Just For Kids
NANTUCKET AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
by Lucretia Voigt
Ihave an obsession with authors' birthdays. I'm sure the first reason is that I look for any excuse to eat cake! After I've wiped the icing off my face, however, I know that there are other reasons besides cake eating. Introducing your child to new authors by way of birthday cake is sure to make an impression and create an instant bond. In addition, it shows your child that books are written by real people, and don't just appear at the bookstore or library overnight like cobblers' shoes.

Before J.K. Rowling, there was another author that sparked imagination and delight in children and adults alike. This author is still read today, and I'm sure J. K. Rowling can only hope to be a household name 64 years after her first publication and 17 years after her death! (Not that we're wishing her demise anytime soon.) Roald Dahl paved the way for authors like J. K. Rowling. Lucky for us, his birthday is this Thursday, September 13.

Many of Roald Dahl's stories are drawn from imaginative episodes based on his own experiences. Once again, that adage "Truth is stranger than fiction" is proven. While Roald was in boarding school in England, Cadbury (yes, that Cadbury) would send boxes of chocolates to the school for the children to test. Now, I don't know about you, but that in itself would be a reason to go to boarding school! Roald, like any chocolate-loving kid, was captivated by the man who had so much chocolate he shared it with people he didn't even know. The story is told that Roald dreamed of inventing a new and unique chocolate bar, introducing it to Mr. Cadbury, and gaining worldwide fame. Later, with adulthood upon him and no sign of expertise in the cooking or science departments, Roald took his childhood dream and turned it into "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

Holbrook Voigt enjoys his unique chocolate creation. PHOTO BY LUCRETIA VOIGT

By this point, I'm sure you're saying "Thanks for the history lesson - but what does this have to do with kids?" Hold on tight - your perseverance is about to be rewarded.

Roald Dahl's stories are usually relegated to elementary school children. This does not mean the picture book set cannot enjoy them as well. One way to introduce any age child to Roald Dahl is to read his books aloud at bedtime. The verbiage is easily understood and his descriptions paint pictures in even the most unimaginative mind. Reading books aloud that don't contain pictures is a great way to get your child used to listening (and we all know that lesson can't be overemphasized) as well as jumpstarting their imaginative skills.

A good book to start with is "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." You can get copies at the library or any of the local bookstores. If time constraints don't allow you to read every night, designate a special Storytime Night. Saturday or Sunday nights are good because the family has been together for the day and so there is usually a feeling of closeness, or else the kids fought all day, come close to being grounded, and now you need to force some camaraderie before you have them draw straws to see who gets to stay and who gets put up for adoption.

Another reason for designating Saturday or Sunday night is that you can precede the reading by a family fun craft. Since you're reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," it is obvious this craft will involve chocolate. That's why it's a "family fun" craft and not just a "child" craft. We parents get to enjoy this one, too!

Decorating your own chocolate bar is a great way to personalize your dessert, and your kids can feel like they are creating a unique masterpiece worthy of a trip to Willy Wonka's factory. Since Willy Wonka doesn't happen to sell chocolate bars on Nantucket, we have to improvise a little.

For this craft you will need a pack of Hershey's chocolate bars, sprinkles, small candy buttons, various colors and flavors of frosting, and anything else you can think of to decorate a chocolate bar. Hershey's chocolate bars work best because they are thin but sturdy, and are blank on the backside.

You may want to line the table with craft paper or at least wax paper since this craft tends to be a little messy. Give each participant a chocolate bar and have them flip it over to the blank side. Have your child use the frosting to make designs or to create a base for the candy buttons and sprinkles. Older children can use cake decorating tips to make designs with the frosting. The only thing holding them back is their imagination!

Maybe your child will look back on this memory and use it to create a story of his own, become an internationally renowned author and use his vast earnings to keep you stocked in chocolate for the rest

of your life. Sweet! I