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Read & Create- Where Are You Blue? (Dot Town)
#thelittleone just turned 16 months old, and it’s just over the last month or so that we’ve really begun to see his personal interest in books begin to shine though. He seems to really love all books, but unfortunately can not be trusted unattended with a paperback. (There was a very unfortunate incident with a Pete the Cat early reader. One minute he was flipping through pages, the next- the book was in 2 pieces. I have shielded #thebigone from this knowledge, in hopes of keeping the peace between brothers. Don’t tell!!)
One the books #thelittleone is allowed access to without constant supervision is Sonali Fry’s Where Are You, Blue? (Dot Town) (affiliate disclosure). This board book is perfect for his destructive little fingers, and he’s almost always enthralled with Holly Clifton-Brown’s cheerful illustrations. The colorful dots in the tale are preparing for a party, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of their tardy friend Blue. While they wait, they play a bit of a game of ‘telephone’- that old ‘pass the message’ game everyone remembers, where the idea is never communicated quite right. Blue is imagined in all sorts of fantastic and quirky settings while he makes his way to the festivities.
Now that #thebigone is developing some strong reading skills, we’ve found he’s able to help read to his brother, which is awesome, especially when the baby wants to hear the same story 35 times in a row. Where Are You Blue? is technically for a younger audience, #thebigone actually really loves it and never complains about it ‘being for babies’, I think mainly because he finds the illustrations so charming.
After one of our many recent readings of the book, I threw together a very quick project for #thebigone to accompany the book. Using the free printable I created, he was able to spend some quiet time imitating the illustrative style of the book, as well as imagining what sort of character each dot would be, just like Blue’s friends do with him. This sheet is great because it can be completed almost entirely independently by a slightly older child, freeing up a few minutes for you to cook dinner, switch some laundry, or if you’re like me, run to the bathroom without an audience of any kind! (Such luxury!)
#thebigone has Harry Potter on the brain right now, so (obviously) the characters of Dot Town were reimagined as Harry & his friends.
Grab your printable sheet, and set your son or daughter to work with some crayons, markers, or pencils. Who would they imagine the colorful little dots to be?
If you are thinking about adding this book to your home library, please consider purchasing via my Amazon Affiliate link below- you’ll get a book that we love & highly recommend at no additional cost to you, while I earn a small commision that allows me to be home with my kiddos. Win-win, right?!
If you enjoy building your child’s reading comprehension with crafts & activities inspired by popular children’s literature, there are lots of great ideas out there! -
Quick + Easy Holiday Teacher Gift
I can’t speak for everyone else, but over the last few days, my social media feeds have suddenly been flooded with posts promising nothing but the best Christmas gifts for teachers. Ever since Thanksgiving passed, the kids are counting down the days until winter break. I have to admit that shopping for #thebigone’s teacher is one thing I hoped to cross off my to-do list as early as possible. The other night I sat down and put together a gift I hope she will like. I wanted to share it, in case anyone else is heading out this weekend with holiday shopping lists in hand!
a teacher gift that caffeinates
I volunteer at #thebigone’s school one or two mornings a month. Generally, I help with literacy activities as the kids rotate through centers. I’m not there long, never more than 2 hours at a time, but oh my goodness! Do I ever need another cup of coffee after I say goodbye to all those first graders. [This is not an exaggeration. I leave #thelittleone with my mom whenever I volunteer. Every single time I walk out the door I ask, “Do I have enough time to go grab a coffee after?” Thankfully, she always says yes.] Those kiddos can TALK. They’ve got stories on every topic. They definitely aren’t shy about sharing those tales with whatever parent happens to be sitting at the writing table that day. After trying to keep them on task and listening to lots of tales, caffeine is definitely a necessity for me. And it made me wonder ‘Wow, just how much coffee does his teacher drink every day?!’
