The Easter Egg, Easter Party Plans, “An Egg-citing Easter Event”

Posted on April 11, 2014 by hendersonintraining

 

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Hoppi Easter!

 Egg-Citing Easter Event Plans

Activities & Supplies,
Designed  for Detail Lovers!

Suggested Party Times: 10:00AM-11:30AM or 4:00-5:30PM

Introducing a Fun Follow Up to Our Feature Friend: The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

Easter is one of our favorite holidays. Part of the fun is having friends, neighbors, and/or family share in the events. The Easter Egg shares one part of a great Easter tradition, the egg hunt. Here are some other activities that our family has done over the years when we’ve hosted an Egg-citing Easter Event for our neighborhood. Hop the ideas perk up your ears!

*TIP= Totally Important Points! TIPs are the little things that make a big difference . . . Throughout these plans, I’ve listed things that I’ve learned, tipically through my errors,  by doing this event for several years that may save you some time, work, and mess.

*#1 TIP:
You may be like me in that you want to do every idea that comes to your
mind and do it well. To really enjoy the event, simplify by selecting
your favorites from the ideas listed below or by delegating some activities for other participants to organize. Guests seem to be more comfortable when the event is fun, and
well organized, but not perfect!

Let’s Hop to It:

Welcoming:
As families arrive, welcome them, give them nametags, describe the various events, and have them place their filled eggs in a large laundry basket for the hunt at the end.

Easter Bunny:
Family Pictures with the Easter Bunny: Marshmallow, Our Pet Rabbit; Photographer:

  • As families arrive, have a leader direct them to the photo area where the designated photographer arranges them between two flower pots, and the child in the middle holds the Easter basket with the bunny in it!
  • TIP: Have a tablet for all the families to record their e-mail address and then send them their family picture with a message the week following the party. If you want to share/upload the pictures on Facebook or a public site, have a column on the tablet where they sign permission for their photographs to be public.
  • When pictures are completed, place bunny in the gate cage allowing 3 kids at a time to pet her. Have a volunteer supervisor.
  • Supplies: digital camera, tablet, pen, large pet pen, real bunny or someone dressed up like one!

Easter Crafts:

Wordless Book Bracelets– Leader:

  • Table and chairs
  • beads- container with the five coordinating colors to the book
  • Leather bands
  • scissors
  • Laminated description of color meanings and coordinating Bible verses: Google it.
  • Put the bracelet on the children so they don’t lose it.

Easter Egg Maracas– Leader:

  • Table and chairs
  • Plastic spoons
  • Easter egg
  • Beans
  • Duct tape
  • Marker to label maraca- child’s initials
  • View directions on www.kiwicrate.com
  • Place the maracas in a bag with child’s name and put them on the story time blanket.

Face Painting: Various spring symbols- Leader:

  • TIP: Consider painting a few spring symbols on paper for kids to look at and select one
  • Face paints
  • Brushes
  • Paper towels
  • Water container
  • Table and 2 chairs

Filler Activities: Non-organized activities

  • Bubbles- Battery operated one that blows so kids can run through it. No mess!
  • Play set- slides and swings
  • Bouncy balls-small
  • Hula hoops
  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Coloring sheets and crayons
  • Play dough
  • TIP: Make sure all items available for kids are safe.

Easter Games: Fun, simple, safe team games

Bunny Hop Relay Race (Sack Race) – Leader:

  • 3 Pillow cases
  • 3 Cones
  • 3 Bunny ears
  • Directions: Divide kids into 3 teams; One person per team steps into pillow case wearing the bunny ear headband; Hops around the cone and back and has to stop if bunny ears fall off and put them back on; Passes on pillow case and ears to next team member; First team of hoppers that complete the relay wins.

