The Spirit of Giving

We love this book! Ehlert has beautiful children’s books, often related to nature. Nature is a basic part of our learning experiences. Her artwork and storytelling make  nature feel vivid and accessible for us. Her bright collage illustrations, simple text, and focus on plants, animals, and seasons help us connect naturally with the world around us.

This is a classic reference book for all things about the natural world, full of a treasure trove of information about everything from squirrels to dandelions, mice to milkweed with fascinating details and thoughtful questions. 

It is a joyful, visually creative picture book in which family builds a set of imaginative snow people using a "loose parts" bag filled with collage materials like buttons, seeds, fabric scraps, etc. Ehlert's signature collage art brings each snow character to life.

Loose parts are open-ended, meaning they have no predetermined use. A round paper in Tvisha’s hand can become a building material, or a tool, allowing her to see her imagination and think creatively.

Luka thinks critically and solves problems as he figures out how to stack objects, balance items, or build structures, testing his understanding of cause-and-effect and basic physics.

Kalyan manipulates different-sized loose part, from small pebbles to logs, helps develop both fine motor skills (hand-eye coordination, dexterity) and gross motor skills (balance, strength, coordination).

Working with loose parts often encourages collaboration as Dhanika works together, share ideas, negotiate, and communicate to bring her imaginative ideas to life.

Using natural loose parts (e.g., leaves, pinecones, bark) deepens Rebecca’s sensory connection to her environment, encouraging closer observation and a better understanding of the world around.

Friends carefully select which felt “feet” our elves will stand on. Some choose bright blues, reds, or greens, while others prefer matching colors. The photos show each one of us deeply focus — holding the pine cone steady while gently pressing the felt pieces in place. These quiet moments are filled with patience, persistence, and growing confidence.

​Next comes one of our favorite parts: drawing the faces. With markers in hand, we add eyes, smiles, eyebrows, and creative little details. The expressions vary--some happy, some silly, some thoughtful—each one representing our own style. We proudly hold up our finished faces to share with friends and teachers, celebrating both our effort and creativity.

​In the second part of learning experience, we explore the colourful felt hats and ribbons. We wrap scarves around our elves, adjust them until they are “just right,” and try different combinations of colors. Many are especially excited to add the tiny bells, holding them up to hear them jingle before placing them on the hats. This step encourages problem-solving, independence, and gentle hand coordination.

Each friend proudly presents our completed elf. The photos show the biggest smiles—we're holding our elves close, admiring the details we create. Some adjust hats one more time, others smoothen scarves or make sure our elf is standing properly. This moment of pride highlights how meaningful the process is for us.

When we put all the elves together, our table transform into a colourful little village of pine cone friends—each one unique, each one filled with the personality and creativity of the child who makes it.

The story Kipper's Christmas Eve invites us to think about what Christmas really means and whether we love giving or receiving more. Kipper is bubbling with excitement: he decorates his Christmas tree, wraps his presents, and chooses special gifts for his friends Tiger, Pig, and little Arnold as they prepare for the big day.

Kalyan takes the initiative to share that he loves giving presents more than receiving them. What a beautiful heart you have, Kalyan!

"To give presents" - Dhanika. She agrees giving is more important than receiving. A generous heart Dhanika has indeed!

With a sweet smile, Tvisha shares that she loves both giving and receiving gifts.

It resonates with Rebecca. She also enjoys both giving and receiving, finding joy in sharing with others.

There is a sweet mix-up involving conversing about what gifts mean to us, imagining a visit from Father Christmas, and the warm feeling of being together.

But as soon as the first notes of "Santa Claus is coming to Town" fills the air, his eyes sparkle. He bounces in his seat, unable to hide the glee that has been hiding behind the pout all along.​

By the pallet, our laughter and voices warm the room more than any toy ever can. In that moment, it does not matter who gets what. The real magic is more about togetherness, laughter, and the joy of simply being with each other.

Dhanika leads Rebecca and Tvisha to act out the song of "Santa Claus is coming to Town". Rebecca and Tvisha exchange grins, and soon the three of them are dancing around the room, mimicking Santa. Laughter bubbles up as they take turns pretending to tiptoe down chimneys. The room is filled with music, movement, and the mistakable warmth of friends simply enjoying being together.
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Kindest,
Children & Friends.