It's no secret that betime books for children are as important as they are fun. My girls love picking out one book each, and then I surprise them with my choice (picked primarily because it's long or short based on available time, but also where possible on a theme that will help consolidate learning from the day's activities.)Many of the craft projects that my girls make are based on ideas we come across in those bedside books. This week's favorite is Michael Gay's Zou and the Box of Kisses. As the book publisher says; "Zou is spending his first night away from home. He knows he will miss all his daily kisses: morning kisses, bedtime kisses, no-reason-at-all kisses. He needn't worry. Mum and Dad have a solution - one that works surprisingly well on the train."
*Spoiler Alert* Caution - look away if you don't want to know what happens next!. (He he, I've always wanted to do that!) The solution that Mum and Dad come up with is to kiss a whole stack of tiny papers and then put them in an old candy box. When the going gets tough, Zou can rub one of Mum's lipsticky kisses on one cheek, and a 'plain' sided Dad-kiss on the other cheek. Thrilled by the simple and super sweet idea of candy-kisses, my girls and I made a box of kisses the next day. They haven't had a need to take them anywhere as yet, but they know that the next sleepover they go on, Mum and Dad can top it up with plenty of love to send them on their way. What books are you reading with your children? What craft project can you come up with to try? What printpaper can you decorate it with!
