Last month, we registered to take part in The Little Book Adventure. The Little Book Adventure has been created by one of my favourite blogs, My Little Bookcase, in celebration of the National Year of Reading. It aims to encourage a reading culture, and encourages families, schools and libraries to discover (or re-discover) a love of books and reading.
10 monthly challenges are being set, and this month’s challenge was all about spreading our love of books, encouraging children to talk about books and share their love of books with one another. The task was to borrow a book from your library, write a little note about why you loved the book (or a drawing for younger pre-writing age kids) and then pop the note inside the book for the next child who borrows the book to find. I loved this idea! What a wonderful way for children to engage with each other and what a lovely surprise for someone when they find the letter. This is such a cute idea, and R (3) loved it so much that we plan on doing this again. Who knows? It might catch on and eventually he might find a letter from another child too.
The book R chose to leave his letter inside was Elephant by Petr Horacek. We’ve borrowed this book from our library several times. It’s a delightful story about a young boy and his imaginary friend, the elephant, and the fun they get up to together. Their imaginary adventures take them as near as the back garden and as far as the wilds of Africa. Petr Horacek’s illustrations are bold and bright. His books remind me a little of Eric Carle with their collage style and bright hues. They really are stunning and R is drawn right into them. He pulls Elephant out every day when we borrow it.
R told me what he wanted to say in his letter and I wrote it out for him. He said that he loved this book and that he’d borrowed it more than once because he like it so much. His favourite page is when the Elephant splashes the water in the bath. He then drew a picture of a green elephant and decorated it with sparkly bits and pieces. As much as he loves this book, R is really excited about returning it to the library next week so that another child can receive his letter. It was so wonderful to watch how engaged R was with this and we’ll definitely continue to do this.
If you’re interested in joining in with the fun, it’s not too late! Jump in any time. Pop on over to My Little Bookcase for all the details or visit their Facebook page.
Have you ever left a note for another reader in a library book? Even better, have you ever FOUND any notes or scribbles from other readers in a library or second hand book?
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What a great idea! I just love this
Hi Jen. Thanks for your lovely comment! It is a sweet idea isn’t it? R is so excited about it.
Love this idea! I bet the kids get so excited when they find a note from someone in their book! Stopping by My Little Bookcase, too. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Gina. It’s a great idea ins’t it? We’ve really enjoyed the book challenge. I can’t wait to see what the next one is.
So sweet! Thanks for sharing
Hi Julie! Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comment!
What a fantastic way to celebrate and spread the love of reading! Absolutely wonderful- I am so glad you found Pen Pals & Picture Books so that we could find you!
Hi Robyn! Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I’ve found so much inspiration on your site. I’m looking forwad to reading more.
Hi Ness! I’m so happy that you came over to say hello! What a lovely, lovely space you have here, so excited when I find people who share my love for all things child related, especially children’s BOOKS! Happy day to make a new friend
Aloha and chat soon,
Melissa
Hi Melissa! Thanks for your lovely comment! I was so thrilled to find your blog.
Ness! I love this idea! Adore it! Thank you for sharing…
Hi Marnie. Thank you for your comment. It’s a beautiful idea isn’t? This is something we’ll continue to do even now that the book challenge has ended.
Yeah – we are joining in with the project as well. J is very disappointed he hasn’t recieved a letter back though for the one that he drew and I wrote that we put in his favourite Brown Bear Brown Bear book – in fact he’s after me getting it out of the library again so maybe we will get our own letter back.
Aww, that’s so sweet he wants to get it out again to find hs own letter. I have been thinking the same thing – that it might take a while to catch on before our kids to find a letter too. Hopefully though once someone receives our letters they will be inspired to do the same and it will grow from there. Maybe J and R could do a pen pal letter swap thing every now and then? I think they’re the same age. R loves things arriving in the post.
Thank you for taking part in the project. The sparkles are a perfect touch to the letter. I’m glad R was engaged. I do hope he finds a letter himself one day.
Hi Jackie. Thank you for hosting the book challenge! We enjoyed the library letters so much and we are having fun working on challenge number 3 now.
What a cute great way to celebrate reading, writing and vocabulary…not to mention a library field trip. What could be better!! Thanks for sharing!
Sorry to burst your fun – but as someone who works in a library, we fan books and take out anything that is left inside them. Unless, you want to work with your local library and they want to do this. Just wanted to FYI so your kids won’t be disappointed in not finding any letters.