The Day the Lines Changed – Kelley Donner

Theme: Change during a pandemic and the impact of a vaccine.

Read Along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeP5nPN_DMk

Talking Time: Tell your child about how you feel about the changes and say one thing you are looking forward to. Encourage them to do the same.

Art: Share the illustrations from the book and talk about the buildings and the people. Use any art resources you have to draw lines for your own family or class.

 

 

The Invisible String – Patrice Karst

Theme: Separation Anxiety and Loneliness

Read Along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlUxXexjhYI

Official Activity Book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PR5359_InvisibleString_DownloadableActivityKit_Final.pdf

Talking Time: Tell your child who your string is connect to. Ask them to name the people their string is connected to.

Craft: Decorate hearts with the names of loved ones to attach to a piece of string.

Art: Draw strings on paper with white (invisible) crayons or candle wax. Use watercolours to paint the page to reveal the invisible strings.

 

 

Here and Now – Julia Denos

Theme: Mindfulness and Meditation

Read Along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NJqPcZFAKo

Talking Time: Have your child say, "Right here, right now I am ..." or "I hear" or "I think". They could tell about their feelings or what they are doing or thinking about.

Art: Listen to some relaxing music and paint the colours that the music makes in your mind.

Outdoor: Head outside and with a clipboard, paper and sketching pencil. Find a quiet area for children to sit. Encourage them to use their five sense and draw the world around them.

 

 

Waiting – Kevin Henkes

Theme: Patience and Gratitude

Read Along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKymOw3Cqpw

Talking Time: Talk about a time when you’ve had to wait for something before (a new baby, Christmas or birthday) and how it felt when the time finally arrived.

Art: Draw your own window and add what you are waiting for. It could be a person, an event or occasion etc.

PSHE: Put something in the room that your child enjoys. It could be food or a game etc. Tell them that they must wait for it. Don’t tell them how long for and if they ask tell them to just wait. Invite them to write or draw the feelings that they have whilst waiting. When you finally share the thing they have been waiting for, have them write or draw their new feelings. Compare the feelings and discuss if it was worth the wait.