The Denver Post kicks off their Kids Week features with Getting a read on kid lit by Jenny Deam. She explains how to pick good children’s books – award winners, fantasy stories with good plot lines, sport non-fiction, and biography are all good bets. And stay away from those celebrity-written children’s books!

A terrific cooking idea comes from  Emily Karlzen of Louisville, who entered a recipe for dog biscuits in The Denver Post’s Kids’ Week cooking contest. She makes them with her mom, and donates them to the Longmont Humane Society.

With the recent pet food recalls, many animal shelters are hurting for pet food donations. Baking up some homemade dog goodies sounds like a great family cooking project that teaching the value of donating to charity and helping animals. But call your local humane society first just to make sure they’ll take homemade dog treats.

Dog Biscuits
Makes approximately two dozen doggie biscuits.
These would make great stocking stuffers or presents for those special doggies in your life.

Ingredients:

1. 2 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup powdered milk
3. 1 teaspoon salt
4. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
5. 1 egg
6. 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
7. 8 10 tablespoons water
8. 2 small jars strained baby food (beef, chicken, lamb or liver)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together and knead for 3 minutes.
2. Roll out to 1/2-inch thick.
3. Using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter, cut biscuits and place the on an ungreased baking sheet. (This four piece dog bone cookie cutter set has cookie cutters of various sizes – great if you’re baking for big, medium and little dogs.)
4. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

(Picture courtesy of Dana Coffield and The Denver Post.)

Dog Books

May I recommend the Walter the Farting Dog series? Yes, they’re irreverant, gross, and naughty but also hysterically funny, wonderfully illustrated, and guaranteed to make the kids laugh. After all, who doesn’t love a good fart joke? For ages 4 to 8, you can also get the books in French and Latin, too.

On the more serious side for older kids ages 8 to 13 is 50 Awesome Ways Kids Can Help Animals: Fun and Easy Ways to Be a Kind Kid. From the PETA folks, the book is full of fascinating facts and more than 100 fun and easy projects and ideas that show children how they can get active for animals.

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