Reading: Ages 4-6

Olivia: Be a One-Man Band

 

Today's Snack: Pigs in a blanket! Buy refrigerated crescent dough, preheat the oven according to package directions, and lay out the triangles on a baking sheet. Place one hot dog on the tip of each triangle of dough and wrap it up. Bake, as instructed. Eat, with some ketchup as a dip. Drink a glass of milk. It's really fun to have someone read you an Olivia book and show you the pictures as you snack.

 

 

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Supplies:

Coat hanger | bell | suspenders

Drum, or make one with an empty oatmeal container,

heavy paper and a rubber band

 

Drumstick, or use a big spoon and strap on

your elbow with an elastic headband

 

kiddie xylophone | xylophone stick or big spoon,

strapped on your other hand with an

elastic headband

 

whistle

 

two heavy kitchen pot lids | duct tape

 

 

 

 

The Olivia series of books are funny, creative and different. Olivia is a young pig with lots of charm and style. The author is Ian Falconer.

 

A particularly good book choice around the Fourth of July, or any time you want to liven things up around your house, is Olivia Forms a Band. In it, the family has a picnic at dusk and watches a fireworks show. Before they leave, though, Olivia makes herself into a one-man band.

 

She unbends a wire coat hanger to suspend a bell above her head. She borrows her dad's suspenders to literally suspend a drum behind her, which she beats with a drumstick strapped to her elbow.

 

The same suspenders also hold up a kiddie xylophone in front of her, which she beats with a stick with the hand not beating the drum, while blowing on a whistle.

 

Last, but not least, her feet clank along in the handles of two heavy metal pot lids.

 

You can make all that, can't you? Now YOU be a one-man band. Prepare all the instruments, and pick a time when your friends and family can be in the audience.

 

Be loud, be cute, and have fun!