10 Ways to Get NYC Kids into the Giving Spirit

10 Ways to Get NYC Kids into the Giving Spirit

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A survey on Parenting.com found that three out of four moms consider their kids “spoiled.” At the same time, three-quarters of the survey respondents felt guilty for saying “no” to gifts on their children’s wish lists. We know that a spirit of gratitude and selfless giving is at the core of happiness. It’s all too easy to get lost in day-to-day activities, so many parents use the holiday seasons to teach volunteerism, charity, and humble generosity.

For the best impact, start simple with the little ones. Kids as young as three can start to comprehend that there is a world beyond their own immediate needs and that giving is tied to receiving. For older children, find something that plays into their passion – like reading to the blind for the bookworm, playing at a homeless shelter for the musician, or knitting scarves for soldiers overseas for the crafty child. The best activities are done together with our kids to model the philanthropy we wish to teach.

Here are some ideas of annual traditions to start or ways to weave the spirit of giving into everyday life…

1. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.

The Food Bank for New York City needs 800 volunteers each week to feed the city’s hungry – and that is just one of the many opportunities. Kids can accompany you to work in the kitchen, organize donations, and serve trays of food. The Holy Apostles is the area’s largest emergency soup kitchen that hands out 1,000 nutritious meals each day. The magazine 6 Sq. Ft offers a comprehensive rundown of 13 places in NYC you can volunteer in a myriad of ways over the holiday season, whether it’s delivering meals to the elderly, making gifts for those in need, decorating a local theatre, or putting together “blessings bags” for a homeless shelter. Mommy Poppins lists even more activities to check out this Thanksgiving season.

2. Run or walk for charity in a turkey trot.

You don’t have to be a professional runner to participate in a local 5-K. Many locals walk the race with family and friends just to get some fresh air outside and burn off extra calories. The day after Thanksgiving dinner, take the family to Roosevelt Island for a scenic route. There is also a kids’ dash available for the youngest participants. Prior to the race, you can register to “run for a cause.” This year, the New York City Turkey Trot has partnered with the Young Survival Coalition to support young women affected by breast cancer.

3. Read Thanksgiving books.

There’s no reason why you can’t get toddlers thinking about kindness and doing for others. Add to your library: “Thankful” (Eileen Spinelli), which conveys the importance of finding blessings in everyday life; “Bear Gives Thanks” (Karma Wilson), which shows the many ways one can contribute; “Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving” (Mercer Mayer), which follows Little Critter from school plays and parades to preparing and serving a feast for the whole community; “Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George” (H.A. Rey), which offers short poems to highlight everything the curious little monkey loves about the holidays – including making crafts for guests and sharing a meal with the man in the yellow hat; “The Giving Tree” (Shel Silverstein), which shows the selflessness of a tree that would give everything to a growing boy; “The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need” (Stan & Jan Berenstain), which teaches how donating can help others; “Boxes For Katie” (Candace Fleming), a story of international care packages sent to a young pen pal following WWII; “The Spiffiest Giant in Town” (Julia Donaldson), a story about how the scruffiest giant becomes the spiffiest, but realizes others in town need his new purchases too; “Oswald’s Treasures” (Alison Inches), where Nick Jr’s lovable blue octopus learns the value of cleaning out his closet and giving to friends; “It’s Mine” (Leo Lionni), which introduces the littlest ones to more rewarding activities than laying claim to everything.

4. Donate toys.

With Christmas around the corner, there’s no time like the present to clean out the closets and toy chests. For little ones, you can try tucking away old toys they don’t play with for six months and donating anything they don’t ask for. It can be too emotional for youngsters to part with their beloved items, and pulling them out of storage just makes the toys appear “new” and desirable again. Older kids may be mature enough to choose items they no longer play with or want. Avoid telling the kids you have to get rid of the old to make room for the new. Instead, explain that donating is a kind way of helping the less fortunate. You can also participate in a church program or national toy drive like Toys for Tots, which provides new gifts for disadvantaged children. Operation Christmas Child is an easy way to help those in need around the world by simply paying $9 for shipping and filling a shoebox with thoughtful gifts that will be sent to impoverished kids in another part of the world.

5. Pay a visit to the elderly.

Loneliness has been touted as a bigger health risk than smoking or obesity. Get involved with Adopt-A-Grandparent to provide an elderly member of the community with the gift of companionship and social activities. DOROT has a create-a-card-for-a-senior program for kids who love art. They are also looking for child volunteers to play chess with the elderly. VolunteerMatch can connect you with local programs that benefit older New Yorkers.

6. Create crafty favors for your dinner guests.

When your kids are very young, it helps to start a spirit of charitable giving with those you know. If you’re hosting dinner this year, what better way to get the kids involved than with a thoughtful craft that will bring smiles to all who visit? They can create place mats for each guest by making handprint turkeys, adding stickers and glitter for added fun. Slightly older kids can create placeholder cards with a special note inside for each guest. Ask your child to describe why the person is special to them or why they are thankful for each guest. Or you can download this free leaf pattern from Better Homes & Gardens, cut out the leaf shape, punch a hole in the base, and tie them to wineglass stems using gold cord or raffia to make drink tags. Ask each guest to write a word or phrase about what they’re thankful for.

7. Showcase your child’s thoughtfulness.

Here’s something you can do all year through: prioritize generosity. A report by Harvard University’s Making Caring Common Project found that teenagers value academic achievement and individual happiness over caring for others because they believe that’s what adults in their lives value most. Make a point to explain that in addition to doing their academic best, you expect your children to care for others. Instead of just celebrating A+ grades or athletic wins, proudly display photos of your kids engaged in charitable projects. Thank them for helping others and let them overhear you describing how kind they are.

