A gift for an animal-loving friend who is turning five:
"This is a animal book, Thalia"
Maia has worked hard on this book over the last couple of days. I think it started out as a simple birthday card idea that grew (and grew). She cut animal pictures from a couple back issues of Your Big Backyard (a children's nature magazine that we love) and glued them to half our supply of colored construction paper. In the photo above, the pages of the book are spread out over much of the studio.
After letting the glue dry overnight, she stapled the pages together, and used white duct tape for the spine of the book (as you can see in the top photo). Classy, eh? Harry helped her with the duct tape part. It may have even been his idea. Then she wrote the animal names on each page, asking Harry for identification and spelling help. Here's a bison, above.
Crayfish
Kestrel
Spider
A "SEDRA" looking mildly surprised at her name.
I guess this one was unidentifiable.
And, my favorite, a "DEAR" in red boots.
This is the first real interest Maia has shown in bookmaking since this sweet book from when she was two(ish). I've tried to encourage the idea a few times over the past couple of years with absolutely no results. And then, out of the blue, she spends hours crafting this one for a friend. Which all goes to show how important initiative and ownership is, I suppose. And interest. And readiness. Etc. Etc.
Are your kids into bookmaking?