Ok, let’s be honest here… Pretty sure my kid’s the reason you need caffeine. So, next cup’s on us. Happy Holidays!print + assemble teacher gift
And so my latest printable came to be… I mean, #thebigone is at least half the reason I need caffeine, so I am sure he contributes to that need in others as well. Although I intend to give these gifts for the winter holidays this year, I didn’t want them to be too Christmassy. I’m not positive what sort of religious affiliations the bus driver has, for example, so I decided to keep the theme pretty neutral. If your child has a scout leader, teacher, babysitter, coach, physical therapist, tutor, or any other caregiver who gets by with a little help from tea or coffee, this is a great choice for them. The presents come together super quickly, and require almost nothing in terms of art supplies, making them perfect for last minute mamas (a.k.a. myself 99% of the time).
First I grabbed some reusable coffee cups. I chose Starbucks ones because they were inexpensive and simple, but any kind is fine, as long as they do not have handles. I printed my downloadable coffee cup wraps (scroll all the way down to get yours!). Next I chose some decorative scrapbook paper for the lower layer of the cup wrap. (Pretty fabrics, colored construction paper, etc. would also work great for the lower layer, so don’t feel like you need to run out just for this!) I used the printable template to trace and cut out the lower layer. Next I used some scrapbook adhesive to secure both the lower & top wraps around the mugs. I threw some shredded gift filler into the cups. Then I added a gift card for the coffee shop, and secured some tags as well.
As we head into one of the busiest months of the year, I’m relieved to have our gifts for #thebigone’s teacher & busdriver, and #thelittleone’s physical therapist completely ready to go. Grab your free printables below and cross a few things off your holiday to-do list this weekend!
What are your go-to gift ideas for sitters, teachers, coaches, and the many other adults who help enrich your kids lives? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
> > > Aqua Teacher Gift Printable < < <
> > > Pink + Gold Teacher Gift Printable < < <
> > > Pink + Blue Teacher Gift Printable < < <
> > > Lower Layer Teacher Gift Template < < <
Essentials You May Need…
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Read & Think: Chicken Lily
After reading Three Hens and a Peacock recently, #thebigone and I continued our discussion of knowing your strengths, and valuing your abilities by reading Chicken Lily. This sweet picture book written by Lori Mortensen and illustrated by Nina Victor Crittenden is a great way to keep the conversation going, and bring the idea of bravery into the chat as well.
Lily is the cutest little chick who is great at lots of things, but lacking confidence in the face of uncertainty or new experiences. As a pretty anxious person myself, I see a lot of me in Lily. Public speaking? No. Raising my hand to answer a question? Nope, nope, nope. Don’t even get me started on heights. Or spiders. Or arriving first at a party. [Seriously, I’m a scaredy cat.]
Even though I can fully acknowledge the limits of my own confidence and bravery, that is not how I want my kids to grow up. I don’t want them having anxiety & nerves that are disproportionate to the stressful stuff in their lives. Chicken Lily provided #thebigone and I with the perfect opportunity to chat a bit about our fears, and the times we have been brave enough to face them, just like Lily.
When he used the free creative writing and drawing printables to do some more thinking on the topic, #thebigone may have taken a few artistic liberties in the illustration portion of his work… For the record, every nurse I have ever encountered at his pediatrician’s office has been very kind, they have never once let out an evil laugh prior to administering an injection, and no, the needle wasn’t really that big!
Give your kids a chance to think, write, draw, and talk about a time when they felt a little chicken, but faced their fears anyway. Everyone benefits from a reminder of their inner strength and a few moments of shameless pride once in a while!
Torturous nurse. Giant needle. Evil laugh. Flu shot was clearly a lot for this kid to handle. [He didn’t even cry, barely even said ‘ouch!’]
What experience did your kids bring up during your discussion? I’d love to hear about it, so let me know in the comments, or take some pictures of their work and tag me on social media!
Printables right here, if you’re looking:
Activities based on children’s literature are a great opportunity to help your kids with retention and comprehension of the stories you share. Here’s some other great ideas to try!
