As some of you dedicated bibliophiles out there are likely already aware, November is also marked on many calendars as Picture Book Month. Yes indeed, an entire month-long celebration of my undoubtable favorite among genres. Between preparing for big storms and sorting out Halloween costumes, this particular November snuck up on me just a bit, but I am still hoping to have fun picture book related suprises popping up here throughout the month, and will be running lots of specials on Alphabet Glue as well. Because what better way is there to celebrate the wonder of picture books than by diving into pages upon pages of booklists and related crafts and activities?
For today, I am going to share one of the wrap-up activities that I created for the Read Aloud Book Along this past summer. The activity goes along with the title Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams. Here is an excerpt from my review of this book, many years ago:
"...many books contained in one. Part journal, part field guide, part
cookbook and part narrative, Three Days is the story of a pair of
cousins on a first canoe trip with their mothers. The story begins with
the finding of a red canoe for sale in a neighbor's yard and follows
the family as they set out to recreate a canoe trip taken by the kids'
mothers when they themselves were young. The reader is introduced to tent-pitching, knot-tying, and the
importance of life jackets, all while enjoying
the feeling of being a part of this little family on their big
adventure.
I love this book for many reasons, not least of these being the idea
of the clever, skilled and adventure-ready moms who know how to show
their kids a seriously good time- despite rain, wind, waterfalls and
unexpected canoe tipping. Don't we all like to think that we've got a
bit of that spirit in us as we try to raise our small people to see the
natural world with appreciative eyes?"
This book is one of my favorite picture books of all time, and despite the fact that the waning days of autumn aren't particularly ripe for family canoe trips, I would suggest that you run to your local library and find a copy of this one right away (if you haven't read it already). Then, you can make the super easy and very fun paper boats described in the downloadable PDF file below.
Download the Red Paper Canoes tutorial
In the likely event of inclement weather, you could totally sail these in your bathtub or a mud puddle.
As for celebrating Picture Book Month over in Glueland, between now and Monday November 5th, all issues of Alphabet Glue are 20% off when you enter the code "picturebook" at checkout. I'll try to have some kind of special all month long, because if there is one thing that I can honestly tell you that I believe in, it is the importance of picture books in our libraries, on our bookshelves and in our laps. And, if I'm doing my job at all right, Alphabet Glue really is a great resource for helping to make the love of books a part of daily life.