The Baby Beebee Bird

The Baby Beebee Bird

Written by Diane Redfield Massie

Illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Every now and then, I come across certain books that take me back to my childhood, complete with all of the memories of reading it with my mom.  We would climb up on her bed and she would read a big stack of books to us as we all crowded around her.  I came across The Baby Beebee Bird in the library, and even though it was a reprint edition with new illustrations from Steven Kellogg, it brought back some fond memories.  

The story was originally published in 1963, and tells the tale of a little baby bird and its arrival at the zoo.  All of the animals are tired at the end of the day, and ready to go to bed, but the Beebee bird has just woken up and is ready to sing!  Much to the dismay of the rest of the zoo, the baby bird sings all night long.  "Beebeebobbibobbi beebeebobbibobbi...." is the song that the little bird sings with all of its heart.

After a sleepless night, lion comes up with a plan that just might work to get the baby bird back on a sleeping schedule that works for everyone.  The plot reminds me of parents bringing home newborns from the hospital, and the dilemma that they encounter when the baby is wide awake during the night, and sleepy during the day.  

I love that it has become a favorite around our house, and I hope my little ones ones will remember it with as much fondness as I have.  

Happy Reading!

Emily

Room on the Broom

Room on the Broom

Written by Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

I love Halloween.  I love the clever costumes, fun foods, parties, and decorations.  We meet and talk to more neighbors on Halloween night than on any other night of the year.  Most of all, I love seeing my little ones dressed up and excited for their night full of goodies.

Whatever your thoughts on the holiday may be, I do hope that you'll include Room on the Broom as one of your October read-alouds.  A witch and her cat are flying on a broom when various items fall to the ground, such as the witch's hat, her hair bow, and her wand.  Each time they go to retrieve the fallen item, a new animal comes out with the lost item, along with a request to join the witch and the cat on the broom.  Excitement continues when the broom breaks and a dragon enters the story!  

Retelling:  Shadow Puppets

The characters in the story are all perfect candidates for shadow puppets.  My kiddos had the time of their lives putting on a puppet show while I read aloud the story.  They played with the shadow puppets the entire afternoon.  

To make the shadow puppets, I found free coloring pages of the main characters.  I printed them off on cardstock and cut around the edges.  I then taped a skewer on to the back (I would recommend using Popsicle sticks if you have little ones!).

To make the shadow puppet theater, I cut off the top and bottom flaps of a cardboard box.  I then covered the top opening of the box with a white piece of tissue paper and taped the tissue paper to the sides.  We used a small lamp, and it worked out great.  

You might also check out the book's website!  It has some fabulous resources and activities!

Happy reading!

Emily

New Release: Leroy Ninker Saddles Up

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume One

Written by Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Our house adores the Mercy Watson series.  The series tells of a funny little couple whose lives are centered around their "porcine wonder" named Mercy (who is always up to something!).  Deckawoo Drive, the street they live on, is full of adventure.  Imagine how excited I was to see that a new series was coming out with the same characters!

Some of you might remember Leroy Ninker from the Mercy Watson series.  Leroy is the reformed thief who works at the popcorn stand at the drive-in movie theater.  He dreams of being a cowboy.  In this book, Leroy makes his dreams come true by buying a horse named Maybelline.  Sweet old Maybelline has distinct characteristics that make her as unique and as lovable as Mercy.  Maybelline has four teeth and LOVES spaghetti.  

I would highly recommend this book as a preschool read-aloud or as a beginning chapter book. Leroy's attempts at owning a horse in the city make for a delightful story for boys and girls.  Amusing pictures are featured on most pages.  Unfortunately, the illustrations are printed in black and white, as opposed to the colored illustrations found in Mercy Watson books.  Even so, Chris Van Dusen's illustrations captivate young readers, as usual.

Possible Activities:

Family Fun:  Watch a Western movie together and eat popcorn.  You might try The Apple Dumpling Gang.  

Imagination:  Pretend you're living in the Wild West for the day. :)

Food:  Eat buttered toast for breakfast, and spaghetti for dinner.

Language Arts:  Write sweet compliments for Maybelline using similes and metaphors.

Math: Cook up a variety of lengths of spaghetti noodles and measure them in centimeters and inches.