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Read & Create: Three Hens and a Peacock
As a mom who has always been pretty into kids picture books, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that November is Picture Book Month, and a bit shocked that up until earlier this month, I had no idea the celebration even existed! It was a pretty natural move for me to join a group of other bloggers who were putting together daily projects and actitivies based on the Picture Book Month calendar’s prompts.
Since I was jumping into the mix a little late, I chose a day towards the end of the month, to give me a little time to formulate a project as well as simply adjust to this whole blogging thing, which is still pretty brand new to me. I ordered Lester Laminack (author) & Henry Cole’s (illustrator) Three Hens and a Peacock, and anxiously tore into the package when it was delivered.
Three jealous hens and one frustrated peacock switch roles for a day, and learn that the grass is not always greener. The story is a wonderful lesson for all ages in the importance of knowing & valuing your own strengths & abilities, as well as focusing on your own accomplishments rather than those of others around you. The colors are bright and lively, and Cole’s depiction of the many animals on the farm allow so much character and personality to shine through, particularly in the exaggerated facial expressions.
When #thebigone and I read the book together, he got such a kick out of the hens getting all fancy, trying to look as good as a peacock. Seeing those chickens with bows & bangles seriously cracked him up, and provided the inspiration for our craft. You can use the three hens printable I designed to gussy up your own chickens too!
My son decided he wanted to color the picture using colored pencils, because he thought using a lot of brown tones in a messy sort of way would make the hens look ‘more real.’ How your family colors their images is up to you- crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint- they’d all work just fine. Once he was done coloring, #thebigone gathered some supplies to make those chickens gorgeous. We had quite an assortment- shiny tape, strings of sequins, small beads, rhinestones, and glitter glue. Ribbons, bows, or lace are also great items to consider using. You very likely already have supplies that would work perfectly on hand, but a quick trip to your local dollar store can also help you stock up inexpensively.
Then, honestly, I just let #thebigone go at it. It’s nice to provide fairly open ended opportunities for creating, and although this did have a predetermined end product, I was happy to let him take total creative control of the decorating process. He got to work a bit on some scissor skills, trying to cut tricky strands of sequins, and also spent some time fumbling a bit with that shiny tape, which is tough to tear. Squeezing the glitter glue is great for hand strength, and although it’s tough to see, #thebigone used glitter glue to write initials on the chickens, so he practiced his handwriting a bit as well.
We had a lot of fun with this book & craft, and we hope you enjoy it too! Feel free to tag me on social media if your family works on this project- I’d love to see your fancy hens too!
If you’re hunting for the accompanying printable, you’re in the right place!
You’ll find other craft ideas to celebrate Picture Book Month right here!
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The 25 Books Of Christmas & How We Make It Work
A few years ago, we introduced our favorite Christmas countdown activity to #thebigone. We love it, and it’s one of the few holiday traditions we repeat each year. It’s a popular tradition called ‘The 25 Books of Christmas’. I wrap up 25 holiday themed books sometime in November – or October if I really get my act together! When December rolls around, he can open a book to read each evening. It’s a great tradition as it helps build excitement about the upcoming holiday, encourages family reading time, and can help build your home library.
OUR FIRST FEW YEARS OF THE 25 BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS
The first year we tried out this advent calendar, I purchased a mix of new and used holiday themed books to wrap. #thebigone was still pretty young at that point, and his library was nothing like it is today. As a result, buying new books almost felt like a necessity. The following year, I decided to try wrapping a mix of holiday books we already owned, and some I purchased second hand. #thebigone was NOT having it. We took pictures that year as he opened his books each evening. You can VERY clearly tell which books are new to him and which are not, based on a real smile vs. a fake smile. Every time he opened one he already owned, he would remind me, in his matter of fact three year old way, “Mommy. My books are for reading. They are not for wrapping. Stop doing this.” [Sassy from the very start, this kid.]
