Just For Kids
HARVEST MOON HIGHLIGHTS
by Lucretia Voigt
Kids like any reason to stay up late. When I was young, we were allowed to stay up late to watch the annual airing of "The Wizard of Oz". Unfortunately for the kids of today, DVDs were invented and now we can watch any show at any time. And you thought technology was all good!

Kids can be grateful that nature is still outsmarting technology and bobbing and weaving its way to anarchy and late night mayhem. Mother Nature still controls the night, and her crowning glory is the full moon. Tonight is not only the full moon, but the Harvest Moon.

The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs nearest to the autumnal equinox. This year the autumnal equinox, which is the beginning of autumn, occurred on Sunday, September 24. That means the full moon tonight is the Harvest Moon.

The Harvest Moon is designated as such because the elliptic of the moon in relation to the Earth's orbit and the sun results in a longer period of nighttime brightness over a span of days. I always chalked it up to magic, goblins in the air, or the need of the moon to color coordinate itself with the changing leaves, but I think it has something to do with science. In days past, the extra brightness of the Harvest Moon allowed farmers to work longer hours when bringing in their crops. Don't worry - the activity this week isn't going to be picking green beans under the light of the coppery moon. I had my fill of picking green beans growing up in Kentucky.

Holbrook Voigt expending some energy making full moon cookies. PHOTO BY LUCRETIA VOIGT

The night sky is spectacular on Nantucket - and sharing it with your kids is a special gift that mainlanders can only experience in their dreams. I know it's a school night, but watching the full moon doesn't have to impinge on bedtime. Moonrise occurs tonight at 6:19 p.m.

Let your toddler help you get ready for the Harvest Moon celebration by making Harvest Moon Cookies. If you are short on time, or patience, you can skip the first part of this recipe and buy a sugar cookie dough roll from your local grocer and just slice and bake. You can find several brands in the dairy cases.

If your well-behaved and pleasant attitude toddler has shown up today, cooking is a good way to introduce him to the kitchen and to math. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Help your toddler measure out 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder into a bowl. Set this mixture aside. Have your toddler measure 1 cup softened butter and 1 _ cups white sugar into a large bowl. Cream these ingredients together with either an electric mixer or lots of hand mixing. If your toddler seems to have an overabundance of energy, let them burn up some this way! Add to this creamed mixture 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix together. Gradually add in the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Roll the dough into teaspoonsized balls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. When the cookies are still warm, sprinkle them with orange sprinkles to create a copper Harvest Moon. You can also frost the cooled cookies with pumpkin frosting (just buy the ready made - unless Martha Stewart happens to be visiting, in which case you can let her make it).

While you and your toddler are waiting for the bigger kids to return from school or work, you can pass the time with some good full moon books. "Kitten's First Full Moon" by Kevin Henkes won a Caldecott Medal in 2005. It follows a kitten's attempt to get a sip from the "little bowl of milk in the sky". If your toddler hasn't really paid attention to a full moon yet, this book will ease any tensions that come with the unknown. For the elementary school set, "Full Moon Soup" by Alastair Graham is just spooky and revolting enough to become a kid favorite.

After dinner tonight, take a quilt or blanket and spread it out in the backyard. Make sure and treat everyone with mosquito repellant prior to going out. Take some flashlights with you, turn off all the lights in the house, and make your way to your family blanket. Don't forget the Harvest Moon cookies. Lay down on the family blanket with the kids cuddled between you and your mate, and enjoy your Harvest Moon cookies under the light of the Harvest Moon. You can bet it will be

the best show on the island! I