8. Encourage teens to start a giving plan or passion project.

If charity is part of your life, share your experience of giving with your teen. Talk to teens about charitable causes that spark their interest and help them research local programs to connect their passions and abilities with opportunities to help. Give your child three small plastic containers or envelopes labeled “Save,” “Spend,” and “Give.” Let them decide which percentage to allocate to each plan. You’ll not only encourage charity, but fiscal responsibility, too.

9. Surprise a neighbor.

The idea of doing “random acts of kindness” to brighten someone’s day has been spreading over the years. One popular trend is to bake a pie and deliver it to a neighbor’s doorstep. This time of year, who wouldn’t love a delicious apple or pumpkin pie? If you don’t have a favorite recipe, you really can’t go wrong with Taste of Home or Better Homes & Gardens. For $9.95, The Good Neighbor Pie Kit gives you three heavy duty reusable pie tins and three pie postcards to give out.

10. Surprise a stranger.

There are so many thankless jobs out there. Teach your kids about giving to people in the community by having them write a “thank you” letter to a trash collector, mail carrier, bus driver, grocery store cashier, retail worker, doctor, firefighter, cook, waitress, or someone else in the community. Have them deliver the letter with candy or a gift card. Ask them thoughtful questions later, like: “How did the person respond? How did the response make you feel? What if we did this once a month instead of once a year?” Another way to spread holiday cheer is to make homemade ornaments to pass out to strangers – people on the bus, individuals at church, or seniors in the supermarket. If you need some inspiration, check out these 55 Easy Homemade Christmas Ornaments To DIY from Country Living. Explain that the idea is to surprise someone by noticing them and offering a gift, no strings attached.

Have a blessed and inspired Thanksgiving holiday from Shine NYC!

Resources:

https://www.care.com/c/stories/3743/10-family-thanksgiving-traditions-you-should/

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-01-16/10-ways-to-raise-a-charitable-kid

https://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144014428/parents-strive-to-instill-a-spirit-of-giving

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/20/5-ways-to-teach-your-kids-the-art-of-giving-this-holiday-season.html

http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1070/easy-to-make-christmas-ornament-crafts/

http://www.allprodad.com/3-ways-to-show-your-kids-a-spirit-of-giving/

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/

https://www.kidnurse.org/6-fun-activities-teach-thankfulness-thanksgiving/

http://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/values/kids-giving-thanks/

https://www.growyourgiving.org/giving-blog/10-children%E2%80%99s-books-about-giving

http://www.readbrightly.com/picture-books-to-teach-children-about-giving/

https://www.youngsurvival.org/schedule/upcoming-events/2017-new-york-city-turkey-trot-15k-and-5k/2017-11-25

https://www.6sqft.com/where-to-volunteer-in-nyc-homeless-shelters-food-banks-soup-kitchens-and-more/

https://mommypoppins.com/volunteering-thanksgiving-nyc-kids-family-holiday-charity

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/01/18/loneliness-might-be-a-bigger-health-risk-than-smoking-or-obesity/amp/

 

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

Top 5 Fall Foliage Experiences For NYC Families

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Life gets so hectic, especially in New York City. Fall foliage is a great excuse to slow down, get outdoors, pose for the camera, and soak up these precious family moments amid the nature’s most splendid backdrops.

Amtrak’s Great Dome Train Cars

 

What kid doesn’t love trains? It’s a smooth, stress-free way to cover a lot of ground that frees passengers from driving, so they can completely soak up the scenery. Once again, Amtrak’s rolling out their historic Great Dome Car, built in 1955 and made for admiring nature with panoramic views through tall windows on all sides, including the roof. You can hop on the train from Penn Station and pick up the vintage train along the Downeaster route (through seaside villages from Boston, MA to Brunswick, ME) and Adirondack routes (through the Adirondack Mountains from Albany, NY to Montreal, QB). There is no extra charge for this breathtaking experience, with tickets from NYC to Montreal as low as $68 one-way, and up to two children (ages 2-12) riding half-price. Book your trip online with the “See New York and Save” promotion to save 15 percent. Rides began September 25th and will continue through November 4th.

Hudson River Cruise to Cold Harbor

Boat rides offer another enjoyable experience for leaf peepers. One of the best Hudson River fall foliage cruises to take with kids is Seastreak’s ferry expeditions to the quaint town of Cold Harbor, a Federal Historic District North of Westpoint, with Victorian Era housing, distinctive shops, and local artists aplenty. Enjoy low-key antique shopping with older kids who’ll go wild for the toy hospital at Once Upon A Time Antiques, as well as the vintage lunch boxes, Pez dispensers, comic books, and toy shops down Main Street. Visit the Butterfield Library for children’s program to entertain the little ones, tour Bannerman Island’s majestic castle, take a Family Farm Tour at Glynwood, take a scenic hike at Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, or take wee ones under 5 to Tot Park where they can climb and explore until their hearts’ content. Get more recommendations on what to do in Cold Harbor with kids from Mommy Poppins.

Day Cruise To Bear Mountain

Circle Line sails 2.5 hours up the Hudson River to historic Bear Mountain. Once docked, passengers have three hours to take in the local hiking trails, visit the Trailside Museums and Zoo, bird watch in a protected refuge, climb Perkins Tower for panoramic views, and ride the park merry-go-round. Picnic lunches can be pre-ordered, with wine, beer, soda, sandwiches, hot dogs, and snacks available for purchase. New this year, weekend excursions will include an Onboard Oktoberfest with German beer, food, and live music. The cost is $65.99 per adult and $52.99 per child (ages 3-12).

New York Botanical Garden Tram

The 20-minute, narrated tram ride at the New York Botanical Gardens takes visitors through the 250 acres, past over 30,000 trees, all in their autumn finest, with nine stops at landmarks like the Bronx River waterfall, Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, and the Ornamental Conifer Forest. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden is a great spot for the kids to unwind. This time of year, the Gardens feature more than 100 scarecrows on display, visits from “creepy creatures of Halloween,” giant pumpkins, and trick-or-treat trails. Visit the Events page for specific dates and times. Weekend passes are $28 for adults and $12 for children (2-12).

