Last week, we heard the FedEx truck pull up to the house. (Yes. My kids and I have been conditioned to know the sound of FedEx vs. UPS vs. the garbage truck.) I hesitantly opened the large envelope, tempted to hide what was inside, as Little’s 2nd birthday is coming.
I’m glad I didn’t. Inside was one of the most beautifully illustrated imagination books I’ve seen. Little and I were pulled in to the pictures of ballerinas, princesses, pirates and bumblebees. The story celebrates a little girls’ birthday, but, more, a group of children’s imaginations. The kids don’t need music teachers, bounce houses or bright lights to celebrate. Instead, they have a trunk. A trunk that they can climb into and become whatever the trunk chooses (which, really, is the trunk seeing into their dreams.) The trunk then takes them to a magical land of their dreams.
Little may only be almost two, but she connected through the identifiable sweet faces and cuddly costumes.
As we read The Costume Trunk, my mind raced as a teacher’s mind will; I had instantly created a multi-disciplinary work station of ideas for my imaginary Kindergarten or first grade classroom.
- Reading: read the story again with a friend. Talk about what you read. Which was your favorite character? What costume would you want to wear? Were you surprised by the story? Would you go into The Costume Trunk?
- Journal entry: Climb into the costume trunk. What do you come out wearing? Where do you go? Write a story about your visit to the costume trunk
- Art activity: draw or paint a picture, or use clay, to create you in your Costume Trunk costume. What colors will you use?
- Social Studies: In the book, The Costume Trunk, the kids traveled to Paddywhack Lane. Create that town using legos, crayons, clay or Playdoh.
- Math: Solve the math problems: How many children are in this story? How many are girls? How many are boys? How many children wear animal costumes? How many wear people costumes? Create other math problems for friends to solve.
- Crafts and Creativity: Create your own costume.
The Costume Trunk was the children’s selection for the From Left to Write bookclub where you can read more responses to the book. Thanks to the author for the sample copy.
© 2011, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
Twitter: fromleft2write
says:
Julie, this is great! These are great ideas for parents as well. Many of these activities are very doable at home.
Twitter: justprecious
says:
very true!
Love that book!! Have you checked out their website, Paddywhack Lane, where you can get poseable dolls of the characters dressed in their costumes? Too cute!
Twitter: justprecious
says:
Little is getting the ballerina for her birthday on Saturday. She wouldn’t put the box down at the store
Thanks for sharing this! I’ll be teaching 1st grade this year, too. I already brought the book to my classroom, ready to use in my writer’s workshop.
Twitter: joyweesemoll
says:
Great ideas! I think they would have all worked with the group I read this book to — they spontaneously invented the “What costume would you want to wear?” discussion.