Egg-Citing Relay Race (Egg on Spoon Race) – Leader:

  • 3 Plastic Easter Eggs w/ rock inside for weight, wooden eggs, or painted hardboiled eggs
  • 3 Larger spoons
  • 3 Cones
  • Directions: Divide kids into 3 teams; One person puts the egg on the spoon and runs around the cone and back to start; Passes spoon and egg to next team mate; First team that complete the relay wins.

Easter Bunny:
Family Pictures with the Easter Bunny: Marshmallow, Our Pet Rabbit; Photographer:

  • As families arrive, have a leader direct them to the photo area where the designated photographer arranges them between two flower pots and the child in the middle holds the Easter basket with the bunny in it!
  • TIP: Have a tablet for all the families to record their e-mail address and then send them their family picture with a message the week following the party. If you want to share/upload the pictures on Facebook or a public site, have a column on the tablet where they sign permission for their photographs to be public.
  • When pictures are completed, place bunny in the gate cage allowing 3 kids at a time to pet her. Have a volunteer supervisor.
  • Supplies: digital camera, tablet, pen, large pet pen, real bunny or someone dressed up like one!

Easter Treats: Simple Desserts & Drinks

  • Easter cookies (To simplify, buy several cookie rolls with Easter designs, cut and bake)
  • Bunny Marshmallows and wrapped candies
  • Easter napkins
  • TIP: Mini-water bottles;With a permanent marker, write a number on the lids of the water bottles instead of having people write their initials or names. Have a sign posted letting them know to remember their number for a contest! Serve the water bottles in a unique spring season style by placing them in a wheelbarrow lined with plastic and filled with ice.
  • TIP: These treats are non-messy and simple so no utensils or paper products beyond napkins are needed.

Easter Prizes: Winners of Drawings & Games

  • Make sure each person has a water bottle and knows the number on the lid. The story leader calls out a few numbers and the winners receive: An Easter book (Velveteen Rabbit, Peter Rabbit, The Easter Egg, Runaway Bunny, Why God Gave Us Easter), Set of Resurrection Eggs, the bunny ears from the game, or various decorations used that day.
  • For teams that win the games, have the leader stamp the kids’ hands with an Easter Stamp. Use a different stamp for each game and save the biggest stamp to put on all the kids at the end for participating.
  • Supplies: Easter stamps and ink pads, prizes

Easter Story:
Family Life Resurrection Eggs: Share a few of the cool eggs to tell the Easter Story!
Story Leader-

  • Children and parents sit on a story time blanket on the grass. At the end of the story, they get their maracas and shake them while singing an Easter song! Afterwards, parents place the maracas in the child’s Easter basket and line up for the main event!
  • TIP: Get the family members involved: While the Story Leader talks with the kids in the front yard, ask several parents and older siblings to hide the eggs in the back yard.
  • Supplies: yard blanket, set of Resurrection Eggs, maracasA Spring Story Option: The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle- Use his Flannel Story Board! Super fun to release real butterflies!

Easter Egg Hunt: Closing Activity

  • All families bring 12 filled Easter eggs/child and an Easter basket to collect eggs. Parents and older siblings hide the eggs in the back yard while the story time is taking place in the front yard.
  • Allow the smaller kids to get a head start on the hunt.

Various Tips:  

Invitations:

  • Make a flyer and send it out through your neighborhood website or distribute to doors about two weeks prior to event. Request an RSVP a few days prior to the event. Include a plan for inclement weather on the invitation (rain date). 

Volunteers:

  • Delegate! Ask your neighbors to help lead events and bring supplies as this gets them involved and committed and makes the event more manageable for you to host! 

Preparations/Set Up:

  • Print off this list and label leaders for each event and check off supplies.(Suggestions: Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Dollar Tree, Lifeway, Mardels, Costco/Sams, Grocery Store, Oriental Trading Company via internet. etc.)
  • Outdoor tables for crafts, face painting and food
  • Wheelbarrow with plastic liner for drinks;
    TIP: (I use the plastic that comes on my dry cleaned clothes)
  • Fill eggs, number water bottles, organize crafts supplies
  • Picture area: Arrange background
  • Use one large laundry basket to store all your supplies as you gather them. Keep one paper to mark the RSVPs as you receive them.

