Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

This was our first official read-aloud and was pretty much just an excuse to have a fancy party.  We had been home for 18 months due to the Covid pandemic and nothing fun was happening.  It was just us.  All day.  Everyday.  What the heck, let's have a party!

The first thing we do to plan a book party is to discuss what foods we remember from the book.  The kids love this.  Who wouldn't want chocolate frogs and jelly beans that taste like rotten eggs??!! Then we think about meals that occurred in the book and the details of the table setting - this is a great book for recreating a feast!  Finally, we think about iconic items or characters, which help us create decorations for the center of the table.

After we brainstorm, I shop my house.  What did I have that gave off a magical vibe?  Black tablecloth, check.  Goblets, check.  Old books, check.  Halloween cauldron, check.  I then make a wishlist of key items to complete the "look" and ask my Buy Nothing group to help out.  This scored me 6 brass candlesticks, a bird cage, a key with wings, and a new friend!  I discovered another homeschool parent in my neighborhood who hosts a Harry Potter party for her kids every year.  She loaned me chocolate frog molds, battery powered candles to hang from the chandelier, and bottles of "potions".  I purchased silver chargers on clearance for a quarter each, printable book covers and chocolate frog boxes from Etsy, and a plush Hedwig (who, with her cage, has attended a couple parties at our new friend's house).   

Our menu consisted of sausages, potatoes, roasted carrots, and cider....with chocolate frogs, gummy slugs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans for dessert!

Resources and Ideas:

There are several Harry Potter cookbooks if you need recipe ideas!

The Official Harry Potter Cookbook: 40+ Recipes Inspired by the Films

Harry Potter: Official Christmas Cookbook

The Official Harry Potter Baking Book: 40+ Recipes Inspired by the Films