Happy reading!

Emily

Reading Motivation {Free Printables!}

Our library always has an amazing summer reading program set up, and our little family has an extraordinary amount of motivation when it comes to pulling out piles of books and devouring them while the program is running.  Now that I have an independent reader and summer is over, I wanted to find a fun way to continue that motivation and give him a goal to work towards.  Hence, the gumball machine.  For every book that he either reads to me or finishes independently, he gets to put a gumball on the machine.  When the machine is filled {50 books!}, he gets a reward.  Around our house, the reward is in the form of a date and he gets to choose the activity.  Not only is he excited and reading, but I get to look forward to a date with a cute little gentleman!

I've uploaded the images that I have created so you can print them off if you would like.  In order to print them, right-click the two separate images and save them to your computer.  You can then upload them to your favorite photo center.  Since I wanted this to be something that we could do over and over again, I added velcro dots to the white gumballs in the machine and the colored gumballs.  For some reason, it is the simple things that help us keep plugging towards our goals, and in this case it is seeing a little machine fill up with colorful gumballs!

Happy reading!

Emily

New Release: President Taft is Stuck in the Bath

I am a huge fan of both Mac Barnett and Chris Van Dusen, so I was really excited when I saw that they had teamed up for a new book.  

President Taft is Stuck in the Bath

Written by Mac Barnett

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Perfect for 4-8 years old

The book is based on a rumor that President Taft got stuck in the bathtub during his stay at the White House.  It is hard to tell whether or not this rumor is true, but there are a number of different stories to be told about the occasion.  Some say that multiple men had to pry him out of the bathtub, and some say that loblolly (butter and lobster liver) was needed.  Mac Barnett uses the possible incident as a basis for his wild romp that brings the whole cabinet on board.

After a great number of attempts to heave himself out of the bathtub, President Taft realizes he is STUCK.  His wife comes to check on him, and despite his original attempts to hide it from her, he tells her the truth.  When he sees that she doesn't know what to do, he asks for the Vice President.  The Vice President's solution is for himself to be sworn in as President.  President Taft views this as "prepostorous", and the Secretary of State is called in.  He suggests diet and exercise.

More and more cabinet members are summoned, and each one offers a {fitting} recommendation according to his office in the cabinet.  It reminds me a lot of King Bidgood in the Bathtub and how the royal court was involved in the dilemma.  

How did they finally free him from the bathtub in this story?  Well, you'll just have to check it out to find out.  I greatly enjoyed Chris Van Dusen's caricatured illustrations.  They were a perfect match for the exaggerated telling of this old rumor and possible piece of White House history.  

The last two pages of the story include a picture of the large bathtub that President Taft had brought in to the White House (which could hold four men!), along with facts relating to President Taft and bathtubs.  He sounds a lot like myself and King Bidgood: we all love a good bath.

I think it is a great read for families, as well as any class learning about the Executive Cabinet.  It brings a light and humorous view to the White House.  

*I would recommend doing some research on President Taft with your children/students to study up on his life and accomplishments.  He has a really interesting history!*

Candlewick Press was kind enough to provide a review copy.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

Happy Reading!

Emily

Moo! {Q & A with David LaRochelle!}

I am so excited!  Not only am I going to share one of our favorite books, but I also had the opportunity to ask the author a few questions and it was so much fun seeing his responses.  Without further ado, let me introduce you to Moo!.

Moo!

by David LaRochelle

Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
 Perfect for: 3-6 years old

The majority of the story Moo! is made up of only one word: moo.  If I counted correctly, the word moo appears 57 times in the story.  It is written with a wide variety of text formatting and punctuation to help tell the story of a fun-loving cow who takes a car for a joyride.  He takes the car for quite a wild ride, and he experiences a number of emotions.  The illustrations and text work together to help the reader easily know how to read the word with inflection to match how the cow is saying "moo".

I love the story for three main reasons:

1.  It is a great story to teach how to read with inflection.

2.  Little ones who don't know how to read are proud of their ability to read this book by themselves.

3.  We haven't laughed so hard while reading a book in a long time!  We laugh every single time we read it.

I contacted Mr. LaRochelle, and he was really kind to take some time to answer a few questions.  I especially loved hearing where he came up with the idea!