Fort Tryon Park

For an easy, inexpensive day, head over to Fort Tryon Park. Located along Riverside Drive, between 192nd and Dyckman Streets, this Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. park offers one of the top 10 views in all of NYC. One reason why Fort Tryon is a top pick for fall foliage is its great vantage point high amid the Heather Gardens of Linden Terrace, which sits high above the Hudson River, overlooking the George Washington Bridge and unspoiled Palisades Park. Kids have their choice of two playgrounds – the climbing equipment of the Jacob Javits Playground, and the playhouses, sculptures, and swings of the Anne Loftus Playground. Kids 12 and under are free at the Cloisters Museum and Gardens, which features must-see exhibits for kids enamored with knights and princesses. It’s worth the visit to see the historic Unicorns tapestries alone! The free MET Cloisters Family Workshops are also a great excuse to visit at a particular day and time. Don’t be fooled by the fancy fare: children are welcome at the New Leaf Café.

What is the best time for fall foliage in NYC?

The five boroughs of NYC typically see a fall foliage peak happening the last week of October and into the first week of November. This year’s leaf model predicts a slightly earlier peak — particularly in the higher elevations — but also a prolonged color period, thanks to all this unseasonably warm weather.

In the first week of October, spotters around Rockland County reported 40 percent color transition with some bright orange, red, and yellow colors, but observers at Bear Mountain State Park said the area had just 25 percent transition, with muted golds and reds. Bright red, deep purple, and pops of bright yellow foliage was just starting to turn in Westchester County and White Plains. Foliage change in NYC’s Central Park and Long Island was reported at 5 percent or less.

Check out the New York Fall Foliage Report at ILoveNY.com for the most recent updates (posted every Wednesday afternoon). You can also check out this interactive map from Smoky Mountains National Park that predicts when fall foliage will peak this year.

Additional NYC Fall Foliage Resources:

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

International Kid-Friendly Food: Top 5 Jewish Recipes We Love

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There are more than 1.5 million Jewish people living in New York City, bringing with them fantastic foods like old-fashioned bagels topped with lox, pastrami deli sandwiches, matzo ball soup, hand-rolled knish, hummus platters, and chocolate-hazelnut filled babka. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins the evening of September 20th so what better time to try something new?

We recommend taking one of the Lower East Side Jewish Food Tours, or checking out the best places for Jewish food in NYC, if you haven’t already. But, by far, the most meaningful way to explore new cuisine with your kids is right at home in your kitchen. Rather than shooing your littles out of the kitchen, invite them in! Roll up your sleeves and get a little messy with these five kid-friendly Jewish recipes.

Potato Kugel

From the NY Times

Itta Werdinger Roth grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community in Australia, but married an American and quickly became a New York City sensation, known just as much for her traditional home-cooking as for her all-woman Hasidic rockband. Jewish food differs vastly around the world, but “everyone knows potato kugel,” she told the NY Times, adding: “There are two kinds: good and bad. It’s like a savory cake; you bake shredded potatoes with eggs and onions, and the inside comes out so creamy you eat it almost like mashed potatoes.” Cooking with kids doesn’t get much easier than this recipe consisting of just potatoes, onion, eggs, salt, pepper, oil, flour, and baking powder. This version is rooted in Lubavitch Women’s Cookbook Publications’ “Spice and Spirit,” which is thee cookbook for traditional Jewish cooking. From there, the recipe has been tweaked with subtle variations to get the perfect crispy-creamy textures.

Get the recipe.

P.S. If your kids really love potatoes, consider taking them to the 9th Annual NYC Latke Festival at the Brooklyn Museum on December 18th!

Soup Dumplings with Minced Brisket

From Kosher Like Me

Liz Rueven is from Connecticut, but enjoys “probing the scene in NYC” for inspiration. Most of her recipes are kosher vegetarian, but this homemade kreplach recipe comes from the Ashkenazic Jewish cuisine her Nanny made. It’s a traditional dish enjoyed for Purim, the holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people under Haman’s persecution in ancient Persia, but you can cook up this savory soup with the kids on any cool weather day for a satisfying treat. It’s a project, to be sure, but older kids enjoy the whole process of mixing and stuffing, so don’t shy away from this memorable experience.

Get the recipe.

Kookoo-e Sabzi

From The Sephardic Heritage Cookbook

The Sephardic Heritage Cookbook doesn’t necessarily have a New York connection, but it is one of the top-selling Jewish cookbooks, after all. The recipe itself just seemed to appeal to kids and adults alike. First, what kid isn’t going to love asking for “kookoo?” Parents will like this egg-based dish because it’s similar to an omelet or frittata, but gives you the chance to sneak in loads of healthy vegetables and herbs. And it’s versatile. You can serve it hot or cold, as an appetizer or a main dish. You can serve it with bread, feta cheese, or plain yogurt. It keeps well in the fridge for several days or you can freeze it in tin foil.

Get the recipe.

Braised Short Ribs with Squash Puree and Roasted Corn Salad

From Nir Mesika

Celebrity Chef Nir Mesika is the founder and executive chef of Timna, a modern Israeli restaurant in the East Village of NYC that was named “the best new restaurant” by USA Today in 2015. Braised short ribs was always his favorite Rosh Hashanah meal growing up, he says, because “the family was waiting for it all day long,” so dipping into the shared pot in the center of the table was so satisfying when the time came. Plan to spend some time on this recipe, but the melt-in-your-mouth textures and cozy flavors are bound to be a hit with everyone in your family.

Get the recipe.

Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate and Pistachio

From Einat Admony

Einat Admony is the chef and owner of Balaboosta in Manhattan, Bar Bolonat in the West Village, and Taim, as well as a regular consultant to the Jewish Food Society, an organization dedicated to preserving traditional cultural recipes. She recalls this favorite Rosh Hashanah recipe fondly. “When I was a child in Israel,” Admony said, “the high holidays meant peeling two whole cases of pomegranates for our family’s holiday meals. Out of the two cases and the resulting 20 pounds of seeds, we would get only a few small jars of pomegranate preserve. It was tiring, detailed work, and I used to hate it, but it would end up as part of our dinner, so I knew it was all for a good cause.” You can serve four main courses or eight side dishes with this recipe – which, thankfully, only calls for half a cup of pomegranate seeds.

Get the recipe.

We hope you enjoy preparing these healthy, international dishes for your family. Contact us to learn about fun enrichment activities for your child, including cooking classes, our Health Nuts workshops, City Adventures, and more!

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

4 Ways To Savor The End of Summer in NYC

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Months of summer sunshine, pleasant weather, socializing at picnics and barbecues, traveling, and indulging in family fun are a breath of fresh air to a year of work and school responsibilities. By mid-to-late August, our shopping carts are filled with notebooks and folders instead of sunscreen and sand pails. We’re thinking ahead to carpool arrangements and sports practices. Where did the summer go?

 

At this point, it’s common to experience the “End of Summer” blues. If only we could slow down and hang onto summer a little bit longer! We’re all looking to pack a few more family memories in our suitcase before fragmenting into our own separate lives when school starts again. Here are four memorable finales for the summer that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

 

1. Get your thrills at one of the pop-up summer playgrounds made for adults and kids.

Playgrounds have come a long way from the metal slides, swing sets, and harrowing teeter-totters of our youth.

  • The Bronx Zoo’s new adventure zone with zip-lines over the Bronx River, kid-friendly Nature Trek, and free public pools is worth checking out if you haven’t already.
  • The Terrace at Brookfield Place offers a rooftop Coloring Bar on Monday evenings, free movies and music on Wednesdays, and shuffleboard on Fridays, in addition to French fare, best enjoyed in their shaded picnic grove.
  • Rockaway Water Park features floating trampolines, rope swings, water slides, a Tarzan Boat, jet skis, and canoes in Jamaica Bay.
  • Adventures at Governors Island is a new play area boasting a 24-foot climbing wall, themed mini golf, the city’s longest slide, and double zip-lines overlooking the Statue of Liberty.

2. Find something for everyone with an end-of-summer festival.

  • Catch one of PuppetMobile’s Cinderella Samba free performances around the city.
  • This year’s super popular FringeJR festivities, geared toward the 5-12 crowd, will include: an exploration of Amelia Earhart’s legacy through circus acts and puppetry; a Fairy Tale Villain musical; pirate comedy; kings, queens, and dragons; as well as a fort filled with crafts and cool character meet-and-greets.
  • In September, the 31st Annual Queens County Fair offers a traditional celebration of pie-eating, pig racing, carnival rides, midway games, and blue ribbon livestock competitions.

3. Cram in one last getaway.

  • Schedule at least one more day at the beach and your soul will thank you! Some of the best spots for families to swim, tube, water ski, boat, and play in the sand include: Brooklyn’s Coney Island, Jacob Riis Beach or Rockaway Beach in Queens, and Long Beach on Long Island.
  • Camping is another scrapbook-worthy, end-of-summer event for the whole family. Take nature hikes, play a few board games at the picnic table, tell spooky ghost stories, and roast s’mores over the campfire. A few family favorites within a few hours of the City include: Hither Hills State Park in Montauk, Watch Hill Fire Island National Seashore, Floyd Bennett Field, Malouf’s Mountain Sunset Campgrounds, and Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
  • NYC is blessed with a number of ideal road trip destinations for day or weekend trips on a budget. Try Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA for the littles, Hershey Park for the amusement park lovers in your family, and Mystic, CT or Cape Cod to find timeless fun for all ages.
  • Staycationers can find plenty of family togetherness at home. The first rule is UNPLUG – pack those electronic devices away! Replace “the usual” with fun scavenger hunts, board games, crafting, swimming, dining out, outdoor movies, and backyard camping.

4. Volunteer with your kids to end summer with a humbling sense of purpose.

Worried your child will feel too self-indulgent or spoiled after all that summer fun? Ground them with a volunteer service project to wrap up the season with pay-it-forward kindness and generosity.

If you’re stumped for ways to transform a regular day into a memorable experience, we’re always happy to help with our wide range of pop-up classes, workshops, parties, and our Lighthouse Project. Contact us to add more fun, creativity, exploration, and fun to your summer. It’s never too late to slow down the pace, bask in the moment, and be a kid again!

 

Additional Resources:

 

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

How To Get NYC Kids Excited for the Great American Eclipse of 2017

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What are you doing August 21st? Space lovers will be offered a unique opportunity to revel in one of nature’s mysteries where the moon positions itself between the Earth and the sun for two-and-a-half minutes. During that time, viewers will notice the 10-15 degree temperature drop, the sun disappear, planets and stars shine like never before, and the thrill of anticipation as time seems to stand still. No other event comes close to capturing the awesome power of the universe and the fragility of man.

According to Joe Rao, an educator at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017 will be “one of the events of the century.” In fact, some people have been waiting for an eclipse to pass from coast to coast since 1932. Here are some ways to experience the event with your budding astronauts.

1. Get your solar viewing glasses and hit the road!

“Perhaps a hundred million people will see it,” estimates Hayden Planetarium Director Neil deGrasse Tyson. “In a day where everyone can travel, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have every single American in the path of totality,” he adds. For New Yorkers, the closest spot within the path of eclipse totality would be Columbia, South Carolina – 11 hours away. Lodging is still available at Hilton Columbia Center, Aloft Columbia Downtown, Hyatt Place Columbia Downtown, and the Holiday Inn and Suites. While you’re in town, visit the South Carolina State Museum’s antique telescope and state-of-the-art planetarium. The Soda City Eclipse Viewing Festival at the Historic Speedway festival grounds will feature food trucks, live music, and a viewing party.

