As if Michelle Obama’s new Netflix show wasn’t exciting enough, Random House Children’s Books and Clarkson Potter have just announced the pair will launch a publishing program based on Waffles + Mochi! Under the program, three children’s titles will be released this year.
First up, Follow That Food! ($12.99), written by Christy Webster and illustrated by Sarah Rebar with an introduction written by Michelle Obama, releases on Mar. 2, 2021.The picture book best friends Waffles and Mochi search all over the world for the perfect recipe to make a special treat for the friends.
photo: Random House Children’s Books
This summer, early readers can get their hands Pickle Party! ($5.99), a “Step Into Reading” format book which launches on Jul. 13, 2021. In addition, young artists will love Rainbow of Flavors, a deluxe paint box book with stickers.
Finally, Clarkson Potter will publish Waffles + Mochi: The Cookbook ($17.99) for children ages 3 to 7 in Nov. The book will feature dishes from the show and more fun family meals for from author, recipe developer and New York Times cooking writer Yewande Komolafe.
Chris Angelilli VP & Editor-in-Chief & Director, Licensed Publishing Random House Children’s Books says “We’re thrilled to be working with Netflix and Higher Ground to bring these fun new characters and stories to families. Waffles + Mochi’s message about exploration and trying new things is sure to excite and help expand kids’ horizons.”
Right about now we’re all a little tired of sweets. To liven up your palate, why not go with a more savory snack, like Clancy’s Dill Pickle Popcorn from ALDI?
The perfect-for-pickle-lovers snack is returning to ALDI stores in January, and at $1.69 per bag, you can’t go wrong. The fan fave treat has hit shelves before and always sells out fast.
photo: ALDI
Each 7.5 ounce bag packs a mild flavor and tons of crunch. As part of ALDI Finds, the bags will only be on sale for a limited time.
Got a tree? Good. Now it’s time to decorate! Show some true NYC cred by decorating your tree with one of these NYC-inspired Christmas ornaments. Or, give one to your most hard core New Yorker friend. Another reason to love this collection of NYC Christmas ornaments? Most are from city cultural institutions or local makers, all of which need our support now more than ever! (Need more NYC gift ideas? Click here!)
The Blue Whale
You can now have the American Museum of Natural History's famous Blue Whale in the house thanks to this exclusive ornament from the museum.
For the true transit nerd, an ornament featuring one of the constellations from Grand Central Terminal's ceiling is a pretty deep cut they'll appreciate. (And for the price, they should.)
Granted, it's a little abstract, but so was the concept of the High Line when it was first introduced. Valerie Atkisson is the artist. (Also: who else do you know with a High Line ornament?)
When has a collection of ornaments ever made you say "Awwwwww!"? Not only is this off-the-charts cute, it has a Santa. Wearing an I Love NY t-shirt. Holding a piece of pizza.
This cherry wood ornament doubles as a keepsake and is a great gift idea. Choose from three of the boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens or NYC Metro, in addition to adding your own details like family name.
Do you consider ketchup to be one of the food groups? If so, then HEINZ has just the merch for you. The popular condiment brand has you covered with its new e-commerce store shop.heinz.com.
From vintage holiday sweaters to mittens, scarves, button-ups and beanies, there’s something for every ketchup lover. You can even buy The HEINZ Christmas Pickle ornament for your tree.
HEINZ Ketchup Pocket T-Shirt ($37.95)
HEINZ Holiday Sweater ($45.95)
HEINZ Holiday Mittens ($10.95)
HEINZ Wrapping Paper ($5.95)
HEINZ Scarf ($24.95)
Order your gifts by Dec. 15 to ensure they arrive by Christmas.
The best part? HEINZ’s new e-commerce store is here to stay, because every season is ketchup season – it’s HEINZ’s gift to ketchup lovers!
The holidays are all about enjoying plenty of seasonal treats, but not everything comes packed with sugar. If you’re into the more savory side of life, you’ll love Archie McPhee’s collection of weird candy canes.
With ten flavors to choose from, you can enjoy the salty seasonings of unique offerings that include ham, ketchup, clam and pizza. Oh, but there’s more! Keep scrolling to see them all.
Kale
Ketchup
Mac & Cheese
Mushroom
Bacon
Pickle
Clam
Pizza
Ham
Pho
You can shop the entire collection at Archie McPhee, where each box is $6.50 and comes with six candy canes each.
When I was a child, there was no way my parents could censor my reading. I simply read too fast and too much for them to keep up.
Once, though, I got hold of a science fiction novel by Robert Silverberg that had a sex-infused plot that was way beyond my then-current level of sophistication. When I reported to Mom that I was disturbed by it, she wrote in it “Not for young minds” before we recycled it at the used bookstore (as we did most books in those days).
But she still didn’t try to censor my reading.
