Virtual Book Club for Kids : Blackbird Craft

Welcome to the November edition of the Virtual Book Club for Kids.  This month's featured author is the prolific, delightful Tomie dePaola. Tomie dePaola has written many classic children's books including; Strega Nona, The Art Lesson and 26 Fairmount Avenue. It was hard to focus in on one particular book. I left the choice up to my eldest daughter and she chose Days of the Blackbird.

Days of the Blackbird is as story about the Duke of Gennaro in northern Italy. The Duke and his daughter love spending time with the birds at their home, in particular a white song bird. When the Duke falls ill, the white bird visits every day. The weather turns cool, and all the bird fly to warmer places, except the white bird. The white bird stays and sings for the Duke. The bird's singing helps the Duke to feel better and eventually the Duke recovers. The white bird turns into a beautiful black bird.

After reading this book I asked my daughter how we might make a bird that changes colour; from white to black. She suggested that we create a two sided bird.

You will need

black and white construction paper

black and white pencil crayons

scissors

pencil

glue stick

popsicle stick

1. Draw a bird shape on a piece of construction paper, creating a template.

2. Trace the bird template on the black and white paper.

3. Cut out the birds.

4. Draw details on the white bird with black pencil crayons and use white pencil crayons on the black bird.

5. Use a glue stick to paste the black and white birds together, be sure to glue the popsicle stick between the two birds.

My girls each made a bird puppet. They even made smaller birds. The book was lovely and this craft inspired them to play with these birds for hours. Now, it's time to see what books and activities everyone else has been inspired to do. The great thing about Tomie dePaola is that his books cover a wide range of age groups. There really is a book for everyone in his collection. I cannot wait to check out the other blogs that are participating in the book club.

Toddler Approved - Rainy Day Mum - Adventures in Reading with Kids - 3 Dinosaurs - Royal Baloo -The Educators' Spin On It - Inspiration Laboratories - Pleasantest Thing - Edventures with Kids - Two Big Two Little - Playing With Words 365 - Kitchen Counter Chronicles - Outlaw Mom - Mommy and Me Book Club - Crafty Moms Share - No Twiddle Twaddle - The Good Long Road - Ready. Set. Read 2 Me -Reading Confetti - Mama Smiles - Juggling with Kids- Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas - Creekside Learning -Creative Family Fun - The Usual Mayhem - Teach Preschool - PlayDrMom - CraftoArt - Here Come the Girls - Being a Conscious Parent - Smiling like Sunshine - Crayon Freckles - Train Up a Child - Smile Play Learn

Do you have a post about a Tomie dePaola book? Feel free to link it up below or come by the book club's Facebook page and share your experiences over there. We can't wait to see what you have been reading and how you and your children have been creating. Don't forget next month's featured author Jan Brett on November 17th.