It Came in the Mail ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

It Came in the Mail
By Ben Clanton
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016)

Who doesn't love mail and wish for something exciting to show up in the mail box?

Liam does, that's for sure. But, as he put it, after checking daily (and more), he got diddly-squat.

After an idea brainstorm, Liam decided he needed to write some mail in order to get some. So Liam wrote a letter to his mailbox and asked for something BIG.

The mailbox delivered.

And delivered. And delivered. Until finally, Liam had so much mail, he had a different problem to solve.

I love It Came in the Mail. Lots of wonderful illustrations filled in the blanks and added details for readers to enjoy. Liam and his buddy, Jamel, were fun characters. The common thread of a childhood wish (to get mail, just like a grown-up) was solved in a very inventive way!

Readers will love It Came in the Mail. Who knows? Maybe your child will even want to write a letter to the mailbox. Just be prepared for an answer.

KID KANDY:

Write a Letter

Materials: writing paper, pencil, crayons, envelope, stamp

1. Choose the person (friend, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, dad, mom, or the mailbox) for whom you want to write a letter.

2. Write a letter to that person.

3. Decorate the letter.

4. Fold the letter and place it in the envelope. Ask an adult to help you address the envelope and place the stamp in the correct place.

5. Mail the letter.

6. Wait.

7. Check the mailbox for an answer. Every day.

P.S. You can write more letters while you are waiting. Or draw pictures of what you think you will get in the mail. Or use your imagination to think of things you'd like to see come out of the mailbox.

Getting mail is so much fun! I'd love to hear what showed up in your mailbox!

This Is My Dollhouse ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

This is what a homemade dollhouse looks like.

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

This Is My Dollhouse
By Giselle Potter
(Schwartz & Wade Books, 2016)

I've always loved dollhouses, so I was instantly attracted to This Is My Dollhouse.

A young girl uses an old box, craft materials, and toys to create and decorate her own dollhouse. Her imagination is in full swing as she makes food, clothes, and props for the little family that lives in her dollhouse.

Her friend, Sophie, also has a dollhouse. It is a fancy store-bought dollhouse with pretty furniture and a family. When the girl goes to visit Sophie and play with the dollhouse, their imagination is stilted and comes to a stand still.

After seeing Sophie's dollhouse, the girl is afraid of showing her own dollhouse to her friend. But one day, when Sophie came to play, Sophie discovered the hidden house and was delighted. Many hours of creative play followed and the girl was once again pleased with her own dollhouse.

I don't think this book is against store-bought dollhouses at all, but rather This Is My Dollhouse celebrates creativity and ingenuity of those who build from scratch.

It was so much fun to see the creativity of the young girl and the way she used her imagination to create scenarios and adventures for her little family. This book will inspire little ones to create from miscellaneous materials found around the house.

This is a little sewing room I made in a wooden box. Can you find the tiny mouse?

KID KANDY:

Make A Dollhouse

Materials: box (any size will work), cardboard, paper scraps, fabric scraps, ribbon, markers, scissors, tape, glue, toy figures, wood scraps or blocks

1. Make a dollhouse. You can use ANY type of container to make a little house. I once made one from a teapot! Cut cardboard and paper to make walls and floors. Ask for help in cutting a door and windows.

2. Use craft scraps and other materials to decorate your house. Add curtains, rugs, furniture, and whatever else you want. Use markers to add color.

3. Make your little family comfortable. Cut blankets, clothes, and other household necessities from your supplies.

4. Give your family (and their pets) names. You are now ready to imagine adventures for them!

P.S. This would be a fun activity to do with a sister, brother, or friend!

There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Instead of an old lady, a dragon swallows everything!

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight
By Penny Parker Klostermann
Illustrated by Ben Mantle
(Random House, 2015)

There used to be an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don't know why, but she swallowed that fly. Kids love to read and sing this silly song.

Now we can enjoy There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight.

A dragon, not a lady. A knight, not a fly.

I love this book!