> Old cell phone photos, comin’ atcha! Makes you appreciate how far we’ve come! <
ANOTHER TRY AT THE 25 BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS
So the following year, we switched back to wrapping 25 books he had never seen before. That continues to be the way we enjoy the 25 Books of Christmas at our house. Before you ask, yes, we own A LOT of holiday books. We pack them away January through November. It’s always fun to open the boxes when the holiday season begins. We love to sort through them, and find favorites we haven’t read in a while.
MAKING THE 25 BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS WORK FOR YOUR FAMILY
At this point, I buy only used books, because even I can’t justify the expense of 25 brand new books every December. (And I can almost always justify book shopping- just ask my husband!). If you’re interested in beginning this tradition with your family, here are some ideas about how you can get it started without blowing your holiday budget OR overloading your bookshelves this December.
1. Diversify
Sure, we like to make all of the books in our advent activity fit the holiday theme, but it’s not a necessity. You can always look for great deals on books about all sorts of topics. They’ll work well, and you’ll still be setting aside special time each evening for family reading & bonding. Alternatively, while we always do holiday themed books, they aren’t necessarily only Christmas books. When I find cute books about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year’s, I pick them up. It’s a perfect opportunity to add cultural diversity and awareness to your holiday season.
2. Hope For A Flexible Kid (in Other Words, Not Mine!)
There’s no reason you have to introduce 25 new books each year. If your kids aren’t as choosy as mine, you can save time and space by wrapping 25 books you already own. Choose the books earlier in the year (July or August works well), and set them aside so there’s a break in reading them. This helps the books feel extra special when they’re unwrapped in December.
3. Buy Used & Start Early
Used books are as much fun to unwrap, read, and share as the brand new ones. I regularly score great books at amazing prices at garage sales, thrift shops, Craig’s List, local mom swaps groups on Facebook, library book sales, and kid’s resale shops. The Savers in my area offers ‘buy 4 books, get 1 free’ deals. The Once Upon A Child near me has a ‘buy 5 books, get 5 books free’ policy. You can save a ton by checking these options early and often. Don’t wait until the last day of November to start hunting! Things will be pretty picked over by then.
4. Host A Book Swap
Do you have friends or family who would like to start this tradition as well? Why not get together each year to trade books? The more the MERRIER! [Get it?! MERRIER?! Christmas?! Ha!] Make some group decisions before getting together. Will you only swap holiday themed books, or does anything go? Do you leave the same number of books you came with? Who chooses first, or is it a free-for-fall? This is a great option to save some cash and cut down on the books you need to store at home.
5. Check Your Local Library
Short term free book ‘rentals’ from your library is a great to minimize costs and clutter during the holidays. (Not everyone needs 25 books on top of all the new toys and gifts making their way under the tree as well). The library has access to a wide variety of books on any topic. You’ll have a great selection of books celebrating all the winter holidays to choose from. You can probably check the catalog online and place holds on titles you want so you walk in to grab them. (Or just go wander the stacks! It’s fun, I swear!) Keep a list in a safe place of the books you have checked out and when they’re due. You’re less likely to accrue late fees or misplace books that way. Renew your books online midway through the month if necessary. And be sure not to mix the books in with your own shelves of books!
What fun Christmas countdowns does your family do every December? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
Essentials You May Need…
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Our Four Gifts Of Christmas + Printable Tags
It’s that time of year again! The stores are crowded with busy shoppers trying to cross items off their lists – without overdoing it. When #thebigone was our only child, my husband and I had a tendency to spoil him more than necessary on Christmas morning. We did try to choose gifts that were reasonably priced and things we hoped he would use often. After #thelittleone joined our family, we decided it was time to set some clear limits when it comes to holiday gift shopping. For Christmas 2015 we implemented the increasingly popular ‘four gifts of Christmas’ rule.
OKAY, IT’S ACTUALLY FIVE!
