Snuggle up! 5 family read-alouds and the perfect drink pairing

We all love curling up with a steaming, warm mug and a good book. Each of these themed drinks will immerse you and your family deeper into the imaginative worlds that jump off the page. These read-aloud suggestions and warm drink pairings will quickly become a wintertime tradition!

Book: Farmer Boy by Laura Ingles Wilder

Beverage: Hot apple cider

Almanzo Wilder and his family are always hard at work on their family farm in upstate New York, and that means they need to eat heartily to keep up their strength! A warm mug of hot apple cider is sure to keep anyone cozy from fingertips to toes. If you want to take it up a notch, you can replicate the scene described in chapter 3, ”Winter Night,” by enjoying your sweet cider alongside apples and popcorn!

Book: The Curious Christmas Trail (A Sister Seraphina Mystery) By Haley Stewart

Beverage: Cinnamon spice hot chocolate

Sister Seraphina is an intrepid mouse who lives under the floorboards of G.K. Chesterton’s home with a convent of schoolteacher mice. Mystery stories always have a surprise in store and so does an unexpectedly sweet and spicy hot cocoa! Start with your favorite hot chocolate recipe, but add a sprinkling of cinnamon (and the tiniest dash of cayenne pepper for warmth, if you’re up for it!). Lastly, add a dash of salt to bring out the complex flavors. Your family will love solving the mystery of why this hot cocoa tastes so amazing!

Book: My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet

Beverage: Orange spice tea

When your imagination travels to the land of Tangerina, let your tastebuds enjoy warm and comforting citrus aromas! Elmer Elevator frequently snacks on tangerines in the book, so a citrusy beverage is fitting. You can find orange spice tea bags at many large grocery stores, or make your own by steeping fresh orange slices with cloves, cinnamon sticks, or whatever warm spices you have on hand. Steep for 10-15 minutes and then enjoy!

Book: Betsy Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

Beverage: Gingerbread steamer

Betsy Tacy recounts the friendship of two young girls living in Minnesota at the turn of the century. The story recounts their various imaginative adventures and play. Betsy Tacy’s vintage charm pairs perfectly with the nostalgic flavor of gingerbread. To make a gingerbread steamer, add a spoonful of molasses along with classic gingerbread spices (ground ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon) to milk and heat until warm and flavors have infused. You can froth the milk (with an electric frother or by shaking it in a mason jar) when you are ready to serve. If you don’t have all the gingerbread flavorings, a simple cinnamon steamer is just as much of a treat!

Book: The Story of Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting

Beverage: Decaf English breakfast tea with cream

Dr. Doolittle is a proper English doctor whose unique ability to talk to animals takes him far from home. What English gentleman would turn down a proper cup of English tea? You can use any black tea that you like, but be sure it is decaf if your read-aloud is occurring right before bedtime! Pair it with a hearty splash of cream, and you are ready to voyage.