Stargazing on a clear night, wrapped in blankets and drinking hot cocoa is so beautifully serene. Sorting out constellations among all the stars, finding planets, and, over the course of a month, watching the moon grow and diminish. This craft put us in mind of our picture book In the Red Canoe, by Leslie A. Davidson and illustrated by Laura Bifano, follows the peaceful canoe ride between a granddaughter and her grandfather, gliding along the water and watching the animals around them. They dock back home at night, when they seem to be in a snow globe filled with a starry sky. This craft is perfect for your little ones.
What you’ll need:
- Black and white paint
- Paint brushes
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- String
- Glue gun
- Sponge
- Optional: Sparkles and glitter.
How to make your phases of the moon:
- (Adults) Trace and cut the phases of the moon and stars out of cardboard.
- (Children) Paint each black. Let it dry.
- (Children) Sponge on white paint as desired. Let it dry. Add sparkles and glitter if desired
- (Adults) Once dry, turn over each piece over and glue the string to the back, making sure the phases are centered and evenly spaced. Create a loop on one, or both, sides of the string for hanging.
Ready for a starlight read? In the Red Canoe follows ducks and frogs, swallows and dragonflies, beaver lodges and lily pads—a multitude of wonders enchant the child narrator in the tender, beautifully illustrated picture book. A tribute to those fragile, wild places that still exist, In the Red Canoe celebrates the bond between grandparent and grandchild and invites nature lovers of all ages along for the ride.
In the Red Canoe is available now.