We had the pleasure of welcoming Krystal Wade to our early learning centre for an engaging and inspiring author visit. She read her beautiful book Mabel’s Magical Meal, which explores the colours of the rainbow through food, and followed it with a hands-on sensory experience where children explored real fruits and vegetables by touch, smell, and sight. Krystal then guided the children in a fun colour hunt around the room, encouraging them to find objects matching each colour of the rainbow. Her warm and interactive approach made the session both educational and memorable, and we highly recommend her book and author visits to other early childhood settings.

​Today we had a special visitor come to visit the centre to do story time with the kinder children. Krystal wrote this amazing book. The children enjoyed listening to the story and were very interactive. Krystal got all the children involved with the story and had conversations with them about the different fruits and vegetables. We then did a group circle talking about all the fruits and vegetables and the colours they are.

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming a very special guest to our centre—Krystal Wade, a parent in our community and the author of the delightful children’s book Mabel’s Magical Meal. Krystal generously visited to read her book and engage the children in a fun and interactive learning experience. Mabel’s Magical Meal takes readers on a colourful journey through the rainbow, using food and everyday items to explore each colour. The children were captivated by the story, which encouraged them to think about the colours they see in their meals and environments, and the healthy choices they can make. After reading the book, Krystal extended the experience by sharing a selection of real fruits and vegetables that corresponded to each colour of the rainbow. The children were invited to pass the items around, feeling the textures, smelling the natural aromas, and observing the different shapes and features of each one. This hands-on sensory experience deepened their engagement and helped them make meaningful connections between the story and the real world. To further build on the learning, Krystal then invited the children to explore the room and find objects that matched each colour of the rainbow. She focused on one colour at a time, encouraging the children to think critically, observe closely, and collaborate as they searched for matching items. This experience not only supported children’s literacy and language development, but also promoted colour recognition, sensory exploration, healthy eating habits, and active participation. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect home and centre, and we are incredibly grateful to Krystal for her time, creativity, and the inspiration she brought to the children.

The children enjoyed reading the story Mabel’s Magical Meal with Krystal. The session was interactive and engaging, with her reading expressively and encouraging the children to think about the story. It was great to see even pre kinder children were engaged throughout, listening attentively and connecting the story to their own experiences. The session supported their love for books, imagination, and communication skills.