Mudkin

Mud attracts kids... in more ways that one!

Gammell, Stephen.
Mudkin.
March 2011.
Lerner Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When the rain finally breaks, rainy day boredom turns into so much more for one little girl who doesn't hesitate to get down and dirty! As she heads outside for some fresh air after a rain fall, she imagination leads her on the adventure of lifetime, when she meets Mudkin, a creature made of what else, but mud! Together, the two embark on a variety of activities, in which the little girl is crowned Queen and made a robe of Mudkin's signature fabric - MUD! While the journey of "Queen" is short-lived (only until the next rainfall, when the mud is washed away), the little girl enjoys every minute of it!

This mostly wordless picture book is ideal for young children with active imaginations. Just enough text is provided to allow readers to see what is "going on," yet leave room for their own imaginations to run wild. The limited text is perfect for parents/teachers looking to actively engage children in story telling and the art of "writing" stories of their own, as the text that is provided seems to be prompting in nature. Definitely a fun, creative story that's well worth exploring this summer... perhaps on a rainy day when boredom has gotten the best of your little ones!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Put on some old bathing suits and flip flops or a raincoat over top of some shorts and a tee with some rain boots and head out to make the most of a rainy day - enjoy some good old-fashioned fun in the mud!
• In your child's summer journal, break out some brown paint and splatter it on their next clean sheet of paper. Once the paint dries, have your child use a black marker to create some distinguishable features for their own "Mudkin." Encourage your child to give their "Mudkin" a name or just go along with the traditional "Mudkin." Then, ask them to write a short piece about what their adventure with Mudkin would look like!
  

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