Another option 11 hours from home is the viewing at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Clingman’s Dome is closed for exclusive media viewings, but the trail leading up to it should offer similarly expansive views over the pine forest canopy. Park staff will also be available at Cades Cove and Oconaluftee to serve as your informal guides to the big solar event. Nearby Bryson City, NC will be a flurry of activity all week long, with Farmers Markets, live music at Riverfront Park, petting zoos, bounce houses, bonfires, rafting, and many more activities.

2. Attend a local viewing party to feed off the excitement of a crowd.

Don’t despair if you aren’t in the market for a spontaneous getaway. New York City will still experience a 70 percent blockage of the sun around 2:44 pm. Even though it’s not as dramatic, our eclipse will still be something to see, and there are plenty of places to do so.

The Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, of course, will be thee place to be for the big viewing in NYC. They’ll be entertaining guests from noon to 4 pm with a NASA livestream broadcast, information on eclipses in the Cullman Hall of The Universe, pop-up talks by astrophysicist Brian Levine, and outdoor viewings at the Rose Center for Earth Space and the Arthur Ross Terrace.

Other eclipse viewing parties will be held at:

For a more intimate experience with your family at a less-crowded, scenic spot, try:

Experts say our eclipse won’t be dark enough to see stars, but (with the right equipment) you’ll spot the partial eclipse, as well as Venus — in the western sky below and to the right of the sun. In addition to the outdoor viewing, you can watch the official NASA livestream to see what other people are experiencing across the country.

Sunglasses are not strong enough for direct solar viewing. However, with advance planning and a couple dollars, you can protect your family’s eyes from permanent damage. NASA lists just four companies whose glasses meet international safety standards for the event: American Paper Optics, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical and TSE 17. Glasses will have a globe logo with the letters “ISO” and the letters “CE” that certify the filters have been adequately tested for safe, direct viewing of the sun. Local libraries will be handing these out. Photographers will need “solar neutral density filters” to protect their camera lenses, too.

3. Have your own solar eclipse viewing party at home.

Here are some “mind-illuminating” activities for your little partygoers:

  • Learn about the eclipse with a free booklet from Bill Nye and the National Parks Service, geared toward kids ages 5-12.
  • Watch an animation of what the August 21st eclipse will look like from your zip code or precise street address at https://eclipsemega.movie/simulator.
  • Once you get your official glasses, you can have the kids decorate them in their own unique ways and share their creations on social media sites using the NASA-recommended hashtag #MyEclipseGlasses.
  • Make “Solar Eclipse Sundaes” by stacking a scoop of lemon sherbert, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and a scoop of homemade Blue Moon ice cream in a clear glass.
  • Take the temperature every few hours to see how it fluctuates throughout a typical day. Compare these readings to the day of the eclipse. Plot the numbers on a graph.
  • Chart the family pet’s behaviors for a few days before the event, and watch what happens during the eclipse.
  • Talk to your older children about civics, business, and hospitality. Hopkinsville, Kentucky is destined to be the point of greatest eclipse. The town has a population less than 33,000, but they are expecting 50,000 people for the big day. How will they feed everyone? Where will people stay? How will the residents get to school or work with all the extra traffic? Have your child write a story about it, or design a tourism brochure explaining why people should come from out-of-town to celebrate in your
  • Encourage junior history buffs to read more about historic eclipses – such as the first discovery of eclipses by the Chaldeans in the 700s BC or how a total solar eclipse in 585 BC ended a war between the Medes and the Lydians. Mark Twain’s novel “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” features a time traveler who avoids being burned at the stake with his cunning knowledge of solar eclipses.
  • Create your own zany stories about “strange events that took place during the eclipse.”
  • After the viewing, ask the kids to describe what the eclipse meant to them in just six words. If you wish, you can send your entries into NASA to be included in their time capsule to be opened at the next total eclipse in 2024.

If you don’t see the August 21st Eclipse, you’ll have to wait until 2045 to watch the next coast-to-coast solar eclipse – possibly with your grandkids! The next total solar eclipse won’t occur in New York until 2079, but you can travel as close as Upstate New York to see a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Until then, shine on, you crazy diamonds!

Additional Resources:

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

5 Best NYC Day Trips For Kids & Parents

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Kids don’t always share our ideas of fun. For us, long, lazy days of summer are the height of happiness. For them, those days can get a little boring. So this summer, give them something exciting to look forward to and plan a field trip or two to break up the monotony. Check out these five destinations just outside Manhattan that are fun whether you are four or forty.

The Hudson River Museum

511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY
Distance from NYC: 45 minutes

This turn-of-the-century museum beckons families with creative programming that combines art and science. Art projects geared toward kids ages 7+ include flower pot decorating, planet sculpting, and 3D printmaking. The Early Explorers room, designed for kids under 5, hosts a puppet theater, books, blocks, and a large-scale dollhouse. The gardening program allows children to transplant seedlings to pots, taste fresh-picked beans, and see how vegetables are grown.  Kids ages 5-8 will be awed by the on-site planetarium, which includes live presentations from astronomers, as well as short movies by Sesame Workshops, professional filmmakers, and well-known narrators. A guide will take you back to 1876, as you learn about the Victorian family who originally inhabited the historic Glenview Mansion.

 

Belmont Park & Race Track

2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY
Distance from NYC: 53 minutes

Start your day with Breakfast at Belmont, a tasty continental buffet, available from 7 to 9:30 am on weekends and holiday mornings at the Trackside Café. Afterward, board the tram for a ride through the stable area, giving kids an up-close view of the horses and the starting gate loading area. Check the calendar for the next Family Fun Day to enjoy bounce houses, a petting zoo, carousels, and carnival games included with your $5 admission. Pack a picnic lunch or take advantage of concession stands in the Belmont Backyard, where you’ll also find a children’s playground and duck pond. Parents can place their bets on the strangely-named horses, for as little as a dime, at one of the many TV/betting stations. Belmont Park is best known for the Belmont Stakes in June, but there are thrilling races Wednesday through Sunday, through mid-July.

