Exploring the Netherlands: Family Dinner Book Club

Have you ever wanted to travel around the world? We are traveling the world in Around the World Family Dinner Book Club and our next stop is the Netherlands.

All of the ideas to plan your menu, make table decoration crafts, have great conversations about the book and complete a family service project can be found below. We have thought of everything you could need to make your dinner a success!  Grab a copy of the book and join in on the fun.

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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.

And, if you would like to be notified when the next Family Dinner Book Club selection is ready, sign up HERE.

Now, on to all of the details!

Netherlands: Boxes for Katje

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The Book

After WWII, resources are scarce in Netherlands.  Thanks to care packages from the United States, Katje and her community receive some much-needed gifts. Boxes for Katje is by Candace Fleming.

More Books

If you are looking for more books to read about the Netherlands, check out these books.

Katje the Windmill Cat by Woelfle

The Hole in the Dike by Green

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

When Katje received the first box from the USA, she said, “The land of plenty.”  What did she mean?

Why were resources so scarce in Katje’s town?

Why do you think so many people in Rosie’s life came forward to donate items to send to Katje’s town?

In a letter to Rosie, Katje says, “Your friendship has not only filled our stomachs, it has lifted our spirits as well.”  What did she mean by this?

Has someone ever helped our family?

If you were going to pack a box to send to Katje, what would you include?

Family Service Project

A strong theme throughout Boxes for Katje is kindness.  This month, reach out to someone in need.  Fill a box with food items to donate to a person or family who could use resources.  Include lots of your favorite things to eat.  Find someone in your neighborhood, at your church, or a local food pantry to donate your box of food.

You could also tell others about your plan and see if they would like to help too by donating a box of food to help someone in need.

Table Decorations and Menu

Now, head over to Chef Sarah Elizabeth to get this month’s menu.—>click here for the menu

Then, check out the tie-in table craft at Sunny Day Family.—>click here for the table craft

More Resources for Exploring the Netherlands

Get the facts about the Netherlands at National Geographic for Kids.  You’ll find out key facts, learn more about the people and the culture, and view some beautiful pictures.

Check out this video on the year in the life of a tulip on a tulip farm.

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 hold your own Family Dinner Book Club with your family. Remember that we want to see pictures of your dinner.  Please share them our special Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.

See all the books being featured this year and join us all year long.—>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 the Japan and read The Peace Tree From Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story by Sandra Moore.