Clean Up:

  • Ask for volunteers to help you clean up afterwards!
  • Rest!

Pictures From Past Years:

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Picture Backdrop

 

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Kids Picture with the Easter Bunny

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Family Picture with the Easter Bunny

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Craft Table

easter maracas

Craft: Easter Maracas by Kiwicrate

Wordless-Bracelets[1]

Craft: Wordless Book Bracelets by teenmissions

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Easter Desserts & Drinks

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Spring Story

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Resurrection Egg Easter Story

 

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Face Painting

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Independent Play

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Independent Play

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Independent Play

IMG_5115

Easter Egg Hunt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Curious Garden, “A Curious Way to Go Green”

Posted on April 3, 2014 by hendersonintraining
Curious Garden Cover

“But the most surprising things that popped up were the new gardeners.”

Featured Friend: The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Today was Western Day for my kindergartener at her school. (Remember, it’s Texas!) When I joined her for lunch on the playground, I noticed all the weeds that had sprung up with the coming of spring. Then, I noticed something wonderful: One child began pulling the weeds up by their roots. Before long, he had a host of kids following him doing the same thing. The kids hesitated in their activity when they saw a teacher approaching them. However, they continued their fun when Mrs. Wilson, a wise kindergarten teacher simply remarked, “I’m certainty not going to stop you. Keep going!”
Without even realizing it, one child’s fun endeavor inspired other children to do good, and at the close of Western Day, the playground looked better.

A very similar, but more elaborate scenario is featured in The Curious Garden. Come meet the boy that changed his town by seeing a small need and doing what he could do to help. Be inspired.

Introducing Liam and His Curious Garden:

Liam lived in a dreary town “without gardens or trees or greenery of any kind.” In spite of the dreariness, he loved being outdoors. One morning while wandering through his neighborhood, happily splashing in the rain puddles, he discovered a stairwell leading up to abandoned railway tracks. When he reached the top and stepped onto the broken down railway, he saw what he least expected: wildflowers and plants. Without being tended, the flowers were dying, and Liam saw that they needed a gardener. Although he didn’t fit that title, he was willing to try to help. This is the spot where it all began.

The more he worked on the garden, the more he learned; The more the garden grew, the more he felt like a gardener. Eventually the green garden covered the drab railway. When winter came, the snow prevented him from his usual work, but instead of worrying, he prepared for spring. After the snow melted away, Liam worked hard to restore the garden’s beauty and soon, the curious garden explored more places. He was surprised by where the plants, mosses, and flowers popped up throughout his town. “But the most surprising things that popped up were the new gardeners.” Without even realizing what he was doing, Liam inspired his neighbors to turn their town from dreary to delightful. What a curious way to Go Green.

“Many years later, the entire city had bloomed. But of all the new gardens, Liam’s favorite was where it all began.”

CuriousGarden.inside.3CuriousGarden.inside4

Interacting with the Story: Become FRIENDS with The Curious Garden
Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share

Below is a FRIENDS list of questions and activities for you to use with your audience.
When asking the kids questions, share some of your answers first so that they can hear your examples and connect with you and the story in a meaningful way:

F-   When have you worked hard at something to the point you felt like a real ________?
(writer, reader, dancer, singer, artist, musician, athlete, etc.)

R-  Can you relate to Liam making mistakes when he first started gardening? What are
some mistakes you made when you first began your work/skill? What did you learn
from those mistakes? Did you feel like quitting? Are you glad that you are still working at your skill and learning more?

I-   Imagine your favorite spot in your mind. Where is it? Why is it your favorite place? Has anything changed about that place over the years?

