Little Library: Book Based Play with Feelings

Book activities for kids

We are back for another round of #bookishplay, this week we are focusing on feelings with one of our all-time favourite books, The Pout Pout Fish! If you’ve checked out our Little Library section you’ll know that my girls love books.Β We’ve joined a movement on instagram (@mamawrites) to inspire young readers to have fun with the books they read through play!

One of our favourite books is The Pout Pout Fish: filled with fun rhymes this book is perfect for toddlers! The Pout Pout Fish thinks he is a glum fish, but with a little love he realizes he’s a happy, loving fish! This week’s activity is all about feelings, perfect for those toddler years. The girls had so much fun creating glum and happy faces. This is a simple and easy art activity to do with your kids.

Making crafts with kids

You Need (for each fish)

  • Two large paper plates
  • Craft glue (preferably a hot glue gun, but liquid glue will work)
  • Blue paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Two sets of googly eyes
  • A Popsicle stick

To Play

  • Give each child two paper plates.
  • On each plate have the kids create a different version of pout pout fish: one happy, and one sad. Glue on the eyes, decorate the plate with blue paint, and use a marker to draw on Pout Pout Fish’s mouth. My younger daughter enjoyed painting the
  • Once dry, glue a Popsicle stick to the inside of one plate, then place glue around the edge of the second plate and glue the two plates together.
  • Have fun switching between happy and sad pout pout fish and talking about what makes you happy or sad!

Painting crafts for toddlers with books

Painting Craft for Kids

Book Crafts for Kids

Book Crafts for Kids

If you are looking for more ideas, check out last week’s activity all about sounds.Β And, be sure to visit us on Instagram to connect with a group of fellow creative Mamas sharing new, fun activities every week this month!

Enjoy! xo

Mama Writes

40 comments

  1. Wow! What a cute idea!!! i love it! Putting together a performance really helps kids understand the lesson of the story so much better. And those masks are adorable!

  2. My three kids are home with me this summer and we are always looking for a great activity to cure the summer boredom. Heading to the library and picking up some paint on the way home. Thanks for this post!

    1. Thank you! My 4 year old is now telling my 2 year old “do you feel pout pout fish sad?” when she cries, LOL

  3. What perfect activity! I love doing this kind of play/craft/reading with my granddaughter. Once it gets started we play for hours on the same task, but so much learning occurs as well!

  4. This is so cute! The Pout Pout Fish was one of our favorite books. I even read it at school as our mystery reader parent. I love these ideas!

  5. What a fun activity to do with this book. It looks like a great activity for the summer.

  6. I have never read this book! I’m adding to our library! How cute. The idea of activities to go with the books is fabulous. Very creative! I look forward to trying it as we babysit littles often!

    1. Thanks Rebecca! It’s such a fun little book to have in your library. I always aim for easy to put together crafts, hope you can use these ones!

    1. Thank you Amanda! The girls really followed this activity well and love playing “pout pout fish” now! πŸ˜‰

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