Back in April we were part of a campaign to celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of our favourite books, Oliver Jeffers’ How To Catch A Star
This is a very special Matilda Mae book for us and I read it one year ago at the welly walk
For the campaign I shared ten (or maybe 11) activities linked to the book
There was one activity that I forgot to write up. I would like to share it with you now and give you the chance to win a hardback edition of this very special book as part of a beautiful boxed set
How To Catch A Star
Esther and William love painting and they love to make a mess
Because of this we often enjoy the process of art
And are not too worried about the end product
One sunny afternoon in April
William was busy playing trains
Esther and I did some very messy, sensory painting
With shaving foam and frozen pink and purple paint stars
To get started I put the easel in the garden
And filled a tray with shaving foam
We then added frozen paint stars and brushes to the mix
Esther was not very interested in the brushes
She wanted to use her hands
Together we popped the pink and purple paint stars out of the ice cube tray
And placed them in the foam
It was not long at all before the started to melt
Esther helped the melting process by warming the stars in her hands
And swooshing the paint around in the foam
She loved the feel of the gooey mixture on her hands
And spent a long time just playing with the foam and the ice
When Esther was ready she started to paint onto paper attached to the easel
She used the paint brushes for this part
As well as her painty fingers
Esther created a wonderful twirly whirly swooshy coloured page
She had such fun covering herself and the paper in paint
Making marks
Creating patterns and pictures
Enjoying the process
The doing of art
When Esther had had enough of painting pictures on paper
She decided to use one of the brushes
To paint a pebble pink
She worked so carefully
Painting the stone so delicately
I admired her focus and concentration
As she made pretty her stone
This was a lovely sunny April afternoon
And Esther spent a long time painting
And playing in the painty foam
She loved the pink and purple stars
We both loved the connection to Matilda Mae
We enjoyed the process of our messy art
It was a lovely way to spend some time together
Mummy and daughter
On a sunny Spring afternoon
And do you know what?
Our end products were not too shabby either!
If you have enjoyed our star inspired activities and would like your own hardback copy of How To Catch A Star all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling me which children’s book is special to you and why
The competition will close at midnight on 2nd December 2014 when I will choose a winner at random
UK Entrants Only Please (sorry Francoise x)
The winner will receive this box set collection of Oliver Jeffers’ stories including the award winning How To Catch A Star
In memory of Matilda Mae
Good Luck!
We love Lost and Found. Truly a fantastic book about making friends in unlikely places and circumstances, not to mention it has penguins, which makes it a winner in my sons eyes anyway!!
James and the Giant Peach is a special book for us because it was one of the first books I can really remember from my own childhood and just recently I read it to my daughter and now it’s her favourite story. So lovely to share that kind of connection xx
The BFG. It reminds me so much of my Gran and my childhood. I have yet to read it to my son but I’m sure he’ll love it when I do x
i love you this much. was the first book my hubby bought our daughter (before hse was even born)
For us it’s Puff the Magic Dragon. I’ve sung the song to him since he was born and now he loves looking at the picture book and we talk about the story. In our version, a little girl appears at the end, so the story isn’t as sad as the song.
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Our favourite bedtime book recently has been The Tiger who came for tea.’ I think this is a lovely book, and it’s one we read over and over again.
Xxx
I do love the Hungry Caterpillar, for some reason it reminds me of my childhood so I do love it when the boys want to have that story. x
So difficult to choose, but the first story my son really got in to and asked for time and time again (and still does!) is When the Dragons came, we know it off by heart now and enjoy with little brother too.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar because I received that book when I was a toddler and my mum kept it so when I had my own chidren, I could read it to them too! As it was becoming a little worn, we did buy a new version along with a cuddly caterpillar and other items from its Celebratory 45th birthday!
We are just starting to try messy/sensory play with our 18 month old daughter. I think I enjoy it more than her at the moment though! I love your blog for inspiration.
I also love children’s books and try to read lots with my daughter (although she’s not a great fan of sitting still!). We visit the library lots and also have a big collection of books so it is so hard to pick a favorite. Today my favorite is Giraffes can’t dance but if you ask me tomorrow it might be different! I love the rhyming laungage of this book.
Oliver Jeffers – Lost and Found
I love Oliver Jeffers books and this is my favourite. It’s special because both my son and daughter love it (that’s unusual in itself) and we never tire of reading it together. A beautiful story and book.
We love Monkey Puzzle
Dear Zoo because it was the first book that my little girl really loved.
I would definitely pick Tattybogle by Sandra Horn and illustrated by Ken Brown. This book has been a favourite of all 3 of my children and a very regular bedtime read. Tattybogle starts life as a scarecrow and ends up as a beautiful tree.
I adore Tattybogle!!
Charlotte’s Web by E B White – because I remember it being read to me as a child and loving it then and now being able to pass it on to my children
The Jolly Postman’s Letters, I loved it as a child and I’ve had great fun reading it to my boys xx
my children loved green eggs and ham by dr seuss they used to drive their grandad mad with that book and sadly hes now passed away but we always laugh and have good memories when we read it
we love goldie locks and the 3 bears, we read it most nights before bed =)
I liked the Hungry Caterpillar when I was little and now my kids love the book
I have such fond memories of being read The owl that was afraid of the dark when I was little, I loved this book and I loved my teacher – I have just strted to read it to my toddler!
the wishing powder by maggie prince. It was a book that i got from the library that i loved so much I wouldnt let my mum take it back so she had to pay the fine and brought it for me. i kept it to read to my own children who loved it and now have a grand daughter that I hope will enjoy it when she gets a bit older
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. It was the first book I read alone and when my daughter was little I found a copy. Reading it to her plunged me right back into my childhood.
The BFG, it’s so sweet and heartwarming
Hungry caterpillar because my daughter loves it xx
Hungry Caterpillar its a classic that stands the test of time
I love “Guess How Much I Love You” as it was the first book we were given for my little one and I used to read it to him when I was pregnant so it feels really special.
The Jolly Postman, i have happy memories of opening up the letters. Used to read with my mum most nights before going to bed.
Our favourite book is We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, its great for first readers & the boys still join in the uh oh’s when we read it