$18.95), written by
Sean Taylor and Alex
Morss and perfectly
illustrated by Cinyee
Chiu, is the wonderful
story of two special
friends and their time
together in the woods.
Granny Sylvia knows
so much about nature
and the woods, and her
grandson loves noth-
ing more than spend-
ing time with her and
learning the secrets
that she has uncovered
over the years. As summer turns to fall and fall turns into winter,
he is struck by the starkness and the quiet. Where have all the
birds, animals, insects, and flowers gone? Granny takes him on
walks over the winter through the stillness and woodland quiet
to show him where everything is hiding — cozy, resting, and
waiting for spring to arrive. At the end of the day, the warmth
and quiet of Granny’s home remind him of the woodland crea-
tures he has learned about and he goes to sleep dreaming of
warmer weather and longer days. The end of the book features
information on hibernation and more details about the creatures
that do so. Ideas about how you can help them and sources of
more information are also provided.
For more books that will give you ideas for ways to spend
wintertime with a friend, visit your local library, bookstore, or
online site. Whether reading indoors or taking the ideas out-
doors, there are many ways to enjoy and celebrate the winter
weather that is yet ahead. If you are going to live in Western
New York, you might as well find ways to enjoy everything
each season has to offer — and books are a great way to do it!
Dr. Donna Phillips is an associate professor in the College of
Education at Niagara University where her specialty is literacy
and children’s literature. She lives on Grand Island, NY and is
the mother of two adult children and the grandmother of one.
Cures for “Cabin Fever”
continued...
library. Snowshoe rentals are $5 a day for kids and adults.
Cross-country skiing is also permitted here but you must
have your own skis.
Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry
(http://www2.erie.gov/parks/) includes many parks,
hiking trails, and forests that allow snowshoes and/or
cross-country skiing. Visit their website for details on in-
dividual locations and check out this article (https://www.
snowshoemag.com/2019/02/20/erie-county-new-york-
department-of-parks-recreation-and-forestry-winter-
activities/) which summarizes many of their features.
TAKE A TOUR
Did you know that Eden, NY is the Kazoo Capital of the
World? The Original American Kazoo Company (8703
South Main St., Eden) was established in 1916 as the first
metal kazoo factory and is the only metal kazoo factory
left in North America. The museum highlights history,
amusing trivia, and shows step by step the way kazoos
are made. Kazoos of all shapes and sizes are permanent-
ly displayed in the museum. Tours are available begin-
ning February 6, 2020 where you can view kazoos being
made on the original equipment (Tue-Thur only) until 2
pm, or use the Make Your Own Kazoo station to assemble
your own ($$). There is a free Self-guided tour for small
family groups, 2-6, while a guided tour is $2 per person.
Call 716-992-3960 at least one day ahead to schedule
an appointment they can get a guide onsite for a guided
tour for your larger group. To learn more, visit http://www.
edenkazoo.com/museum.php
Platter’s Chocolate Factory (908 Niagara Falls Blvd.,
North Tonawanda) offers guided tours for groups of 20
or more (all ages). If you don’t have a group, they have
multiple production viewing areas open to the public to
self-tour at your leisure. These viewing areas allow to you
to see just about all their chocolate making processes. Fan
favorites include whipping up a batch of sponge candy
and watching how they make hollow novelties by hand.
Watch their chocolate manufacturing process while en-
joying some of their Platter’s Café favorites like a fresh
pressed coffee, hot chocolate, an ice cream sundae, and
of course, CHOCOLATES! Visit https://www.platterschoc-
olates.com/factory-tours/ or call 716-693-5391.
February 2020 WNY Family 11