Part nursery rhyme song, part fairy tale, part humor, part adventure. This picture book has it all. Sure the knight gets swallowed (along with many other fairy tale sorts), but what happens in the dragon's belly is quite comical.

Told in rhyme, There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight is a delightful and inventive take on the old stand-by. Never fear, the dragon does not die at the end.

KID KANDY:

Make-Believe Castle Fun

Materials: connecting blocks, horse, people figures, blue felt, dragon (or a large sock)

Make up your own story or use the items to retell There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight.

1. Build a castle with connecting blocks.

2. Choose people figures to be the knight, cook, squire, and lady. Add the horse and blue felt water.

3. Retell the story and let the dragon pretend to gobble up the other characters in the story. Or put your arm in the sock and pretend it is the dragon grabbing things to eat.


What other things could the dragon eat? Make sure he burps at the end and spits out everyone!

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

The cow who climbed a tree!

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree
Story and Illustrations by Gemma Merino
(Albert Whitman & Company, 2015)

Aha! Who wouldn't love a cow who climbed a tree?

And why would this cow climb a tree anyway? Really? Just picture it.

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree is a wonderfully illustrated book about a cow who was insatiably curious. About everything.

Her sisters? They were only interested in grass.

But this cow had more exciting things on her mind. What about this? Or that? Why not this?

One could say that this cow, Tina, had a great and wondering imagination, to which her sisters always replied with scorn: Impossible, ridiculous, nonsense.

But The Cow Who Climbed a Tree did not give up.

I love this story about a cow who kept dreaming and exploring and doing in spite of the lack of belief from those around her. I think young readers will be encouraged to hold onto and follow their dreams regardless of what others think.

Go, Cow!

KID KANDY:

Climb a Tree
(If you don't have a tree, paint one with watercolors! I fell in love with the illustrations in this picture book. Paint me a tree like Gemma did!)

Head outside and find a strong, tall tree. Make sure you have good pants and a shirt on to protect your knees and skin.

Climb that tree! Pretend you are Tina, a cow, and you are going to climb that tree. Of course you don't have a tail or cloven hooves, but you can pretend!

Look for finger and toe holds. Rest against the trunk and sitting on top of branches. Watch out for pitch - it's very sticky. See how high you can get before you are too far.

Was it fun?

I used to be a champion tree climber. I've put holes in many a pair of pants from stray branches and broken off bits. And it was never as easy getting down as it was getting up. So do be careful.

Stars ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Stars

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Stars
By Mary Lyn Ray
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
(Beach Lane Books, 2011)

I love shapes! Stars are one of the first shapes that children learn to identify. Stars and hearts.

This beautiful picture book is about stars.

Stars tells about stars - the shape, the stars in the sky, the stars in your hand, and the way stars can be used to have fun. A star can make you a sheriff, a princess, or a magical fairy with a wand.

But what about other stars? Flower stars that become favorite fruits, frozen stars that give us snow, and paper stars that mark special days are all different kinds of stars that mean something wonderful is going to happen!

Readers will love the creative imagination and ideas about stars they find in Stars.

KID KANDY:

Make Stars

Stars are sort of difficult to make, but once you learn how, they are fun and easy.

Materials: paper, scissors, markers, glitter glue, scrap paper, sticks, tape, ribbon

Here is how you draw a star.

How to draw a 5-pointed star

Or you can cut out 2 triangles, put one upside down on the other, and make a different star!

How to make a 6-pointed star with 2 triangles

Cut out and decorate your star. I always love to add glitter glue to make things sparkle and shine!

What can you do with a star?

- Tape your star to a stick for a wand or decoration.
- Display your star on the fridge.
- Give your star to a friend.
- Make a hat or crown with your star.
- Put your star on the calendar to mark a special day (your birthday?).
- Hang several stars on ribbon to make a wall decoration.

Have a starry day!

The Whisper ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Enchanting picture book where the reader gets to help tell the stories.

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

The Whisper
Written and Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015)

The Whisper is a magnificent book that encourages readers to use their imagination.

