A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road
by Bonnie Christensen
(A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Book Press; 2013)

A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road is the delightful tale of a young girl who sends a small pebble with her father when he goes to trade their silk at the market. Mei desired that the pebble travel to the end of the trade road, but father did not go that far.

With childlike trust, Mei knew her father would find a way to send the pebble on its way to a child at the other end of the road.

And just like that, the jade-colored pebble was on its way, passed from hand to hand to the journey's end. Finally, the single pebble arrived at the end of the line when a pirate delivered the pebble to his son.

Readers will learn about the history of the Silk Road during the 9th century. Colorful illustrations and interesting characters will inform and engage readers of all ages. But don't imagine that this picture book reads like a history book. The story found in A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road is captivating.

KID KANDY:

Treasures

Mei sent her treasure, a beautiful pebble, to travel with others in a journey that she could not yet make. Mei wanted to give her pebble to a child at the end of the road.

What treasures do you have? Do you collect something (rocks, cars, dolls, stickers, or other things)?

Assignment: Go find beautiful pebbles.

1. Beaches are a wonderful place to find pretty rocks. River beds and streams are another great place to search for treasure.

2. Choose your favorite pebble. Do you have company or relatives visiting this summer? Give one of them the pebble and ask that the traveler give the pebble to a child at the end of the road.

3. Keep collecting pebble treasures. When you get the opportunity, send one of your treasures on a journey to the end of a new road.

Molly's Adventures in Missions - Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Molly's Adventures in Missions
Written by Joye Smith
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2009)

Molly's Adventures in Missions is a wonderful book that tells the story of Molly as she goes on her first missions trip. Molly learns about passports, trip preparation, and many of the things mission teams do when they go on missions trips in America and overseas. Molly is super excited to help others.

Molly's Adventures in Missions is the perfect book to read when you want to prepare your child to go on a missions trip. It can also be read to help your child understand what volunteer missionaries do on trips. I love how Joye Smith described the different ways we can help others - by going on trips ourselves or by supplying prayer, resources, and finances for others to go.

A missions lifestyle is embraced by Molly in this book. Just reading it makes me want to pack up and go!


KID KANDY:

Help a Missions Team

1. Find out who in your church is going on a missions trip.

2. Volunteer to help prepare for the trip. With your family, you can: gather supplies needed during the trip, collect items that will be given to help others (health items, baby things, etc.), give money to help pay for expenses, or help put together kits and materials.

3. Pray for the team member(s). Get specific prayer needs and post them at home. Let your child help you pray.

4. Get ready to hear all about the trip when they get back!


Maybe you and your family can go on a missions trip! You might have to wait for a few years, but that's ok. You can adopt a ministry in your city and do your own missions trips until everyone is old enough to go.

Or check out Familyfest, a missions experience geared towards families and children. Go to www.wmu.com/ and look under ministries to find out more.

And when you go, be sure to take Molly with you! She loves missions trips.

Molly traveled to France with us.

Terrific Tuesday - Molly Meets the Missionaries - Picture Book & KID KANDY

Molly Meets the Missionaries
By Rhonda Robbins-Reeves
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2010)

Meet Molly and Mikey, friends who travel the world meeting missionaries.

Written in rhyme, Molly and Mikey (an MK - missionary kid) explore and learn about some of the things missionaries and their families do around the world to tell about God. Bible thoughts are listed on each page and relate to the service being provided by missionaries or learned about by Mikey and Molly.

Flat Molly and Flat Mikey, paper doll figures at the end of the book, can be cut out (or copied and then cut out), laminated, and taken on trips. Be sure and take pictures of both of them when you stop to sightsee! Think of Flat Stanley and his adventures, except Flat Molly and Flat Mikey travel to tell and learn about Jesus.

Preschoolers and children will enjoy international travel and fun times with friends when they read Molly Meets the Missionaries.

KID KANDY:

Make a Clay Toy

Molly and Mikey learn about MK's in Malawi who make their own toys. Let's make a toy with clay!

1. Get some modeling clay. Choose a color and start warming it up by rolling and smashing it in your hands. It might take awhile, so keep on working hard.

2. Decide what type of toy you want to make - doll, ball, car, building, animal - or anything else you think would be fun.

3. Mold your clay into the shape. Don't worry if your toy is not exactly right. Just have fun making it.

4. Play with your toy! The neat thing about clay is you can always add to or adjust what you've made. Tools make clay fun - a fork, butter knife, or spoon can help you mold clay and make designs on it.

(If you want a toy that does not change shape anymore, use play dough and let it dry for several days.)

Wacky Wednesday - Around the World: An Amazing World (3-D) - Picture Book & KID KANDY

Around the World: An Amazing World, Photos in 3-D!
Written by Heather E. Schwartz & Tammi Salzano
Designed by Flora Chan
(Scholastic Inc., 2009)

Wacky Wednesday brings you 3-D fun!

Love to travel? See the sights? Learn a little bit about a new place? Wear funny glasses to improve the view?

Around the World: An Amazing World, Photos in 3-D! is the perfect book for you. Don 3-D glasses (included) and check out world famous international landmarks. This book includes a bit of history about each location, trivia, and tells where in the world each is found. 22 amazing attractions are included in this 48-page book. That should amuse and educate almost anyone.

Travel bugs, this is for you!

KID KANDY:

Time for a Visit

Younger children will enjoy looking at illustrations with the 3-D glasses. Older children will love the ease of internet connections to the live sites.

~ Let each child choose his or her favorite landmark.

~ Search online and find videos or additional images for your child's favorite locations.

~ Pretend you are going on a trip. What will you pack? What will you eat? See? Do?

~ Maybe, just maybe, you can go on a real adventure and visit those spectacular sites. It's worth a bucket list wish, right?

Angie Quantrell loves dreaming about traveling to different bucket list locations. Finding pictures and videos online are the next best thing to actually going in person. Maybe one day. Wanna go?