The Read, Discuss, Do Summer Challenge: Art Camp!

  Our annual summer reading challenge begins soon, and this year our theme is Art Camp! As always, the Summer Challenge is a way to pair books with summer fun, and this year will be all about have some summer camp style fun and sharing ideas for creative art play inspired by some of our favorite picture book illustrations. We hope you'll come along! Don't miss out. Sign up for our newsletter for all the campy, creative fun to come right to your inbox!

Book-inspired Art: Buried Bear

 

It's the middle of March, and for many that means spring is nearly hear. But that doesn't necessarily mean that winter is going to let go so easily, as we see in the lovely picture book SO MUCH SNOW by Kristen Schroeder, illustrated by Sarah Jacoby. SO MUCH SNOW is about a snow storm that brings a lot of snow, blowing it around, piling it everywhere, until everything and everyone seems to be buried in it. This book, with its simple, yet lyrical, text and repeating "OH" sounds, will delight readers as they follow along, watching the snow piles grow and grow. This book captures well a sense of wonder about snowy weather that will delight readers, especially those who enjoy a good snow day. 

Read: SO MUCH SNOW by Kristen Schroeder, illustrated by Sarah Jacoby

Discuss: 
  • What kind of winter weather do you experience where you live?
  • If you've been around snow, do you like it? Why or why not?
  • If you've never experienced snow first hand, would you like to?
  • What do you think you would do with "so much snow"?
  • How do the animals seem to feel about the snow in the beginning of the story? How about the end?
Do: Make a "buried bear" painting inspired by the book's cover.

You will need:
  • Blue card stock or construction paper
  • A round sponge brush (or cotton balls)
  • Brown and white tempera paint
  • A marker
Directions: 
    1. Use the round brush or cotton ball to make the bear's head. It should be a rounded triangle shape, pointed upward. Add an ear to the left side.

      2. Again using the round brush, dab on the snow so that it looks like the bear's head is poking out of a large drift.

      3. Dab on a few fat snowflakes in the blue sky!


      4. Use a marker to draw an ear, the nose and mouth, and eye. Then, use the edge of the round brush to add snow to the bear's ears and snout.


      And now you have your own "buried bear" painting! 

      Looking for more snow-themed book fun? Check out this story time idea for SNOW MUCH FUN! by Nancy Siscoe, illustrated by Sabina Gibson. 

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