With discussions of Boyhood and Girlhood picture book favorites humming along at the "4Real" message board, I found myself searching through my computer's saved documents for lists of great books compiled when the older ones were small. In my hunt, I inadvertently stumbled across this outline of planned literary activities meant to be shared with Lissa and her daughter back in the blessed days when they lived nearby:
Favorite Picture Books
1. A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays
Let’s try to recreate some of the memories shared by Tasha Tudor. This could be done throughout the year beginning in January. There are so many beautiful ideas in this book.
2. Little Oh by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim LaMarche
We could make origami animals and a paper “Little Oh” clothed in beautiful Japanese paper (we already have this). If our husbands can watch the little ones, we can take the older girls for an authentic meal at a Japanese restaurant.
3. The Rainbabies by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim LaMarche
We could play “Rainbabies” with the girls. Maybe Agnes and Theresa could surprise Jane by leaving rainbabies in the garden for her. I am sure they would get a big kick out of this.
4. The Big Green Pocketbook by Candice Ransom and Felicia Bond
This book is for very young children, but it is so much fun that I could not leave it out. We could make big green pocketbooks out of felt (no sew) and take them for a “Big Green Pocketbook Day.” In the story, a girl and her mother spend the day running errands. They take a bus into town and the girl fills her pocketbook with little items she gets in each store. If we want to be very adventurous, one of us could take the older girls on a bus while the other follows behind in a car with the babies.
5. One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
Let’s see if we can take the girls for a real motorboat ride. It would also be a lot of fun to go clam digging and try the clam chowder at a seafood restaurant.
6. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Using the narrative of the book, we could help the girls to create a “Jumanji” game board and then let them play.
7. Mudpies and Other Recipes: A Cookbook for Dolls by Marjorie Winslow
Lets have a dolls’ tea party and allow the girls to cater it. They can send invitations, plan their own menu, and, of course, prepare the delicacies. Most of the ingredients can be found in my backyard (pine needles, leaves, mud etc.), but some will have to be gathered in advance (seashells, sand, pencil shavings).
8. Helen’s Special Picture by Davide Previtali
This is a beautiful book about the life of Sister Faustina. I am sure that we can think of many activities to go along with it. It might be a good time to teach the girls about the canonization process. We can make and decorate “Jesus, I trust in you” pictures (or stained glass) for the girls’ rooms. Sister Faustina could easily be made into a clothespin doll as well.
9. If Jesus Came to My House by Joan G. Thomas
The first time I read this book, it brought tears to my eyes. A boy talks about how he would welcome Jesus if Jesus really came to visit him. He then realizes that he can welcome Jesus by being kind to others. At first, I thought it might be a good idea to have the girls take turns welcoming each other to their homes and treating each other as they would treat Jesus if he came to visit them. Then I realized that they are always so good to each other that this would be nothing new! Instead, I think we should let them have a special day for the little ones. They could think of activities and games that would be fun for Margaret and Rose and let them play with their favorite toys. They will all have a great time.
We could also find some ways the girls can help others. You already visit an elderly woman. Maybe we could make something special for her. We could try to get the girls to choose some toys and books to give to charity (as the boy does in the book). This would also be great time to emphasize the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
10. The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven
This book is so much fun. Agnes and Theresa have already made princesses complete with clothing and accessories, but I am sure they would not mind doing this again. This is a good book to read in conjunction with “Little Oh” because the two books can be compared and contrasted.
Needless to say, these ideas are still in the “drawing board” stage. Even the books themselves were hastily selected (although they are all great). I cannot wait to see your selections.
******
The funny thing is that we actually pulled off quite a bit of this! Ah, those were the days!
GOOSE BUMPS!!!!!!! I can't believe you did this! Two nights ago, as I was lying in bed with Wonderboy, watching him fall asleep, I mentally wrote this exact same post!!!! "Years ago, Alice and I exchanged lists..." etc. Oh my gosh it's incredible how in synch we are sometimes.
Posted by: Lissa | March 22, 2006 at 06:06 AM
P.S. the funny part is that when I was trying to remember what books I'd put on the list I gave you, I could not for the life of me recall whether The Rainbabies was one of your picks or one of mine. LOL.
Posted by: Lissa | March 22, 2006 at 06:08 AM
How incredible! Sadly, I no longer have your list--it is probably in the email on my old computer and did not transfer with other documents. These lists must be five or six years old!
Posted by: Alice Gunther | March 22, 2006 at 07:09 AM
Thank you so much for sharing the list! I love it! Gives me another concrete example of how to make books alive for my boys and tailor it to their interests and our circumstances.
Posted by: Genevieve | March 22, 2006 at 08:30 AM
>Gives me another concrete example of >how to make books alive for my boys >and tailor it to their interests and our >circumstances.
Thanks, Genevieve--and when you do, please post your ideas at "4 Real"--I am very interested in boy books and activities right now.
Posted by: Alice Gunther | March 22, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Ah, a list after my own heart. : ) Love it!
Posted by: Cay in La. | March 22, 2006 at 09:48 AM
Ooohh ... I want to live next door to both of you! :-)
Posted by: Karen E. | March 22, 2006 at 10:15 PM
Me too Karen, maybe we could have my dh (a builder) put together a 4real neighborhood!!! Alice, thanks for the great list and ideas, it's no wonder you and Lissa are so creative and have been such good friends for so long!!
Posted by: Meredith | March 23, 2006 at 02:36 PM
Thank you all so much--and I would move into that neighborhood any time!!!
Posted by: Alice Gunther | March 23, 2006 at 03:02 PM
You 2 are ALWAYS welcome to visit us in Maine! We have a "real" motorboat and a camp at the lake!
Mary Beth
Posted by: Mary Beth Patnaude | May 24, 2006 at 08:52 PM
Mary Beth, that sounds phenomenal!
Posted by: Alice | May 25, 2006 at 10:57 PM