E-   Explore the alliteration and personification Peter Brown so wonderfully embeds in his story. Read the book to your audience. Then show the Scholastic DVD of his book and have the kids find the places Brown uses these literary devices throughout his story. The words will appear on the bottom of the screen which really helps visual learners. Give the kids a treat, like gummy worms, for each example they find.
*Example of alliteration: “Rather than waste his winter worrying . . .”.
*Example of personification: “With miles of open railway ahead of it, the garden was growing restless. It wanted to explore.”

N-   Navigate through your neighborhood and town to find ways that you can help make it better. For example, first start in your own yard by pulling weeds out of your garden. Then if your neighborhood has an entry way garden, go and pull those weeds. Organize a “trash and treat” time where you and the neighbors collect trash around the neighborhood and then meet at your place for a treat like a popsicle or cookie.  Have fun and inspire others!

D-   Develop a “Dreary Day Ideas List” by writing down simple, fun activities that you can enjoy doing outdoors, even when it’s dreary outside. Then, the next time that you are bored staying inside, you can be like Liam:“Even on drizzly days, while everyone else stayed inside, you could find Liam happily splashing through his neighborhood.”

S-  Share your talent/skill with others in your town. For example, arrange to go to a local assisted living home and play an instrument for the residents. Be creative! Look at what YOU can start:

Curious Garden.page1 Curious Garden. inside.2
 

Inviting You To Become Better Acquainted with Peter Brown & His Work:
Facebook Page:

Peter Brown Studio shared Children’s Book of the Month Club‘s video.

October 1, 2010
Mr Fischer asks me the tough questions in this grueling interview!
CBOMC: In the Kids Seat with Peter Brown

Peter Brown’s previous book, ‘The Curious Garden,’ brought home the E.B. White Award, and his latest offering, ‘Children Make Terrible Pets,’ is an illustrative and storytelling gem. Peter is the first author in our new CBOMC series where the kids get to ask their favorite authors and illustrators questions about their books–and, as is the case in this video, even pitch their own children’s book idea! — with Peter Brown.

Play Video

You Tube Video Interview: Uploaded on Feb 9, 2010

Author magazine interviews author/illustrator Peter Brown
http://www.authormagazine.org/
http://www.littlebrown.com

*Like Kidsbook Friends on Facebook today to receive more children’s book titles with correlating, creative activities for your audience.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mortimer’s First Garden, “Waiting for a Miracle”

Posted on March 31, 2014 by hendersonintraining

 

Mortimer.cover (2)

“One small seed turns into many more seeds or vegetables! It’s a springtime miracle!”

Featured Friend:
Mortimer’s First Garden by Karma Wilson, Illustrated by Dan Andreasen

After living in rental homes and apartments for nine years, one of the things I wanted to do first when we purchased our home was to plant a flower garden. For four years now, my kids and I have enjoyed (for the most part) the work of preparing the soil, planting the seeds, watering them, pulling the weeds, and watching flowers grow. We see God’s miracle in each flower. Our children and I can relate to Mortimer and the discoveries he makes while gardening.

Introducing Mortimer:

Like most of us, Mortimer does not like waiting. He had a couple of sunflower seeds in hand and his hungry tummy was telling him to eat them. But, when he overheard “big people” saying that one seed turns into many when you plant it, he was curious. Although doubtful, when he heard that it also makes everything around him green, that settled his hesitation. Out he went to look for a place to plant the seed and wait for green to appear in the midst of the brown world around him.

Hoping the miracle would come true, Mortimer worked hard all day searching, digging, planting and watering. The next morning, he was upset when he woke up to rain instead of green, and he considered digging up his seed to eat it right away. Instead, he looked up, said a prayer, and had a feeling in his heart that he should “wait”.

When green appeared a few days later, Mortimer’s weeping turned to joy in the morning as he saw green! “‘My garden!’ he cried. My miracle! Thank you, God!'”
The little green plant grew and grew until finally he saw another color: yellow,  sunflower yellow. Climbing up to the middle of the sunflower, he plucked hundreds of seeds and carried them home. Mortimer thanked God for his bountiful harvest and asked for one more thing: “‘And please God . . . I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these.'”
See the illustrations below to see what friend appears to help.

