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I thought it would be fun to add a new series to the blog! My mission is to serve mothers by helping them connect to their children through photography and art education practices, so why not share some fun books and activities today?! Also I would estimate that Emme and I spend about 30-40% of her awake time reading books, so I have a lot of opinions! 😂 I’m by no means a literary expert nor do I have any literary background, but I am an art teacher by trade and I love incorporating books into art lessons. I will start posting my favorite books seasonally, starting with my favorite spring children’s books. Hopefully you’re able to snuggle up and do some reading with your babies while the COVID pandemic has us all staying home. 💕
Bird Hugs and The Pencil
These two are definitely two of my favorite books right now. “Bird Hugs” is about a bird whose arms are too long to fly, but he learns they can be used to hug! I love the underlying message of learning to love yourself and seeing perceived flaws as gifts. This could open up a really good conversation with an older child about loving ourselves as well as helping others to do the same. I would ask your child if they want to paint their favorite part about themselves after this, or if they want to create their own bird with wings that can hug!
“The Pencil” follows the journey of a pencil that creates his own world! I LOVE this book because it reminds me of actively observing a child drawing by asking probing and inviting questions about their work. It gives me flashbacks to my early childhood art education days! Plus, it makes me so excited for when Emme can draw. 😍 I would read this book to a child and then invite them to work with a pencil and see where it takes them! Even a toddler or tiny one. The act of drawing is about so much more than the finished product (I got a post about that coming for ya soon). Use a sketchbook with multiple pages or a long roll of paper so there are no limits! Ask them about their drawing with open-ended questions as they draw to invite further investigation with the pencil.
Bunny Books
I mean you can’t have too many bunny books in the spring, right? “I love you all the time” was actually a TJMaxx find back when I was stateside last summer. 🙌 It details all the things the caregiver bunny loves about the baby bunny! Ask your child to draw what they love the most about spending time with you. Or just have the conversation, and tell them what YOU love most about being with them. 💕
The “You’re my little Honey Bunny” book is part of a series that are some of my favorite quick-read books. The Cuddle Bug and Pumpkin Pie are others in the series. They are short rhyming reads with bright and fun illustrations. They also have raised sections and cut outs for sensory interest!
“That’s Not my Bunny” is part of an Usborne book series, and has different tactile pieces on each page/bunny. Emme likes to touch and taste all the bunnies. You could invite your child to create their own bunny using glue and different soft materials like cotton balls, fabric pieces, pompoms, etc. They could decide the shape or you can even pre-draw or print out a bunny silhouette to fill if you’re a little more Type-A. 😂
Classics
“The Runaway Bunny” is such a classic, sweet story (published in 1941, by the same female author who wrote Goodnight Moon!)! This was gifted to Emme by her great Aunt and Uncle and we love it. It follows a conversation between a mama bunny and baby bunny.
“The Mary Had a Little Lamb” finger puppet book is another classic, in a different way–what baby doesn’t love these finger puppet books! There are actually lot’s of different bunny finger puppet books, but we have this springtime classic instead. I think making finger puppets sounds like an excellent activity for quarantine. You can use toilet paper rolls as bodies (if you haven’t sold all your TP on ebay yet 😬), fold and tape the top closed and use paint or marker and maybe even pipe cleaners for arms.
Activity Books
These last two book are almost activity books! “What Did Bunny Hear?” s a cut-out texture book that is intended for tracing with fingers. AB See is a gorgeously illustrated book that I think would be really fun for toddlers+ to playfully read. You could invite them to seek particular objects within the illustrations. Then, I’d go for a classic game of I spy together. 🤗
Let me know if you do any of these book related activities, or tag on me on instagram @meganleighacosta 💖