Technically we buy the kids each 5 gifts. We choose to ‘do the Santa thing’ in our home. I know it’s not for everyone, so no judgement either way – do what works for your family. Our Santa only brings a small gift for the kids. It’s never something big or expensive, and never the one thing they really want. We don’t want them to worry they will stop receiving gifts when they stop believing in the big guy.
Pause For A Mama Side Note
This is very possibly #thebigone’s last year believing in Santa. He asked me last week if Santa is real, and I pulled the ‘what do you think?’ trick out of my back pocket. Long story short, he’s fairly certain Santa may not be legit. IF he isn’t, it’s definitely the elf on the shelf eating the cookies, drinking the milk, and bringing the gifts. So yeah, I may be moving that elf every December for a LONG time to come. Sigh.
BACK TO THE FOUR GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
The most common categories of the 4 gifts tradition are:
- Something you want.
- An item you need.
- Something you’ll wear.
- A book that you’ll read.
With my kids, I find that something they need, will wear, and will read is simple. I mean, I could buy my kids something (or MANY things) to read at the drop of a hat, no holiday or special occasion needed. When shopping last year, I found myself a bit torn on the something they want portion of the gift. I don’t know about your kids, but mine are SO incredibly loved by their extended families. This typically translates into ‘overindulged’ during the holidays. And of course I want my kids to have some of the things they want. But I also know that their many grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, etc. are going to go above & beyond in delivering those things to them.
HERE’S OUR TWIST ON THE FOUR GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
So my husband and I decided to make a small tweak to our four gifts. We changed ‘something they want’ into ‘something they’ll play with’. This gives us the chance to really think about our boys’ personalities and interests. We can make a choice together about something we think our children will truly enjoy. We have the opportunity to help steer their interests a bit. Maybe there’s a game or toy they’ve never considered that we know they’d love. My husband & I can choose our favorite art supplies or building blocks from our childhoods, and share those with our little ones. Maybe we think the gazillion Pokemon cards that already live at our house are plenty. Instead we can choose a similar sort of fantasy card game produced by a young local artist for #thebigone to unwrap on Christmas morning instead. [Spoiler alert for this Christmas. Nobody tell him!]
We know those are probably not the things either boy would name when writing a Christmas wish list, but that’s okay! There is such a feeling of warmth & affection when you unwrap a gift that was chosen just for you, that’s perfect for you- and isn’t something you asked for. I want my kids to know that feeling well. You hear so much about how much better it is to give than to receive. Of course, that’s very true, and not just at the holidays. But #thebigone is six so let’s face it. When you’re six and it’s Christmas, receiving is likely a bigger deal to you than giving… This gives us the opportunity to help our children become gracious recipients of gifts. Boys who can open something they definitely never asked for, but still say thank you and appreciate the thought that went into selecting that item for them.
If you’re interested in wrapping up ‘4 gifts with a twist’, for your kiddos this year, you can grab the cute printable gift tags I created below. Happy shopping, and merry giving!
> > > Basic Brights Printable Tags < < <
> > > Warm Tones Printable Tags < < <
> > > Cool Tones Printable Tags < < <
Do you have a system you use when holiday shopping for your children? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Essentials You May Need…
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Read & Think: The Christmas Giant
Like many other mamas I know, I have to confess to thoroughly enjoying a nice trip to Target. I love wandering the aisles and seeing what the design partnerships & licensing products they stock have put together recently. When I was still earning my design degree, a alum came back to talk to us about her career designing home goods for Target, and I remember thinking to myself, ‘Yup. She is livin’ the dream!’.
When I was browsing some of the holiday books offered at our local library, I came across Steve Light’s The Christmas Giant. I immediately fell in love with the illustrations, and happily pulled the book down to look through it more closely. It took a few read-throughs of the book before I realized why I was so drawn to the images in the book- they reminded me of the wrapping paper I had been trying to justify purchasing at Target last week. [For the record, I didn’t purchase the wrapping paper. Yet. But it’s not even December yet, so no promises!] Both the wrapping paper and The Christmas Giant feature graphic, rustic drawings that have an almost etched/woodblock print look to them.
