These qualities are rewarded by Grandfather Bunny making her a Gold Shoe Easter Bunny. I love that line: “then one day, much to her surprise there were twenty-one Cottontail babies to take care of.” Really, she was surprised? I’ve been pregnant and I’d darn sure know if I was pregnant with 21 babies!Īnyway, being a mother makes the country bunny wise, kind, swift and brave. She is told not to be silly and ends up growing up to have a family. This story is about a little brown country bunny who wants to be one of the five Easter bunnies. I could not find any images online, thank goodness my phone has a camera!Īnother oldie but goodie is The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. It’s full of wonderful old poems and the type of illustrations I love best. It was fun and I enjoy the humor, but I’m not sure I could explain it to kids. A mischievous mouse convinces the rabbit kits that their father is the Easter Bunny, to which he replies ‘Humbug!’ The devilish cat ends up making things worse by hiding all of the painted eggs Granny has for her grandchildren in the rabbit hole. There are almost two stories going on here–they are supposed to go together but I found them disjointed. The illustrations show the farm where Granny lives as well as the rabbit warren underneath. I love The Aminal and Humbug Witch, and Sometimes It’s the Turkey, Sometimes It’s the Feathers is really cute. The pattern for a bear is also here, but I make myself the bear when I am retelling it with these stick puppets.The Easter season is upon us, so before the kids completely wipe out my Easter collection, I think I’ll share a few stories with you. The pattern for the mouse is here, but I use a mouse puppet. It is activities like this that you do with your children that set them on a strong road to reading, in this case helping them understand what they read and how stories work! Puppets: Patterns for making stick puppets. Using props or puppets is one fun way to encourage children to retell stories at home. If your child did not get a chance to talk about how they might use a box, listen to their ideas on the way home.Įarly Literacy Aside-Empower: Here is a handout for making stick puppets.

Retelling stories is one way that children will later more easily understand what they read. Early Literacy Aside-Example: Acting out stories and having children say parts helps develop their narrative skills, the expressive part of language. Then talk together about the many things you can do with a box. as there are children who want to be that animal. There can be as many monkeys, owls, elephants, etc. Activity: Pull out a cardboard box and have the children act out the story.

Read the book Thank You Bear by Greg Foley. People see things and use things differently. Talk about how what is special to one person might not be special to another.

The Aminal by Lorna Balian