I am excited for today’s storytime, as it’s brought to you by a Guest Make and Taker. Kris, from Lima Bean Home, has participated in a fun storytime with her children using the book series, The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Here’s Kris and her darling kids sharing their storytime and creative activity.
Recently at a community book exchange night, we traded one of our well-read storybooks for someone else’s copy of The Boxcar Children. I have fond memories of reading this in my childhood; I was reminded why when reading it aloud to my 5-year old son. This book is a great read-aloud because it’s full of dialogue, and the story is simple to follow and very appealing to kids of all ages.
While reading, I quickly remembered what makes this book unique and timeless. The magic of the story lies in its portrayal of cheerful, resourceful siblings, Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden, who make themselves a cozy home in an abandoned boxcar, finding “treasures” around them to use in their daily lives. These “treasures” include abandoned dishes and pots which they clean and reuse in their cooking, collected piles of pine needles for bedding, and an old piece of wood which older brother Henry makes into a shelf to hold their reused items in the boxcar.
In our house we are always trying to think of ways to reuse everyday items that would normally be thrown away, thinking of them, as the Boxcar children do, as “treasures” to be given new purpose. We decided to make a version of Henry’s shelf to hold the kids’ craft supplies, using lids and containers that would have been tossed in the trash or the recycle bin. For the bottom of the shelf we used a sturdy piece of cardboard that was the back of a blister pack from a toy.
We cut the cardboard in half and decorated the containers–one with markers, one with reused paper and characters that we cut out of magazines, and one with sequins. Then we glued the containers onto the cardboard with gorilla glue for an extra secure hold.
It was fun to see how the containers we collected were just the right size for colored pencils and crayons and one made a fabulous scissor holder.
I have yet to read The Boxcar Children and can’t wait to start reading it with my 5 year old. Thanks, Kris. For her crafts, she really tries to go along with the theme of her blog, trying to post ideas and commentary on eco-friendly living. Visit Lima Bean Home for more of her creative ideas!
If any of you would like to be a Guest Make and Taker, send me an email at marieATmakeandtakesDOTcom or leave a comment.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
That was one of my favorite books when I was a kid! Love to see your “recycled” crafts! Way cooler than spending a bunch of money at Robert’s on supplies.
I loved The Boxcar Children books when I was a kid and now my 9 year old reads them like crazy. It is so fun when your kids get into things you did when you were a kid. I must say, your kids are so lucky to have you for a mom. You are so fun and and are making such great memories for them. Thanks for all your craft ideas. I am scouring your blog for ideas of fun things to do with my kids this summer. Only two more weeks of school. I can’t wait!
The Boxcar Children would be proud. If they went to Wal-Mart, they would probably run away in terror :)
It’s a great execution of a sweet story. Thanks to Marie for featuring the eco-friendly philosophies of Lima Bean Home.
Great post! This is the first book for the summer I am reading to my children so I was so excited to read this post. We will have to try this craft idea as well when we are finished. Thank you so much for posting this great idea>
What a great post! This was a favorite book of mine as a kid, and my kids love it too.
I loved the Boxcar Children books as a kid. I remember sitting and reading almost a whole book in an afternoon because time just flew by. I’ve been doing a lot of read-alouds of the Magic Tree House books with my students this year, which are also pretty good.
I just love the boxcar children! I ran across your blog last week and just love it.
So many loves of The Boxcar Children. I am heading to library tomorrow and plan to pick it up! Thanks Kris!