wild west

Wild West books for kids - book review

momstown's gone wild for Wild West this month! We've got a great round-up of Wild West-themed books for kids of all ages.

 

are you a horse bookAre You a Horse? by Andy Rash (Scholastic-sponsored book of the month)

For his birthday, cowboy Roy's friends give him a saddle and some very specific instructions - 1. Find a horse, 2. Enjoy the ride! Now Roy has to find a horse... and it's not as easy as it seems! Great book to introduce children to details and descriptions, and great learning for them to decipher the different 'levels' of describing things. Cute twist at the end will entertain children too!

 

 

buster goes to cowboy campBuster Goes to Cowboy Camp by Denise Fleming   

Buster is a dog whose owners are going away for the weekend, so he is sent off to cowboy camp! Although he’s not pleased at the start, he realizes that there are lots of fun things to do, and makes some new friends.

 

 

 

 

cowboy bunniesCowboy Bunnies by Christine Loomis  

Written in a poem style, simple text and soft illustrations show bunnies being cowboys, riding ponies, making campfires, roping cows, and all kinds of wild west activities!

 

 

 

 

little red cowboy hatLittle Red Cowboy Hat  by Susan Lowell  

A twist on little Red Riding hood... a little girl named little Red Cowboy hat goes off to grandma’s house... I think you know the rest! The grandma is pretty feisty and helps get rid of the wolf... she does grab a shotgun so you may have to alter a few words here and there depending on your audience! Other than that warning, a fun take on a classic.
 

 

 

cowboy smallCowboy Small by Lois Lenski   

A cute cowboy book for the younger set. Available in a board book edition. The text is simple, the drawings are charming and the book covers all the basics of what a cowboys does day and night. From corralling cattle, eating from the chuck wagon and singing cowboy songs by the campfire before hitting the hay in the bunkhouse, Cowboy Small does it all.

 

 

Posted by Teacher Mom on 10/25/2011 - 11:24
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Are you a horse? by Andy Rash - Book Review

Thanks to Scholastic, all momstown chapters this November are reading Andy Rash's "Are You a Horse?" for our baby book clubs and tales for tots events! It's a fantastic read that will appeal to a wide age range and is great for a playgroup.

 

are you a horse?

Cowboy Roy is the hero of the story, and it starts off simply enough. He gets a saddle for his birthday, and it comes with two instructions:

1. Find a horse

2. Enjoy the ride!

So off goes Roy to find a horse... not as easy as it seems! Roy learns a lot about horses along the way, as young readers learn about deductive reasoning (without knowing it, of course!).

As he examines various objects, living things, things with four legs, things that re fast, etc. etc. Roy finds out that a horse has a lot of different characteristics!

The youngest children will find it amusing and engaging as they watch Roy try to figure out what a horse really is. Older children will be able to reflect on 'why' Roy thinks a zebra might be a horse - and 'tell' the reader why it's not a horse!

I read this with my 4 year-old and he was able to follow the different levels of description as Roy looked for his horse. He enjoyed hearing the story again and again, as he 'remembered' all the different things a horse needs to be!

Once the horse is found, finally Roy gets to:

2. Enjoy the ride!

There is a fun twist here as the reader realizes that Roy didn't  know which one (him or the horse) is supposed to wear the saddle! Another great opportunity to engage your child in understanding - why didn't Roy know? What should his friends have told him? And a good laugh also.

 

Wild West is coming to momstown this month and we've got a great round-up of crafts, books, and activities! We hope you'll bring some into your home, preschool or playgroup!

Posted by Teacher Mom on 10/25/2011 - 11:15
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Lacing Wild West boot craft helps fine motor skills

momstown's grabbing their cowboys and cowgirls this month for our Wild West theme! Lacing is a great way for children to practice fine motor skills - and lace up their wild west boots in this fun craft.

 

lacing craft wild west boot

 

A few simple materials are all that's required to practice lacing skills with this Wild West craft.

lacing craft wild west boot

What you need:

  • Cardboard (cereal boxes work well)
  • Hole punch
  • String or yarn
  • Small piece of pipe cleaner
  • Markers, stickers to decorate

 

lacing craft wild west boot Trace a boot shape and have your child decorate the boot any way they wish. Stickers would be fun here too!

 

 

 

 

 

lacing craft wild west bootHere's a way to make lacing easier for kids. Tie a small length of pipe cleaner to string - this makes threading easier as the pipe cleaner is a stiff material.

 

 

 

lacing craft wild west bootCut out the boot and prepare your lacing material (string and pipe cleaner 'threader'). Use a hole punch to punch circles around the edges of the boot.

 

lacing craft wild west boot

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lace all around the edges - it's great fine motor practice and makes a nice design finish to boot!

 

Posted by Teacher Mom on 10/25/2011 - 11:04
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Rounding up wild west theme crafts

momstown is rounding up the wild west theme with lots of crafts for all ages!

 

wild west crafts

Pick your favourite and enjoy with your children or at a playgroup!

Foot and Armprint Horse

Toilet Roll Cowboy (brought to you by DLTK Crafts for Kids)

Decorate real cowboy hats

Make your own cowboy hat

Covered wagon (thanks again to DLTK Crafts!)

Sheriff Badge

H is for Horse

Lacing skills Cowboy boot

Or be inspired by our Wild West party - a great birthday or playgroup theme idea!

Posted by Teacher Mom on 10/17/2011 - 19:42
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Make your own wild west sheriff badge

Pretend play with a wild west theme? You need a sheriff! Have your child make their own sheriff badge.

momstown was inspired by this name badge craft: sheriff badge craft

 

We made ours a bit differently by layering triangles and having kids practice scissor skills.

 

sheriff badge craft

What you need:sheriff badge craft

  • Yellow foam or cardstock
  • Pencil or marker
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Pom poms (sequins would be a nice touch too!)

 

sheriff badge craftTrace two triangles on the foam or cardstock. Have kids cut them out. Layer them one on top of the other to form a star. Kids can also practice drawing these stars!

 

Glue the stars together, then have your child write their name and decorate the badge with pom poms or sequins on the points. Pin onto your child's shirt or tape onto a ballcap - there's a new sheriff in town!

 

Check out all of the Wild West crafts from momstown!

Foot and Armprint Horse

H is for Horse

Cowboy Hat

Posted by Teacher Mom on 10/17/2011 - 19:29
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How to make a cowboy hat craft for a Wild West theme

Yee-haw! If you're looking for a wild west themed craft - momstown has a make-yourself cowboy hat craft sure to please all ages!

 

cowboy hat craft

What you need:

  • Construction paper
  • Cardstock or cardboard for the hat
  • Stickers, markers, crayons - anything you'd like to decorate the hat
  • Stapler
  • Scissors

 

cowboy hat craftTrace a cowboy hat shape onto cardboard or cardstock. Have your child decorate any way they wish - crayons, markers, stickers, etc.

Cut out the hat shape.

Cut construction paper into a strip(s) long enough to go around your child's head. Staple together, then staple to the cowboy hat. You're ready for the rodeo!

Posted by Teacher Mom on 10/17/2011 - 19:06
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