Magical Creatures and Crafts

To find out whether Santa thinks you're naughty or nice, you'll need to trick an elf into letting you see the list! Legend has it that the only way to find out if you're on Santa's naughty or nice list is to trick an elf into letting you sneak a peek! But be careful: elves are tricky themselves! To get a look at the list, you'll need to be clever in crafting a distracting craft to catch the elf's attention. So, grab some Christmas supplies like ribbons, twinkle lights, bows, and candy canes, and get prepared for your sly holiday visitor! On the nights leading up to Christmas, one of Santa's elves will show up to keep watch on kids and to report on their naughty or nice behavior! However, if you're careful and clever and quick, you can set up a beautiful little sleigh that will distract your elf, and then you'll be sure to get a glimpse at Santa's list! Sue Fliess's poetic read-aloud text and Simona Sanfilippo's vibrant, whimsical illustrations will provide much fun for young readers eager to trick their own Christmas elf and find which list they're on! Also included are guides for teachers and parents about how to engage children in building an elf sleigh themselves and how to interest them in the history of the holiday and the many cultures that celebrate Santa's tiny helpers.

Halloween is about getting together with friends and family, choosing costumes, and trick-or-treating! Sometimes spooky, always delicious! But would you be brave enough to investigate strange noises? If you are, you may just meet a friendly ghost who only wants to be part of the fun! Be kind and include them in your trick-or-treating adventure and you may make a new friend! They'll be sure to enjoy the thrill of going out on Halloween night. So, grab some supplies-scissors, fabric, markers, and a partner-and get ready to make a costume for the biggest candy event of the year. Sue Fliess's bouncy read-aloud rhyming text and Simona Sanfilippo's energetic, whimsical illustrations will bring joy to young readers as they cheer on the kids and their new ghost friend. Also included are guides for teachers and parents about how to engage children in costume-making or an easy Halloween puppet craft, while learning about the history of Halloween, pumpkin carving, and the value of friendship and inclusion on this fun day of gathering with friends to dress up and collect treats.

What happens when you have a loose tooth, but it's the Tooth Fairy's first day on the job? How will she find you and where will she leave her gifts? In this installation of Sue Fliess and Simona Sanfilippo's “Magical Creatures and Crafts” series, a group of children wonder what happens if the Tooth Fairy assigned to collect their most recent lost tooth is brand new to her job. How will she know where to find the tooth? What if she goes to the wrong room? To help the Tooth Fairy remember her training, the children devise a plan that will guarantee her success! With the right supplies-colored paper, crayons or pens, scissors, stickers and glitter, and ribbon-young readers who have a wiggly tooth or have recently lost a baby tooth can also help train their Tooth Fairy by making a sign for their bedroom doors similar to the ones the children make in the book. Fliess's bouncy read-aloud rhyming text and Sanfilippo's energetic, whimsical illustrations will bring joy to young readers as they watch the children create a scene that will direct the little Tooth Fairy to the tooth she seeks. Also included are guides for teachers and parents about the origin and history of the Tooth Fairy, as well as instructions for making the craft featured in the book.

What happens a big furry monster no longer wants to be scary? How can he figure out where his other talents lie? In this installation of Sue Fliess and Simona Sanfilippo's Magical Creatures and Crafts series, an unhappy monster is hoping to get out of the scaring business. But it's all he's ever known. So one day he realizes the key lies in learning a new skill. And who better than to teach him something new, than a group of kind and patient kids? The kids agree to help him and offer to teach him a number of things-and he chooses baking a cake. The story follows the monster's journey of learning how to bake and decorate, with occasional humorous monsterly snafus. Ultimately he makes a monster of a cake and is proud to have learned and changed. Kids will delight in the monster's trials and errors, and cheer him on when he persists and finds success. Fliess's bouncy read-aloud rhyming text and Sanfilippo's energetic, whimsical illustrations will bring joy to young readers as they watch the children exercise patience with a monster who is just a little bit self-conscious and clumsy. Also included are guides for teachers and parents about popular monsters in stories and media, as well as instructions for making a monstrously fun and delicious cake!