A young girl who loves stories borrows a special book from her teacher. Once she gets home, she discovers that the words have disappeared! Encouraged by a whisper, she rereads the book and imagines the stories told by the illustrations. A surprise visit from Mr. Fox tells where the words have flown.

Told through minimal text and delightful illustrations, The Whisper allows readers to concentrate on the images and after a short introduction to a possible story line, complete the tale to their own liking. Each two-page spread offers the opportunity to make up a new story.

Readers will love the colorful illustrations and creating their own tales when they read The Whisper.

KID KANDY:

Look at Art and Make Up Your Own Stories

1. First, look at paintings, sculptures, or works of art. Really study them. You can even look at calendar pages, book covers (without reading the story inside), or photos.

2. Next, ask some questions.

- Who is in the art?
- Do you see people or animals?
- Where does the art take place? Outside, inside, at dinner, bedtime?
- What is happening?
- Why is it happening?
- What feelings can you see or feel when you look at the art?
- What problem is going on?

3. Now, make up a story about the art.

For example, I have a calendar page of a large rabbit, beautiful flowers, and a dragonfly. It almost looks like the dragonfly is friends with the rabbit and one is whispering to the other. Why? I think perhaps the rabbit has lost a friend and the dragonfly is helping to find the friend. "Look, over there," he flutters, "see those purple flowers? I think I see shiny eyes and long ears." Maybe the eyes and ears are not a friendly rabbit, but a wily fox!

And then I could keep imagining the story of the rabbit and the dragonfly, adding problems and adventures and changes.

Look around you. Choose a picture you can use to imagine a story. Go ahead.

Tell me. I want to enjoy your story, too!

Vincent and the Night ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Vincent and the Night
by Adele Enersen
(Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015)

Vincent has decided he is not sleepy. Anyone who has had a baby will know the trouble this can cause.

But not only is Vincent very smart, he is also naughty and imaginative.

Using clever and adorable photos with pen and ink illustrations, Enersen has crafted a wonderful story about the shenanigans Vincent enjoys as he avoids going to sleep.

I love this book! The photos of Vincent are perfectly matched to what he is engaged in as he stays wide awake . . . until the very end where a worn out Vincent finally puts on his jammies and goes to sleep.

Vincent and the Night is a book about a baby, but also a book about creativity, art, expressions, bedtime, and family. Readers will love this book and be inspired to make their own version.

KID KANDY:

Draw Your Own Photo + Pen Illustration

1. Ask your parent for a photo of yourself as a baby (or a child).

2. Carefully trim around your body so only your body is in the photo. Use double-sided tape to attach your photo to cardstock.

3. Imagine. Daydream. Brainstorm.

What do you want your photo baby (or child) to be doing? Think about how that looks.

4. Use a pen (or pencil if you want to erase) to draw the background and props around your photo body. What are you holding? Eating? Sitting or standing on? What does the room (or yard) look like?

5. Add details so the entire page is filled.

There. Now you have your own Vincent at night. Except it's you, not Vincent.

You and the Night.

That was fun wasn't it? If you had fun, you can sign up to receive future posts in your email (or the email of your mom or dad) inbox. That would be awesome, wouldn't it?

Thanks! Good-night!

Please, Papa ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Please, Papa
By Kate Banks
Pictures by Gabi Swiatkowska
(Frances Foster Books, 2013)

Calm, old-fashioned illustrations tell the story of Alice and her attempts to build (and populate) a farm in the middle of her bedroom.

Please, Papa is an adorable story of Alice, a young child, who uses her imagination to play and create. In her real life, Alice learns the importance of using manners and saying, "Please." Farm animals are added two her barnyard, but when it comes to a horse, there is none to be found. Using her manners, Alice finds a way to get a horse.

Readers will be delighted at Alice and her interactions with her family, her play time, and her creative play. I love the feel the illustrations lend to the simple text.

KID KANDY:

Build a Farm in Your Bedroom

Can you be like Alice and build a farm?

~ Dig out the barn (or build one).

~ Does your farm need a tractor or people?