And really, because I love art and design so much, I’m usually guilty of judging a book by it’s cover (at least I can admit it), so The Christmas Giant was checked out right away. The story follows two of Santa’s helpers, Humphrey the giant and Leetree the elf, who have another one of my dream jobs- they make the wrapping paper for the North Pole workshop. The two friends work well together, despite the obvious disparities in their sizes, and when things go wrong, they problem solve as a team and find a way to save the day.
After #thebigone and I had read through the book, we talked a bit about what made Leetree & Humphrey well suited for the jobs they did. We talked about the difference between huge people and smaller people, and how they might be stronger at some tasks and weaker at others based on their stature. #thebigone spent a few minutes thinking about what other sort of responsibilities might be best suited to a tiny elf like Leetree, and then did a little writing and drawing on the topic.
What sorts of jobs do your kids think an elf would be best equipped for? Use the free printables as an extension of the book, to encourage some creative thought, writing, and drawing.
What did they come up with? I’d love to know, so please share in the comments, or tag me on social media!
Here’s a goldmine of the great activities to enhance reading time with your children.
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Elfie Printable For Memoirs Of An Elf Story Time
We’re big fans of seasonal & holiday books at our house. We have so many books in the kids’ home library that I’m always happy to have a collection of books that we rotate in & out throughout the year. (Honestly, we’d run out of room on their shelves if I wasn’t able to pack some away 11 months out of the year!) Only bringing them out when the holiday is approaching also helps the books keep some of their ‘magic’. It gives us some old favorites to look forward to re-reading as we start feeling festive. This year, one of the books we are thrilled to pull out again is Memoirs Of An Elf.
READING MEMOIRS OF AN ELF
Memoirs Of An Elf was written by Devin Scillian and illustrated by Tim Bowers. The book was new to us last December. #thebigone enjoyed it many times through out the month before we packed up our Christmas books for the year. He’s a boy that really embraces technology. As a result, the idea of Santa’s elves snapping ‘elfies’ with cell phones delighted him. The illustrations are especially playful. There are expressive, impish faces on all the elves. Bright colors fill the pages. Perspective shifts at some points in the book, which keeps the story interesting and engaging for the reader.
take YOUR OWN memoirs of an elf ‘elfie’
After reading this favorite book again this year, we talked about how fun it would be to ride on Santa’s sleigh. We would definitely want to use our cell phone to snap some ‘elfies’. Using the free printable illustration I created to accompany the book, #thebigone drew how he would look as an elf. (Scroll down to grab your own ‘elfie’ printable!)
Honestly guys, I can’t lie at Christmas time. My kid said he would be an ‘attack elf’. #thebigone wouldn’t offer a lot of clarification on what that meant or what he would attack. I’m hoping it’s Grinches, Scrooges, and the like. His attack elf grin is kiiiiiind of the stuff of nightmares. But kids will be kids, and at least he’s using his imagination… Right?
> > > Don’t Forget Your Own Elfie Printable! < < <
What kind of elf do you think your kiddos would be? Let me know in the comments below!
Some Essentials You May Need…
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER MONTHLY BOOK CLUB IDEAS:
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Ease Holiday Stress with Thanksgiving Adult Coloring Sheet
I don’t know about everyone else out there, but when adult coloring books became a thing, I was psyched! I LOVE crafting and being creative with my kids, as well as on my own in my ‘adult’ life . (If you can call arguing with #thebigone about whether he should be allowed to drink coffee, and binge watching Netflix after the kids are in bed an adult life). Articles are popping up all over talking about how calming & meditative coloring is, and what a creative outlet it can be. A quick stroll through your local bookstore, and you’ll see an overwhelming assortment of adult coloring books, colored pencils and markers. Sitting down with a little mindless coloring is the perfect way to unwind when life is getting hectic. For most of us, as the holidays loom, life is about to get very hectic!
