Celebrating Art

This past weekend was the Columbus Arts Festival. Ava and I made a special trip to enjoy the sites and sounds. Her favorite booths featured clocks in the shape of cat faces, wooden toys, unique birdhouses, and any booth feature purses or bags. Ava loves being outside and has always been comfortable around different groups of people. She was very interested in the art we were viewing and enjoyed exploring.

Ava is at the age were she is extremely interested in creating her own art whether drawing, painting, or playdough. There was a great area set-up with activities for children but she is still a little young for what was offered. Maybe next year she can take advantage of the children's area.

We shared a delicious dish of Jeni's Ice Cream and danced to the music of a jazz band.

To celebrate a weekend of art, we are reading new picture books that feature exceptional illustrations.

• Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell is a story of friendship with simple but sweet illustrations.

• Hello, Baby! by Mem Fox and illustrated by Steve Jenkins pairs simple rhyme with beautifully executed cut-paper collage.

• The Secret Circus by Johanna Wright shares a secret circus performance through dreamlike illustrations.

Sharing stories with appealing illustrations will help foster Print Motivation in your child. For older children you can extend the connection by creating art in the style of the illustrator.

Double the Fun!

Ava and I shared a fun day at the Franklin Park Conservatory a few weeks ago and we hope to return very soon! Especially now that we are members. This will be a fun place for us to get out of the cold and enjoy some green! Last weeks Garden Storytime inspired me to share these photographs. As our day was ending, we came across a giant mirror. Ava had tremendous fun playing with the baby in the mirror!

Sharing the experience of being at the indoor gardens helps make the connections of the stories we have been reading encouraging Print Motivation. Some of our favorite garden books are Muncha, Muncha, Muncha by Candace Fleming, Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Elhert, and Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Elhert.

Bedtime Stories

At times we are often very relaxed in our routine. We let Ava set the pace without controlling our lives and this has made for a very happy household. However, when it comes to the betime routine we have been pretty strict. I believe this consistency is what has helped foster the positive experience bath and bedtime have become. When told that it is time for a bath, Ava stops what she is doing and heads to the stairs.

Daddy typically takes the lead with bathtime and getting dressed. I do all the prep work (laying out jammies, straightening the crib, searching for pacifiers). We take turns with the the bedtime story. Sometimes Ava chooses who she wants to read.

Lately there has been a clear favorite when it comes to book choice - Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea. This is an excellent picture book with fun, simple, modern illustrations. The story flows well when read aloud and captures the listeners imagination. This book is excellent in reinforcing Print Motivation. If Ava is having a "toddler moment," all we have to do is ask her if she wants to read the dinosaur book and the outburst is over. Last night Kris observed her reading the book to herself. Each time she turned the page she would point and say, "Roar!" This is a new sound and later in the evening we were able to apply it to pictures of lions.

Our favorite bedtime stories include:

I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

Hush Little Ones by John Butler

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones by Claire Freedman

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea

Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz

Song of Night by Katherine Riley Nakamura

Can We Do it?

Ava has been showing an interest in tools lately. Recently we visited a friend who had a play tool bench and she had the best time! Without any guideance Ava uses the tools correctly reminding me of the power of observation.

She has watched a deck being added to the back of our house, a room addition to her grandparents house, and many other projects involving tools. Ava stole a small wrench from PawPaw while he was assembling a table and took it to "work on" her riding school bus. She pretended to turn the wrench on bus and when her work was complete Ava lifted the seat and stored the wrench inside. We will be adding a toolbox to Ava's Christmas wish list!

My mother-in-law has a small collection of books for the grandchildren to enjoy. In the pile Ava found 2 Bob the Builder board books - one shaped like a hammer and the other a saw. These fun little books are excellent for Print Motivation. After reading the story Ava can pretend to work like Bob making the story come to life. We are also enjoying Tools by Taro Miura, Tools by Byron Barton, I Love Tools by Philemon Sturges, Whose Tools are These? by Sharon Katz Cooper, Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe, and The Toolbox by Anne Rockwell.