Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, art by Gracey Zhang
September Pick -- Nigel and the Moon
We're so excited to announce our September MOSS Kids Book Club pick! Join us this month as we whisper our worries & dreams to the moon, especially as we start a new school year.
When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too! Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow. Nigel is the most brilliant body in the sky. But it's Career Week at school, and Nigel is struggling to find the courage to share his dreams. It's easy to whisper to the moon. With the help of his parents, Nigel is able to overcome his worries & take pride in who he is and where he comes from.
Below you will find our monthly craft(s); printable activity sheet; and our community outreach activity where we will be connecting our kids with members in their community who once shared the same dream. A few of our crafts need a little time to dry before finishing, check out the list of books below of our favorite books to read about different careers:
We really hope you enjoy this month of book club, especially our new revamp. Each book is intentionally handpicked with each activity and outreach curated to engage and enrich our youth's experiences. Through these diverse and inclusive reads, working and playing together, and giving back to their own community, we hope to instill empathy, understanding, & kindness in our kids. If you didn't receive a copy of the book, don't fret. Check out a reading of our story by the author, Antwan Eady! Click the button below:
Let's Craft #1: wish/worry Moon Hangings
This craft, inspired by Handmade Charlotte, takes a little bit to make; mostly waiting for the paint to dry before glueing together. We have included a no paint option for teachers who may want to do this with their classrooms quicker & with minimal mess while still working on the same skills. We're making a Wish/Worry Moon that can hang & includes a pocket for kids to draw/write their wishes & drop them in. Like Nigel, our kids can talk to their moons expressing their worries & dreams. This month we are focusing on fine motor skill development utilizing functional grasp & scissor skills; bilateral coordination using both hands while cutting; visual motor & visual perceptual skills; and following verbal instruction. Modifications listed below.
If you are doing the full painting craft, these are the materials you will need.^^
Painted Moon Materials:
Two paper plates per child
Pencil
Small bowl; we used an Ikea children's bowl
Scissors
Paint
Paintbrushes; we used & liked the sponge brush
Glitter (or glitter paint, which personally I liked better because less mess but a little more waiting)
Glue
Thumbtack (not featured, used to poke hole to hang)
Fishing line/Yarn/String
Modifications: Easy: Pre-cut everything; allow child to decorate paint the moon shaped plates, may need hand over hand assistance to put together Moderate: Allow child to trace the bowl & paint; may need assistance to cut & put everything together Hard: Allow child to do most, if not all, of the craft; child may need help to cut the plate around the curve & poking the thumbtack through (can use hole punch if using yarn to work on hand strength)
If you're doing the quicker & less messy craft, you'll need these materials.^^
Construction paper moon Materials:
Plate to trace
Construction paper (each kid needs 2 pieces)
Pencil
Small bowl; we used an Ikea children's bowl
Scissors
Glitter paint (or glitter)
Paintbrush
Glue
Thumbtack (not featured, used to poke hole to hang)
Fishing line/Yarn/String (not featured)
Painted moon instructions:
Step 1: Turn one paper plate over, and place it on top of the other, creating a gap between the two.
Step 2: Now push the top plate down on the other, so it is turned inside out. Place a portion of your bowl on the plates, creating a moon shape, and trace around the bowl.
Step 3: Cut out the moon, holding the two plates together the entire time.
Step 4: Turn the inside-out plate back to its original position, and paint the two moon plates in the color of your choice. We used acrylic paint.
Step 5: Add glitter to the sides that will be facing out while the paint is still wet, and shake off any excess. Allow to dry. Be sure to read a few of our diverse books about different careers while you wait, here is our list.
Step 6: If adding glitter paint instead of glitter, apply now. Allow to dry again.
Added just glitter to wet purple paint (left) & added glitter glue after purple paint was dry, then added glitter (right)
Step 7: Place the moon plates paint side down, and put a line of glue around the rippled edges of one moon. Leave the cut side glue-free. Line the second plate up perfectly with the first on top of the glue, and push the plates together around the edges. Allow to dry (see how there is a lot of waiting, this could be where you pause to read more books or you could even do the first part in the morning/finish in the afternoon or complete in two days).
Step 8: Use a thumb tack (or a hole punch if you are using yarn, & press a hole through the top of the moon. Thread fishing line/yarn/string through & tie a knot to secure your hanging line.
Step 9: Hang your moon. Explain to child that they can leave little notes inside the moon whenever they are feeling worried, anxious, or need a little courage. They can draw/write their hopes, their wishes, & their dreams, too! The moon wants to know it all.
Construction paper moon instructions
(quick & not dirty):
Step 1: Trace paper plate onto construction paper (be sure to have both pieces together) & cut out the circle.
Step 2: Place a portion of your bowl on your construction paper circle, creating a moon shape, and trace around the bowl. Cut out the moon, holding the two pieces of construction paper together the entire time.
Step 3: Glue a small line around the outside of one of the construction paper moons, making sure not to glue the inside cut piece (you're creating the pocket). Allow to dry.
Step 4: Paint the front of the moon with glitter glue or dab spots of glue on to add glitter. Allow to dry. This is the perfect time to read a few our other career books from our list, here.
Step 5: Crease at the seams of the glue to pop open the moon creating a pocket. Put one hand inside the moon until your fingers reach where the glue has dried. With other hand, slightly bend the edge of the moon forward over the fingertips that are inside the moon, creating definition at the border. Complete all the entire moon.
*note the crinkles around the edges making a pocket^
Step 6: Use a thumb tack (or a hole punch if you are using yarn) & press a hole through the top of the moon. Thread fishing line/yarn/string through & tie a knot to secure your hanging line. Hang moon!
