Hey, Bunny Friends!
I thought I’d start this letter with another image of my little Granny Bunny alter-ego. I am taking so many AI classes my head is spinning. But as you can see by the image, my prompts are improving despite only using free versions. So fun! This month I am offering you more ideas to help you delight the children you love. As you’ll read, the coming month offers some truly wonderful opportunities to make some magical memories. As always, I’m hoping something in this love letter inspires you to plan some fun, mischief, or even mayhem. With my warmest wishes for a September filled with love! — Mary

Photo: AI generated

SEPTEMBER 1 - CHESS DAY

Even though we’re not polished players, chess is one of Keith’s and my most beloved games, and we did our best to assure our kids and grandkids developed an affection for it as well. This amazing game has captured minds and hearts for centuries. It’s one of those timeless, inter-generational games people love because of the strategy, intelligence, and creativity. American Chess Day encourages people of all ages to learn, play, and enjoy chess.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE CHESS DAY

1. MAKE A CHESS SET: I love this idea! Kids really get to use their imaginations! They can take everyday materials like bottle caps, clay, or painted rocks and make them into chess pieces. The chess board can just be drawn on a piece of paper or cardboard, or fancied up as the creator desires. They can even name their chess pieces, for example, BottleCap the Bishop, Pretzel Pawn, or Kit Kat King.

2. CHESS PUZZLE HUNT: You can snag a jigsaw puzzle with a chess theme like this one. Click HERE. Putting it together is fun in itself, but to take it to the next level, set up a scavenger hunt with little baggies of chess puzzles pieces. Hide them around the house or yard and provide chess-related riddles for the kids to solve. This activity combines the thrill of treasure hunting with the joy of puzzles and chess fun.

3. CHESS ART GALLERY: Encourage children to draw or paint their interpretations of chess pieces, boards, or famous matches. Create an art gallery at home to display their work and invite family members to appreciate the creative expressions inspired by chess.

4. LIFE-SIZED CHESS GAME: If space allows, create a life-sized chess board using chalk on the driveway or a large mat indoors. Use children as chess pieces, or make oversized pieces from cardboard boxes. This twist on chess delights children and encourages teamwork.

5. CHESS-THEMED STORIES (Part 1): For older children its interesting to hear real stories and legends about famous chess players, such as Bobby Fischer. You might encourage them to imagine themselves as chess champions and how that would feel. Reading books like "The Boy Who Loved Chess" can inspire young minds and spark their interest in the game. There’s also a lot of great movies about chess champions you’ll find with a simple Google search. (Part 2): For younger kids, help them to make up their own story where all the characters are chess pieces. Help them imagine the excitement a brave knight or a wise queen might have?

American Chess Day is a great opportunity to explore the fascinating world of chess with kids. Help them discover the joy and benefits of this timeless game. Celebrating this day can inspire children to think critically and creatively, and might even foster a lifelong love for the game.

SEPTEMBER 1 • LETTER WRITING DAY

There is nothing better ever in my mailbox than a letter from someone I love! World Letter Writing Day is a delightful reminder of the magic and joy that handwritten letters bring. This special day is an excuse for us to encourage kids to pick up their pens and craft thoughtful letters to those they care about. In our fast-paced digital world, taking a moment to write a letter by hand is even more of treasure because of its rarity. This day is all about celebrating the art of letter writing and the meaningful connections it nurtures. I wrote an article about how to help kids learn how to write letters. Click HERE.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE LETTER WRITING DAY

1. PEN PAL ADVENTURE: Help kids embark on a pen pal journey by connecting them with someone from another city or even another country. Guide them as they write their first letter, sharing their favorite things and asking questions about life in different places. This activity encourages empathy and curiosity, opening doors to new cultures, and maybe even new friends, through the simple act of letter writing. It opens a world of discovery through letters. You can find your child an international pen pal by age, country, and interests at sites like these Global Penfriends-Click HERE or PenPal World-Click HERE If all else fails, let your letter try finding a pen pal by sending it in a bottle across the nearest body of water. It has a nice air of mystery. (You could save this activity for Pirate Day which appears later in this love letter).

