I recently had to the chance to talk to ECE (Early Childhood Education) students at Georgian College about pictures books and how I present them to children. They prepared for my visit by selling raffle tickets for gift baskets and signed copies of my books. They also printed posters to advertise the event and handled book sales for me after the talk.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time sharing my work with these passionate students, who will no doubt spread a love of reading as they set out in their careers.

Thank you Georgian College!

We made giraffe sock puppets! Pretty good use of a yellow sock, if you ask me.

Materials:

• Cotton Socks (I actually dyed them yellow, using dye from the fabric store. NOTE: socks must be mostly cotton to take the dye)
• Felt (brown and yellow)
• Acrylic craft paint (brown) and paint brush
• Googly eyes
• Scissors and hot glue to assemble

Method:

1. Cut out long strips of brown felt (about two-thirds the length of your sock) and snip along one side to create a fringe. This will be the mane. You’ll find making two per sock puppet is easier to glue on. If you want a thicker mane, sandwich a third strip of fringed felt between the two that will attach to the sock.

2. Cut out ears and eye lids from yellow felt.

3. Stretch sock over a water bottle so it’s easier to work with. Paint on spots.

4. Once spots are dry, glue on mane, ears, eyes, and eye lids. Hint: pinch the ears together at the bottom when gluing, to help them stand erect.

Calling this one Over the Bridge; a fun summer piece, inspired by my kids.