections devoted to ‘On-The-Run Suppers’ and ‘Inspired Lunches’ (designed to give good alternatives to boring old sandwiches) and ‘Super Snacks’. Even Breakfast is given a whole host of mouthwatering recipes – from Toffee-Apple Porridge to French Toast with Blueberries.
In On-The-Run Suppers, you’ll find portable meals, such as ‘Tasty Teatime Pasties’ and ‘Chicken and Bacon Wraps’. and Simple Snacks include ‘Banana and Raisin Flapjacks’ and ‘Cheesy Twists’. We could go on, suffice to say that there are plenty of simple, yet effective recipes to choose from, that will surely inspire even the most worn-out, chained-to-the-oven mums!
We’re also impressed with the price – £4.99 for 200 recipes, is great value in our opinion.
Family food
A fresh-take on that shop-bought classic: tomato ketchup, served up with tasty chicken and a side salad – something that the whole family can enjoy this weekend. This delicious recipe is from The British Tomato Growers’ Association; check out their website at www.britishtomatoes.co.uk for more recipes and information.
Fresh Tomato Ketchup with Chicken Dippers and Tomato & Mozzarella Marble Salad
Serves 4 children or 2 adults
Ingredients
500g British classic or plum tomatoes
30g brown sugar
70ml white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
large pinch of English Mustard
dash of Worcestershire Sauce
a little salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Chicken Dippers:
2 chicken breasts
30g butter
50g natural dried or fresh breadcrumbs (about 2 thick slices of bread, crusts removed)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 level teaspoon paprika pepper
For the salad:
250g British cherry tomatoes
1 x 125g pack mini Mozzarellas or a ball of Mozzarella
mustard and cress
Method for the ketchup:
- Quarter the tomatoes and put into a large stainless or non-stick saucepan with the sugar and vinegar.
- Peel and slice the garlic and add to the pan with the mustard and Worcestershire Sauce. Bring to the boil and simmer very gently for about an hour. The tomatoes should be very well cooked and reduced with almost no liquid left in the pan.
- Puree the tomatoes in a food processor or liquidiser and then push through a sieve. Store the ketchup in an airtight container that has been doused in boiling water. The ketchup will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Method for the Chicken Dippers and Salad:
- Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6. Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towel. Cut the chicken into strips.
- Melt the butter. Season the breadcrumbs with salt, ground black pepper and toss together with the paprika.
- Dip the chicken strips into the butter and then into the breadcrumbs. Press the breadcrumbs on firmly. Arrange the chicken strips on a baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown.
- Arrange the chicken dippers on a plate with a spoonful of fresh tomato ketchup. Arrange the tomato and mozzarella balls on the side and scatter with cress.
Cinema
Kids’ films currently showing;
1. Furry Vengeance, PG
2. Alice in Wonderland, PG
3. Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang, U
4. How To Train Your Dragon, PG
5. The Princess and The Frog, U
Family days out – our pick:
What Children’s Treasure Hunts! Become a spy for the afternoon! The year is 1786. A few Years ago Captain Hyde Parker captured a Spanish Galleon crammed full of treasure and sent his share back to England. Now the King of Spain wants it back!
When 7-14 May, 1.30-5pm
Where Melford Hall, Suffolk
Price Normal admission charges apply
Booking Booking not needed; contact 01787 379 228, melford@nationaltrust.org.uk or visit the Nation Trust website for more information.
What The London Fairtrade Festival will celebrate World Fair Trade Day 2010. A weekend of Fairtrade family fun, there’ll be lots of Fairtrade food, music, film and entertainment to enjoy. To mark their 10th year, Dubble chocolate are throwing a birthday party with special guests, football themed activities and workshops throughout the day. There’ll even be an interactive kid’s opera! Here’s what else you can expect:
- Meet children’s author Tom Palmer who will read from his new book ‘Offside’
- Evening entertainment including walk-in movies with wine and chocolate tasting
- Free samples of your favourite Fairtrade treat
What: London Philharmonic Orchestra FUNharmonics Family Concert Journeys. Fasten your seat belts as we join seven composers hit with the travel bug, starting with Short Ride in a Fast machine by America’s most famous living composer. Dvořák made it to America in a steamboat, and his New World Symphony reflects both his Bohemian roots and the spiritual melodies of his new home, while Debussy’s music for Ibéria creates a perfect audio snapshot of Spain. We reach the climax of our three-part musical journey with Oscar-winning composer, Dario Marianelli, and two magnificent film themes inspired by dangerous journeys bring the concert to a roaring close – Rozsa’s The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and Schifrin’s Mission Impossible.
Foyer Events throughout the morning
You can try your hand at playing an orchestral instrument in one of our Have-a-Go sessions, get your face painted or join our human orchestra – in the foyers before and after the performance.
When Saturday the 8th May 2010, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Where: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Waterloo, London SE1 8XX
Price Child £4-£7 | Adult £8-£14
Booking: Limited Availability – Please call the London Philharmonic Orchestra box office on 020 7840 4242.
Welcome to our new entertainment feature, which we’ll be posting every Friday. We’ve got the latest books, films, recipes and events for kids and parents – everything you’ll need to plan a fun family weekend.
What Dinosaurs Unleashed; Parklife Oxford Street, has been transformed to become a Jurassic forest with 24 life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs including T-rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus. Children can dig for dinosaur bones, paint-a-dinosaur, test their knowledge on the age of dinosaurs and view 2,000 years of the Earth’s History.
The Incredible Luck of Alfie Pluck
This delightful new title from Usborne is sure to be a big hit with young dinosaur enthusiasts everywhere. Certainly 5-year-old Tom, who road-tested the book for us, was fascinated by the fold-out scenes and many facts that the book had to offer. 