 

Bear Mountain State Park

Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 23 minutes

It’s difficult to compete with the Bronx Zoo, but the Trailside Zoo and Museums at Bear Mountain State Park are still impressive and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. Kids can see wildlife aplenty – from rehabilitating mammals like fox, black bear, coyote, and porcupines, to snakes, frogs, and turtles at the herpetology house, to the magnificent birds of prey like bald eagles, owls, and raptors. Museum space is dedicated to natural history, geology, and human history. While you’re there, be sure to take a spin on the hand-carved Merry-Go-Round, and rent a paddle or row boat to enjoy Hessian Lake. Popular summer activities include: lunch in the shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing, navigating trails with easy hiking and biking, dipping into the swimming pool, and tossing a ball around the spacious play field. An outdoor ice skating rink is open from late October through Mid-March, and Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November for a spectacular view of the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Adventurous families with babies in carrier backpacks or teens can hike to the 1,300-foot summit for a day packed with adventure.

 

The Franklin Institute

220 North 20th Street, Philadelphia PA
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 47 minutes

While “a penny saved is a penny earned,” you won’t mind dropping some cash at the Franklin Institute for the day, with its 10 interactive, hands-on attractions and permanent exhibits that never get old. Older kids can experience the thrill of a mirror maze, virtual reality, and two escape rooms, while younger ones will love riding on a full-sized, smoke-blowing, whistling train and “training to fly” in the Wright Model B airplane. Walk through a 220-foot model of the human heart, bike across a high wire 28 feet above the Atrium floor on the SkyBike, see the stars in the Fels Planetarium, run in a simulated race against pro athletes in the SportsZone, or crawl through a “tunnel of neurons” in the award-winning Your Brain exhibit. Temporary displays have focused on kid-friendly artifacts like dinosaurs and mummies. Crafty science carts located around the museum offer paper-making and bridge construction projects that keep both mind and hands busy. Once the kids are done running around, you can settle in for a relaxing IMAX film before grabbing dinner in neighboring ChinaTown and heading home.

 

Field Station: Dinosaurs

40 Fort Lee Road Leonia, NJ
Distance from NYC: 47 minutes

Fans of “Jurassic Park” can play paleontologist for a day at this unique attraction.  A field guide greets you upon arrival, introducing you to the camp and giving you passport books to become “Super Paleontologists” by collecting stamps at each of the exhibits. You’ll work your way through fossil excavation, art tents, a nursery with baby dinosaurs, and several research tents. Amphitheater shows include a Dinosaur Dance Party, a T-Rex “Feeding Frenzy”, and the Olympic-style T-Rex Games competition. Workshops, games, and movies pack plenty of educational content in with the “wow factor.” Of course, no dinosaur attraction would be complete without animatronics! Undoubtedly, the highlight of your trip will be the forested walking trail, complete with 30 full-size animatronic dinosaurs.

Taking youngsters out of The City for a day isn’t always easy. There’s a lot to plan and pack! But there is a lot for parents to learn about and love in these excursions, and you can be rest assured your kids will be talking about the family bonding time for years to come!

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

8 Ways Kids Can Entertain Themselves at Your Fourth of July Party

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The best Fourth-of-July parties are entertaining for kids and adults. Here are some of our favorite open-ended party activities that will entertain and engage kids, while grown-ups enjoy cocktails and conversation.

Top 8 July 4th Activities

 

1.      July 4th Firework Crafts

Firework crafts are easy enough for older kids to do without supervision or for a teenager to oversee the littler ones. Simply cut the end of paper towel rolls into strips for a great firework template that can be dipped into glitter paint. The bounce and twist motion it takes to create “fireworks” encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor development, while kids use their imagination and combine colors. Another variation of this craft uses shaving cream, liquid water colors, and toothpicks. You can also use forks to make a circular pattern or dab a dish brush onto the paper for a similar effect.

2.      Independence Day Scavenger Hunt

Plan to pair younger kids with older kids, and make a patriotic-themed Scavenger Hunt around the yard or house before guests arrive. There are countless variations, but the basic idea is to write out a riddle leading kids to the next clue. An example might be: “An old fable says that George Washington chopped one of these down” – which, of course, will lead the sleuths to a cherry tree on the property. You could hide the American flags to be collected as part of a patriotic theme, or make printouts of famous patriots, places, and symbols from American history. To add a layer of intrigue, you could attach an activity to each discovered clue, such as “Do five pushups” or “Sing the Star-Spangled Banner.” An easier version can be made for younger kids by simply providing a list of hidden items to find. They can be very specific patriotic items / printouts, or broader items like “something fuzzy” and “something pretty.”

3.      Red, White and Blue Water Balloons

Water balloons are always a hit at any outdoor summer picnic. Of course, there is some liability that adult guests may get a little wet, too. Encourage structured games, rather than all-out warfare. The basic Water Balloon Toss involves two lines of people standing across from one another, tossing and catching small water balloons. Partners who drop and break the balloon are out. If the partners successfully complete the toss without the balloon breaking, they take one step back. Another fun game is Water Ballon Dodgeball where two teams are divided up and take turns hurling water balloons back and forth until one team is left standing. Buy red, white, and blue balloons to make it festive. When the sun goes down, you can bust out these glow-in-the-dark balloons recommended by a camp counselor.

4.      4th of July Bicycle Parade

The Fourth of July naturally lends itself to pageantry. Set up an Americana themed costume box with props and outfits like the Statue of Liberty, Paul Revere, George and Martha Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Colonial soldiers. Or you can ask young guests to come dressed as their favorite patriotic attire to compete for the “best costume” prize. Kids can bring their bikes to decorate for a “parade” around the block (or the driveway). Have streamers, flags, stickers, construction paper, markers, and spoke beads on hand for decorating.