~ Add some animals (or ask for some - are they real or imagined?).

~ Use your manners when asking for something and playing with others.

~ Do you need to pretend about some animals like Alice? Which animals?

~ Don't forget to feed the animals!


Thank you for playing!

A Rock Can Be . . . ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

A Rock Can Be . . .
by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrations by Violeta Dabija
(Millbrook Press, 2015)

Rocks! I love rocks.

A Rock Can Be . . . is a fantastic book about many of the things that are made of rock or from rocks. Not only are the ideas of things made with rocks wide and varied, they are clever, rhyming, and colorfully illustrated. Even I, an adult, was reminded about objects made from rock that I knew, but had forgotten as I have gone about my adult life.

A Rock Can Be . . . is the perfect book for any child who loves nature. Especially those little ones who show up with pockets full of rocks or the kids who give you a special rock just found on a walk or in the backyard.

Rocks are amazing and everywhere. Read A Rock Can Be . . . to remind yourself about the importance of rocks.

KID KANDY:

Rock Walk

Rocks can be found anywhere. Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Play a game to see how many things made with rocks you can find. Play the same game when you travel or run errands with your parents.

Some other great places to look for rocks:

- the beach
- the mountains
- big cities
- old cities
- out in the country
- on the farm
- at playgrounds
- near rivers, streams, and lakes

Can you find examples of the things made from rocks found in A Rock Can Be . . . ?

Happy rock hunting!

Inside Outside ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Inside Outside
By Lizi Boyd
(Chronicle Books, 2013)

Clever cut-out windows play a part of two different story book pages in Inside Outside.

Inside Outside is a wordless picture book about things that happen inside and outside. Designed on brown craft look-alike paper, ink drawings and focused infusions of color draw attention to the inside and outside activities of the main character. I love this picture book and its simplicity and story about an industrious and creative child.

Inside Outside is full of ideas of things to do. I don't think that is the main purpose, but readers will be inspired about activities that could entertain and inspire children. The four different seasons are a part of the illustrations and activities in Inside Outside.

Young readers will love looking through the windows and cut-outs to discover how the pictures connect to both sides. Non-readers and readers alike will be engaged in this fun book.

KID KANDY:

What Is Outside and Inside Your Window?

Look out your window. What do you see? Does it change when you move?

Go outside. Look in your window. What do you see now? Do you need help to see inside the window?

Choose which way you prefer to look out (or in) the window. Draw a large rectangle on paper to make a window. Draw things inside the rectangle that you see through your window.

Use a different piece of paper to cut out a window. Hold it up and look through the paper window. What do you see?

Hold your thumbs to the opposite index fingers (the finger you use to point) to make a window. Walk around and look through the window made by your fingers. How does the view change when you are inside? Outside?

Where do you like to spend most of your time - inside or outside? Why?

Boom Snot Twitty ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Boom Snot Twitty
By Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Renata Liwska
(Viking, 2014)

Don't you just love the title of this book? Boom Snot Twitty. The title is what first caught my attention.

Boom Snot Twitty (a catchy phrase of funny words) is the story of three friends. Boom (the bear), Snot (the snail), and Twitty (the bird) had a lovely day stretched out in front of them. What to do, what to do?

Twitty got tangled, Bear was bored, and Snot was blown away. The wind, rain, and stormy weather arrived to make the situation even more exciting. Each friend had a different way to deal with the weather challenges. Who was the calmest? You might be surprised when you read Boom Snot Twitty.

Readers will enjoy the interplay between the characters and the companionship of the friends.

KID KANDY:

Float Some Stuff

In Boom Snot Twitty, Snot peacefully floats on a leaf. Can you find some things that will float like a leaf?

1. Fill a tub or a sink with water. Ask permission!

2. Hunt in your home for waterproof items. Probably anything made from paper is not a good idea.

3. Test your guesses. What floats? What does not float?

4. Repeat your experiment outside. Make sure to find some leaves. Can you get a small stick to float on top of a leaf? You could pretend the stick is Snot.

