KidArtLit is a new subscription box that sends you a high quality children’s book, along with art projects that go along with the book’s theme.
Each box will include a thoughtfully curated hardback picture book, an open-ended art project with the required supplies for 2 people, a mini magazine, and a bonus activity. Unlike crafts or other activities in which there is one expected outcome or correct way to “do” the activity, KidArtLit projects are designed to let your family connect and to help you explore literature and art mediums without unrealistic expectation for outcomes or end products. Their projects include a variety of ways for children to explore concepts and materials and develop their own ideas. Boxes are geared towards children ages 3 through 7, though the books and projects are curated to meet the developmental needs of most children within this age range, so older and younger siblings can both enjoy and benefit from them as well.
Disclosure: I received this box for review purposes. I was not compensated in any way. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate and/or referral links.
Subscriptions are $46.99/month with free shipping within the US.
Let’s see what’s in the June 2017 KidArtLit box!
Everything was shipped in a white box with blue & pink triangles and a yellow KidArtLit logo on top.
A peek inside!
A full color mini magazine/booklet included a list of everything inside the box, as well as instructions for each project and helpful tips for getting the most out of the experience.
A River by Marc Martin
June’s featured book was A River by Marc Martin. Its beautiful illustrations help tell the story of a young girl who imagines that the river outside her window is taking her on a wonderful journey. Each pagespread shows the girl aboard her little boat as it meanders through the city, a jungle, farmlands, the forest, and more. I read it aloud to my girls and they both enjoyed pointing out all of the animals & other figures hidden throughout the pages.
Ready-Set-Go-Pack – Loose Parts Pattern Play
The first activity was one that was designed to be done “right away”, before reading the book to get your kiddo’s creative juices flowing. It consisted of 4 book-inspired pattern cards and an assortment of colored wooden matchsticks. The idea was to have your child play with them in an open-ended way — by sorting, building, and arranging them whichever way they’d like.
Making a pattern. (“Carrot” colors, of course. She’s carrot obsessed. 😉 )
More patterns!
Watercolor Painting with Washable Markers: Painted Boats
The second project involved exploring with watercolors. It consisted of Crayola Washable Markers, two wooden sailboats, and two paintbrushes. Children were to color the boats using the markers and then paint over them using the paintbrushes and a little water to achieve a neat watercolor effect.
Coloring!
Painting!
The end result. I love how colorful they both turned out! 🙂
Resist Landscapes with Oil Pastels and Bleeding Ink
The last project involved exploring with oil pastels and bleeding tissue paper. Included were two sheets of watercolor paper, two black oil pastels, and various colors of tissue paper that “bleeds” when wet. First, your child was to use the pastels to draw a scene from the book or from their own imagination. Next, they were to paint the drawing with water and then apply the tissue paper all over its surface. Once the colors started to bleed, the tissue paper could be removed to reveal the “painting” below.
I told them to draw a scene from the book, but being 4-year-olds, they just kinda did their own thing. 😉
Laying down the tissue paper. She’s a bit obsessed with rainbows these days.
Finishing up.
Peeling all the paper off. — I think we were supposed to use more water, since there were a few spots that stayed white. We used the paintbrush to go over the whole thing again once all of the papers were off.
More peeling.
Masterpiece #1.
Masterpiece #2. — Again, I love how colorful they both turned out!
Needless to say, my girls and I had a lot of fun with the debut box from KidArtLit! Their favorite activity was the bleeding tissue paper watercolor painting, during which they kept saying how much they loved it. 🙂 It was great how all of the activities were tied into the theme of the featured book, which we were happy to add to our ever-growing library. Overall, a great box for unleashing your child’s imagination and creativity!
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