Find BooksActivitiesGames
Reading Rainbow
Parents & Teachers
About Reading RainbowAbout LeVarContestPrintable Song Lyrics

Mrs. Katz And Tush

Language: English

A long-lasting friendship develops between Larnel, a young African-American, and Mrs. Katz, a lonely Jewish widow, when Larnel presents Mrs. Katz with a scrawny kitten without a tail. The book supports the theme that friendship can bridge differences in age and culture. LeVar celebrates the beauty and value of cross-cultural relationships as he visits his very own “bubee” and learns to make some traditional Jewish foods.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Memory Box

You will need:

  • small box with lid, such as a shoebox or a cigar box
  • scissors
  • glue
  • construction paper or wrapping paper
  • favorite objects, pictures, photos, stickers, name stickers

Each child in the family can make a box to store special mementos.

  1. Have each child collect small trinkets, photos, and pictures that have special meaning.
  2. Then help your children measure and cut out a piece of construction paper or wrapping paper that is the same size as the top of the box lid. Glue the paper to the lid.
  3. Small trinkets, shells, beads, stones, pictures, and photos can then be glued to the lid. Suggest that your child include his or her name. Fill in any spaces with favorite stickers.
  4. The Memory Box is now waiting to be filled with favorite belongings.
 

Charoses

This is a special apple and nut spread that is Jewish in tradition. It is an easy recipe for your child to make.

You will need:

  • 2 apples, peeled and cored
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ¾ cup walnut pieces
  • ¼ cup grape juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • crackers
  1. Have your child use a safe food chopper, or help your child finely chop the apples, walnuts, and raisins.
  2. Put into a mixing bowl, pour in the grape juice and honey, and stir.
  3. Spread over crackers such as matzo crackers or graham crackers.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • Abuela by Arthur Dorros
  • Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
  • Kwanzaa by Deborah Newton Chocolate

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

Books | Games | LeVar | Contest | TV Times | Parents & Teachers
http://www.pbskids.org/readingrainbow
© 2007 Educate Media-Reading Rainbow, LLC. All rights reserved. | PBS KIDS Privacy Policy