Windblown

“Windblown”

In this cumulative story, beginning with one windblown gray circle, paper scraps are blown. 

The narrator asks, “Whose are these? Where did they come from?” 

The chicken says, “They’re mine!” 

The papers transform into different animals, which declare that the scraps belong to them. Then the wind blows all the scraps into the air and asks the reader, “What will you make?”

This book promotes creative components of imagination, flexible thinking and fluency.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because the reader can use his/her imagination to think about what the paper scraps will form before turning the page. 

TITLE: Windblown

AUTHOR: ÉdouardManceau

ILLUSTRATOR: ÉdouardManceau

Translated by: Sarah Quinn

PUBLISHER: Owlkids Books Inc., 2013

AGE GROUP: 3-6

TOPIC(S): shapes, animals

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: imagination, flexible thinking, fluency

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) Cut different shapes from scraps of paper. Use your imagination to create different things from these scraps.

2) Play tangram games at Math is Fun website:

https://www.mathsisfun.com/games/tangrams.html

3) Do this activity based on the book: http://www.owlkidsbooks.com/Portals/0/docs/windblown-activity.pdf

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author/illustrator Édouard Manceau, visit:

https://www.abramsbooks.com/contributor/edouard-manceau_11558707/

Animal Camouflage

“Animal Camouflage: Search and Find”

Intro: Welcome to an animal adventure that will take you all around the world.

Inside the nature scenes of paper-cutting artist Sarah Dennis, readers will find animal characters that represent seven regions of the world. Before beginning the animal search, learn about the animals.

Now it’s time to search for the animals!

How many Asian animals did you find? Check out this book to discover additional animals from New Zealand, South America, the North Pole, and more.

This book promotes creative components of discovery and nature.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because it teaches readers about animals from around the world in a playful, engaging manner.

TITLE: Animal Camouflage: Search and Find

AUTHOR: Sam Hutchinson

ILLUSTRATOR: Sarah Dennis

PUBLISHER: Princeton Architectural Press, 2017

AGE GROUP: 4-6

TOPIC(S): animals, habitats

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: discovery, nature

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) What’s your favorite animal? Spend some time researching it and its habitat. Then, using your research, draw your animal in its habitat in such a way as to hide your animal for others to search and find.

2) Try your hand at kirigami, which involves paper folding and cutting with scissors.

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author/publisher Sam Hutchinson, visit:

https://www.thebookseller.com/futurebook/5-things-inspiring-b-small-publishings-sam-hutchinson-right-now-954081

To learn more about paper-cutting artist Sarah Brown, visit:

Sarah Brown of Questionable Press Will Display 1,529 Paper Fish at Arts West

Mary Had A Little Lizard

“Mary Had A Little Lizard”

Best friends Mary and Lizard do everything together. When school starts, Lizard grabs his collar and leash.

But Lizard is not allowed to go to school with Mary. When he sees Mary’s open backpack, he sneaks inside.

And surprises Mary.

At school, Mary hides Lizard in her cubby but Lizard has other plans. Classroom chaos soon ensues.

Read this wordless picture book to find out what happens next.

This book promotes the creative component of originality.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because the author/illustrator Kayla Harren does such a great job of storytelling through her expressive characters and clever take on the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

TITLE: Mary Had A Little Lizard

AUTHOR: Kayla Harren

ILLUSTRATOR: Kayla Harren

PUBLISHER: Sky Pony Press, 2017

AGE GROUP: 3-6

TOPIC(S): going to school, friendship

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: originality

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) Rewrite your own version of a nursery rhyme such as Humpty Dumpty. Think about changing the setting, switching one of the characters or altering the final outcome.

2) Lizard and Mary loved painting. Create handprint art. Dab the palm and fingers of your hand with paint. Then press onto a blank sheet of paper. When your print has dried, add other elements to it to change it into something else like a spider or fish or even a lizard.

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author/illustrator Kayla Harren, visit:

http://www.kaylaharren.com