I understand that there is a need to make decisions about what books will be in a school library, for reasons of space if nothing else. Within those limitations, school librarians must choose the best and most engaging books they can. And not all schoolteachers can choose their own reading lists, as they may be determined by the school, the school board, or parental influence.
As to what a child should read, I advocate giving the individual child’s taste free rein. Reading is reading and practice reinforces it. If the reading is forced upon the child or–worse–is boring, the child will come to view reading as punishment, not pleasure. (The same holds true of writing, by the way.)
If your children have questions or are disturbed by a book they read, talk with them about the book. With them, not at them. Most kids know what is too sexual or too violent or too whatever for them. I have even seen a child leave a movie that was becoming bloodier than he thought he was ready for.
And so what if your child reads trashy comic books or graphic novels? Or escapist fantasy? Or biographies of pop stars or sports heroes? As the child grows, you can suggest other books that may fill the same needs but be a bit more challenging. There are plenty of good adventure novels by classic writers, including Alexandre Dumas, Robert Louis Stevenson, Victor Hugo, and even Zane Grey. (William Goldman has a charming story about this process in his introduction to The Princess Bride.)
Or you may be able to interest a child in reading the book that a favorite movie was based on. Then ask her or him how the two differed. (The Hobbit is a prime example.)
The object here is widening a child’s horizons, not narrowing them. You may not like all their choices, but they surely won’t like all of yours either. It’s like educating their palates. You’ll get through that awful peanut butter and pickle phase and into realms as distant as sushi.
I’m not saying that you should leave your child alone with FiftyShades of Grey (though if you have it in the house, your child is sure to find it). There are other books that can introduce your teen or even your preteen or tween to topics concerning the human body and sex – and the emotional aspects of it that aren’t covered in schools. Judy Blume’s books, for example, once thought so shocking, have stood the test of time.
The message you give a child when you say “no” to a book may be different from what you think. You may think you are saying, “That book is too advanced for you” or “That book is trash,” but the child may hear, “Books are not for you” or “Reading is worthless.”
“Let children read whatever they want & then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won’t have as much censorship because we won’t have as much fear.”—Judy Blume
Judy Blume is right. Reading and talking about it is better than censorship and fear.
Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.
Move over queso, this new dip is dill-icious! Taste of the South Fried Pickles & Ranch Dip just landed exclusively at select Sam’s Clubs. Now you just have to stock up on things to dip into it.
Taste of the South Fried Pickles and Ranch Dip is made from real whipped cream cheese and sour cream mixed with crunchy dill pickles and ranch seasoning. This tangy dip goes with just about anything pickles do. Add a dollop to your burger, pair with your favorite chips or serve alongside vegetable crudites.
You can find the 24 ounce tubs of Fried Pickle & Ranch Dip at Sam’s Club for $4.98. It is available at locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
This is a big dill! ALDI has already rolled out Dill Pickle Popcorn and Dill Pickle Hummus. Now they are releasing their latest contribution to the dill pickle trend, Dill Pickle Cashews.
The Southern Grove Dill Pickle Cashews come in 100 calorie packs for easy, on the go snacking.
There’s also a Salt & Pepper variety if dill favoring is not your thing.
Both varieties are on sale now and retail for $2.99.
Hummus is available in a wide assortment of flavors. From savory to sweet, the options seem endless. Now, a new and exciting variety is available at ALDI—Dill Pickle.
This hummus is only 50 calories per serving. Its also vegan and gluten-free. If dill pickle doesn’t do it for you, the new Park Street Deli Hummus also comes in two other flavors—garlic dill and caramelized onion.
Starting in March, ALDI’s Park Street Deli Dill Pickle Hummus will be available for $2.29.
They say life is like a box of chocolates, but that doesn’t ring true with these new Valentine’s Day bouquets! If you’re looking for a fun and fresh way to say “I love you” this year, you need look no further than these Valentine’s Day alternatives to bouquets and boxes of chocolate. From sweet treats to savory sides, these non-traditional gifts will make their way into your heart this Valentine’s Day.
Harry and David’s Donut Bouquet might not be as traditional as long-stemmed roses, but it’s certainly sweet (pun intended). The 10-piece arrangement is wrapped in pink tissue and adorned with a gold bow.
Surprise your own "bae" this Valentine's with a savory box of Cheddar Bay Biscuits! The antithesis of candy is perfect for your special someone who's not into sweets.
To snag your own, just order a half-dozen Cheddar Bay Biscuits to go from redlobster.com, and you can get the limited-edition box for just $1.
We smell sugar! This darling bouquet of Valentine's Day cookies is made up of a dozen buttercream frosted cookies that come in gorgeously gift wrapped.
Nothing says love like a bouquet of breadsticks! Olive Garden's famous carby snack is here for V-day in a big way. Place an order for breadsticks either online or in a restaurant, then simply wrap in the downloadable printed wrapper!
Yep, it's a thing. Pickle bouquets are the ultimate gift for your dill lover. You can even make your own with just the perfect type of pickle for your special someone.