5.      Independent Jewelry Making Station

Older kids can enjoy hours of making red, white, and blue bracelets and necklaces. Supply them with red, white, and blue beads, as well as beads shaped like stars or letter beads that allow them to write messages. Oriental Trading is a cheap place to find patriotic charms and supplies, or you could try Etsy.

6.      Capture the (American) Flag

Divide the team into the red team vs. the blue team, using bandanas to signify who is on which team. For team flags, you could use the American and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. The object of this classic game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to their territory. If you’re tagged by an opposing team member, you have to go to the designated “jail.” You can only get out of jail if your team member tags you. Each team typically divvies themselves up into “Guards” who try to tag opponents sneaking into their territory, “Attackers” who are on a mission to find the other team’s hidden flag, and “Scouts” who rescue team members from jail and support the other roles.

7.      July 4th on TV!

Electronic media is never our first pick, but what if it’s raining? What if the kids have been running around for hours and crave that little bit of “down time” to recharge their batteries? Our best educational TV pick for the Fourth of July is Liberty’s Kids, an entertaining-yet-educational series about the American Revolution. Other picks may include movies like: “Johnny Tremain,” “This is America, Charlie Brown,” “All Aboard America,” or “Ben and Me.”

8.       Stand up and Sing, Patriots!

What better time to brush up on everybody’s favorite patriotic songs that embody the very spirit of our independence? For a comprehensive list of all the most classic patriot tunes and lyrics, check out https://www.scoutsongs.com/categories/patriotic-songs.html. Or curate your own list of modern pop hits that celebrate what it means to “R.O.C.K. in the USA”, be an “American Girl”, or remind your favorite kid what a “Firework” he is. Or if you have a Broadway baby, why not host a Hamilton sing along!

Additional Resources: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/shaving-cream-fireworks/

Holidays are an exciting time for the kids, so be sure to put their boundless energy to good use. Have them work on easy table decorations, or inspire their inner “chef” by having them assemble these simple 4th of July snacks. While you are celebrating America’s independence, your little ones will be celebrating their growing sense of independence, too.

Have a sensational party!

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

5 Fantastic Ways To Spend Father’s Day in NYC

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New York City is a vast playground for engaged dads to explore with their children, whether they’re babies and toddlers or full-grown with children of their own. Some fathers enjoy sports and the great outdoors, while others may be artistically inclined and connoisseurs of fine food. Some dads thrive in big crowds, while others prefer something more intimate. There are parks and events that cater to all types in this big, bold city that we love. Here are a few options if you’re still undecided on where you’ll end up on Father’s Day.

  1. Cruise with brews. Hornblower Cruises offers a unique view of the New York skyline and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge — from aboard an intimate luxury yacht. The two hour Father’s Day cruise serves up a delicious brunch buffet featuring omelets, eggs benedict, vegetable frittata, French toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salads, bagels, meat carving stations, and pastries. Live jazz music sets the atmosphere, while dad enjoys free-flowing beer in his official Hornblower mug. The cruise sets sail Sunday, June 18th at noon from Pier 40. After your cruise, you can take a free self-guided tour of Greenwich Village, check out the trapeze school, or explore all that Hudson River Park has to offer, from kayaking to mini golf. Young kids will enjoy the splash-park and carousel.
  2. Enjoy the finer foods in life. Foodies have many ways to celebrate this Father’s Day. The Museum at Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side is holding an Egg Rolls, Egg Creams & Empanadas Festival to celebrate the area’s cultural diversity. Watch Peking Opera performers dazzle the crowd; listen to klezmer bands; learn how to make empanadas; take free language lessons; or play a round of mahjongg. The block party is free, but there will be plenty of Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican food for sale. Or you can head on over to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for Smorgasburg, which the NY Times has called “the Woodstock of food” with over 100 food and super flea market vendors. Treat your tastebuds to everything from crispy pork belly on a stick and French steak tartare, to Nutella-dipped churros and spaghetti donuts.
  3. Explore Van Cortlandt Park with the little ones. Sometimes when you have young children in tow, you need a Father’s Day plan that doesn’t involve too much hassle. Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest Bronx is the perfect place to pack a picnic and stay the day. The Forever Wild Preserves offers nature trails ideal for easy hiking, biking, or horseback riding. In fact, kids ages 4-10 will enjoy free pony rides at Riverdale Stables from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday! There are four playgrounds, an Urban Park Rangers’ Nature Center, a historic museum, a golf course, two free outdoor pools, a toddler wading area, barbecue grills, fishing, and sports fields. It’s impossible to cover it all in one day, but the main attractions are conveniently located near transit hubs or parking lots.
  4. Promote family fitness with a father-and-tot Fun Run. Think N’ Fun is holding a special Father’s Day race for the whole family. Each father and child receive a commemorative medal for their participation. Age categories include Tadpoles (early walkers), Goldfish (2), Guppies (3-4), Starfish (5), and Young Runners (6+). Recovery snacks will be served after the race, while families check out the photo opp station and “make-n-take” craft station. Dads looking to really break a sweat can opt to take the optional adults race through Riverside Park after taking their jog with the kids.
  5. Give dad’s bucket list dreams wings. Get a bird’s eye view of NY, while experiencing the thrill of piloting a light aircraft designed for flight training. Experienced FAA Certified Flight Instructor Patrick O’Toole will give dad a one-hour flying lesson departing from Republic Airport in Farmingdale. When he lands, you can visit the American Airpower Museum, ride old-fashioned amusement park rides at Adventureland, hike the Adventure Park at Long Island, or grab a drink at the Barrage Brewing Company.