2. DECORATIVE STATIONERY WORKSHOP: Since I am a stationery addict, we can’t skip this idea. Encourage children to create their own stationery using stamps, stickers, and colorful papers. Let them personalize their letter-writing materials, making each letter a work of art. This activity not only enhances their artistic skills but also makes their letters extra extra EXTRA special!

3. TIME CAPSULE LETTERS: Let's help the kids write letters to their future selves. Put them in a sealed container with some small mementos and bury it in the backyard. They can dig it up in a few years and see how much they've grown!

4. SECRET HIDE-AWAY LETTERS: This is not my idea but I sure wish it was. Set up a special “mailbox” in a secret spot in your home or yard where kids can leave letters for each other or parents. This encourages more thoughtful communication, especially on emotional topics. What family doesn’t need that?

5. LETTER WRITING RELAY: This is a silly one! Sit in a circle, each with a piece of paper. Everyone starts a letter, then after a minute, each one passes it to the next person who continues the letter. By the end, you'll have some wonderfully, wacky letters to read aloud! Make sure everyone signs the letter.

World Letter Writing Day is an opportunity to introduce or rediscover the joy of letter writing with the children you love. It is a rare chance for them to experience the simple pleasure of sending and receiving letters. This timeless tradition is a beautiful way to connect, share stories, and express love, creating cherished memories. Embrace this day as a chance to teach those sweet kids the art of handwritten communication and the power of thoughtful words. I’ve got some help with that too. Click HERE

SEPTEMBER 15 • DOT DAY

International Dot Day’s purpose is to encourage people of all ages to harness their creativity, and to be brave. It's about believing in yourself and helping others to do the same. It’s inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book "The Dot." This day encourages people to embrace their artistic abilities and make their mark on the world - or should I say “dot”. The story follows a young girl named Vashti, who discovers her creative potential after a teacher inspires her to make a simple dot on paper. Dot Day invites everyone to explore their creativity, celebrate uniqueness, and inspire others to do the same. I am all in on a holiday like that!

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE DOT DAY

1. KINDNESS DOTS: Encourage children to spread kindness by writing positive messages on colorful dots. They can distribute these dots to friends, family, or even strangers, brightening someone's day with a simple act of kindness. This activity teaches empathy and the impact of small gestures. You could use the colorful, circular post-it notes and stick them in unexpected places. Click HERE to buy a batch. Or for something a little smaller and stickier, use the Avery circle labels. Click HERE to find some.

2. DOT ART EXPLOSION: Set up a creative art station with paints, markers, and dot-making tools like cotton swabs or sponge brushes. Encourage children to create dot-themed artwork, exploring colors, patterns, and textures. Display their masterpieces in a mini art gallery to celebrate their creativity.

3. DOT STORY: Use dots as prompts for storytelling. Have children draw random dots on paper, then connect them to form shapes or images. Challenge them to create stories based on their drawings, enhancing their creativity and narrative skills. You may also want to get a copy of “The Dot” from your public library. Almost all have at least one copy!

4. DOT MEDITATION: Teach children mindfulness through dot meditation. Have them close their eyes, focus on their breath, and visualize a peaceful dot. Encourage them to draw their calming dot afterward, promoting relaxation and mental well-being.

5. HOST A YAYOI KUSAMA PARTY: This world-renowned artist is famous for her use of dots in impressive and unconventional ways. I wrote an entire newsletter about her that includes a section on party-planning and activities. You can read it HERE

Dot Day reminds us that every great masterpiece starts with a single mark. It's not about being perfect. It's about being brave enough to start, to try, to explore, to share your work. Every dot you make is unique, just like us.

Remember too, creativity isn't just about art. It's about how you see the world and solve problems. It's about expressing yourself and making connections. So whether you're drawing, singing, building, or dreaming, you're making your mark on the world.

SEPTEMBER 16 • PLAY-DOH DAY

Oh, I love me some squishing! This day celebrates one of the most beloved playthings of all time. I’m talking about Play-Doh, that wonderfully pliable, slightly salty-smelling modeling compound that has been sparking creativity in children (and adults!) for generations. Would you believe that Play-Doh wasn't originally meant to be a toy? It's true! In the 1930s, it started out as a wallpaper cleaner. But in 1956, a clever man named Joe McVicker noticed that children were using it to make Christmas ornaments. He then repackaged it as a children's toy, and Play-Doh was born!