1.  What are your top five favorite children's books?

Of course it's impossible to pick just five, and my choices might change depending on the day that you asked me, but five children's books that I love are:

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Jill Barton. This book is so much fun to read out loud that sometimes I read it out loud to myself just because I like saying the words so much!

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood. The illustrations make me laugh every time, and the story is distilled to exactly the right few words.

Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee. Marla tells multiple stories through her illustrations of the six couples riding this roller coaster. There are new things to discover on every reading.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. Hilarious. Those pigeon's emotions are all too human. True story.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. I loved reading this story to my fourth graders when I was a teacher. It still makes me laugh and cry. Both the characters of Leigh Botts and the author to whom he writes resonate with me. 

What gave you the idea for writing Moo?

 I wanted to write a one-word story. I chose the word "Moo" possibly because my friend Gary and I both have cow noisemakers (cylinders that you turn upside down and they "moo") for which we've been creating imaginary adventures for many years. Initially I had hoped to be the illustrator as well as the author for this book, then in the mail I received a postcard from my friend Mike Wohnoutka advertising an art show he was having. On the front of the postcard was a painting of a cow, and I said, "THAT'S the cow for Moo!" We sent my dummy of the book and a sample painting of Mike's to an editor he had worked with, and she offered us a contract for the book within a month.

Do you have an author that has inspired you?

I'm inspired by wonderful books, like the ones that I mentioned. They make me want to write something just as good. The creativity of author/illustrators such as Lois Ehlert, Chris Raschka, and Paul Zelinsky also fuel my imagination.

What book are you currently reading?

I just finished reading In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz, a companion book to A Tale Dark and Grimm, and I enjoyed that very much (it's very funny, and also just as dark as the original fairy tales on which it is based). Last night I started reading The Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell, which I've heard many good things about. It's a middle grade novel about a baby who is found floating in the ocean in a cello case and the eccentric man who raises her.

Which of your books have been your favorite to write?

I'm usually most excited about my most recent book, and that would be Moo! I loved the challenge of trying to tell a complete story using only one word (sharp-eyed readers will spot that I actually used six words). It's a story that has made readers of all ages (including adults) laugh, and that is extremely rewarding.

I'm also very proud of Arlo's ARTrageous Adventure!, the first book where I was both author and illustrator. It's a lift-the-flap book with over fifty flaps, and I had a great deal of fun thinking of all the different ways that I could make the paintings in the museum come to life.


Check it out.  I guarantee there will be laughs!
Happy reading!

Emily 

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood

I've been on a fairy tale and folk tale kick lately, and recently discovered a version of Little Red Riding Hood that is now my absolute favorite telling of the story.

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood

by Mike Artell

Illustrated by Jim Harris
Perfect for: 5-8 years old

The text is written in Creole dialect and rhyme, and is fun to read aloud.  The pictures and characters are hilarious.  Petite Rouge (a duck) is on her way to take her sick grand-mere a basket full of gumbo and boudin.  She is in her pirogue making her way through the swamp when she is stopped by the hungry gator named Claude.

*Claude is the character that makes the story.  A humorous crocodile makes for a lively alternative to the big bad wolf.  I think you'll agree after you read it!*

When Petite Rouge refuses to hand over the food, Claude heads to Grand-mere's.  Grand-mere is so scared that she hides in the closet, and large Claude is shown in Grand-mere's little bed wearing her little pajamas, yellow flippers, and a pretend beak that hardly covers his mouth.  Petite Rouge arrives and the rest of the book is filled with cleverness and a wild chase.

The dialect, creative twist, comical characters, and illustrations all combine to make one great telling of this old tale. 

Happy reading!

Emily

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

We finished reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a few months ago, and it is still being talked about in our home.  Over the past couple of months, I've come across some fun ways to include the book in our activities sessions, and had to revisit the book. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

 

Imaginative Play
Anna over at The Imagination Tree shares a fun Willy Wonka activity found here.  She has some REALLY fun uses for play dough on her blog, and really goes all out.  We used her chocolate play dough recipe, along with some of the names of treats from the book to jump start our own little creativity session.

