This week’s theme is Christmas breakfast. I decided to read JDaniel the book Cock-A-Doodle Christmas by Will Hillenbrand and base most of his breakfast on the book. Before I describe his tin, let me tell you about this great book. The main character in the book is a rooster named Harold who lives in Bethlehem. Harold is given the job of waking up the animals in the morning by Old Rooster when Old Rooster retires and moves down the road to his sister’s farm. Harold doesn’t feel up to the job. He, in fact, doesn’t cock-a-doodle-do loud enough for several days he is on the job and all the animals are late getting their work done. One evening a young woman expecting a baby and her husband come to rest in the stable. That night Harold sees a bright star, he hears voices in the distance rejoicing in song, and shepherds come to worship the baby. Harold wonders what is going on. He hears a shepherd say that Good News is here. He hears that that is hope for a new day. He doesn’t understand. He turns to a baby and sees love and understanding. Harold feels a special joy and understands that his life will never be the same again. He next day he can’t wait to share it. Harold says, “Cock-A- Doodle Doo! Good News for You!” He says it aloud as he can.

Daniel had a mixed tin. He had chocolate chip muffins that represent the sweetness of Harold’s message. He had Golden Grahams to represent the rough cloth the baby would be wrapped in. He had the boiled egg to represent the bright shining star. He had apple and butternut squash yogurt to represent the vegetables the animals would have eaten. He had the reindeer pear because I thought it would be cute. It doesn’t fit in the story in any way.

This week the blog is remembering American Education Week. I found a book about a mouse going to school called If You Take A Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff. I based JDaniel’s tin on food mentioned in the book and a few other things JDaniel and Mouse might like. The book mentions a peanut butter sandwich and cookie. JDaniel needed some healthy items in his lunch too. I decided to place some cheese and cherry tomatoes in his tin. JDaniel had never had a peanut butter sandwich before. He really wasn’t into it. He was willing to try it though.