Tuesday 29 May 2012

The Very Quiet Cricket

This month we are joining Toddler Approved and The Educator's Spin On It to read The Very Quiet Cricket as part of their Virtual Book club. I had never heard of this book before but Goblin likes Eric Carle's Mr Seahorse so I thought it was a fairly safe bet that he'd enjoy this one. I bought it from Amazon used books. Amazon's used section is excellent for picking up cheap books, the only problem is, if you are used to Amazon Prime next day delivery like I am, the two week wait for their used books feels like an eternity.
The book finally arrived and Goblin wanted to read it straight away. Its a lovely story about a cricket who can't make a noise. He meets lots of insects that make a noise to say "Hello" and he can't respond. Until finally he meets another cricket and makes a noise. The last page has a little sound maker so when you open the page it actually makes the sound of a cricket. Goblin loved this. But it meant that every time we read the book he just wanted me to turn to the last page. I'm not sure he appreciated the rest of the story about how each insect makes its noise.  
For our activity we went on our own bug hunt. It was a really hot day so we went to a local wood to keep cool. We hadn't gone far in when we found our first insect - A ladybird. Goblin was intrigued. He likes ladybirds and often spots them on walks when we are out. We counted all the spots.
Near the Ladybird was a beautiful spiders web and there was a spider sitting in the middle. Goblin is less intrigued and far more cautious about spiders, I think he doesn't like how they scuttle.
While looking for insects the boys also did a bit of larking in the trees. 
And we stumbled on a great big bumble bee pottering along the floor. I realised that all the insects we'd found were silent, and even this bumble bee wasn't buzzing. Not very true to The Very Quiet Cricket book.  
Here is how The Very Quiet Cricket inspired others.

This is only for book related crafts, activities, projects that go with Eric Carle's The Quiet Cricket. The linky will be open for 3 weeks... so come link up any time!

I'm sharing this on
 Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall 

18 comments:

  1. What a fun activity to go with the book!! Thank you so much for sharing at Happy Family Times!!

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  2. We've read that book many times- My kids love the end when the sound sparks up- Eric Carle is a talented author and artist- We'll be keeping his books for many years...

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    1. i didn't realise how many books he'd written, he's done tones

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  3. What a fun time! We didn't have the book so we listened to it online, but I really want to get the book version to read sometime too! Love the bug hunt! We hunted for crickets too!

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  4. It's wonderful that you went outside to try to discover some insects on your own together. You did have a chance to observe a few close up. I bet Goblin liked the bugs. Ours sure like to peer at them close up here! -heather

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  5. Your bug hunt in the woods looks like it was a hit :-) And I think I have some photos of my husband up some trees like that too! I'm with Goblin on the scuttling spiders! Thanks for sharing on Happy Family Times x

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  6. Your bug hunt looks like so much fun! I think we will have to plan one for this summer.

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  7. You're right it's the warm weather it got our boys outside and bug hunting :D - we looked early in the morning it's the best time to bug hunt as the temperatures are better for them and they stay still (by 10am they had all disappeared).

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  8. Oh thanks for the tip. As goblin gets up at 6am an early bug hunt would actually be perfect

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  9. I always admire the fun you have teaching Goblin about nature and the outdoors. thank you for linking to #Country Kids

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  10. That is so lovely, and like you I did not know he had any other books than the Hungry Caterpillar so I shall be investigating now.


    Thanks for sharing on Family Frolics.

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  11. Very down to earth. I think this kind of natural activities will make a child not feeling afraid, or disgusted by insects (like how I used to be) ...
    I need to gain more courage to bring my son out, see the little bugs !

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  12. What a great idea! Our playschool children would love it! My Happy Family Times post is here: http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/05/beach-belly.html

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  13. what lovely pictures, I love a good bug hunt and you can't beat larking about in the trees!

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