Reading Confetti: Shadow Play with The Gruffalo's Child: Virtual Book Club for Kids

The featured author for the March edition of the Virtual Book Club for Kids is Julia Donaldson. Link up your Julia Donaldson book projects and find more ideas below.

In rhyming text, The Gruffalo's Child tells the story of the gruffalo's daughter who goes in search of the big bad mouse. Though she follows many trails, they lead her to animals like a snake, a fox, and an owl. When she finally finds a mouse, it's only a small one and she thinks it might make a good snack. The clever mouse offers to introduce the Gruffalo's Child to its big bad friend. When the moon shines on the mouse just right, it casts a shadow, and the mouse looks so big and bad that it frightens the Gruffalo's child right back home where she belongs.

This book is perfect for shadow play.

I made shadow puppets of the characters by making a copy and cutting them from cardstock.

I taped the silhouettes to craft sticks.

We had a great time experimenting with moving the puppets closer to and further from the flashlight to change the size of the shadows.

And retelling the story with the puppets.

The Big Bad Mouse

The Gruffalo

The Owl

Now it's your turn! Which book did you choose this month? Please link it up or share it on the Virtual Book Club for Kids facebook page!

Participating Blogs:

Toddler Approved - Rainy Day Mum - Adventures in Reading with Kids - 3 Dinosaurs - Royal Baloo - The Educators' Spin On It - Inspiration Laboratories - Pleasantest Thing - Edventures with Kids - Two Big Two Little - Playing With Words 365 - Kitchen Counter Chronicles - Outlaw Mom - Mommy and Me Book Club - Crafty Moms Share - No Twiddle Twaddle - The Good Long Road - Ready. Set. Read 2 Me - Reading Confetti - Mama Smiles - Juggling with Kids- Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas - Creekside Learning - Creative Family Fun - The Usual Mayhem - Teach Preschool - PlayDrMom - CraftoArt - Here Come the Girls - Being a Conscious Parent - Smiling like Sunshine - Crayon Freckles - Train Up a Child - Smile Play Learn - Coffee Cups and Crayons - Having Fun at Chelle's House- Love, Play, Learn - Juggling With Kids - Motherhood on a Dime Toddler Approved - Growing Book By Book - This Reading Mama

12 comments:

ReshMarch 18, 2013 at 12:16 PM
That is such a clever idea. DD will love this. Thanks for sharing!
-Reshama
www.stakcingbooks.com
Growing Book by BookMarch 18, 2013 at 12:57 PM
I love shadow puppets. What a great idea to develop some creativity and review the story elements. Thanks for sharing.
AnonymousMarch 18, 2013 at 2:18 PM
The shadow puppets you made a so cute.
crafty elsieMarch 18, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Clever link to the story. I keep meaning to do some shadow puppets
UnknownMarch 18, 2013 at 5:10 PM
Now this is creative. It's one thing to act out a story with puppets (fun.) But it's quite another to act out a story with shadows (FUN!)
UnknownMarch 18, 2013 at 11:10 PM
I love this! We have to get this book from the library! We did puppets too, why don't we live close enough for a Gruffalo puppet party?!?
Amy March 20, 2013 at 9:52 PM
This is such an awesome idea! My boys are fascinated by their shadows, so they would love this. Thanks for a great idea for a rainy day!
Jackie(My Little Bookcase)March 21, 2013 at 1:39 AM
So effective. I love it. :)
MelissaMarch 22, 2013 at 4:45 AM
What a wonderful idea Lorie! Shadow play is so much fun, we will definitely have to try this one. Thanks again for the inspriation :)
Sharnee TorrentsMarch 22, 2013 at 6:27 AM
Oh I love shadow puppets, we've only just done some for Hey Diddle diddle, soo love how you've worked them out, could do with any book!!
SUper!! Thanks heaps!
Smiles SHarnee :)

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!