Here we go again with the fabulous Virtual Book Club for Kids. Last month we featured the incredible Dr. Seuss, one of our favourite authors. This month we met an author who is new to our family, Julia Donaldson. Julia Donaldson is the author of the uber-popular children's book, The Gruffalo. It seems that somehow everyone in the world has read this book, except us. However, when we were deciding which book to read we somehow landed on "Jack and the Flumflum Tree".
"Jack and the Flum Flum" tree is a fun, little adventure book following Jack on his search for a Flum Flum tree. The fruit of the Flum Flum tree will help his grandmother feel better. Jack travels with his friends and meets all sorts of challenges along the way. After reading the book the girls and I sat down and discussed what ideas spring to mind when thinking about this story. I thought it might be fun to create a map and a recreate Jack's adventure...nope. Instead, my girls decided that they wanted to invent their own tree and healing fruit, and their very own story book.
First, my youngest daughter set about making a Fofo tree, the tree they decided to make. The tree was made using leftover pieces of cardboard, construction paper, an empty water bottle, markers, and tape.
In the meantime, my eldest daughter sat at the computer and wrote up a fact sheet about the Fofo tree. She detailed everything from where the tree grows, what eats the tree, what fruit grows on the tree..the Fofo fruit, of course!
Finally, just when I thought they were done, my youngest daughter pulled up to the computer and wrote a complete story called "Lilly and the Fofo Tree". In her book, Lilly's mother has the flu and needs the fruit from the Fofo tree to make her feel better. So, Lilly sets out on an adventure...on her surf board! I love reading what my girls write. They always amaze me.
The book "Jack and the Flumflum Tree" really inspired my girls. This is the best part about meeting a new author...watching the wheels turn in my girls' minds as they create something. Taking the premise from a book and creating an alternate story is a great way to develop story comprehension skills and story development skills. The act of reading a story and then writing a story is a simple way to get children excited about reading, writing and typing. We have even read a few more of Donaldson's books and we are planning on finally reading The Gruffalo.
This month's Virtual Book Club for Kids is honouring Julia Donaldson and you simply must check out all the magnificent posts that everyone has put together. Please link up any Julia Donaldson post that you may have created. And, don't forget about the Virtual Book Club for Kids' Facebook page, a great reading resource for parents with growing readers.
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 - Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - Coffee Cups and Crayons - Having Fun at Chelle's House- Love, Play, Learn - Juggling With Kids - Motherhood on a Dime - Growing Book By Book - This Reading Mama - Fantastic Fun and Learning
