Welcome to the August edition of Poppin's Book Nook! This month our theme was Fairy Tales. This was a very difficult theme for us, not because there aren't good fairy tales, but because there are so many! My original intent was to read The Little Prince, but I quickly found the language was too grown up for my kids. They just couldn't follow well at all.
So I put it away for a later date, and we found a collection of fairy tales, The Golden Book of Fairy Tales, at the library. The girls were familiar with many of the stories, but it was nice to read a version other then Disney.
Then on a trip to St. Louis we came across a Fairy Tale exhibit at The Magic House! Many books to read and fun stations to go along with them! They helped put together shoes for The Elves and the Shoemaker.
They climbed the beanstalk and slid back down as well as making music with the magic harp for Jack and the Beanstalk.
They played in a melon for Anansi and the Talking Melon.
And they took a ride in Cinderella's coach.
They also played with Thumbelina and Beauty and the Beast! They enjoyed climbing the giant beanstalk that is a permanent part of the museum too!
because we had read so many fairy tales it was hard to choose one activity to go along with them. After a while I decided we should set up a Fairy Tale Land for the girls to play with! My gamer husband had the perfect medium to do it with too, Heroscape!
He has collected so many pieces to this game, and now with kids he rarely gets to play it (although I am sure when they are a bit older it will come out again). But with so much variety it allowed us to create a land to house many fairy tales. Once the base was built we added some of the game pieces, some of the girls toys including people, animals, and lego houses, and some other little elements like jewel beads and a play doh rock with a sword (tooth) pick.
A closer look at the sections reveals a castle, a mermaid cove, and a fairy and pixie land.
A mountain, complete with a jewel filled cave, guarded by a dragon. A giant atop a beanstalk, and a fire swap (yeah the kids won't get that one yet, but it was fun for me to add complete with R.O.U.S.).
Some of the other fairy tale elements include a troll guarded bridge with 3 Billy Goats, three little pigs with their houses, the Beast and his rose, Cinderella's shoe and pumpkin, a spinning wheel, the Frog Prince with the golden ball, fairies, Aladdin's lamp hidden in a sand dune, and the Sword in the Stone.
The girls were so excited to play with it. We took a look at all the fairy tales represented and summarized any the girls weren't familiar with. Then I encouraged them to use all the elements to make up their own fairy tales. The girls quickly went about making up stories and arranging pieces. Even Eli got in on the fun making a sea serpent fight an alligator.
After a couple hours things didn't look anything like they started, but the girls had a great time playing with their Fairy Tale Land! And they certainly enjoyed all the books! Check some of them out:
This month we are offering a great giveaway to our readers as well! A copy of A First Book of Fairy Tales!
See all the happy endings:
Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - 3 Dinosaurs - Monsters Ed - Chestnut Grove Academy - Growing in God's Grace - Royal Little Lambs - Life with Moore Babies - Teach Beside Me - The Usual Mayhem - Mum Central - Fantastic Fun and Learning - Kathys Cluttered Mind - Toddler Approved - Growing Book by Book - Adventures in Mommydom - B-Inspired Mama - The Fairy and The Frog - Edventures with Kids - Learning & Growing the Piwi way - A Gluten Free Journey - No Doubt Learning - Preschool Powol Packets - To The Moon and Back - Our Craft ~N~ Things - Fresh Farm Adventures - Are We There Yet?
Next month we are Headed Back to School!