We started by making some of the classic treats from the book (everlasting gobstoppers, magic chewing gum,eatable marshmallow pillows, snozberries, etc.), and then they took off with their own creations.  I wish I would have written down the names that my crew came up with because they were fantastic! 

I had to add a square candy that looks round.  :)

I do wish that I would have had some sprinkles on hand, along with some candy cups.  We kept ours incredibly {simple}, and it kept us happily engaged for a couple of hours.  It is always fun for me to watch their creativity in action!  We'll definitely be revisiting this activity.

Kitchen Fun:

THEN I ran across these cookbooks.  Score!  They are written by Roald and Felicity Dahl, and are illustrated by Quentin Blake.  All of the recipes are inspired by foods mentioned in his books, and are hilarious to read.  I wish I could share one of the recipes without breaking copyright laws!  They are full of creativity and fun.

 

In Roald Dahl's Even More Revolting Recipes, there is a recipe for "Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight", a toffee and marshmallow ice cream topping.

Math/Science:

In the book, there is a nut room full of squirrels testing walnuts to see if they are bad or good.  It is here that the squirrels test Veruca Salt to see if she is a good nut or not.  We used peanuts instead of walnuts for a little math and science lab.  

First, we estimated how many peanuts we had.

 Then we counted, and counted by tens.

 Last, but not least, we sorted.  And analyzed.  And ate. 

Interesting Fact:

As a young school boy, Roald and his friends were busted for putting a mouse in the local candy shop's jar of gobstoppers (information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_dahl).

Happy reading!

Emily

Shadows of the Workhouse

My intention of starting this blog was to share children's stories that we love as a family, but sometimes I come across an adult read that I can't help but share.  I finished Shadows of the Workhouse tonight, and it is one that I am not likely to forget soon.

Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse

by Jennifer Worth

 

My family got me started on the BBC series "Call the Midwife" a few months ago, and it was the only show that I HAD to watch on a weekly basis.   I was thrilled when I discovered that it was based off of a series of memoirs by Jennifer Worth.  Jennifer spent her young nursing years working in a convent in poverty-stricken East London.  She was not a nun, but lived and worked amongst them in their nursing and midwife duties.  She tells many detailed and interesting stories about the people she met at the time, and the conditions she worked in.

Shadows of the Workhouse is the second book out of three, and is divided into three main sections.  The first tells the very harrowing accounts of children who grew up in England's workhouses (one of the earliest attempts at social welfare).  Life in a workhouse was harsh, but it was one of the only options available to a family with no place to live or food to eat.  Jennifer knew these individuals as adults and tells stories from when they were young.

Jennifer then relates the story of Sister Monica Joan, the sister who is in her nineties and is brilliant, mischievous, and showing signs of dementia.  Sister Monica Joan makes for a lively addition to the memoirs, and has an interesting past that she shares with Jennifer.  She also has her fair share of antics.

The final section is the most touching for me.  Jennifer had the opportunity to treat a man by the name of Joe Collett.  I don't know if there has ever been a character in a book that I have come to adore more than Joe.  He has lost all of his family to World War I and World War II, and is without friends, as well.  He and Jennifer form a friendship that brings both of them great joy.  He shares a great deal of world history as he tells her stories of his life.  I couldn't put the book down as I was reading Joe's stories.

As a warning, there is some content in the book that is very honest, and may not be for sensitive readers.  I believe that she approaches the matter in a respectful manner, but there were a couple of parts that I had to graze over.  She has a way of writing that shows her admiration for the people that she is writing about, and the life lessons that she learned from them.

I felt very humbled and touched by this memoir.  I don't think that one can read it without coming away incredibly grateful for the blessings that they have received.  I don't cry often, but I have to admit that I did with this one.  An incredibly touching and interesting look at history from the experiences of individual lives.

Emily 

The Bear's Song

We usually have at least one library book that is pored over each week, and this week it was The Bear's Song.  I would buy each and every one of you a copy of this book if I could.  Just so you could see the illustrations.

The Bear's Song
by Benjamin Chaud

Perfect for 3-5 years old
(Chronicle, 2013)



 

Originally published in France by the title Une chanson d'ours, The Bear's Song has a very European {and elegant} flair.  I love how everything about this book feels French.  Characters, scenery, and style of illustrations.

