Thanksgiving For Emily Ann Story Time & Printable

21 Nov 2016 ByKate InBeyond The Book

We’ve been busy at our house preparing for the upcoming holiday season. We’re pretty psyched for Thanksgiving! On a typical Thanksgiving morning, we meet a large group of friends and family at a local park for a hike. After the hike we go back to my parents house for a big, delicious brunch. When I reminded #thebigone that the special day is coming up later this week, he shrieked, “Yes! I get to see Nana! And eat donuts! And play with my cousins!” He’s also been hard at work in first grade. They’re preparing for a special singing assembly and a feast with the other classes. (Can’t wait to see their little pilgrim hats!) So, yup, lots of excitement coming up for us this week!

An adorable read aloud to get your kids thinking about gratitude this Thanksgiving! Pair the story with the free printable to really drive the point home. #storytime #readloud #beyondthebook #Thanksgiving #ThanksgivingForEmilyAnn #kidlit #picturebook
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ThANKSGIVING FOR EMILY ANN

We pulled out a few of our Thanksgiving books this past week, to do a little reading before we got completely crazy busy with family time. One of the books we looked at together was Thanksgiving for Emily Ann, written by Teresa Johnston and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. #thebigone enjoyed the tale of this spunky young girl who takes a little time to really feel grateful at Thanksgiving. The illustrations are fabulous- gestural dark, sketchy lines, with watercolor-y washes of color. The details & multiple patterns provide a ton of interest on each page. The images ‘framed’ in sketches of Thanksgiving icons really caught #thebigone’s eye. He loved pointing out the things he loved (turkeys just like he had made in kindergarten) as well as things he was not nearly as fond of (cooked greens).

Thanksgiving For Emily Ann Storytime

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

As we reached the end of the book, (spoiler alert!) Emily Ann discovered she really did have things to be thankful for. Our conversation naturally led to a discussion of what we are each grateful for this year. I threw together a printable frame inspired by those found throughout the book, and we got ready to work. (Scroll to the end of the post to get your own frame!)

Thanksgiving For Emily Ann Storytime Drawing

#Thebigone did a little consulting with his ‘thankful pumpkin‘. He decided to illustrate that family is one of his blessings, and got to work. He used both a pencil, and a black pen to sketch out his drawing. Next he added color with watercolors, giving his image a very similar feel to Brantley-Newton’s work (from a 6 year old perspective!). In the true spirit of coming together for Thanksgiving, he drew a picture of a family meal, and included both his dad & stepdad at the table, which was so nice to see.

Thanksgiving For Emily Ann Storytime Project

Take some time to slow down with your kids during this crazy week. This activity is ideal for spending quiet time together while you reflect on your blessings. The printable pairs well with a large number of Thanksgiving books, so if you don’t have Thanksgiving For Emily Ann on hand, just grab another from your shelf!