Margo's Musings: Bartholomew and the Oobleck

"The least you could do is say the simple words, I'm sorry." ~Bartholomew Cubbins, Bartholomew and the Oobleck
I love when Read Across America Day arrives because I know that spring is around the corner. Plus, it's awesome to get to celebrate Dr. Seuss and his fantastical books. This year, I was excited to share some of my favorites with my little sister, Margo. With so many books to choose from, we were able to enjoy lots of stories. She loves the funny rhymes and creatures that are in Dr. Seuss’s books. But this year, her choice is Bartholomew and the Oobleck. It’s hard to resist a book that's followed up with making a slimy, interesting mix that will entertain for hours!


In this book, King Derwin of Didd is tired of rain, sun, fog and snow. He wants something different and asks the royal magicians to make the sky shower something exciting upon them. The next morning, a young page, Bartholomew Cubbins, wakes up to find that the oobleck the king wanted is indeed falling. The king declares a holiday and wants everyone outside. It is green, unique, and exciting- at first. But, after a bit, there’s no doubt it’s messy. The oobleck won’t stop showering the kingdom, and creatures are getting stuck. How can they stop it? Can anything be done? What are the magic words? This entertaining story has an important message in its pages.


If Margo loves one thing, it’s a mess. That made this Dr. Seuss book perfect! Her giggles as we watched the green goop sticking to things throughout the book made me laugh too. She kept pointing and saying, “Bleck, bleck, bleck”. After we finished reading, it was time to make some of our own. The ingredients are so easy (we made it with and without the food coloring, and it’s fun either way). I know we’ll be revisiting this Seuss classic again!

Ingredients:
2 cups cornstarch1 cup water1-2 drops food coloring (optional)Mix in a bowl. Add water to cornstarch sl-ow-ly! (easier to mix)
Has anyone else read Bartholomew and the Oobleck? What’s your favorite book by Dr. Seuss? Have you ever made oobleck? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading!
~ FFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED