I Took the Moon for a Walk

I Took the Moon for a Walk written by Carolyn Curtis and illustrated by Alison Jay

find this book at www.Storysingers.BarefootBooks.com

Embark on a dreamy, nighttime journey with a young boy and the moon.

The book begins

"I took the Moon for a walk last night.
 It followed behind like a still summer kite,
 Though there wasn't a string or a tail in sight when I took the Moon for a walk."

The child's journey continues over a bridge, past a sharp steeple that nearly snags the moon, through a pack of howling dogs, and across the dewy grass. Throughout, the language is fresh and visual: "rust-bellied robins," "neighborhood dogs made a train-whistle choir," "clouds that were fragile as lace."
The book ends with two pages of facts about the phases of the moon and some of the animals and plants included in the story. The folk-art-inspired illustrations are a perfect complement to the gentle fantasy. Using oil painted on paper with a crackling varnish, Jay creates a moving, panoramic country landscape in which the pictures tell many stories that children will love to discover–the skinny-legged moon loses a slipper; the neighborhood dogs run out for an evening romp; a gentleman pedals by on a bike, enjoying the still evening. This is a quaint and quiet book worth sharing.

review by –Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI

Book related activities:
Sing about the moon or the night! A few suggested songs:

Mr. Moon
Oh Mr. Moon, moon, bright and silvery moon
Please shine down on me.
Oh Mr. Moon, moon, bright and silvery moon
Hiding behind a tree.

These little children are asking you, to please come out so we can play with you.
Oh Mr. Moon, moon, bright and silvery moon
Please shine down on me.


Aiken Drum

There was a man lived in the moon, lived in the moon, lived in the moon,
There was a man lived in the moon,
And his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle, a ladle, a ladle,
And he played upon a ladle,
and his name was Aiken Drum.

And his hat was made of good cream cheese, of good cream cheese, of good cream cheese,
And his hat was made of good cream cheese,
And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his coat was made of roast beef, of roast beef, of roast beef,
And his coat was made of roast beef,
And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his buttons made of penny loaves, of penny loaves, of penny loaves,
And his buttons made of penny loaves,
And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his waistcoat was made of crust pies, of crust pies, of crust pies,
And his waistcoat was made of crust pies,
And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his breeches made of haggis bags, of haggis bags, of haggis bags,
And his breeches made of haggis bags,
And his name was Aiken Drum.


Mister Moon
Mister Moon, Mister Moon,
You're out too soon;
The sun is still in the sky.
Go back to bed and cover up your head,
And wait till the day goes by!


Play a game of Silly Walks:

Directions:
First of all, ask your child to walk around in her normal, everyday walk.
Now try walking very high, very low, very wide, very narrow, very fast, and very slowly.
Think of other ways people walk and try them out.
Now ask your child to create her own special walk and make it as silly as possible.
Can you do your silly walk backwards? Sideways? Turning?
Finally, slow down your silly walk until it stops in an unusual shape.
Next time you are out in public, sit and enjoy watching how unique each person's walk can be.

game found at  http://fun.familyeducation.com/dance/activity/40339.html#ixzz2RsUdId8l



Try making Poetry to Go:
Take turns creating a poem-on-the-go.
Start the kids off with a simple line like "I really love to take a walk" and have them add their own rhymes in turn ( examples: "except when I forget my sock" ... "and then I step upon a rock" ... and so on).

From....Walking Games for kids - Liven Up a Hike or Stroll  at familyfitness.about.com


Make a Paper Plate "Moon" Kite

What You'll Need:
Large white paper plate
Glue (optional)
Crayons or Markers (optional)
Picture (either drawn or from a magazine)
Paper punch
Ribbon, yarn, or string
Streamers
Stapler

What to Do:
Glue or draw a picture on to the back part of the paper plate.
Punch one hole at the top of the plate, one at the bottom, and one on each side.
Measure 4 pieces of string, about 14 inches long each.
Tie an end of one string through a hole and knot tightly.
Repeat with the other strings, tying one string in each hole.
Tie the ends of the 4 strings together above the front of the plate.
Tie a 12 inch piece of yarn to this knot. You will hold onto this piece while you fly the kite.
Cut 4 streamers around 15 inches long.
Staple a streamer to each hole in the plate.
Go outside and fly your kite!


Recite a Moon Poem:
The poem “Moon Song” was written by Mildred Plew Meigs (1892-1944), in 1923, published in Child Life Magazine. Her last name is sometimes listed as “Merryman.”

Moon Song

Zoon, zoon, cuddle and croon–
Over the crinkling sea,
The moon man flings him a silvered net
Fashioned of moonbeams three.

And some folk say when the net lies long
And the midnight hour is ripe;
The moon man fishes for some old song
That fell from a sailor's pipe.

And some folk say that he fishes the bars
Down where the dead ships lie,
Looking for lost little baby stars
That slid from the slippery sky.

And the waves roll out and the waves roll in
And the nodding night wind blows,
But why the moon man fishes the sea
Only the moon man knows.

Zoon, zoon, net of the moon
Rides on the wrinkling sea;
Bright is the fret and shining wet,
Fashioned of moonbeams three.

And some folk say when the great net gleams
And the waves are dusky blue,
The moon man fishes for two little dreams
He lost when the world was new.

And some folk say in the late night hours,
While the long fin-shadows slide,
The moon man fishes for cold sea flowers
Under the tumbling tide.

And the waves roll out and the waves roll in
And the gray gulls dip and doze,
But why the moon man fishes the sea
Only the moon man knows.

Zoon, zoon, cuddle and croon--
Over the crinkling sea,
The moon man flings him a silvered net
Fashioned of moonbeams three.

And some folk say that he follows the flecks
Down where the last light flows,
Fishing for two round gold-rimmed "specs"
That blew from his button-like nose.

And some folk say while the salt sea foams
And the silver net lines snare,
The moon man fishes for carven combs
That float from the mermaids' hair.

And the waves roll out and the waves roll in
And the nodding night wind blows,
But why the moon man fishes the sea
Only the moon man knows.

Mildred Plew Meigs





Find more Barefoot Books at www.Storysingers.BarefootBooks.com

The Beeman

The Beeman was written by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Valeria Cis. It's a fun, colorful and educational book that will appeal to many children but maybe especially to those interested in nature.

The review on the Barefoot Books site says:

"Told from the viewpoint of a child whose Grandpa is a beekeeper, this rhyming text offers an accessible and engaging introduction to the behavior of bees, including: where they live, how honey is made, and what a beekeeper does. Children will love learning about the vital role of bees in the ecosystem, and will be delighted to find a delicious muffin recipe on the final page!"


I love this poem by Aileen Fisher that is used in  the beginning of book. It sets the tone for what is to come.

Bees
There wouldn't be sunflowers,
Wouldn't be peas,
Wouldn't be apples on apple trees,
If it weren't for fuzzy old,
Buzzy old bees
Dusting pollen from their knees.
-- Aileen Fisher

The Beeman

 Laurie Krebs takes the complex subject of beekeeping and using rhyme, rhythm and wit, manages to simplify it just enough for it to fascinate the youngest and oldest reader. 
 If you listen closely, you'll notice that the wording and rhythm of the book are modeled on The House That Jack Built:

 “Here is his jacket, / with zippered up hood / that covers his face / just the way that it should / when he visits his hives as / the Beeman.”

And how did the author learn about beekeeping? Well, it seems that Laurie Krebs' husband, Bill, became known in their community as the "Beeman" because he kept bees for many years.

After reading The Beeman, I'm sure that you and your child/ren will want to learn more about bees.
I've listed a variety of activities and links as well as 7 songs/fingerplays about bees. (Who knew there were so many?) Oh, and there's a wonderful video at the end of the blog on how to make Honeycomb Candy! Yum!!

Bees, Flowers, and Pollination | kidsgardening.org
This site explains the relationship of bees and flowers and why they are important to each other

Find videos of bees in flight, then put on "Flight of the Bumblebee" (written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan) and have children pretend they are bees.

Make a Bumblebee Cup Puppet

Baby Bumblebee
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
(Cup hands together as if holding bee)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
'Cause I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Buzzy wuzzy wuzzy wuzzy
Ouch! It stung me!
(Shake hands as if just stung)

The Beehive
Here is the beehive (show closed fist)
where are the bees? (Pretend to search)
Hidden away where nobody sees. (Pretend to hide)
Soon they come creeping out of the hive
one, two, three, four, five. (Count on fingers)
Bzzzzzzzzzz! (Fly away)

Bee
Busy little buzzing bee
Buzzing round the apple tree
Busy little buzzing bee
Where DO you get your energy,
Bumble Bee?

Five Little Bees
One little bee blew and flew.
He met a friend, and that made two.
Two little bees, busy as could be--
Along came another and that made three.
Three little bees, wanted one more,
Found one soon and that made four.
Four little bees, going to the hive.
Spied their little brother, and that made five.
Five little bees working every hour--
Buzz away, bees, and find another flower.


Bug Parts
(sung to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes)

Head, thorax, abdomen, six legs
(motions: touch head, chest, and stomach, then hold up 3 fingers on each hand)
Head, thorax, abdomen, six legs
(repeat motions)
Eyes and mouth and antennae
(motions: point to eyes, mouth and make antenna with fingers)
Head, thorax, abdomen, six legs!
(repeat first motions)

Buzzing Bumblebees
6 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around the hive
One buzzes off and that leaves 5.

5 buzzing bumblebees
Flying near my door,
1 buzzes off and that leaves 4

4 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around a tree,
1 busses off and that leaves 3

3 buzzing bumblebees
In the sky so blue
1 buzzes of and that leaves 2

2 buzzing bumblebees
Flying by the sun
1 buzzes off and that leaves 1

1 buzzing bumblebee
Looking for some fun
It buzzes off and that leaves none


Do you like to Buzz? Or how to tell if you're a Bee
(Sung to tune of "Do your ears hang low")

Do you like to buzz?
Are you covered all in fuzz?
Do you call a hive a home
In the garden where you roam?
Do you know how to make honey?
Are your stripes a little funny?
Do you like to buzz?



Learn how to make Honeycomb Candy

Grandpa's Garden

Spring is here (mostly)! And many of us are thinking about things that grow and planning to start our own gardens. Grandpa's Garden written by Stella Fry and illustrated by Sheila Moxley is a great book to read to kids at this time of year.
It tells the story of a boy and his grandfather and their time spent together one season in Grandpa's garden. The picture are vibrant and charming with just enough detail. The author does a wonderful job balancing facts about gardening with the telling of a lovely story.

The description from the Barefoot Book site says:

Grandpa's Garden

This beautifully told story follows Billy from early spring to late summer as he helps his grandpa on his vegetable patch. They dig the hard ground, sow rows of seeds, and keep them watered and safe from slugs. When harvest time arrives they can pick all the vegetables and fruit they have grown.

 Children will be drawn in by the poetry of the language and the warm illustrations, while also catching the excitement of watching things grow!Ages 3 to 7 years

The end of the book includes helpful information about Planning Your Vegetable Patch.
There are also pages about what grandpa does throughout the 4 seasons with tips for the reader. For example:  Grandpa's Winter and Things to do in Winter.

For more story extension ideas, I've listed 2 finger play/movement activities and a number of links:

I Dig,  Dig, Dig

I dig, dig, dig  (pretend to dig)

And I plant some seeds. (stoop down and pretend to plant seeds)

I rake, rake, rake (make raking motions)

And I pull some weeds. (pretend to pull weeds)

I wait and watch (stoop down and look at ground)

And soon I know. ( still stooping, nod head)

My garden spouts (raise hands above head and stand up as if growing)

And starts to grow.

 

The Flower

If I were a flower (stoop down and cover head)

Sleeping underneath the ground, (stay stooping)

I'd raise my head and grow and grow, (slowly raise up from the floor)

And stretch my petals and grow and grow, (raise your arms to the sky)

And nod my head and say (nod and smile)

"I'm glad to see you all today!"

10 Unique Gardening Activities for kids from Codename: Mama

If you don't have a lot of space or time you might think about starting a Container Herb Garden

Study insects: Grandpa's Garden mention several insects including Ladybugs and Hoverflies.

Growing a waterCRESS head is a fun and simple activity

For more gardening with kids or outdoor activity ideas checkout my Kids, Nature and Gardening Pinterest board

The Twelve Dancing Princesses, a tale from the Brothers Grimm

illustration by Kay Neilsen

THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES

 (warning: this is the original Brothers Grimm Version)

There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. They slept in twelve beds all in one room; and when they went to bed, the doors were shut and locked up; but every morning their shoes were found to be quite worn through as if they had been danced in all night; and yet nobody could find out how it happened, or where they had been.

Then the king made it known to all the land, that if any person could discover the secret, and find out where it was that the princesses danced in the night, he should have the one he liked best for his wife, and should be king after his death; but whoever tried and did not succeed, after three days and nights, should be put to death.

A king's son soon came. He was well entertained, and in the evening was taken to the chamber next to the one where the princesses lay in their twelve beds. There he was to sit and watch where they went to dance; and, in order that nothing might pass without his hearing it, the door of his chamber was left open.
But the king's son soon fell asleep; and when he awoke in the morning he found that the princesses had all been dancing, for the soles of their shoes were full of holes. The same thing happened the second and third night: so the king ordered his head to be cut off.

After him came several others; but they had all the same luck, and all lost their lives in the same manner.

Now it chanced that an old soldier, who had been wounded in battle and could fight no longer, passed through the country where this king reigned: and as he was travelling through a wood, he met an old woman, who asked him where he was going. 'I hardly know where I am going, or what I had better do,' said the soldier; 'but I think I should like very well to find out where it is that the princesses dance, and then in time I might be a king.'

 'Well,' said the old dame, 'that is no very hard task: only take care not to drink any of the wine which one of the princesses will bring to you in the evening; and as soon as she leaves you pretend to be fast asleep.'

Then she gave him a cloak, and said, 'As soon as you put that on you will become invisible, and you will then be able to follow the princesses wherever they go.' When the soldier heard all this good counsel, he determined to try his luck: so he went to the king, and said he was willing to undertake the task.

He was as well received as the others had been, and the king ordered fine royal robes to be given him; and when the evening came he was led to the outer chamber.
Just as he was going to lie down, the eldest of the princesses brought him a cup of wine; but the soldier threw it all away secretly, taking care not to drink a drop. Then he laid himself down on his bed, and in a little while began to snore very loud as if he was fast asleep.

When the twelve princesses heard this they laughed heartily; and the eldest said, 'This fellow too might have done a wiser thing than lose his life in this way!' Then they rose up and opened their drawers and boxes, and took out all their fine clothes, and dressed themselves at the glass, and skipped about as if they were eager to begin dancing.

But the youngest said, 'I don't know how it is, while you are so happy I feel very uneasy; I am sure some mischance will befall us.'

'You simpleton,' said the eldest, 'you are always afraid; have you forgotten how many kings' sons have already watched in vain? And as for this soldier, even if I had not given him his sleeping draught, he would have slept soundly enough.'

When they were all ready, they went and looked at the soldier; but he snored on, and did not stir hand or foot: so they thought they were quite safe; and the eldest went up to her own bed and clapped her hands, and the bed sank into the floor and a trap-door flew open.

 The soldier saw them going down through the trap-door one after another, the eldest leading the way; and thinking he had no time to lose, he jumped up, put on the cloak which the old woman had given him, and followed them; but in the middle of the stairs he trod on the gown of the youngest princess, and she cried out to her sisters, 'All is not right; someone took hold of my gown.'
 'You silly creature!' said the eldest, 'it is nothing but a nail in the wall.'

Then down they all went, and at the bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees; and the leaves were all of silver, and glittered and sparkled beautifully. The soldier wished to take away some token of the place; so he broke off a little branch, and there came a loud noise from the tree.
 Then the youngest daughter said again, 'I am sure all is not right—did not you hear that noise? That never happened before.' But the eldest said, 'It is only our princes, who are shouting for joy at our approach.'

Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds. And the soldier broke a branch from each; and every time there was a loud noise, which made the youngest sister tremble with fear; but the eldest still said, it was only the princes, who were crying for joy. So they went on till they came to a great lake; and at the side of the lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them, who seemed to be waiting there for the princesses.

One of the princesses went into each boat, and the soldier stepped into the same boat with the youngest. As they were rowing over the lake, the prince who was in the boat with the youngest princess and the soldier said, 'I do not know why it is, but though I am rowing with all my might we do not get on so fast as usual, and I am quite tired: the boat seems very heavy today.' 'It is only the heat of the weather,' said the princess: 'I feel it very warm too.'

On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle, from which came the merry music of horns and trumpets. There they all landed, and went into the castle, and each prince danced with his princess; and the soldier, who was all the time invisible, danced with them too; and when any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her, he drank it all up, so that when she put the cup to her mouth it was empty. At this, too, the youngest sister was terribly frightened, but the eldest always silenced her.

 They danced on till three o'clock in the morning, and then all their shoes were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave off. The princes rowed them back again over the lake (but this time the soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess); and on the opposite shore they took leave of each other, the princesses promising to come again the next night.

When they came to the stairs, the soldier ran on before the princesses, and laid himself down; and as the twelve sisters slowly came up very much tired, they heard him snoring in his bed; so they said, 'Now all is quite safe'; then they undressed themselves, put away their fine clothes, pulled off their shoes, and went to bed.

 In the morning the soldier said nothing about what had happened, but determined to see more of this strange adventure, and went again the second and third night; and every thing happened just as before; the princesses danced each time till their shoes were worn to pieces, and then returned home. However, on the third night the soldier carried away one of the golden cups as a token of where he had been.

As soon as the time came when he was to declare the secret, he was taken before the king with the three branches and the golden cup; and the twelve princesses stood listening behind the door to hear what he would say.

And when the king asked him. 'Where do my twelve daughters dance at night?' he answered, 'With twelve princes in a castle under ground.'

And then he told the king all that had happened, and showed him the three branches and the golden cup which he had brought with him. Then the king called for the princesses, and asked them whether what the soldier said was true: and when they saw that they were discovered, and that it was of no use to deny what had happened, they confessed it all.

And the king asked the soldier which of them he would choose for his wife; and he answered, 'I am not very young, so I will have the eldest.'—And they were married that very day, and the soldier was chosen to be the king's heir.

 story  source Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm

For another version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses check out this retelling by Mary Hoffman , illustrated by Miss Clare sold by Barefoot Books.

The Three Spinners

THE THREE SPINNERS

a tale from the Brothers Grimm

ONCE upon a time there was a lazy maiden who would not spin, and, let her mother say what she would, she could not make her do it. At last, the mother, in a fit of impatience, shouted and fussed at her daughter so that the girl began to cry loudly.

At that very instant, the Queen drove by, and, hearing the crying, she stopped the carriage, came into the house, and asked the mother why she made her daughter cry.


Then the mother felt ashamed that her daughter's laziness should be known, so she said: "Oh, your Majesty, I cannot take her away from her spinning: she spins from morning till night, and I am so poor that I cannot afford to buy the flax."


"There is nothing I like better than to hear the sound of spinning," the Queen replied, "and nothing pleases me more than the whirl of spinning-wheels. Let me take your daughter home with me to the castle; I have flax enough, and she may spin there to her heart's content."


The mother rejoiced greatly in her heart, and the Queen took the maiden home with her. When they arrived in the castle, she led her up into three rooms, which were piled from top to bottom with the finest flax.


"Now spin me this flax," said the Queen, "and when thou has spun it all, thou shalt have my eldest son for a husband. Although thou art poor, yet I do not despise thee on that account, for thy untiring industry is dowry enough."


The maiden was filled with inward terror, for she could not have spun the flax had she sat there day and night until she was three hundred years old! When she was left alone, she began to weep, and thus she sat for three days without stirring a finger.


On the third day the Queen came, and when she saw that nothing was as yet spun, she wondered over it, but the maiden excused herself by saying that she could not begin in consequence of the great sorrow she felt in being separated from her mother.

This satisfied the Queen, who, on leaving her, said:
"Thou must begin to work for me to-morrow."


But when the maiden was once more alone, she did not know what to do, or how to help herself, and in her distress she went to the window and looked out. She saw three women passing by, the first of whom had a great broad foot, the second such a large under-lip that it hung down to her chin, and the third an enormous thumb.


They stopped under the window, and, looking up, asked the maiden what was the matter.

When she had told them of her trouble, they immediately offered her their help, and said:

"Wilt thou invite us to the wedding, and not be ashamed of us, but call us thy aunts, and let us sit at thy table? If thou wilt, we will spin all the flax, and do it in a very short time."


"With all my heart," answered the glrl, "only come in, and begin at once."


Then she admitted the three strange women, and, making a clear space in the first room, they sat themselves down and began spinning.


One drew the thread and trod the wheel, the other moistened the thread, the third pressed it and beat it on the table, and every time she did so, a pile of thread fell on the ground spun in the finest way.


The maiden concealed the three spinners from the Queen, but showed her the heaps of spun yarn whenever she came, and received no end of praise for it.


When the first room was empty, the second was commenced, and when that was finished, the third was begun, and very soon cleared.


Then the three spinners took their leave, saying to the maiden:

"Forget not what thou hast promised us; it will make thy fortune."


When the girl showed the Queen the empty rooms and the great piles of thread, the wedding was announced. The bridegroom rejoiced that he had won so clever and industrious a wife, and he praised her exceedingly.


"I have three aunts," said the maiden, "and as they have done me many kindnesses, I could not forget them in my good fortune; permit me to invite them to our wedding and allow them to sit with me at table."


So the Queen and the bridegroom consented.

When the feast commenced, the three old women entered, clothed in the greatest splendor, and the bride said--"Welcome, my dear aunts!"


"Alas!" exclaimed the bridegroom, "how is it you have such ugly relations?" and going up to the one with a broad foot, he asked:

"Why have you such a broad foot?"


"From threading, from threading," she answered. 

Then he went to the second, and asked:
"Why have you such an overhanging lip?"

"From moistening the thread," she replied, "from moistening the thread."


Then he asked the third:

"Why have you such a big thumb ?" 

"From pressing the thread," answered she. 

Then the Prince became frightened, and said:

"Then shall my lovely bride never more turn a spinning-wheel, as long as she lives!" 


Thus was the maiden freed from the hated flax-spinning. '



A version of this story can be found in:

The Fabrics of Fairy Tale : Stories Spun from Far and Wide

tales retold by Tanya Robyn Batt and Illustrated by Rachel Griffin

Book with double CDs edition includes stories read by Tanya Robyn Batt.

To purchase this book and other beautiful books, visit my Barefoot Books marketplace.