The purpose of this day is to celebrate the joy of creative play and the power of imagination. For over 60 years, Play-Doh has let us create anything we can dream up, squish it back into a ball, and start all over again!

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE PLAY-DOH DAY

1. PLAY-DOH SCULPTING CONTEST: Organize a sculpting contest where children create their own Play-Doh masterpieces. If you really want to get fancy, give a time limit and a theme, such as animals or fairy tales, and let their imaginations run wild. Celebrate their creativity by displaying their sculptures in a mini gallery. Don’t forget to give a prize to the winner of each theme category.

2. STOP-MOTION ANIMATION: Encourage children to create stop-motion animations using Play-Doh characters they made. Help them film short clips with a smartphone or camera, bringing their Play-Doh creations to life. This activity combines art with technology, fostering innovation and storytelling skills. I recommend "Stop Motion Studio," although there’s lots of other stop motion apps. This one has a free version that can handle a simple project like this — and, the best part, there’s versions for both Android and iOS platforms.

3. PLAY-DOH SCIENCE LAB: Incorporate Play-Doh into science experiments, such as creating Play-Doh volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar or building models of molecules. This hands-on approach makes learning science fun and engaging for children. Here’s five science projects that your kids might love. Click HERE

4. PLAY-DOH SENSORY PLAY: Depending on the ages of your little dough-kneaders, they might really appreciate a sensory play station with different textures of Play-Doh, adding elements like beads, buttons, or glitter. It takes almost no supervision or encouragement. They naturally want to explore the tactile experience, enhancing their sensory development and creativity.

5. PLAY-DOH STORY TIME: Use Play-Doh to create characters and props for storytelling. I adore this idea. Example: As you tell the story of the Play-doh princess that your daughter made, she gets attacked by the dinosaur your son made. She has no way to defend herself. You ask the kids what happens next. They say she stabs him with a sword. Someone makes a play-doh sword. Then a witch comes (make a witch), etc. They quite literally build the story in play-doh. The kids also can shape the scenes with play-doh objects. So much fun and it can go on for weeks!

National Play-Doh Day reminds us of the importance of hands-on play. It's not just about making shapes. When you play with Play-Doh, you're exploring concepts of color mixing, practicing fine motor skills, and bringing your imagination to life. There's no failures and no right or wrong way to play with Play-Doh. Every squish, roll, and pat is a step in your creative journey. And just like Play-Doh, we can always reshape our ideas and start fresh.

SEPTEMBER 17 • CONSTITUTION DAY

This day celebrates the very foundation of our nation - the Constitution! It commemorates the signing way back in 1787. Can you imagine? The Constitution is like a rulebook for our country, explaining how our government should work and protecting the rights of all Americans. It was written by the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison. So, make some fun for your little Americans and acquaint them with this marvelous document, its significance and the rights and responsibilities it upholds for them and every other citizen.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION DAY

1. CREATE A FAMILY CONSTITUTION: Work with children to outline shared family values, family rules, and family responsibilities. Be sure to discuss and debate key ideas as needed. Finalize all this in the form of a Family Constitution document.

2. HOST A SIGNING PARTY: Organize an activity where children reenact the signing of the Constitution by signing your family’s document. Glue some long feathers to pens, so each person has a keepsake to commemorate their contribution. Dress up. Sing the National Anthem. Pose for photos. Cheer and have some snacks. You could also add in some entertainment from the other ideas in this section like games, quizzes, crafts, and even a field trip.

3. CONSTITUTION QUIZ GAMES: Host a quiz game with questions about the Constitution, its articles, and amendments. Use interactive tools like flashcards or online quizzes to make learning engaging and fun. This activity reinforces knowledge and encourages curiosity about the Constitution. PBS has some wonderful offerings to help you. Click HERE Constitution Facts is also great. Click HERE

4. CONSTITUTION FIELD TRIP: Take children on a field trip to a courthouse or local government office. Arrange a tour or a talk with a local official to learn about the Constitution's impact on the community and your daily lives.

5. CONSTITUTION CRAFT PROJECT: Help kids design their own parchment-style documents. Encourage them to write or draw their interpretations of key constitutional principles, like freedom and justice or perhaps symbols of their rights. Display their artwork to celebrate their understanding and creativity.

