Today would have been author Bill Martin Jr.'s birthday, so to honor one of our favorite children's authors we have been working on some paintings inspired by his book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? This beloved children's classsic has a colorful animal friend on each page along with simple repetitious rhyming text. Pre-readers especially, and almost every kid I know can chant along with it. 
We started making these in ER's First Steps playgroup. She got to paint on an easel for the first time and really enjoyed it. I think we're going to start looking for one for her, as she's now tall enough to actually use it. This project was very simple because all she had to do was paint with one color at a time and the finish product looks like something recognizable to adults. We are going to create a painting for each animal in the book and when we're done we'll use them as prompts to recite the story. I'll hold them up in the same order as the book, and we'll chant the story together. Brown Bear and Goldfish are our first two creations: just paint, let dry, and then cut or give your child a precut animal shape and have them paint that with one color.
Today I saw some other great ideas on how to transform your child's artwork, on 4 Crazy Kings. I am always looking for ideas like this, because right now ER enjoys the process of art and I certainly don't want to stifle her creativity, but I also like new ways to display her artwork and she likes having something recognizable to point to and claim as her own, "That my bear"
I have shared this post on I Blame My Mother's Kid Friendly Friday, Just for Fun's Friday Book Project, and Ramblings of a Crazy Woman's Showcase Saturday. Check them out for kid's project ideas and add one of your own while you're at it!
17 Friends Said:
I love the book connection - I need to do more of this. I agree that it's fun for them to paint, and then when it's cutout to see the finished result. Thanks for linking to Kid Friendly Friday!
We love this book!! Thanks for the idea!
First off -- love the googly eyes! Great idea! It is a favorite book in our house. I guess any book you can recite backwards and forwards means it is a hit!
We like Panda Bear, Panda Bear...the animals are all so *exotic* :)
LOVE this! This will always be a really special book for us because was the 1st book my little K learned to "read"! We will definitely be trying this!!!
Would love to see your other animals when you get them done!!!
We love those books. :)
We love Brown Bear, Brown Bear! The paintings are wonderful! Thanks for linking:0)
We love brown bear! I'd be happy for you to link to my post in your other blog! I've found some great ideas over there!
This is a fun way to let the kids paint. When my oldest was in preschool, I would end up with tons of artwork.
I would hang them on the back of our front door and when the door was full, I would have him stand by the artwork and snap a photo. I would then put it in his scrapbook.
Now I wish I had kept the larger painted stuff and used it for the scrapbooks background page and then put the artwork photos on it. But I never thought about it then.
But now I think I will scan the photo and blow up the artwork and make background pages. So maybe I will be redoing some of his scrapbook pages.
Thanks for sharing and for the links you provided.
Sharinskishe
My kids love Brown Bear, Brown Bear. I remember reading that for an hour once, over and over.
I liked reading this particular blog because I am new to your site and I got to learn a lot about you, very quickly. Loved all the photos. You have lived some great places! Your daughter is beautiful. :)
Ahhh I meant to post this comment in the above blog as you can probably tell!
Katie, Brown Bear, Brown Bear was a favorite of my children's. There's something about the books I read to them as young children that get me all misty-eyed!
I love Brown Bear. Great Idea... Great Art!
Looks like a fun activity. We have this book so may try it out too!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear...always a favorite! I think this would be so much fun to do with my daughter! We'll have to check this book out from the library, because surprisingly I don't have it in my own library!
Also, just thought you should know I have "bookmarked" SO many of your ideas for future use to do with my daughter. I love that you and Katie @LML have so many fun ideas! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
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