Friendship!

Friendship Stories

The four children who attended (again a small group) are my steady crew of younger elementary children. I had also had a fourth grade home-schooled boy who is on the Autism spectrum. 

I was forewarned about his shyness and antisocial behavior;
he started out quietly sitting backward, not facing me as I read. 

I began  with the the book Friends by Mies Van Hout.

He soon turned around and participated 100% with smiles and interesting smart comments.

My artist husband loved this book too, the illustrations are wonderful and show the 

emotional ups and downs of a close friendship (such as marriage).

I also read Hey, Duck! by Carin Bramsen. It is a smart, funny-cute book that I have used at storytimes and the adults really liked too. Its about a little duck who thinks a cat is a duck.
The children laughed, oooh'd and aaah'd through out the book.

 I shared the story of Owen and Mzee through the picture book A Mama for Owen  by Bauer and Butler and the talked through the nonfiction Owen and Mzee books. 

The Crafts

I found some jute at Michael's then pre-measured and cut the color strands for them to
make a simple friendship bracelet. 

I gathered clipboards for the braiding. 

We Fit Together like a Puzzle

We made friendship necklaces too. I colored a puzzle with a silver Sharpie and hot glued the jute cord to the backs. They were set out pairs for the kids to decorate with stickers and adhesive jewels. 

I also had them sign and decorate the rest of the puzzle. 

The small group lent an intimate feel to the program, perfect for talking about friends.