Do you enjoy reading books with your kids? Do you like to eat together as a family? Do you want to build memories together? Then, Family Dinner Book Club is for you!
2016 marks our 3rd year of sharing monthly dinner book clubs for you and your family. Each month we share a book (alternating between chapter books and picture books), a themed menu, easy table crafts, conversation starters and a family service project that all compliment each month’s title.
There are a few new things coming in 2016. First, we are announcing all the books ahead of time. See the titles below. The books would make a great family gift this holiday!
Second, we are welcoming Laura from Sunny Day Family to our planning team. Laura will be in charge of giving you easy craft ideas to decorate your table each month. Sarah from Daisy at Home will continue to give you a wonderful themed menus. And I will still provide conversation starters and a family service project ideas for each club.
You can also print out a schedule (see below) for the 2016 Family Dinner Book Clubs. Hang it on the refrigerator. Take it to the library. Or, buy a few books on the list below for a family and include the whole schedule with your gift. It’s the best holiday present I can think of this year.
2016 Family Dinner Book Club
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January- A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
We are starting with a classic chapter book. Paddington has traveled from Peru to London and is promptly adopted by the Brown family. The marmalade-loving bear is full of adventure and mishaps as he moves in with the family.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS FOR A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
February- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena
Every Sunday after church, a young boy and his grandmother take a bus across town. The boy is full of questions as he wonders why he doesn’t have things that others have around him. His grandmother helps him discover the beauty around them. Ultimately, they end up at a soup kitchen and the young boy is glad he is there. A beautiful story of volunteering and being appreciative.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS FOR LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
March- James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot
Oh, how my oldest son loved this collection of heart-warming stories. The eight tales give us a glimpse of life in the rural countryside of Britain as a veterinarian who makes house calls to treat a variety of animals.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE JAMES HERRIOT’S TREASURY FOR CHILDREN FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
April- Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
Drum Dream Girl is inspired by Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a young Cuban woman, who became the first woman drummer in her country. It used to be considered taboo to be a woman drummer in Cuba, but Millo Castro Zaldarriaga changed that through her courage and determination.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS FOR DRUM DREAM GIRL FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
May- Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Oh, how we love Beverly Cleary and all her fabulous books. We have already celebrated her book, Runaway Ralph, in a past Family Dinner Book Club.
This time, we are having fun with Beezus and Ramona. The story explores the ups and downs of being a big sister. Having a little sister can be quite the handful. How does Ramona deal with her preschool sister?
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS FOR RUNAWAY RALPH FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
June- A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins
Travel through four centuries with four families as they each make the same blackberry fool dessert. Discover how making the dessert changes from the past to the present. A recipe of blackberry fool is also included.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FINE DESSERT FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
July- Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee
Firefly and Cricket both have big dreams beyond their nations. They venture out and not only meet each other but also Vole and a little giant named Peter. These four creatures’ paths cross to help each other grow and spread their wings.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FIREFLY HOLLOW FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
August- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Ferdinand is the most peaceful bull you will meet. He loves to sit and sniff the flowers under his favorite tree. Five men encounter him and are under the impression he is the meanest bull of all and take him to a bullfight. But, Ferdinand holds to his pacifist ways and refuses to fight in the ring. It’s a classic that has been enjoyed by many generations.
CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY OF FERDINAND FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
September- Dominic by William Steig
This is one of my son’s all-time favorite read-alouds. You may not have even realized that Steig wrote a chapter book. He is best known for picture books such as Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
Dominic is a wise and kind dog who is on an adventure. Along the way, he meets and helps various animals. Each animal Dominic encounters helps him learn new things.
CLICK HERE FOR DOMINIC FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB DETAILS
October- A Chair For My Mother by Vera B Williams
To compliment Fire Prevention Month, we have selected a Newbery Honor Book. A family’s home is destroyed by a fire. Rosa, her mother and grandmother save enough coins to buy a chair that they will all be able to enjoy. It’s a wonderful story of family and working together.
CLICK HERE FOR A CHAIR FOR MY MOTHER DETAILS
November- My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Elmer Elevator sets off on an adventure to an island to rescue a dragon. This baby dragon has been over-worked and under appreciated. Elmer stows away on a ship to get to the creature. My Father’s Dragon was a Newbery Honor book in 1948.
CLICK HERE FOR MY FATHER’S DRAGON FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
December- Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
This non-fiction selection showcases Wilson Bentley and his passion for photographing snowflakes. He discovered that no two snowflakes are alike and each one is beautiful. Snowflake Bently won the 1999 Caldecott Medal.
CLICK HERE FOR SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB
Are you as excited as we are? Print out the schedule HERE. And, we will see you January 1st, 2016 for the January Family Dinner Book Club details.
Join us in 2016 and start building memories with your family. You will also want to enjoy our Facebook page that we created for the book club. We share lots of extra tips and ideas each month on the page. And, we invite you to share a picture of your dinner club each month there too. Like the Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.
Vanessa says
My four and I just started reading Chapter books together, Mostly (90%) The Magic Tree House. Do you think that by January we could be reading some of these books? Or should I stick to picture books for this year (from your club) to “wet our feet”. I love this idea and would love to have a family book club.
Carla H. says
We’ve enjoyed Family Dinner Book Club for the past 18 months or so. I don’t know how long you’ve been doing this, but I suspect we have missed some great books and meals. I’d like to suggest linking to an archived book and meal periodically. Maybe a family is very familiar with the month’s book or, for whatever reason, the book selection does not appeal to them, they could choose to read an archived book that they missed. I’m looking forward to lots of reading in 2016!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Hi Carla, thanks for the reminder to link to our archives. In one more week, we will have 24 archived posts. Everyone can see them here: https://growingbookbybook.com/literacy-activities/family-dinner-book-club/ . Thank you for joining us each month.
Laura @ Sunny Day Family says
What an awesome line up! I can’t wait to be part of the club this year!
Jodie Rodriguez says
I’m so glad to have you on the team!