Interacting with the Story: Become FRIENDS with Mortimer’s First Garden

Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share
Below is a FRIENDS list of questions and activities for you to use with your audience.


F–   When have you felt like giving up while waiting for something you really wanted.

R-   Can you relate to Mortimer’s excitement when he discovered the green plant and then the yellow sunflower? When have you been excited to receive something for which you’ve asked and waited?

I–   Imagine you could plant any flower, fruit or vegetable seed in your back yard and it would begin to grow in three days like Mortimer’s sunflower seed. What would you plant?

E-  Explore some local flower shops and select a flower to buy, plant, water and watch grow. Ask the gardeners there how much sunlight and water the plant needs so you can properly care for it.

N-  Navigate the best place in your yard to plant flowers or your home to put a flower pot so that it gets the right amount of sunlight.

D-  Develop an art picture by selecting your favorite illustration and sketching it. Then color or paint it and write on the picture the miracle you are asking God to bring forth in your life. Frame the picture as a reminder to wait for the miracle and see how He chooses to answer your request.

S-   Share some sunflower seeds to much on while reading this fun book with your friends.

Mortimer.Painting.Seeds

Our son’s painting of his favorite illustration, Christian, age 7

Dedication:
Covington’s Nursery and Landscape Company, Rowlett, Texas
When I first began gardening, I prayed that someone would help me get started as I had almost zero knowledge of gardening. My “miracle” began when I went to Covington’s and received incredible help on which plants to buy, how to prepare the soil for them, and how to tend the garden over seasons. Their help was the beginning of the many miracles that our family enjoys each year as we play around our flower garden.
http://www.covingtonsnursery.com

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Thank you Covington’s Nursery for helping me select the flowers to plant in our garden!

*For an inspiring message, check out Beth Moore’s  The Law of The Harvest, as it’s the perfect supplement for adults. Search for it by title on YouTube.com
Beth urges us not “to eat the seed, but to plant it so it will yield a harvest”. See what she means by this statement. Her illustrations in the Law of The Harvest beautifully fit the illustrations in our Featured Friend. Expect a miracle!

Mortimer.page.watering Mortimer.page.waiting Mortimer.page.miracle Mortimer.page.harvest

 

 

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Beauty And The Beast, Birthday Party Plans, “Celebrating True Beauty”

Posted on March 28, 2014 by hendersonintraining

B&B.FancyShot

Featured Friend: Beauty and The Beast by Madame le Prince de Beaumont

Introducing Party Plans from Invitations to Thank You Notes:

Birthday Party for ages 4-10 Birthdays are my favorite holidays. But, I find myself getting stressed with the party planning as I have two kids, currently 8 and 6, with birthdays one week apart. Like you, I want my kids to enjoy their day. When I think back to my childhood, I recall my mother making my birthdays special with very simple, but fun parties that varied in form and size each year. When I grew “too old” for yearly parties, she still made sure the day was special for me. From her example, I caught on to some birthday tips: Be enthusiastic about your child’s day; Pick a party theme based upon their interest and age; Keep it simple but special; Include your child in the planning and preparation; Have prizes for games and/or party favors (My friends received so many fun trinkets from Mom, that I  jokingly said that they got more than I did for my birthday!); Provide thank you notes for your child to write; Take pictures and put one in your child’s room the following day; HAVE FUN celebrating with your child. Below is a party plan from start to finish with LOTS of details to help those of us who need to write everything down so we can have fun and not stress too much. Although the theme is Beauty and The Beast, The Original Fairy Tale, you can take these ideas and adapt them to any book, performance, or movie theme.

