To the side of each table were stacks of boxes. Also, I want to mention that I cut all the tops off the boxes before storytime so the kids wouldn’t have to hassle with them.Īll the materials were laid out on a large table. Materials used: Pre-cut squares and rectangles out of colorful cardstock from a few previous crafts (including this one from a few weeks back), pages from home magazines, markers, glue, and scissors. The majority made playhouses, but a few made cars and one made a custom “not a box” chair. I made a playhouse out of my “not a box” example, but encouraged the kids to do whatever they’d like with their boxes. Like I said earlier, the library had tons and tons of boxes left over from the library sale, so I thought I would put them to good use for the craft after storytime. It’s awesome! Colorful and fun! The kids loved it. When planning this storytime I learned about her out-of-print book, Magic Box, and immediately interlibrary-loaned it. I’ve gushed over Katie Cleminson before here. Magic Box: A Magical Story by Katie Cleminson

Chloe loves family fun time after dinner, but when a new television disrupts that time she has to create a few distractions of her own to get it back. Oh the things that happen when sitting alone in a box with a book…Ī favorite in our house (seen here). You can imagine soon enough it gets quite crowded. Sitting in my Box by Dee Lillegard, illustrated by Jon AgeeĪ boy starts out alone in his box until animal after animal keeps making an appearance wanting to get in the box with him. For the craft we made playhouses by decorating the outside and inside of the boxes, magically turning them into… well… not a box! Storytime Line-Up:Ī fun and simple book about a bunny and the different ways he imagines his box is not a box. I grabbed 40 from the pile and planned a storytime and craft inspired by Antoinette Portis‘ picture book, Not A Box, and a few others books that inspire using one’s imagination by thinking outside the box.

Our library recently had their big annual books sale which meant afterward there were tons and tons of boxes that once housed books.

Magic Box by Katie Cleminson