Have you ever wanted to travel around the world? This year for Family Dinner Book Club we are doing it. It’s a year of Around the World Family Dinner Book Club and our first stop is exploring China.
2017 will mark the Year of the Rooster when the Chinese New Year begins on 1/28/17.
Now on to this month’s book club details. We have lots of ideas to plan your menu, make table decoration crafts, have great conversations about the book and complete a family service project. We have thought of everything you could need to make your dinner successful! So, get a copy of the book and join in on the fun.
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Are you new to Family Dinner Book Club? Here is a little background… Family Dinner Book Club is a monthly book club for your family.
- On the first of each month, we provide all the details for your dinner.
- Sarah from Chef Sarah Elizabeth shares a themed menu to compliment the book.
- Laura from Sunny Day Family shares easy table crafts.
- And, I will share conversation starters and a service project for your family.
We invite you to share a picture from your dinner with us anytime during the month on our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page. Plus, you will want to follow along there for more bonus ideas to use with the books each month.
Now, on to all of the details!
China: The Year of the Panda
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
The Book
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”0064403661″ locale=”US” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/412BkWSnGdyL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”329″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”0064403661″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Year of the Panda[/easyazon_link] by Miriam Schlein is a chapter book. We are transported to China as a village deals with pandas that are seeking food lower on the mountain. A young boy helps the pandas and a community learn about these treasured animals.
More Books
If you are looking for an alternate book or more books to read about China, I recommend the following titles.
[easyazon_link identifier=”1452145695″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Ruby’s Wish[/easyazon_link] by Shirin Yim Bridges (picture book)
[easyazon_link identifier=”0061577766″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Pet Dragon[/easyazon_link] by Christoph Niemann (picture book)
[easyazon_link identifier=”0805049002″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Empty Pot[/easyazon_link] by Demi (picture book)
And, if you would like books specifically about the Chinese New Year, check out this book list.—>7 Chinese New Year Books
Topics
Here are six conversation starters to get your dinner book club rolling. Just click on the link below for a one-page file that you can print and then cut apart. Use the cards on your chosen dinner night. You, of course, don’t have to use all of them or you may even have some other discussion points that developed while you were reading. These are just meant to be a guide. Enjoy your dinner conversation!
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE SET OF CONVERSATION STARTERS
1.Why are pandas such well-loved animals?
2.How are pandas protected in China?
3. Do you think the government was right to ask families to relocate to save the pandas in the story? Why?
4. What did Lu Yi learn during his time of taking care of the orphaned panda?
5. How does the environment impact animals?
6. What can we do to help endangered animals?
Family Service Project
This month participate in Pennies 4 Pandas. According to Pandas International, “100 pennies will purchase 17 bamboo seedlings. And, 1,500 pennies will feed a panda for a day.”
Think of creative ways to collect pennies this month and then donate the money to Pandas International or WWF Global.
Table Decorations and Menu
Now, head over to Chef Sarah Elizabeth to get the menu.—>click here for the menu
Then, check out the table craft at Sunny Day Family.—>click here for the Panda Bear Discovery Bottle craft
More Resources for Exploring China
Enjoy a little panda cuteness with this short video.
Chinese New Year Ideas from Kid World Citizen
Around the World Family Dinner Book Club FREE Planner
The very talented Laura from Sunny Day Family has put together a fantastic Family Dinner Book Club planner for you. This FREE resource comes with a book list, a planning guide (grocery list, supplies, needed, etc.), a passport sheet you can stamp for each country visited, and a world map to mark the countries you visited.
CLICK HERE to Get Your FREE 2017 Family Dinner Book Club Planner
Clicking on the link above will take you to a screen to enter your email address. The planner will be emailed to you immediately. You will also receive the weekly Growing Book by Book newsletter.
We hope you are inspired to create a fun and meaningful Family Dinner Book Club with your own family. Remember that we want to see pictures of your dinner. Please share them our special Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.
You can see all the books being featured this year.—>Around the World Family Dinner Book Club Line-Up
And, join us again next month for another Family Dinner Book Club when we will travel to Colombia and read [easyazon_link identifier=”1582463530″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Waiting for the Biblioburro[/easyazon_link].