This week's projects are all inspired by some of our kids' favorite books. Each station has a copy of the book with a coordinating project. We tried to do projects that worked for kids of all ages. Here are the highlights:

Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans

We did two projects for Madeline. The first is a drawing inspired by the book's cover. Kids first use a Sharpie to draw the Eiffel Tower. Second, fill in the background with scribbles of oil pastel in various shades of green. Third, we created the perfect shade of teal watercolor using a mix of dried blue markers soaked in water and a few drops of liquid watercolor. Kids paint the background using the watercolor. It resists the oil pastel & Sharpie lines. Finally, kids cut out little hats to represent the "twelve little girls in two straight lines" & collage them on top.

Our second Madeline project uses fingerprints. Kids use their fingers to create the bodies & heads. We love Melissa & Doug's Rainbow Stamp Pad because it has a large surface area and is washable. Facial features are filled in using markers, and hats are created with scissors, glue stick and construction paper.

Little Blue Truck, by Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry

Little Blue Truck is both of our kids' favorites, so we had to include it. Kids first draw the Little Blue Truck (we are giving them a template, or they can free hand it). Next, kids will add all of the animals who help out the Little Blue Truck in the story & see how many they can pile in!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! By Mo Williams

This project we are giving kids Crayola Jumbo Crayons to help emulate the illustrator's line quality. These crayons are great for little hands to grasp.

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

We did a collage a monster station for this book. We set out markers, scissors, glue sticks and a big box of paper scraps.

I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen

For this project, we encouraged kids to draw the different animals from the book and cut them out. They create his red hat out of construction paper & glue it to a toothpick. The hat can be moved from animal to animal and kids can act out the book.

The Book With No Pictures, by BJ Novak

This book is a favorite of Anna's almost 5 year old. She giggles hysterically every time it is read. So, we thought kids can make their own book with no pictures and force adults to say whatever funny statements they want!

Storytime & Craft

We read Harold & the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson & encouraged kids to use their imagination to draw a world they want to play in. We gave all the kids purple drawing materials to use.

Book Week!