Constitution Day reminds us that our country is built on ideas of freedom, justice, and equality. It's not just a day for memorizing facts. It's about understanding the principles that shape our nation and thinking about how we can help make our country even better.

Remind those children you love , the Constitution begins with the words "We the People" because it belongs to all of us. Each one of us has a voice in this great experiment we call democracy.

SEPT. 18 • RICE KRISPIE TREAT DAY

This scrumptious day honors those gooey, crunchy, marshmallow-y squares that have been delighting taste buds since 1939. Would you believe this treat was invented by accident? It's true! Kellogg's employee Mildred Day was trying to create a fundraiser snack for a Camp Fire Girls bake sale. She mixed Rice Krispies cereal with marshmallows and butter, and voila! The rest is yummy history! The purpose of Rice Krispie Treat Day, is to celebrate the fun of cooking together. It's a day to get creative in the kitchen, to make memories, and to share some delicious treats!

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE RICE KRISPIE TREAT DAY

1. KRISPIE TREAT SCULPTURE CONTEST: (Part One) Host a family competition to see who can create the most impressive sculpture using the Rice Krispies Treat mixture. You could make animals, buildings, or even your favorite cartoon characters! Use cookie cutters or shape them by hand into anything you can imagine.  Add ingredients like chocolate chips, sprinkles, or dried fruit for embellishments.  Don’t forget colored icing and food coloring for even more decorating flair.  (Part Two) If sculpture sounds too advanced for your gang, how about finger-painting? Melt some marshmallows and add food coloring to make different colors of edible "paint." Then, ask your food artists to use their fingers to decorate a Rice Krispie Treat canvas (which is just a cut block of cooled Rice Krispie Treat). It's messy, fun, and delicious!

Speaking of food artists, meet Jessica Siskin who specializes in Rice Krispie treat mixture as her medium. You can read more about her and her work by clicking HERE She is shown below with one of her krispie exhibits.

Photo Credit: Kelloggs

2. KRISPIE STORY TIME:  Select your child’s favorite story book or cartoon show and create Rice Krispie Treat characters or other things your child will recognize from the story. Pair your Rice Krispies with a story time session. Enjoy the treats together as you read or watch. It is a surefire way to delight your child!

3. KRISPIE BUILDING CHALLENGE: Inspire your kids’ engineering skills by organizing a friendly competition where they create the tallest or most elaborate Rice Krispies structure. Provide plastic straws, Rice Krispie mortar, and a safety scissors to cut the straws as needed.(If you want to let the Rice Krispie mixture harden first, pre-cut the treats into small blocks of the mixture to use to connect their straws). Don’t forget prizes for each artist.

Photo Credit: Kelloggs

4. KRISPIE SUSHI: Make your Rice Krispie treats and then roll them up with fruit leather and sliced gummy candies to look like sushi rolls. Use licorice strings as "seaweed" wraps. It's a sweet trick for the eyes and so very pretty! As you can see in the photo above, my grandkids loved this one! There’s a nice recipe for candy sushi. Click HERE

5. KRISPIE TREASURES: Ahead of time, make some Rice Krispie Treat mixture. Hide small toys or treats inside extra-large Rice Krispies Treat balls. Let them cool. Then, have a fun time with your snack-lovers breaking them open to find the surprises inside. It's like a mini-piñata you can eat!

Rice Krispies Treat Day reminds us that sometimes the simplest things can bring the most joy. It's about the fun of making something with your own hands and the happiness of sharing it. Cooking is a wonderful way to express creativity and show love. Every time you mix and mold these treats, you're continuing a tradition that's been bringing smiles to faces for over 80 years. 

Hey! Remember that krispie artist I mentioned above named Jessica Skinsin? You can also buy her Rice Krispie Treat cookbook It’s available on Amazon. Click HERE

SEPTEMBER 19• TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

Ahoy, me buccaneers! Let’s celebrate this most peculiar and jolly Talk Like a Pirate Day! The purpose of this day, me hearties, is pure fun! It's a chance to step out of the ordinary, and to bring a smile to people's faces with some good-natured pirate shenanigans. It's not about real pirates, mind you, but the romanticized, "yo-ho-ho" kind in storybooks and movies. Now, ye scurvy dogs, here be five ways you can celebrate this swashbucklin' day.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

1. MAKE A PIRATE SHIP: Start with a large cardboard box. Next, help your kids transform it into a pirate ship, complete with a mast made from a broom, a bedsheet sail, and portholes cut out of the sides. To get even fancier, let the kids draw something scary on the mast and sides of the ship with washable poster paint. If you have a lot of kids, consider giving each their own smaller box and create a pirate fleet!