Keep Calm & Color On
Not surprisingly, since my 6 year old is fairly convinced he’s already basically a grown up, he’s jumped on board with the trend too. He used some of his birthday money to buy himself his own adult coloring books & colored pencils. He’s a very artistic kiddo, and really, does a pretty great job on his coloring when he sits down to work on it. It’s a great wind down activity that we let him do in his bed before he falls asleep. Give him some colored pencils, a clipboard, and a few adult coloring sheets, and he’s generally set for the night.
Currently, #thebigone is very into adult coloring pages of mandalas. His first grade teacher includes them in the ‘morning work’ choices for the class. When he saw that I was coloring a Thanksgiving mandala page I had created, he immediately wanted in on the activity, and requested that I print one for him too. (Ok, actually, he screamed “I love mandalas, where did you get that?!” But requested makes him sound more polite & civilized!) We spent some quiet time one evening hiding from a crabby baby in my office. It was lovely to color together and talk about our days.
Start Your Own Adult Coloring!
Don’t forget to grab the printable below. Make some copies to sit down & relax this week as the holiday (and it’s stress!) approach. You could also consider setting up a coloring station for the family on Thanksgiving Day. Several copies of the coloring page, some crayons, colored pencils, or markers, and you’ve got a great ‘wind down’ activity for kids and adults to work on simultaneously. It’s perfect for the break between dinner and dessert, or when family togetherness gets a little overwhelming. [My husband is one of eight. Sometimes you just need a little quiet time. I get it. No judgement here.]
> > > Wanna color too? Grab your own Thanksgiving mandala page! < < <
I would love to see what your mandala ends up looking like, so please feel free to email me pictures, or tag me on social media!
How Do You Fight The Stress Of The Holiday Season? Share Your Tips In The Comments Below!
Some Essentials You May Need…
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Creative Writing Inspired By Sophie’s Squash
We hit out local library the other evening. #Thebigone was happily engaged building with Legos, and my hubs was tailing #thelittleone as he explored. I seized the opportunity to stroll through the children’s section by myself! (The luxury!) I noticed Sophie’s Squash turned out on the shelf. It’s whimsical cover piqued my interest immediately. After thumbing through the book by Pat Zietlow Miller (author) and Anne Wilsdorf (illustrator), I knew at the very least it was coming home with us for a bit to be read.
READING SOPHIE’S SQUASH
#thebigone and I read it together one evening, and giggled together over how silly the story was. As we talked about what qualities would or would not make a good friend, he admitted that although he did think it was pretty silly to be best friends with a squash, he’d much rather play with one than actually eat one! [He’s going through a picky eater phase. Some weeks, he enjoys eggplant or mushrooms. Other weeks, ‘his taste buds have changed’ and he won’t touch them. We’ve entered a non-squash phase, apparently.]
WRITING INSPIRED BY SOPHIE’S SQUASH
Using the free printables I created, #thebigone took some time to do a little creative writing & drawing inspired by the book. He formulated his opinion on Sophie’s choice in a friend, and then drew a picture of Sophie & her BFF having a grand time together. That’s Sophie feeding Bernice a bottle, in case you can’t make out his masterpiece. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to grab your own printables!
Sophie’s Squash is a silly, sweet story about a little girl who is able to overlook the few ‘faults’ her bestie Bernice may have. It also makes a fabulous jumping off point to spark a discussion regarding what your child values in a friend, and why those are so important to consider when they’re choosing which acquaintances to spend time with. It’s seasonally perfect, as we dig into our sides of squash & sweet potatoes later this week, and give thanks for the friends in our lives who stand by us, and enrich our lives… Even if life gets a little rotten on occasion.
Have You Talked About How To Be A Friend With Your Child? Share Any Tips You Have In The Comments!
Grab your free printables, and get writing!
> > > Grab Your Sophie’s Squash Drawing Printable < < <
> > > Grab Your Sophie’s Squash Writing Printable < < <
