I was cleaning off my book shelf this morning and came across books of Charlie’s I had kept from his childhood. As I was packing the books away I thought I would share two of my favorite books, not only from my own childhood, written by one of my all-time favorite authors, Judy Blume, but also books that Charlie and Suzanne enjoyed reading.

And as I tried to teach David to read, these were books that he would pick up and look through. I would actually catch him sitting on the front porch reading them to himself. Even though he stumbled over the words, he was teaching himself.

That is one of the reasons we created our 30-Minute Reading Challenge and wanted to share these books with you. Because sometimes reading isn’t about sitting down with a worksheet and being told that you have to read.

Sometimes it is about finding a book that makes you want to know what happens next. Sometimes it’s about seeing your child pick up a book all by themselves. And sometimes, years later, a book becomes part of your family’s story.

Judy Blume was not only one of my favorite authors when I was growing up but also my best friend Debbie’s. Her books were the kind that I remembered, and when Suzanne got older, I wanted to share them with her.

She fell in love with Judy Blume just as much as I had. One of the books that stands out in my memories is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Judy Blume’s books had a way of talking about childhood, growing up, family, friendships, and all those things that can seem like a very big deal when you’re a kid.

So these aren’t books I’m sharing because I recently picked them up and decided to review them. These are childhood books that came back around and became family books. That’s a very different thing.

When Charlie started getting interested in reading, there was something about the Fudge books that immediately caught his attention. Charlie loved fudge. So when he saw books called Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mania, he wanted to know more.

And honestly, isn’t that sometimes how we get children interested in books? It doesn’t always begin with us saying, “This is an important book.” Sometimes it starts with something as simple as, “Hey, that book has fudge in the title.”

And once the book is in their hands, we have an opportunity to let the story take over. Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mania are part of Judy Blume’s Fudge series. Penguin Random House lists Superfudge for ages 8–12 and grades 3–7, and Fudge-a-Mania carries the same age and grade range.

The Fudge series includes Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Double Fudge. So if your child enjoys these two, there are more Fudge stories waiting for them.

As I’ve said before a book can become a family memory and that is what I keep coming back to. I remember reading Judy Blume as a child. I remember sharing her books with Suzanne. I remember Charlie discovering the Fudge books.

And I remember David sitting on the front porch trying to read. He didn’t have to read every word perfectly. He stumbled. He worked through the words. He kept going. And I would catch him sitting there reading to himself. He was teaching himself.

Those are the moments that remind me why I want to encourage children to read. We don’t know which book is going to become their book. We don’t know which character they’re going to remember years later. We don’t know which story will make them want to pick up another book. We just have to keep putting good books within reach.

Recently, I found a fudge poster tucked away in the back office. And I thought, why not? Why not take these two books and connect them to fudge? Because fudge is one of those foods that seems to have childhood written all over it.

There is something about making fudge in the kitchen that feels like a family activity. Someone is measuring although in my home we don’t measure we cook with love and pinch of that a smidgen of this.

Someone is stirring. Someone is asking if it’s ready yet. Someone is probably sneaking a taste. And somebody is eventually going to say, “Don’t touch it. It has to cool.” Of course, somebody will probably touch it anyway. Then they will burn there mouth and that is exactly why I think this makes such a fun reading activity.

I have a question for you. What if instead of telling our children to get off the computer and go read, we gave them something to do with the book? Read Superfudge or you could read Fudge-a-Mania.

Then head into the kitchen. Make fudge together. The fudge can be made in the microwave with adult supervision, and we can make it with or without nuts. That way families can choose the version that works best for them.

Families managing a serious nut allergy should always check ingredient labels and take appropriate precautions to avoid cross-contact. Because we wouldn’t want someone to get sick.

The child can help measure. They can help stir when it is safe. They can watch the ingredients come together. Then they have to wait for it to cool. And while they’re waiting? Read.

Take the book outside while the fudge is cooking which is the part I really love. If it’s a beautiful fall day like it is here. Grab the book, a beverage and the fudge once it cools off, and a blanket and go sit under a tree?

Let the kids get away from the computer for a while. Let them read outside. Maybe you sit beside them. Maybe you read together. Maybe they read independently while you have your own book. Maybe you talk about the story. Maybe you talk about the books you loved when you were their age.

