Flannel Ducks! You Know You Want Them!

Quack! Quack! Quack!

 We started our week celebrating the 75th birthday of Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings. This book was so perfectly marketed 75 years ago - one week into Spring.  And so it began with a conversation about Make Way for Ducklings and we just kept adding more ducks!

A little white duck went swimming in the water.  Little Duck, little Duck hid behind a big truck!

We painted a little line of ducks with our fingers - make way for our ducklings!  And we read books with ducks in the story.

I am now in the process of making ten little chicks.  Next week will be chick week.  Chick week, love that. Love the spotted hen as well.  She'll be with her babies on the flannel board.  Oh yeah!

Spring stories just make me happy.  Now if the weather in CT would cooperate.  Snow in the forecast for the weekend.  Not cool.

But this kid...in Duke Gardens ...way cool.  Maybe he'll find spring ducklings!

P.S. (Piper Script)  Tres chic!  Chick Week!  Should we start with Chicken Little?  
                                In it's entirety... this story could be terrifying!!

Flannel Friday ...before/after flannelization!

I recall Oprah Winfrey saying that the before/after shows were always her most popular.  No doubt you recall - she had stylists come in and a lucky audience member or two or three would have a make-over with the proper fitting clothes, new hair color, a cheeky new hair cut, trendy accessories, etc.  I would love a make-over this Spring...my entire closet needs a make-over as well.  I fear that I am slowly growing into a fashion "don't" <sigh>  With all this in mind and preparing for "The Flannel This, Puppet That!" presentation at the upcoming Connecticut Library Association Conference on May 7 & 8 with my colleague, Kari Ann, I took a look at some of my older flannel board stories and decided to try a Do-over!  A Make-Over!

As Oprah would say...let's take a look again at the BEFORE photos:
(But we need a little set-up)
Here is the 25 yr old Little White Duck and her friends at the Lily Pad.  
They used to be "regulars" in story time...but now they are in the back of the bin, hardly ever making an appearance.  Lacking confidence?  I don't know - maybe after doing this song for 15 years or so, I just changed things up.  I think they look pretty cute!

I drew these on paper, colored them with pencils and markers, and laminated them

...a long time ago!

And now, are you ready?  The big reveal!

Let's hear it for the flannelized version

I must say, flannel does make a difference!  The pieces are brighter and more importantly, they have depth and texture...they are warmer.  I am thinking they are even more fun!  

Please let me know what you think!  

thanks ~ piper & jane

Click here for the Little White Duck song!

P.S. (Piper Script) No flannel board pieces were injured in this make-over!