2. TRANSFORM INTO PIRATES: Help each child create their own pirate name and a fierce nametag for their lapel. The formula is:

“1st Descriptor > Real Name > “the” 2nd Descriptor”

Here is an example: “Salty Bill the Squid.” If they are really clever have them create a name where all three words start with the same consonant sound. For example, "Barnacle Bill the Blistering." Or use an online Pirate Name Generator like this one. Click HERE But wait! To extend the fantasy, outfit each child with a hat or bandana and an eye patch to make their new name official. You can see my grandson Roarin’ Roland the Raucus in the photo above, and my granddaughter below — Blood Eye Bess the Stabber.

3. THE TREASURE HUNT: (Step 1) Turn your backyard into a pirate's paradise by hiding a treasure chest filled with goodies of your choosing. (Step 2) Craft an old-fashioned map painted with tea or coffee, complete with "X marks the spot." (Step 3) Add clues in pirate talk that they must decipher to get from one clue to the next until they reach the final clue - which will be the treasure map you made. (Step 4) Hide the clues and bury the treasure. (Step 5) When it’s time, guide the kids on the treasure hunt adventure so they don’t tear up your house or yard. Been there!

4. PIRATE MAD LIBS: Create your own pirate story Mad Libs style. Leave blanks for pirate words and phrases, and take turns filling them in. The results are sure to be hilarious and possibly nonsensical - perfect for a band of merry pirates! If you’re pressed for time, click HERE I have five pirate Mad Lib style stories and a list of 50 words or phrases related to pirates.

5. WALK THE PLANK OLYMPICS: Set up some planks safely on the ground, of course) and have a series of silly challenges. Who can walk the plank while balancing a "parrot" (stuffed toy) on their shoulder? Who can make the distance balancing a bag of bootie (gold coin candy) on their head? cross while singing a sea shanty? What? Don’t tell me you don’t know any sea shanties! Well, the Wiggles can help you with over an hour of them. Click HERE (You’ll need lots of wine to get through it).

Arrr! Me loves, Talk Like a Pirate Day. It reminds us that it's okay to be silly sometimes. It's a day to let our imaginations set sail, to speak in funny accents, and to remember that laughter is a treasure worth more than all the gold in Davy Jones' locker. So hoist the Jolly Roger, me little mateys, and have a rip-roaring pirate adventure!

THE PIRATE PARTY

We have hosted numerous pirate parties over the years and share this very simple one from our archives in hopes it will inspire dip your toes in the sea and give it a try. It took about 15 minutes to pull this one together thanks to a box full of pirate stuff from Halloweed and previous parties. But it’s simply imagination that makes anything fun!

Avast, Matey! Captain Crabby Bottom and his pirate wife Peg Leg Pam, welcomed their little pirates to mayhem and adventure on the high seas. Dork was there too. Peg Leg Pam gave us pirate stickers we used to make balloon pirates. It was like Mr. Potato Head. Presley's balloon pirate was so funny.

We all got to dress up like pirates with eye patches, spy glasses, colored beads, and tricorn hats. Maggie taught us to talk like pirates. Then we practiced looking fierce and had many rounds of sword fighting. Even though Lilly is little, she stabs hard and beat the Captain.

Roland was first to hide the treasure chest full of gold doubloons and jewels. Whoever found it first got to hide it next. Peg Leg Pam said we can have a Pirate Day sometime with a big party and a real treasure hunt. We can't wait!