The Party: Venue Options: Children’s Theater (performance) or Home (book/movie)
Party Example: Beauty and The Beast Performance, Dallas Children’s Theater, Party of 20 including 8 girls, 8 boys, 4 adults

Example Schedule of Activities: Party from 3:30-6:00pm

3:00- Decorate the party room at theater or decorate the house the previous night
3:20- Greet guests at the door with a “Be Our Guest” sign visible as they enter.
3:30-4:30- Party Events:

  • Crafts- Girls- Design a Rose Pen; Boys- Paint a Treasure Box
  • Story- Retell parts of the original fairy tale while showing the book.
  • Dessert- Sing Happy Birthday and serve the cupcakes, ice cream cups, and drinks
  • Group picture- Select a good background that captures the theme of the party.
  • Bathroom break!

4:30-5:45- Beauty and The Beast Performance or Movie

  • Gifts– As your child opens each gift, take a picture of your child with the gift and giver.
  • Party favors- Throughout the party, continually place all the goodies in bags marked with guests names and give it to them as they leave (crafts, prizes, cupcake toppings, favors, ticket stubs or programs, etc.)
  • Thank you- Have your child say goodbye and thank you to each guest as they leave!

6:00- Clean up. Collapse on the couch while your child plays with their gifts!

Party Preparations:

  • Invitations- Create an invitation by using a logo from the book/performance/movie. Just google: “pictures of _____” or if it’s a performance, go their website and copy a picture and paste it on a word document, then write the details of the party around that logo. Mail invitations three weeks prior to the event; Request an RSVP for one week prior to party date. Evite is also a popular way to do invitations on-line.
  • Reservations- reserve tickets and party room several months prior to party.
  • Guest list- Keep a list of names at hand and mark them as they respond.
  • Cake- If purchasing the dessert, order about a week prior and always estimate a few extra servings. If parents and siblings are invited, remember to include them.
  • Party supply holder- Use a laundry basket to hold all the supplies and a plastic bin that stacks on top for smaller supplies. Use a freezer bag for ice cream cups. Refrigerate water bottles prior to party.
  • Supplies- Below is a supply list- Make your lists according to the stores in which you plan on shopping. Check off the item as you purchase it and then cross off the item as you place it in the laundry basket to transport to party so you don’t forget anything.
    (I used Target (T), The Dollar Store (DS), Party City (PC) and Hobby Lobby (HL) for all the supplies listed below, and I listed the codes by the items for you.)

Crafts: Craft for Girls- Rose Pens: Wrap an artificial rose onto a pen with floral tape.

  • Artificial roses (DS/HL)- pre-cut roses to fit properly on pen
  • Floral cutters (HL)
  • Floral tape- green (HL)
  • Pens (T)
  • Bags with girls’ names on them (PC)

Craft for Boys- Treasure Box: Paint the treasure box that is pre-filled with chocolate gold and silver coins/treasure
(Fits the original fairy tale as the Beast sent a treasure box to Beauty’s family.)

  • Mini-treasure box (HL)
  • Washable paints, 2 sets (HL)
  • Pack of paintbrushes (HL)
  • Muffin pans for water to rinse brushes, a no-spill alternative to cups of water (T)
  • Pen (to write the name on bottom prior to painting it) (T)
  • Paper towels (to place under the boxes) (T)
  • Hand wipes (T)
  • Bags with boys’ names on them (PC)

Decorations:

  • Table Cloths- 4 silver (PC)
  • Balloons with balloon holder (PC)- Easier to transport than helium balloons
  • Vase with flower suckers (PC)
  • Large treasure box (HL-w/ 40% off coupon on-line)
  • Beauty and The Beast figures
  • Beauty and The Beast book (HL)
  • Add as many fun decorations as you’d like. I kept it simple since I had to transport everything to the theater. I also didn’t want to make it too “girly” since both girls and boys were coming. If it’s just girls, you could do a vase of real or artificial red roses and a tiara as the centerpiece and place Hershey kisses on their table, etc.