Father’s Day with young children may not be filled with “R&R,” but it can be the perfect excuse to skip the honey-do list for the weekend and spend it cooking up new memories, at play with his #1 fans.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

10 Fun Things to do on Mother’s Day 2017 with the Kids in NYC

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Moms deserve to be celebrated every day, but if there’s one day that demands it- it’s Mother’s Day. With the big day fast approaching, the pressure is on to make the perfect plan. New York City is a vast playground, so we’ve narrowed down a few of the best options that go beyond the standard brunch.

 

  1. Go where the wild things are. The Central Park Zoo is hosting a family-friendly party for mothers and children ages 2-10 on May 14th. Meet zoo animal moms and babies, enjoy tasty treats, make Mom a special gift, and go on a scavenger hunt.

 

  1. Set sail. Sail out of Port 40 on a relaxing two-hour Hudson River cruise that includes a brunch buffet and dessert station, coffee, tea, “free-flowing” Mimosas and Sangria, and a live jazz band. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island, and the Manhattan skyline.

 

  1. Explore the city on a scavenger hunt. If “relax” isn’t really in your family’s vocabulary, you may love a Mother’s Day Scavenger Hunt. This three-hour event starts at Slattery’s Midtown Pub (8 East 36th Street) and leads you around the city with the ScanQuest app. It’s a fun, interactive journey that will challenge your party mentally and physically. Winners receive a NYC gift package.

 

  1. Create a work of art. Mother’s Day is the perfect excuse to visit the Children’s Museum of the Arts in SoHo. Moms enjoy free admission to watch their young artists create upcycled picture frames, painted portraits, spiky sculptures, tie-dye tissue paper composites, clay farm animals, dot marker cards, and more.

 

  1. Get your fill of thrills at Coney Island. Though the beach is closed, everything else is open – the restored B&B carousel and rides at Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the New York Aquarium, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow (which offers kid-friendly attractions during the day). Grab a hotdogs at Nathan’s and ice cream at Coney’s Cones to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with the ones you love most.

 

  1. Have a picnic in Central Park. Picnics can be easy with pre-made picnic boxes by Perfect Picnic NYC, Picnic in the Park, or Chelsea Market. Park your clan anywhere in Sheep Meadow, Strawberry Fields, or the Pond and enjoy one of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks.

 

  1. Enjoy nature at Wave Hill. The brunch always sells out quickly, but you can always bring a picnic lunch or reserve a basket from The Café. Wave Hill offers bird watching, open-air yoga classes, crafts at the Family Art Project, jewelry shopping, and a Family Nature Walk.

 

  1. Stop and smell the lilacs. This year, the New York Botanical Garden’s Mother’s Day Garden Party will show off the newly reopened Lilac Collection. You can watch dancers perform on the Daffodil Hill stage, play a game of Giant Chess, putt a few rounds of croquet on the green, take a guided walking tour, get professional photographs taken, and take the kids to the craft room to make homemade watercolor cards. Picnic brunch is also available by reservation.

 

  1. Roadtrip! Less than two hours from NYC is kid-favorite, Rocking Horse Ranch, an all-inclusive Hudson Valley resort that offers an indoor waterpark and an abundance of organized family activities. Other activities include horseback riding, miniature golf, bowling, ping-pong, archery, rock climbing, and more! Ask about their Mother’s Day weekend promotion where kids are 50% off.

 

  1. Spice things up with a private cooking class. Freshmade NYC teaches knife skills, kitchen safety, and how to prepare delicious, easy recipes. Book a private one-on-one cooking session with a chef or create your own cooking class if you have at least four children in your group. Recipes cover a wide range of different flavors, with items like: sweet and savory crepes, mini sweet potato and kale lasagnas, BBQ chicken-apple pizzas, wild salmon burgers, and baked falafel, to name a few. Family cooking classes are suitable for kids ages 2 to teen.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Making 2017 The Thank You Year

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As I reflect on 2016 — its crazy turns, speed bumps that turned out to be potholes and the unexpected dead ends — I am truly thankful. I’m thankful for my love, my home, my job, and for quiet Sunday afternoons when I get to write about my childhood, new and old picture books, and admire the creativity in kids. I am thankful for this open, magical and welcoming space right here. And I plan on taking these feelings of gratitude with me as I start my journey into 2017.

imagesI can’t think of a better way to say goodbye to 2016 than by saying a proper farewell to some chums, Gerald and Piggie. I know. Say it ain’t so?! It’s sad but true. The 25th and final book in Mo Willems’ “Elephant & Piggie” series came to an end this year with “The Thank You Book.”

For one last time, the comedy team of Gerald the Elephant and Piggie’s spirited banter is in full bloom as Piggie thinks, “I am one lucky pig.” And decides to “get thanking.” This peaks Gerald interest as he glumly tells her he’s sure she’ll forget someone. But Piggie won’t have it. She grits her teeth and replies, “I. Will. Thank. EVERYONE. It will be a THANK-O-RAMA!”

In true Willems fashion, the parade starts as he brings back every character who has ever made an appearance in an Elephant & Piggie book.

Piggie thanks the Squirrels for their great ideas, Snake for playing ball, and the Pigeon “for never giving up,” while adding “sorry you do not get to be in our books.” Of course fans know the mischievous bird photo bombs the endpapers of all the Elephant & Piggie books. So he slyly replies, “That is what you think.”

Piggie thanks, thanks, thanks! She is a “thanking machine!” She continues to thank the Whale, the Ice Cream Penguin, Doctor Cat, and Brian Bat. But Gerald continues to interject that she’ll forget “someone VERY important.” It’s only when Piggie finally runs out of thanks that she gets it, and Gerald is straight up mad. “I goofed,” Piggie concedes before thanking Gerald.

But unfortunately it’s not Gerald whom Piggie forgot to thank! He reveals the “someone important” is…“Our reader.”
This is a fun and heartwarming, a family-reunion that perfectly brings an end to a beloved series. I don’t know about you, but I think Piggies is on to something! I’m going to start this New Year with a THANK-O-RAMA! I hope you do too.

By Claudia Chung for Shine

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