And maybe you have a piece of fudge or two or three if your like Charlie and me. That’s not just reading. That’s an afternoon. That’s an experience. And hopefully, someday, it becomes a memory.

These books can also become a #TeachingMoment for Homeschool Families. We can start with reading, but we don’t have to stop there. A fudge recipe gives children an opportunity to practice measuring, following directions, sequencing, and math.

What happens if you double the recipe? What happens if you cut it in half? How many tablespoons are in a quarter cup? What ingredients have to go in first? Why do we have to wait for the fudge to cool?

You can talk about the characters and what happened in the story. You can ask your child to tell you what happened in the chapter they read. You can have them write about their favorite character.

They can create their own fudge-inspired story. And suddenly you’ve incorporated reading, writing, math, practical life skills, and conversation into one afternoon. #TeachingMoment

One thing I wanted to remind you is learning doesn’t always look like school. Sometimes learning looks like a child sitting on the front porch, stumbling through the words and teaching himself to read.

Sometimes it looks like measuring chocolate chips in the kitchen. And sometimes it looks like a child sitting underneath a tree with a book and a piece of homemade fudge reading a story to there dog..

I’m making these books our first item in our Fall Gift Guide. Not because I’m reviewing them. Not because I think every gift has to be something new. And not because I’m telling you that your child absolutely needs these particular books.

I’m sharing them because they were meaningful to our family. And maybe they can become meaningful to yours. A book can be a gift. But a book that leads to an afternoon together can become something more.

It can become an experience. It can become a conversation and it can become a reason to cook together then it can become the beginning of a reading habit. And it can become a memory. That’s the kind of gift I want to share.

I can see these books fitting into our Fall Gift Guide because fall is the perfect time to take a book outside and enjoy a beautiful afternoon. They can fit into our Back-to-School Gift Guide because encouraging children to read is always a good idea.

They can fit into our End-of-Summer Gift Guide because there is always time for one more reading adventure before summer ends. They can fit into our Christmas Gift Guide because books make wonderful gifts, especially when you turn them into an activity the family can enjoy together.

And yes, I think they can even fit into our Halloween Gift Guide. Not because Superfudge or Fudge-a-Mania are Halloween books. They’re not. But reading doesn’t have to be seasonal. Reading should be year-round.

A child doesn’t have to read a Halloween book simply because it’s October. Sometimes October can be about a funny family story, a Judy Blume classic, a warm kitchen, and homemade fudge.

If you’re looking for books for a child around the 8–12 age range, these are worth putting on your list. The publisher specifically places Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mania in that range and grades 3–7.

But for me, the biggest reason to pick them up isn’t an age range. It’s what might happen after the book is opened. Maybe your child will laugh. Maybe they’ll recognize something about their own family.

Maybe they’ll ask questions. Maybe they’ll want to read the next book. Maybe they’ll ask you if you’ve read Judy Blume. Maybe you’ll tell them that you did. And maybe you’ll end up telling them about the books you loved when you were their age. That’s how books travel through families.

That old fudge poster in the back office gave me an idea, but the books gave me the memories. Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors when I was growing up. I shared her books with Suzanne. Charlie discovered the Fudge books because he loved fudge.

David picked up the books while I was teaching him to read, and I caught him sitting on the front porch working his way through the words. And those memories are part of why we created our 30-Minute Reading Challenge.

We want families to find those moments. So today, I’m sharing Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mania with you. Pick up the books. Make some fudge. Leave the nuts out if that’s what works for your family.

Grab a blanket. Find a tree. And spend 30 minutes reading together. Because someday, your child may not remember the worksheet you printed. But they might remember the book you read, the fudge you made, and the afternoon you spent together.

Easy Microwave Fudge Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups chocolate chips
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease the pan.
2. Add the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter to a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Microwave for 30 seconds. Carefully stir.
4. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
5. Carefully stir in the vanilla.
6. If you’re making nutty fudge, stir in the chopped nuts. For nut-free fudge, simply leave them out.
7. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
8. Let the fudge cool completely and set before cutting into squares.

Adult Supervision: The bowl and fudge mixture can become very hot. An adult should handle the hot bowl and help younger children with the microwave and stirring.

Allergy Note: Nuts are optional. For anyone with a serious nut allergy, carefully check ingredient labels and take precautions to prevent cross-contact.

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And that’s a Greatful Moment worth making.

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates