Sunday, November 06, 2011

The Trumpet of the Swan: A New Book Club is Born


In a fun coincidence, it turned out that all three of us Catholic homeschooling moms were doing The Trumpet of the Swan as a read-aloud.  One of the moms suggested a tea party for the  five children ages nine and under who had been the beneficiaries of the  reading.

So, that's what we did.

The menu included:
  • Watercress sandwiches (with lettuce ably standing in for watercress) 
  • Slates (chocolate graham crackers on which Hostess Mom had written the children's names in frosting) 
  • Chalk (string cheese) 
  • Trumpets (Bugles)
  • Medals (miniature rice cakes)
  • Money bags (fashioned from tissue paper) filled with coins (chocolate, of course) 
  • Swan nests (no-bake cookies with peanut M&Ms nestled in for the eggs) 
I just now asked Ramona if we had anything else at the party and she said, "We had juice boxes. But that's not symbolic of anything." 

Right. 

So, Hostess Mom asked the children a number of most excellent questions about the book. They answered in a most excellently cute manner (between bites) and a gastronomically, literarily good time was had by all. 

I highly recommend all of the following: E.B. White, reading aloud, my friends, and whimsical foodstuff.

Side notes: 

You can read John Updike's take on the book here. (Though I must point out, dear NYT, that Sam Beaver is an 11-year old boy, not 1.) 

You can listen to an excerpt of the book, read by E.B. White, here

8 comments:

Jennifer said...

My sister just gave this to my son. I've never read it! Love your ideas!

Karen Edmisten said...

I hope you guys love it, Jenn! Charlotte's Web is still my favorite, but I do love this book.

T.J. said...

Hi Karen! I found you somehow by looking up a St Atticus quote for my son's Christening (his name is Atticus too) Once I was here, I was charmed as I looked around!

Not only do we have the Atticus connection, but I am a Catholic who adores poetry. I'm glad to have been led here today :)

TJ

Karen Edmisten said...

T.J., thanks! You made my day. :)

You have a real Atticus! Mine is just a blog name, but I love him all the same. I named him after Atticus Finch. My daughters love to use the quote from TKaM, "Atticus was feeble; he was nearly fifty."

Will have to go visit your blog -- thanks for taking the time to comment!

Skysaw said...

"Not symbolic of anything..." lulz.

That reminds me of a high school friend who went off to college and founded a not-so-official campus group who had shirts made with the Greek letters Sigma and Phil and then the empty set symbol. Sigma Phi Nothing.

Margaret in Minnesota said...

SUCH a coincidence! We are listening to this book in the van right now.

I get such a kick out of E.B. White's accent--very warm, very New York.

Margaret said...

One of our favorite road trips to Nebraska began w/ listening to EB White's own reading of The Trumpet of the Swan. Since then, I've passed on at least 3 copies to kids going to week-long - or longer summer camps in Minnesota.

Margaret said...

One of our favorite road trips to Nebraska began w/ listening to EB White's own reading of The Trumpet of the Swan. Since then, I've passed on at least 3 copies to kids going to week-long - or longer summer camps in Minnesota.