SEPTEMBER 21 • EAT AN APPLE DAY

This day is as wholesome as it is delicious. “Eat an Apple Day” is a crunchy celebration that began as a way to promote the health benefits of apples and support apple growers around the world. Apples have been part of human history for thousands of years. In ancient times, they symbolized knowledge and immortality. There is evidence of apple trees being cultivated over 8000 yearrs ago, as far back as 6500 BC! Which, coincidentally, is the number of apples Keith has eaten so far! The purpose of this day is to remind us of apple’s health benefits, to appreciate the numerous varieties, to support local orchards, and to get creative with how we enjoy apples.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE EAT AN APPLE DAY

1. VISIT AN APPLE ORCHARD: Take your sweet little apple dumplings on a trip to a local apple orchard, where they can pick their own apples straight from the trees. Many orchards also give tours. This hands-on experience will help them learn about where apples come from and appreciate the work involved in growing them. Plus, there's nothing quite like biting into an apple you've picked yourself!

2. APPLE TASTE TEST CHALLENGE: Gather a variety of apple types and have a taste test. On a score card for each of your little seedlings, list all the names of the apple varieties. In turns, have the “taster” put a pillowcase on their head so it’s a blind test. If it’s an old case, cut a feeding hole. If it’s new, rethink my suggestion. Have the teasters guess each variety and mark their guesses on their score card as they savor the samples. The spectators boo or cheer each guess as indicated which adds a lot of excitement to this competition. Encourage your kids to describe the flavors, textures, and guess the colors of each apple. I think you’d agree your champion apple taster deserves a prize.

3. APPLE STAMP ART: (Part 1) Use apples to create beautiful artwork. Cut apples in half, dip them in paint, and stamp them onto paper to create unique apple prints. This simple but creative activity can lead to delightful patterns and colorful displays. It's like painting with nature! If you’re stumped for ideas, the internet is filled with them. I like this idea and would use it to make our family as apple characters. It’s from madetobeamomma.com. Click HERE (Part 2) If you don’t want to waste food for art, I question your priorities. (kidding) Seriously, though, you can have everyone make some apple art using conventional art supplies. Our family did that for Keith’s birthday a few years back and had them all bounded into a keepsake book. He was elated.

4. BAKE APPLE TREATS: Spend time in the kitchen baking apple treats like applesauce, apple muffins, apple pies, or apple crisps. Let the kids help with washing, peeling, and mixing the ingredients. The warm aroma of baked apples will fill your home and create cherished memories. (Don’t forget to invite me over for this one).

5. APPLE BIRD FEEDER: Core some apples, spread them with peanut butter, roll them in birdseed, and hang them outside. Watch as your feathered friends enjoy an Apple Day feast too!

International Eat an Apple Day reminds us to appreciate the gifts of nature, understanding where our food comes from, and finding joy in something as ordinary as biting into a crisp, juicy apple. So, sink our teeth into some apple-themed fun and remember - an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but it also brings the family together! (That’s so corny - or should I say core-y)? Either way, make it an apple-tastic day!

SEPTEMBER 22 • HOBBIT DAY

Hang on tight! We’re headed to Middle-earth as we celebrate Hobbit Day! September 22 is the birthday of two of the most famous furry-footed Hobbits in literature - Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. The purpose of this day is to celebrate the fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, to embrace the Hobbit ideals of simplicity and cheerfulness, and to indulge in the joy of storytelling and imagination.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE HOBBIT DAY

1. SECOND BREAKFAST: The most well-known hobbit meal, “second breakfast” is lighter than the first breakfast and eaten at elevenses. So be inspired and pack a Hobbit-worthy picnic, things like fruit, pastries, and toast with jams or jellies. You and your little Half-lings can enjoy it outdoors, barefoot if the weather permits, just like a true Hobbit would! And don’t forget a to light some candles and to sing “Happy Birthday” to Bilbo and Frodo.

2. RIDDLE BATTLE: Host a family riddle competition, just like Bilbo and Gollum. Each person writes down riddles, and then take turns trying to solve them. The winner with the most solutions gets a "precious" prize!

3. CREATE A HOBBIT HOLE: Transform a corner of your home or yard into a cozy Hobbit hole using blankets, cushions, and fairy lights. Encourage your kids to spend the day reading Tolkien's stories in your new little Bag End.

4. MIDDLE-EARTH MAP QUEST: Help your kids create a large map of Middle-earth on butcher paper, then play a game where you have to navigate from the Shire to Mount Doom, facing challenges along the way based on events from the books.

