Traveling the Twisting Troubling Tanglelows’ Trail (Review + Craft)

I’ve written once or twice in the past about the importance of helping kids (and adults!) find ways to relax. #thebigone is a child who is always thinking, a trait likely passed down from me. We were able to check out Traveling the Twisting Troubling Tanglelows’ Trail from author Greg McGoon recently. After one reading, we were convinced it was a great book to help my oldest sort out some of his non-stop thinking.

Standard Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

If you have followed along with the blog, you may remember me writing that #thebigone has dealt with a lot for a 6 1/2 year old. He has split time between my home and his father’s since he was a baby. My oldest endured the death of his baby brother three years ago, as well as a subsequent miscarriage. He welcomed a new baby brother a month before starting kindergarten. In the last year, he lost 5 great grandparents across his three families.

We are blessed that he generally adjusted well in the face of these changes. However, it’s clear from his questions and remarks at times that his mind is still working to process everything. Tools that help us facilitate this process are invaluable. Traveling the Twisting Troubling Tanglelows’ Trail is the perfect addition to our ‘tool kit’.

Traveling the twisting troubling tanglelows’ trail

McGoon takes a light and whimsical approach to a serious topic, ensuring the book will appeal to children. The text is a series of tricky tongue twisters, adding novelty to the often heavy work of processing anxiety. Young readers will love the lyrical quality of the rhymes. The book is perfect for read-a-louds as adults are likely to get tripped up in the twisters a time or two- giggles guaranteed! The tale provides basic guidelines for kids to re-frame their thinking. Traveling the Twisting Troubling Tanglelows’ Trail is able to relay these ideas in a playful, engaging way that never feels ‘teachy’. It’s an excellent jumping off point for a discussion with your child about what thoughts they are struggling with.

The Tanglelows are the invasive little thoughts that fill both the book and your mind. Illustrator Jessa Orr has rendered them in a quirky, almost cute style. This is ideal as the last thing an already anxious child needs is a threatening or frightening image of something within them. The bright, vibrant illustrations do an amazing job of visually representing just how snarled and entwined our thoughts can be.

Inspired by the colorful art in the book, I created a fun project to accompany the book. This craft is fairly simple, and easy for young readers to work on almost independently. The beauty in this is that you can sit side by side with your child while you both create your own Tanglelows. I find that sometimes it is easier for children (anyone, really) to open up when they are engaged in a project. The bit of distraction a simple project can provide often makes a world of difference.

Make your own tanglelows

You will need:

• Free printable Tanglelows’ trail page. (Scroll to the end of the post to grab yours!)
• Colored pencils, crayons, or markers.
• Acrylic craft paint.
• Straw.
• Wiggle eyes.
• Craft glue.
• Black marker.

How To create your tanglelows:

1. Start by adding some color to the printable trail page. We used colored pencils, but you can use whatever supplies you have on hand. We used colors inspired by the illustrations in the book, but this is totally flexible. Consider having your child use the colors that best represent their current thoughts and emotions. This is a great chance to start getting a peek at what is on their mind.
2. Add a bit of acrylic craft paint to the trail page. If your paint is very thick, you will want to water it down a bit.
3. Next, use a straw to blow the craft paint into a Tanglelows sort of shape. Some Tanglelows may be big, and trap a lot of the trails. Others may be smaller, and not as invasive. There’s no right or wrong here. Add as many Tanglelows as you like.
4. Add wiggle eyes to your Tanglelows. If your paint is thick enough, you can likely add the eyes to wet paint. If the paint is dry, or very thin, use some craft glue to stick them on.
5. After the paint and glue are completely dry, use the black marker to add some of the Tanglelows’ details. You’ll notice curly little tails that intertwine the characters in the book- the marker is perfect for adding these, as well as additional facial features.
6. Admire you finished artwork with your child! Be sure to follow up with them going forward about the thoughts and concerns they shared with your during the reading and craft sessions.

Gotta Have it?

Traveling the Twisting Troubling Tanglelows’ Trail is available through both Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.
Please note- Amazon’s stock information has not been updating correctly, shipping should not be as long as the estimate states. 

> > > GRAB YOUR TANGLELOWS’ TRAIL PAGE RIGHT HERE! < < <

Do you have tools or tricks you use to help your children work through their thoughts? Share your tips in the comments below!