Dr. Welch and the Great Grape Story

I have recently discovered that non-fiction is pretty darn cool.  I just read Dr. Welch and the Great Grape Story by Mary Lou Carney.  It read like a story--NOT just a bunch of boring facts!  It will keep young readers' minds (and this old one!) engaged.

Dr. Welch and the Great Grape Story tells the tale of Thomas Bramwell Welch and his frustration that not everyone can enjoy the juicy goodness of grapes--because it ferments and makes wine.  The clever Dr. Welch sets about making grape juice, and the story is surprisingly fabulous. 

One of the many things I enjoyed about this book is that it lends itself to so many fun activities! 

Here are a few juicy ideas for you and your reader:


Have a "taste test" with different kinds of juice
Make juice popsicle with a form--or with an icetray and toothpicks
Paint a scene from the book using water juice colors
Have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch--talk about which jellies are your fave
And you can try this cool "experiment" and turn grapes into raisins from How to Didi:

*Be sure to check out the Welch's website for your supplies--they usually have a few coupons available!