Food:

  • Cupcakes for the boys- white icing with rainbow colored sprinkles on the sides and a chocolate gold coin as a topper (T-cupcakes; PC- toppers)
  • Cupcakes for the girls- pink icing with pastel colored sprinkles on the sides and a mini-tiara as a topper (T- cupcakes; PC- toppers). *I put a small clear piece of plastic wrap on b/w the icing and tiara so I could put the tiaras in the girls’ party favor bags without cleaning them. The girls can use them on their little dolls!
  • Ice cream cups- vanilla cups of ice cream with the little stick (T)
  • Mini-water bottles- Can cover basic wrap around middle with pink paper for the girls and silver for the boys (T)
  • napkins- girls/pink, boys/white (PC)
  • plates- girls/fancy pink with silver edges, boys/white (PC)
  • Hand wipes (T)
  • Cake candles and lighter
  • Can add other snacks or if you are serving a meal like pizza or subs, plan accordingly.

Favors:

  • Boys- Painted treasure box with chocolate gold and silver coins and ticket stub
  • Girls- Flower pen, flower sucker, pink chocolate coins and ticket stub

Post-Party:

  • Thank you notes– Develop the pictures of your child with gift and giver and tape the note onto a note card. Have your child write a note on the notecard. Buy envelopes to fit. I took the photos on my phone and used the Kodak app to develop them in the Target store. Super fast!
  • Memoir: Develop the group picture and put it in your child’s room.

You can add many more ideas to this party including games where you can use the book as a prize. Have fun using some of these ideas and structure of events while adding your own special, creative touches based on your children’s interest and their guest list! B&B.cupcakes

B&B.craftsboys  B&B bday blog2

Dedication: This post is in honor of my mom and how she made birthdays special. I miss her deeply every day, but especially on my birthday and on our children’s birthdays. I still treasure the last card that I received from her on my 32nd birthday. As I continue to go through boxes of her things, I find cards and gifts that she bought ahead of time for our kids, and I save them for their birthdays so she has a part in their day. She didn’t have much, but what she had, she shared. She always thought of others, especially on their birthdays! I’m thankful for how she celebrated life.

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Mom’s 60th birthday party

Posted in birthday, fairtytales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beauty And The Beast, “True Beauty”

Posted on March 25, 2014 by hendersonintraining
blog.beautybeastbook

“Deep in the woods, where fairies and sprites, imps and ogres still exert power over mortals, stands a castle. . . “.

Featured Friend: Beauty and the Beast
by Madame le Prince de Beaumont

While growing up, Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite Disney movies, and now it’s one of our children’s favorites. I was introduced to the original story (children’s version) by the Dallas Children’s Theater because they are currently performing this play based on the book. When we bought tickets for our kids’ birthday celebration, I started to read the book to Christian and Victoria to prepare them for the plot that does not include Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts or Chip.
At first, I was concerned that the kids wouldn’t find the book or play as entertaining as the movie, but to my delight, we all enjoyed both immensely. (I prefer to read a book before seeing its movie version so that the kids can imagine the characters and setting for themselves; however, that’s not always possible. In this case, the reversed order was still a success, which speaks to the strength of the original writing.) When the kids and I would finish several short chapters before bed and need to stop reading for the night, we felt as though we had pushed pause on a great movie, and we couldn’t wait to get back to it the next night and push play again. Once we finished the book, we saw the production by the Dallas Children’s Theater. The play was (better than) the icing on the cake, as seeing their creative rendition made the book and their birthday forever memorable.

