National Popcorn Day ~By Suzy Leopold

Happy Popcorn Day! What’s your favorite popcorn snack? Do you like Cracker Jack, Kettle Corn or fresh popcorn with melted butter and salt? There are so many flavors of popcorn to enjoy, it is hard to choose.

The
Popcorn
Book
By Tomie de Paola 

In celebration of Popcorn Day, today’s featured book is The Popcorn Book, by the beloved Tomie de Paola. This book is just another reason why everyone loves Tomie, his stories and his illustrations!

Written with a blend of facts and fun, the story is narrated by brothers Tony and Tiny. Mom gives the boys permission to make some popcorn. Together the boys begin a delightful adventure as they learn about the history of popcorn, many facts and various ways to pop corn, followed by a blizzard of popcorn and two popcorn recipes. Tomie just knows how to write a book that is both entertaining and informative.

The Popcorn Book

Enjoy the You Tube of The Popcorn Book being narrated by Sangah and Sohee.

This picture book lends itself to dozens of lessons and activities for children

ages five and up. Here are half a dozen ideas to use in the classroom or for a 

fun activity at home.

        1. Write a haiku poem about popcorn.

        Kernels of corn. Pop!

        Popcorn is a tasty treat.

        May I have some more?

                         ~By Suzy

        2. Estimate the amount of popcorn kernels in a clear container. Make it           more challenging, for older children, by displaying the popcorn in a bag.

        3. Find words that you know. See how many words can you make from the          title of the book, The Popcorn Book. Challenge kids to write as many words that
 they see and write during a set time.

         *cook

         *no

         *her

        4. Have fun outdoors with a relay race. Pairs of students stand facing each other about six feet away. Student A uses a plastic spoon to carry popcorn kernels to Student B. The popcorn kernels are passed on to Student B and now must return to the designated starting point without dropping a kernel.

5. Play a vocabulary enrichment match with important words to know:

    archeologist, discovered, explorers, kernels, legend, 

    method, moisture, popcorn, refrigerator, tablespoon 

Can you match these words
with their meaning?

6. Use the five senses to describe and write what the popcorn looks 

    like, smells like, tastes like, sounds like and feels like. Write about The Five Ws:

*Who? Who discovered popcorn?
*What? What's the best way to make popcorn?
*When? When do you enjoy eating popcorn?
*Where? Where should popcorn be stored?
*Why? Why does popcorn pop?

Consider making some popcorn with kids today. Since most kids are familiar    

with microwave popcorn only, take some time to introduce children to the old 

fashioned way of popping corn on the stove. Kids love the flavor of popcorn and

adults appreciate the nutritional value.

The story finishes with a feel good ending as Tony and Tiny, exclaim, “The best

thing about popcorn . . . Is eating it!

Such a sweet ending.

I don’t know about you, 

but I think it is time for a snack!

Do you want some?

Oops! I should have saved you some.

Additional Facts:

The Popcorn Board Industry Facts

The Popcorn Book

By Tomie de Paola

Age Range: 5 and up

Grade Level: Kindergarten and up

Lexile Measure 830L

* January 19th Popcorn Day

* October is Popcorn Month

*The corn belt states include the following Midwestern states: 

Illinois [state where I reside], Indiana, 

Iowa [Tina Cho's home state], Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Cornfields surround our neighborhood
in the summer.

Peek a Boo!
Can you find me in the cornfield?