5. CREATE-A-CREATURE WORKSHOP: Using clay or playdough, encourage your kids to create their own Middle-earth creatures. They can mix and match features from different beings in Tolkien's world - perhaps a creature with an Elf's ears, a Dwarf's beard, and a Hobbit's feet! Or they can just sculpt a familiar beast like the orc shown above. Then take turns telling a short story about their creature's adventures.

Hobbit Day is about finding adventure in everyday moments, enjoying good food and good company, and believing in the magic of stories. So, whether you're short or tall, young or old, embrace your inner Hobbit and set off on a journey of imagination!

SEPT 25 • COMIC BOOK DAY

Comic Book Day is more powerful than a locomotive! It’s dedicated to the vibrant and imaginative world of comic books. The first modern comic book, "Famous Funnies," was published in 1933! This special day aims to encourage fans to revisit their favorites, introduce new readers to the world of sequential art, and to support local comic book shops. Comics have shaped our culture, and given us some pretty snazzy costumes along the way!

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE COMIC BOOK DAY

1. CREATE YOUR OWN COMIC BOOK: (Part 1) Instead of just reading comics, why not create one? Sit down with your little ones and let their imaginations run wild. Provide them with blank paper, markers, and colored pencils. Encourage them to invent their own superheroes, villains, and adventures. This activity not only sparks creativity but also helps children understand the elements of storytelling - character development, dialogue, and plot. (Part 2) If you prefer a group activity, get the family together and create your own collaborative comic! Sit in a circle, each with a sheet of paper divided into panels. Everyone draws the first panel of a story, then passes their sheet to the next person when everyone draws the second panel of the new story passed to them. This continues until all the panels are completed. Remember to remind everyone when they are about to draw the last panel so they end the story.

2. ONOMATOPOEIA ORCHESTRA: Comics are famous for their BAM! POW! ZOOM! sound effects. You can have kids make musical instruments that create these sounds. Use balloons, rubber bands, and cardboard tubes to make "TWANG" sounds. Fill plastic eggs with different materials for various "SWISH" and "RATTLE" effects. You get the idea. Also have them experiment creating certain sounds with their voices. Then read aloud a comic book story. Your orchestra will provide the sound effects as the story unfolds. You can have them all “play” at once, or take turns clock-wise. Kids love this, especially if mom and dad play too.

3. COMIC BOOK COLLAGE: Gather old comic books or printouts of comic book panels, (hello, thrift stores) and let the kids create a collage. They can mix and match characters, scenes, and dialogue to create entirely new stories or artistic compositions. This is a fantastic way to recycle old comics.

4. COMIC BOOK THEATER: Let's turn a comic book into a movie. Choose a short comic, assign roles. Use simple props and costumes, and even add some of those sound effects you created earlier. The trick is to give everyone a little time before each scene to get to know the dialogue. You also want to do at least one run-through so they have a chance to rehearse. (Note: Always film the run-throughs. That’s where those hilarious out takes come from). When you're done, assemble the shots in a movie editing app. This activity doesn’t just bring the comic book pages to life, it also allows children to explore storytelling and acting in a fun way. And what about the shy one who refuses to take part? Make them the videographer. Remember: No child left behind.

5. COMIC TRIVIA CONTEST: Google the following: “[Superhero Name] Trivia” or “[Superhero Name] Quiz”. You will get loads of questions for Superman, Cat Woman, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, etc. Create your own trivia game by writing questions on slips of paper. Fold and place in a fishbowl or similar receptacle. Once you’ve picked teams, take turns answering questions, earning 1 point for each team’s correct answer. It’s a fun way for kids to show off their superior knowledge.

Comic Book Day celebrates imagination, and the heroes who inspire us to be our best selves. It also honors the artists and writers who bring these fantastic worlds to life. There's a comic book out there for everyone. So don your capes and fly over to the exciting world of comics! The legend Stan Lee’s life motto was simply "Excelsior!" It’s an old Latin word that means “upward and onward to greater glory.” And that’s the special feeling of hope comic books gives us.

• • • GRANNY BUNNY ARCHIVE • • •
If you’re looking for other ideas in the back issues of these
Granny Bunny love letters, grab a cup of your favorite beverage,
sit back, and relax - then click HERE to find them all.