Literary Lunch . . . Vampirina!

It is finally summer and time for the beach! Vampirina is taking a trip to Moon Monster Madness in Anne Marie Pace's new book VAMPIRINA at The Beach. You would not believe how much fun the beach can be at night!

Nina from Mamabelly.com packed a lunch for the beach:

• a chocolate pudding and graham cracker Monster Beach
• scary strawberries with sugar cookies
• melon beach balls and of course
• a Vampirina chocolate sandwich with raspberry jelly accents

Nina | Mamabelly's Lunches with Love web: www.mamabelly.com facebook: www.facebook.com/MamabellysLunchesWithLove twitter: @LunchesWithLove

Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Literary Lunch!)

A special treat for the stars of Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by Julie Falatko and Tim Miller (Viking Books): this scrumptious and adorable Literary Lunch! And look, it has cheese!

Nina from Mamabelly.com created a narrative bento featuring:

• fried rice
• grape tomato ballons
• and a cheese, tomato and cucumber Snappsy

Snappsy the cucumber did NOT ask to be in this lunch!

Literary Lunch - Special Holiday Edition!

This Literary Lunch was whipped up by Nina from Mambelly's Lunches with Love. Inspired by Linda Ashman's new picture book, Over the River and Through the Wood, Nina included:

• an apple and peanut butter "Apple Pie" sandwich
• a "pumpkin" tangerine
• a bounty of veggies: celery, carrot, a mini pepper and roasted almonds in raspberries


A Note from Nina. . .

When I think of Thanksgiving, the first thing that pops in my head is Grandma's Apple Pie. The smell of apples and pie crust in the house and the talk of freshly whipped cream and vanilla ice cream make me happy every year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Literary Lunch . . . with Penny & Jelly!

Have you met Penny and Jelly from the new book Penny & Jelly: The School Show by Maria Gianferrari and Thyra Heder?

Having a best friend to help you pick a talent for the school show is the best feeling in the world. But what talent will they pick?

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love has packed a lunch to-go -- perfect for snacking on during a school show:

• a Penny Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich (pun intended)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly bars (because friends stick together)
• apple and cheese & chicken and cheese skewers (because stripes complement each other)
• and of course Jelly, sitting on a heart-shaped cup of sweet dried banana chips (because friendship is sweet)

Literary Lunch . . . with Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast

Ever wonder what's going on in your fridge once you close the door? Find out in Josh Funk's lively new picture book LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST, beautifully illustrated by Brendan Kearney!

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast are best friends until rumor has it that only one drop of maple syrup remains in the fridge. The friends race to see who will get to the syrup first and enjoy the last of the sweet treat.

Our brilliantly talented caterer, Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love. packed what was in her fridge for today's Literary Lunch:

• A Sir French Toast 
• A Lady Pancake chocolate sandwich
• the prized, almost empty bottle of maple syrup
• and some carrot, red pepper, green grape and homemade chicken nugget onlookers.

Click here to read Mr. Pig's interview with Sir French Toast & Lady Pancake.

Literary Lunch . . . STORMY NIGHT by Salina Yoon

Meet Bear and Floopy from Salina Yoon's new book STORMY NIGHT. When Bear can't sleep on a stormy night, Floppy, his toy bunny; Bear's family; and a few tricks help Bear feel less frightened.

Even though Bear is scared of the storm at first, the storm is over before he knows it, thanks to a familiar song, kiss, and tickle.

This is a great book to read to kids during a thunderstorm. Nina's kids loved the beautiful illustrations and all the ways Bear's family tries to make him feel better.

And don't worry, Bear's frown eventually turns back into a big smile. . . .

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love packed a comforting lunch for any stormy night:

• popcorn to snack on while waiting out the storm
• a big fruit leather curtain to hide under 
• and a Bear and Floppy sandwich with chocolate decorations

Literary Lunch. . . The Day The Crayons Quit

To celebrate the Crayon's interview (or non-interview as the case may be), Nina from Mamabelly prepared these delicious edible crayon treats! 

Nina made a fun snack to nibble while reading the hilarious and colorful book from Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. It includes:

• a cream cheese and American cheese YELLOW CRAYON sandwich which needs to be eaten first
• a cream cheese and strawberry RED CRAYON sandwich which needs to be eaten while humming
• a cream cheese and blueberry BLUE CRAYON sandwich which hopes to make you happy and
• a cream cheese and kiwi GREEN CRAYON sandwich who will finish your lunch.

Literary Lunch: Duck, Duck, Moose!

The creative and talented Nina from Mamabelly Lunches with Love made this marvelous moose-themed Literary Lunch for today's guest!

Nina's moose bento includes:
--a peanut butter Moose sandwich with blueberry eyes and mini chocolate chip nostrils
--a few organic cheese snacks
--blueberries
--strawberries
--almonds

This lunch was created by Mamabelly Lunches with Love just for Moose, the star of Duck, Duck, Moose! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones.

Enjoy!

And visit Nina's website, Mamabelly Lunches with Love to see MORE of her fabulous bento lunches!