Introducing the Author: Madame le Prince de Beaumont

“Jeanne-Marie le Prince was born in Rouen, France, in 1711. In 1743, she married a man named Beaumont.  . . . In 1756, she wrote her own version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The original story by Madame Gabrielle de Villaneuve had been written for adults. Beaumont’s version was aimed at a younger audience.
Beaumont wrote more than seventy books, fairy tales, and short stories. Her emphasis on selfless love and happy endings has influenced fairy tale literature for more than three centuries. She died in 1780.”- Taken from Beauty and the Beast, About the Author

Introducing Beauty, Beauty’s Family, and the Beast:

Beauty‘s character is true to Belle’s (French name, meaning beauty) in the Disney movie. She is gracious, smart, and kind. She’s the youngest of three girls. Her older sisters, Elise and Renee, are similar the sisters in Cinderella– cruel, jealous, prideful, and selfish. Throughout the story, they only do harm to her. Her two brothers are minor characters in the story. Beauty’s father is a merchant whose luck sinks, literally. His merchandise is lost at sea and what isn’t lost, is stolen. The family goes from riches to rags.
When they move from their extravagant city home to a house in the country, the only one content with their situation is Beauty, for she cares more for her father than she cares for the fortune. Her character is so golden that her suitors still call on her in spite of her lack of fortune.
The Beast is actually kind-hearted from the start of the story. It’s not until the end that we learn an evil fairy turned him from a Prince to a Beast because he chose not to marry her. The Beast is gruff and grotesque is his speech and looks; however, he is generous and good. When Beauty’s father happens upon the enchanted castle while lost in the forest, no one greets him, but once inside, the roaring fire warms his cold hands, the feast on the dining room table fills his empty stomach, and the cozy bedchamber gives him rest for the night. Rejuvenated, the merchant leaves to return to his family, picking one red rose on the way out so he could give it to Beauty. This act brings the Beast out!
“‘What is the meaning of this?’ came a ferocious voice from right behind him. Hovering menacingly near the merchant stood a horrible Beast. The merchant nearly fainted from the shock of seeing such a huge creature. The Beast resembled a man, stood upright, and was well dressed, but nonetheless, was a monster.
‘How ungrateful you are, sir!’ the Beast said in a frightful voice.
‘Is this the thanks I get for welcoming you into my castle and for saving your miserable life? You steal what I value most in the world! You’ll pay for it, I assure you.'” (p.52)
When Beauty’s father asked for forgiveness and explained that he picked the flower to give to his daughter, the Beast became curious to meet her. Thus begins the story with which we are most familiar:  Beauty takes the place of her father by going to the castle and staying with the Beast.
The Beast shows upfront that he is generous by allowing the father to fill a treasure box with treasure and goods, which magically is transported to his home. The family’s fortune is restored.  Beauty quickly sees the Beast’s kind nature as everything she wishes, he makes come true for her during her stay. After many marriage proposals, a trip home to see her father and family, and the near-death of her friend, the Beast, the story closes with her acceptance of his proposal, thus breaking the spell from the evil fairy. Beauty and the Prince marry, and when the opportunity comes to exact justice on her two hateful and envious sisters, Beauty asks that they be unharmed, again proving her true beauty.

Interacting with the Story: Become FRIENDS with Beauty and The Beast

Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share

Below is a FRIENDS list of questions and activities for you to use with your audience.
F-   How would you feel in an enchanted castle? Scared, curious, excited . . . and why?
R-   Can you relate to the sisters’ feelings of jealousy? When have you felt jealous and why?
I-    Imagine being able to fill up a treasure box. What would you put in it?
E-   Explore your enchanted castle by drawing and coloring a picture of what you imagine.
N-   Navigate the road for the father/merchant to find his way in the forest by drawing
signs from the castle to his cottage home.
D-   Develop a chapter in the book in which the sisters change from being mean to kind.
What helps them change their attitude?
S-    Share other treasured classics shown below. Share the experience with your family by going to a play at a children’s theater in your area!

B&B TreasureBoxB&BBlog.

Don’t miss the next blog as I will share birthday party plans, including crafts, cupcakes, decorations, and details for a  Beauty and The Beast party.  Subscribe to Kidsbookfriends by submitting your e-mail address in the “Follow this Blog” section on the main page of the blog. Excited to have you on this journey!

 

Beauty And The Beast

Check out http://www.dct.org for productions.

 

 

 

 

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