This week we rediscovered Julia Donaldson’s The Rhyming Rabbit, a sweet and funny story about a rabbit who loves to create poetry! Of course with a great example like that, how could we not explore some great poetry activities?
2. Word Association AND Splatter Art
3. I Am As… Template and Examples
4. Poetry Books to Get Your Juices Flowing!
Have fun rhyming, friends!
Guys, I get to read a lot of good books here at the store. It’s one of the (many) perks to working at Kids Nook. But this little gem by Julia Donaldson is definitely in my Top 5 favorites. Rhyming Rabbit may seem like a silly book designed with glitter to attract readers, but the story is perfect for those of us who love what words can do.
The Rhyming Rabbit by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Lydia Monks
I remember when I was a little girl I used to be my mom and dad to let me camp out in the treehouse in our backyard. They said I could… but only if I brought my little brother! Ugh! What was I going to do?
That’s the exact question in today’s story: Pirates Aren’t Scared of the Dark! In this story we learn that not only should we include our siblings in our games to make them more fun, but that sometimes we’re going to be super grateful to have them around!
Pirates Aren’t Scared of the Dark!
By Maudie Powell-Tuck and Illustrated by Alison Edgson
Just like our friend Mouse, we love the moon at Kids Nook. Not only is it beautiful to look at during the night time, it plays an important role in how the Earth works! It helps with our environment, and it even helps keep the Earth at the perfect tilt.
If you’re like us, and you want to share this with your kids, then check out our links below!
I’ll admit, the first thing that drew me to this picture book was the cute sparkly cover. But this story is more than sparkling decorated pages: it’s a great story about friendship and learning to appreciate each other.
Mouse and the Moon
by M Christina Butler and Tina Macnaughton
Continue reading
Most of us are familiar with the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It’s an old legend that cautions listeners about the dangers of trusting strangers and/or not paying your debts, depending on which side of the story you fall on. Regardless, it’s a creepy story, and so when I saw Steven Kellogg had written his own version… Well, I could resist!
What I found was not necessarily the story of the Pied Piper we all know, but rather a beautiful tale about the power of words, names, and having a kind heart.
The Pied Piper’s Magic
by Steven Kellogg
Some days are just no good, and that’s fine! We all have those moment when we just want to sit inside and pout. But while we may want to do this, it’s never a good idea to make a habit out of it, or to ignore the efforts of our friends to cheer us up.
Today’s story is about a bear who stayed inside and pouted for too long: Gruff the Grump. Take a look and see what happens to this Grumpy bear!
“Gruff the Grump”
Written by Steve Smallman, Illustrated by Cee Biscoe
Continue reading
One of the most popular children’s book authors out there right now is Oliver Jeffers. He was the illustrator for The Day the Crayons Quit, and the creator of How to Catch a Star and, my favorite, This Moose Belongs to Me. This week we’re taking a look at one of his books of a different ilk: The Heart and the Bottle, a story about loss, grief, and finding your heart again.
The Heart and the Bottle
by Oliver Jeffers
I’ll admit: I was definitely that kid who loved to make things up as she walked around her small town. The tunnel under the bridge was full of magic creatures and it was totally possible that trolls lived in our playset. It was a way to liven up my world, but also to face my own fears.
The star of our book today, Ruby, has the same way of seeing the world. But how will she cope when she has to face something she’s never seen before?
Ruby’s School Walk
by Kathryn White and Miriam Latimer
Continue reading
This week we’re sharing some thoughts on one of our favorite activities at Kids Nook: Storytelling!
In today’s world when kids know how to operate an iPad before they can even walk, storytelling is an important tool in helping develop a child’s imagination and play. Imagining a magical world of stories and fighting with witches, giants and pirates is something attractive and fun for all children. Through oral storytelling, parents can not only engage a child’s mind through listening and imagination, but they can create a special memory that their children will always treasure.
Like with most activities, children respond well to rituals and structure. Taking care to create an atmosphere for storytelling will go a long way in making this time with your children a special one. For example, use an old carpet or a blanket to “fly” to story land. Make horse noises or clap when the character in the story is walking or running. At Kids Nook we use sticks to create rhythms for silly songs we make up, but clapping can also do the trick.
If you don’t have a lot of faith in your storytelling abilities, then get your kids involved! They probably have a lot of ideas about what an elephant or a snake sounds like, and you can ask them for their help in telling the story. For example, whenever you mention a Big Bad Wolf, ask them to make some kind of noise or motion that goes with it. That keeps them involved while you’re talking.
Another tool is to break up the story into different parts. Most traditional stories can be divided into three parts (check out Jim Henson’s The Storyteller for examples), and you can use these natural cliffhangers to your advantage. In Cinderella, when you reach the part where the evil stepsisters go off to the ball and leave Cinderella alone… stop. Ask your kids if they want to hear the rest of the story, or if they just want to leave it at that. Most children will want to continue.
Some parents might be concerned with how scary some of these old stories can be. They’re worried that their children will be scared by the things they hear. This is a valid concern of course, and you can choose stories at your discretion. However one way of handling this is to give your child an “invisibility cloak.” Give them a special blanket that they can wrap around themselves, and tell them it will keep them safe from any bad guys they might meet in the story. This way the children can listen to the story safely, as an observer.
Storytelling is a fun activity for both parents and children. It gives children the attention they crave from their parents, and it creates special memories for them. In today’s culture, when it’s easier to hand your child a tablet, taking some time to explore magical worlds and having daring adventures together will have a huge impact on your children and your relationship to them.
Kids Nook 