Papa Bear has settled down for hibernation, but Little Bear has honey on his mind and follows a honeybee in hopes of finding a sweet treat.  Papa bear wakes up to find Little Bear missing!

Little Bear follows the bee from the woods to the city and into the opera house.   Papa Bear ends up falling onto the stage in the opera house right during a performance!  He decides to sing a bear lullaby in hopes of finding Little Bear, but it has a slightly alarming effect on humans.  Check it out to see what happens.

The book is oversized (approximately 14 in. x 9 in.) and each page spread features an intricate illustration of  Papa Bear's search for Little Bear.   Readers get to look for Papa Bear, Little Bear, and the bee on each spread.

So, if you might be interested in a look-and-find with beautiful European illustrations AND an adorable bear family, I highly recommend this one.

I did stumble across a book trailer for the sequel, As Ferias Do Poqueno Urso, which was published in May 2013 in France.  I'm *hoping* that it is translated, as well!

Happy reading!

Emily

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Bartholomew and the Oobleck

All week long, my little ones and I have been delving into books written by Dr. Seuss.  Today, I got to introduce them to Bartholomew and the OOBLECK.  It is one that is familiar to most, but it was fun for me to revisit this classic!

Bartholomew and the OOBLECK

by Dr. Seuss

(Random House, 1949, Fiction)

Perfect for 5-9 years old

Opening:  "They still talk about it in the Kingdom of Didd as The-Year-the-King-Got-Angry-with-the-Sky."

 Brief Summary:  King Derwin of Didd is incredibly bored with everything that falls from the sky (rain, snow, sunshine, and fog).  He summons his royal magicians to make something new fall from the sky, and they succeed in their task with the creation of oobleck.  The only problem is that oobleck is a horribly sticky substance that traps anyone and everyone it comes in contact with.  The whole kingdom is being ruined by its effects.   Bartholomew, the king's wise pageboy, is the only one who can help the king stop the disastrous effects of oobleck.

Why I Like It:  Dr. Seuss knows exactly how to create an interesting story while teaching a lesson at the same time.  In Bartholomew and the Oobleck, Seuss teaches the importance of saying "I'm sorry", and admitting when one is wrong. All of the illustrations are in black and white except for the green oobleck, which appears in greater and greater quantities as the story progresses.  Bartholomew is such a wise character and seems to be the only one with sense, even though he is not only a boy, but also a servant.  What child doesn't love a story about green goo?

As a follow-up activity, we made some "oobleck" of our own. It is just something that has to be done after reading a story about sticky green goo.  

Homemade Slime  ("Oobleck")

Recipe from Our Best Bites
For the complete tutorial, head here.

1 teaspoon borax powder

1 1/2 cup water, divided

1/2 cup white Elmer’s glue

green food coloring

Add borax powder to 1 cup of water and stir to dissolve.  Set aside.  Pour glue into a medium mixing bowl and add 1/2 cup water. Add a few drops of food coloring and then stir to mix glue solution until smooth.  Pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture.  Stir for a few moments and then use your hands to gather the mass.  The mixture will be very soft and wet.  Keep kneading until it firms up and feels dry.  Discard excess liquid in bowl. The more you knead and play with the slime the firmer it will become.  Store in a Ziploc bag or air tight container.

Happy reading!

Emily

Dr. Seuss Week: Books for the Tiniest Tots

Dr. Seuss books are full of so much rhythm and cadence that they are fun to read to even the tiniest of babies.  Here are the ones that are well-known around our house:

Mr. Brown Can Moo!  Can You?

By Dr. Seuss
Originally Published in 1979
Perfect for 0-5 years old

 

Kids love this one.  Mr. Brown has great skills when it comes to imitating sounds, and children love trying to make the sounds that he makes.  From bees buzzing to hands knocking on a door, the book provides a large variety of sounds to try.  The original version has a greater number of sounds.  We own the board book and have really enjoyed it, but the original has some really fun pages not included in the board book.

