I believe that reading to your children is crucial at all ages and stages of their lives. Years ago, I would hold my tiny babies on my lap, and read softly to them each day. As they grew, we would sometimes read the same book 10 times a day, or more! I still read to my children. Abigail is 9, and cuddles up with me while I read long chapters to her. Autumn is 15, and still sits near by so that she can enjoy the stories, too.
Though it's spring, The Mitten, by Jan Brett, is a book that can be enjoyed year round. It can be enjoyed even more when you complete this fun and easy craft, and allow your child to tell the story back to you!
You'll need:
• Jan Brett's book, The Mitten
• 2 pieces of construction paper or felt
• a hole punch if you're using construction paper
• yarn or embroidery thread
• colored pencils or crayons
• a thick needle, such as for embroidery
• a printer
• this file and this file
Read the story.
Print out the files containing animals. Have your child or grandchild color the animals how ever they would like. If they are very young, you can cut them out after they are colored. If they are older, let them do it. Perfection is not what we are after.
In the meantime, freehand a mitten shape onto the construction paper or felt.
Cut around your drawing, leaving you with a large mitten.
If you are working with a very young child, you can punch holes into the construction paper mittens.
and show them how to whip stitch them together.
An older child might enjoy learning how to blanket stitch on the felt.
Abigail sat at the table for about an hour working on her mitten. She's got a pretty good attention span. Make sure the child has fun! It's okay to help them if they need it, but don't fret if the project isn't perfect.
Tell the story again. Refer back to the book if you have to.
In The Mitten, Nicki's grandmother, Baba, knits him snow white mittens. As he goes out to play on a snowy day, one of his mittens falls off. Animals come, one by one, to squeeze into the mitten for warmth.
First comes a mole.
In hops a rabbit. 
Along comes a hedgehog,
followed by an owl,
and a badger!
They all make room for the fox.
And believe it or not, they find room for a bear!
The last little creature to squeeze in is a mouse.
She tickles the bear's nose, and all of the animals come flying back out of the mitten because of the great sneeze.
Once all of the animals are safely inside the mitten, make a loud, drawn out sneezing sound, and shake the mitten to release the animals. Young children will enjoy doing this over and over again!
Have them retell the story to you. And to their daddy when he gets home from work. And to Grandma and Grandpa, and anyone else that will listen!
I didn't find this idea there, but you can visit Jan Brett's website for other fun activities that revolve around reading.
***Tracy makes her home with her husband, four children, and her maternal grandmother. She is a homemaker, and enjoys homeschooling her children. It seems with every passing year, she is learning new skills. She longs to pass the love of God, family, and home on to her children and (Lord-willing) future grandchildren. You can read more about her at her blog, unless the lord.