Let's craft #2: Moon & House Mobile
At our local book clubs, we will be gifting each child a copy of Nigel and the Moon along with a Merry Makers Nigel and the Moon pillow, which has a pocket to place their worries & wishes. Instead of making a pocket moon like craft #1, we will be making a moon & house mobile to hang in their rooms instead. This craft focuses on fine motor skill development utilizing functional grasp & scissor skills; bilateral coordination using both hands while cutting; visual motor & visual perceptual skills to trace & cut; and following verbal instruction. Modifications listed below.
I did not have any black cardstock on hand so I created my own by glueing black paper to my yellowish cardstock^^
Materials:
Paper plate (as a paint palatte)
Cardboard (to create tracers)
Pencil
Cardstock (yellow/white & black)
Scissors
Clothespins
Cotton balls
Gray/silver paint
Thumbtack
Fishing line
Tape
Optional: glitter, glue
Modifications: Easy: Pre-cut everything; allow child to paint moon working on their developmental grasp pattern, will need hand over hand assistance to put together Moderate: Allow child to trace shapes & paint moon, again focusing on their pencil grasp & hand strength opening the clothespin; may need assistance to cut & put everything together Hard: Allow child to do most, if not all, of the craft; child may need help using thumbtack
instructions:
Step 1: Make tracers out of cardboard; a 3in circle & a house shape. We just eyeballed the house.
Step 2: Have child trace around the cardboard shapes onto colored cardstock (yellow/white for circle moon & black for the house).
Step 3: Squeeze out paint onto paper plate paint palette. Pinch clothespin open & pick up cotton ball. Use the clothespin/cotton ball as a paint brush & dap the the yellow circle with the gray paint. Allow to dry. My paint dried quickly so I wasn't able to add the glitter immediately.
Step 4: Dab spots of wet glue on moon, pour glitter over glue, & shake off excess. Cut out moon & house. Cut out and glue small rectangle for window (use scraps from cutting moon-- minimize waste!).
Step 5: Press thumbtack through the top of the house to create a small hole. Press thumbtack through the top & bottom of the moon.
Step 6: String fishing line through the top of the house & tape to the back. Cut & thread other end of the fishing line through the bottom hole on the moon. Tape to back. Cut another fishing line string to thread through the top of the moon & tape to back. Now it's ready to hang!
Remember: After you are done reading the book (if you received a copy from us!) & making your crafts, please have your kids sign the library card located in the back of the book (first names only!). Let's bring back a little bit of fun from our childhood. Also, please donate your book to your local public library, to your school library, or to a little free library in your area so more kids can enjoy a new diverse & inclusive read.
printable sheet:
We made the *perfect* printable activity sheet for your kids to fill out. A way for kids to talk about themselves with confidence & have a safe space for them to share a worry & a dream!
community outreach:
This month's community outreach activity we're reaching out to community members who shared the same dreams as our kid's currently have. Each child will write a letter/create a drawing (see pdf below) for a member in their community that works at their dream job. After your book club meeting, you may need to do a little research to find community members with the same occupation that your kids in the club want to work as when they are older. You will need to reach out to give them the letter or drawing that the kid has done & ask if they would be willing to write back (be sure to okay getting addresses from book club members to mail the return letter from their dream worker to child). Please do not skip this activity, we truly believe these outreach activities are vital parts of childhood & opportunities to raise kids who dream & reach for the stars. Teaching our youth that they can be anything they want to be is necessary to raising the kind of kids that will help shape this society into something we are all proud of.
YAY! Another MOSS Kids Book Club pick, crafts, printable sheet, and community outreach activity. We would love to see when you receive your books and all the beautiful crafts your kids create. You do not need to share kid's faces. Please be sure to tag us on Instagram @mosskidsbooks & use #mosskidsbookclub. Sharing about MOSS Kids Book Club is a way for your community to learn more about what MOSS Kids has to offer & for them to know where they can find the book you're donating. By doing so, we can reach & help more kids across the country. We'd also love to hear any feedback you may have, please email us at hello@mosskidsbooks.com. We appreciate you all so much for taking the initiative to bring kids together to read diverse books & hopefully learn vital life skills to help make our world a better place.
did you miss out on a chance at the book this month & want to sign up for next month?
All you need to do is fill out the google doc below & you'll be entered to win next month's book. TEN lucky winners will receive a copy for their book club to read together every month & then donate to their local school library, public library, or a little free library in their area!
want a copy of our book club pick monthly sent to your door to keep & add to your shelves + more?
Join our $25 Patreon tier & every month we will ship you a copy of our MOSS Kids Book Club pick of the month AND a MOSS Mystery bundle (secondhand blind date with a kid's book) AND you will be entered into our monthly Patreon-only giveaway! Your support goes directly to purchasing new diverse & inclusive books for kids in underserved communities.
the moss minute
Kyle and I have been rewatching Reading Rainbow with LeVar Burton. Our favorite bit of the episode is at the end where the kids get to recommend their favorite recent reads. It got us thinking: we should do that. We would love to feature YOUR KIDS at the end of each blog post & on our socials for a new section called The MOSS Minute where we will be sharing kid's book reviews/recommendations. Send us a photo of your kid (use the book to cover their face) with their book that they would like to review/recommend, their age; what state they live in and their mini review/recommendation. Try to write exactly what they say-- kids really do say the best things. Each blog post we will feature a child at the end of the blog and 1x/wk they will get their own post to our socials. MOSS Kids is all about community and we want to hear from you and your kids. Just email us at hello@mosskidsbooks.com with The MOSS Minute as the subject line. We can't wait to see what you're reading!
meet otto & his recommended read:
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