There's a Wocket in My Pocket

By Dr. Seuss

Originally Published in 1976

Perfect for 2-5 years old

This one is full of imaginative creatures and fun wordplay, both of which are so important in the beginning years.  Some of the made-up creatures are enjoyable to be around, but others are far less than charming.  

What Was I Scared Of?

By Dr. Seuss

  Originally Published in 1961

Perfect for 2-5 years old

 

A Seuss creature has never been afraid of much until he meets a pair of green pants with nobody inside them.  The thought of pants that ride a bike and move around without anybody wearing them just doesn't sit well with the creature [or anyone, for that matter!].  He can't seem to kick the fear until he runs into the pants and sees that the pants are scared of him, as well.  This one is a bedtime favorite at our house.  

 What are your favorites?

Happy reading!

Emily

Dr. Seuss Week: Ten Apples Up On Top!

Today we are celebrating Dr. Seuss week with one of my childhood favorites.  

Ten Apples Up On Top!

Written by Theo. LeSieg and Illustrated by Roy McKie
Originally published in 1961

Perfect for: 3-7 years old

 

Three animals are having a somewhat friendly competition with each other to see who can balance the most apples on their heads while trying to perform pretty outrageous balancing acts.  

The only problem is that the house they are practicing in is not their own and the apples they are using are not their own.  They belong to a very unhappy mother bear who is intent on knocking them down with a mop. To find out if she succeeds in her mission of knocking down the apples, you'll just have to pick up this classic. 

We had fun stacking our own "apples".  After we read the story, we each created a tiger head out of Play-Doh and poked half of a skewer into the Play-Doh.  I read the story aloud again as we all added beads on to the skewer to show the number of apples on the tiger's head in the story.

Their little tigers made me smile.

Please use good judgment and supervision when using sharp objects.

I think we may need a friendly little apple stacking contest of our own one of these nights.  

Interesting Fact:

Whenever Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote a book that was illustrated by someone other than himself, he wrote under the pen name Theo. LeSieg.  LeSieg is Geisel spelled backwards.  Thus, since Ten Apples Up On Top was illustrated by Roy McKie, many editions of the book have Theo. LeSieg as the author.

Happy reading!

Emily

Dr. Seuss Week: Horton Hatches the Egg

Yesterday was kind of a big day in the reading community.  As you may know, March 2nd is the birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel, who is better known as Dr. Seuss.  In celebration, I'll be highlighting our favorite books throughout the week, along with some fun activities.  Check back throughout the week!

We kicked off the week by reading Horton Hatches the Egg.  My kids love the story as much as I do.

Horton Hatches the Egg

by Dr. Seuss

Perfect for 5-9 year olds

Originally published in 1940

 

Lazy bird Mayzie is tired of sitting on her egg and wants to go on vacation.  She persuades Horton to take over, despite his protests of the logistics of an elephant sitting on an egg in a tree.  Mayzie heads off to Palm Beach and decides to never return.  Poor Horton is left sitting on the egg, but stays true to his word.

Sweet Horton sits through lightning and rainstorms, teasing from his animal friends, and winter storms.  He is found by some hunters, packed up in a wagon, and hauled through the mountains, only to have to go on a sea voyage.  To make matters worse, he is sold to a traveling circus show and is mocked for sitting up in a tree.  And yet he remains as faithful and true as can be! 

The circus ends up in Palm Beach and Mayzie happens to come by just in time to see the egg hatch.  What flies out?  Well, you'll have to read it to find out!



After we read the story, we made our own nests and painted eggs to resemble Horton's.  To make the nests, melt 8 squares (16 0z) of almond bark over low heat.  Remove from heat and stir in 4 cups of chow mein noodles.

Pour mixture into three different mounds on a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper.  One batch will provide enough mixture to make three nests.  Let cool for a few minutes.  Shape into a nest.

We painted hard boiled eggs with red and white acrylic paint.  I then cut off a corner of a Ziploc bag and put the egg in the plastic corner to prevent paint from coming in contact with the nest that we would later be eating.

Interesting Fact:

Horton wasn't an original candidate for the name of the elephant in early drafts.  Early candidates were Osmer, Bosco, and Humphrey.  (Information found here.)

Hope you are having as much fun as we are! 

Happy reading!

Emily