Playing in the water sure makes hot summer days fun, doesn't it?

The Eraserheads ~ Wacky Wednesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

The Eraserheads
By Kate Banks
Pictures by Boris Kulikov
(Frances Foster Books, 2010)

Ha-ha, you laugh. The Eraserheads. What in the world are eraserheads?

Exactly what they sound like - erasers that are shaped like animals (including their heads).

In The Eraserheads, three friendly erasers shaped like an owl, a pig, and a crocodile lived with a boy and his collection of pencils, papers, and assorted art supplies. Each animal had a specific expertise of erasing. Owl helped correct letters and words. Crocodile was good with numbers. Pig liked to eat and would erase anything.

One day, as the boy drew, the eraserheads watched with delight. The beach scene changed into different settings as the road traveled around the paper. Suddenly, the paper was full and the boy had to stop. But wait! Crocodile decided to give the boy extra room by erasing part of the road. That was a great idea, until the eraserheads became stuck in the middle of nowhere.

How did the eraserheads get back home? The ending will delight imaginative readers and artists alike.

KID KANDY:

Gather Your Own Eraserheads and Use Your Imagination

Hint: Back-to-school sales are the perfect time to stock up on erasers.

1. Collect erasers, pencils, paper, and other art supplies.

2. Name your erasers! How much fun is that? Perhaps each eraserhead could have a specific job just like the erasers in The Eraserheads.

3. Put your erasers and pencils to work. Start drawing and writing. You don't have to worry about mistakes. You have eraser friends!

What did you draw? What will happen next? What did you name your erasers?

I'd love to hear about your adventures.

One Monday Morning - Picture Book & KID KANDY

One Monday Morning
Written & Illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
(Macmillan/McGraw-Hill School Publishing Company, 1967)

It's all about days of the week.

On one rainy Monday, the king, queen, and prince went to visit a certain young boy. But he wasn't home.

So they came back the next day. And the next. And the next. For an entire week. Until the boy was home. By then the king's group was quite large.

The boy and the king had a grand visit.

Or did they?

The last illustration makes the reader stop to think about whether the king really visited. Or was the boy making up a story?

You will have to read to find out. (If you can't find this old book, comment below and I will tell you about the illustration and you can make up your own mind.)


KID KANDY:

Days of the Week Hopscotch

One of the goals of preschool and kindergarten is that the students learn the days of the week, preferably in order. There are many wonderful songs that help children acquire this knowledge. But what about a game?

Use chalk to draw a hopscotch board on the sidewalk. It must have 7 squares. A fun hopscotch that keeps the days in the correct order would be a circle hopscotch, where the circle continues on and on and on - just like a real week!

Start at the first square (or anywhere in the circle, which should have spaces in multiples of 7, so the week days keep going in order without leaving any out) and write Sunday. Add the days of the week in order, one in each space.

Play Days of the Week Hopscotch by hopping the days of the week, calling out the days as they are landed on. Or sing the days of the week as your child hops on the squares. Play forever and ever (as my granddaughter loves to say). Eventually, the days of the week will be down pat in your child's memory.


Angie Quantrell loves childhood games. She remembers hopscotch, Chinese jump rope, chasing boys, jump rope, building with rocks, and monkey bars blisters.

Morris's Disappearing Bag - Christmas Picture Books

Morris's Disappearing Bag
By Rosemary Wells
(Scholastic, Inc., 1975)

I absolutely love Morris's Disappearing Bag. What a fabulous book that showcases the imagination of children!

As the baby of the family, Morris is often overlooked and not included in play with his older siblings.

That is, until he discovers one overlooked present under the tree. A disappearing bag! Suddenly, his family social standing switches place with all siblings. And the fun begins.

The story and illustrations are perfectly married and give the gift of a wonderful story. Look for this book. And expect requests for disappearing bags to jump onto the Christmas list.

For added fun?

I can't advise you to locate disappearing bags, since I doubt they exist. Or do they?

But do add gifts of toys that encourage make believe play and the use of imagination. Your child's brain will thank you.