chapter book Archives - Page 77 of 83

Art For All Seasons: 40 Creative Mixed Media Adventures for Children Inspired by Nature and Contemporary Artists
by Susan Schwake (Author) and Rainer Schwake (Photographer)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

A well-thought-out handbook of nature-inspired art adventures that can be explored over and over with different results each time. Perfect for parents, teachers, grandparents or anyone working with children making art! The nature-based lessons are beautifully illustrated with more than 400 full-color photographs of the process and additional inspirational images of contemporary artists’ work. Included is information on how to set up a simple home studio, a comprehensive list of materials, how to display and save kid’s art work and ideas surrounding making art with others.

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

The GET READY! section introduces the Rainbow Shapes lesson on page 24:

Sitting at a window watching Spring rain fall in droplets in a fascinating way to pass the time. Each drop is formed in the air and when it hits the ground, the shape changes completely. You can capture this experience with a watercolor brush and watercolor paints on paper to “save for a sunny day.”

Nature’s inspiration is mentioned first:

Sitting at a window watching Spring rain fall in droplets in a fascinating way to pass the time.

Then the science is explained:

Each drop is formed in the air and when it hits the ground, the shape changes completely.

The paragraph ends with the art adventure:

You can capture this experience with a watercolor brush and watercolor paints on paper to “save for a sunny day.”

The promise made in the book title, Art For All Seasons, is clearly conveyed in the text.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

A Complicated Case
by Ulf Nilsson (Author) and Gitte Spee (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

There is something going on among the forest animals that’s making everyone unhappy. Detective Gordon and police assistant Buffy have a new case to investigate!

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

In chapter four, Buffy goes out to look for suspects. She sees the rabbit who ran away earlier:

“Hello!” she said.

“Help!” the rabbit jumped and shrieked. “No, I don’t want to talk to the police. That will only make it worse.”

Buffy sat down beside him. She patted him a little on his soft, fluffy coat which smelled of wool, carrots, and torn grass.

Notice the action and reaction:

“Hello!” she said.

“Help!” the rabbit jumped and shrieked.

The rabbit’s dialogue reveals more about the case that the little mouse is investigating:

“No, I don’t want to talk to the police. That will only make it worse.”

Buffy’s reaction to the rabbit’s information is unexpected. It is also filled with sensory details:

Buffy sat down beside him. She patted him a little on his soft, fluffy coat which smelled of wool, carrots, and torn grass.

Later in this mystery story, these sensory details are used as clues.