Swimming away in Story Art

"Swimmy," by Leo Lionni, has enchanted generations of children with its beautiful illustrations and celebration of differences. Today's Story Art project was inspired by this Caldecott Honor Book. Here's how to make your own undersea-scape!

You will need:
Water color paper (available at craft stores) or another thick paper
Crayons
Art tissue paper (must be "bleeding" so the colors run)-- shades of blue create the ocean effect best
A cup of water
A paint brush

Draw your undersea picture on the watercolor paper using the crayons. For a fun trick, try drawing things with the white crayon. It won't show up-- yet! We drew a black fish for Swimmy and red fish for his brothers and sisters. For best results, press hard with the crayon.

Tear up the tissue paper into medium size pieces and use them to cover the watercolor paper. Try layering the tissue paper for new color combinations.

Dip the brush in water and paint a layer of water on top of the tissue paper, wetting all the paper.

Peel off and discard the wet tissue paper to reveal your ocean scene!

Special guests at the Museum!

This week at the Children's Museum at Saratoga we welcome special guests joining our programs. Jessica Riley from Kiba Kiba Books will join us for Story Art and Dr. Q from AAC Family Wellness Centers will join us in Stretching with Stuffee.

Jessica Riley, author of Kiba Kiba Books, will be joining us on March 17, 2011 from 10:30-11:00 AM for Story Art. Jessica has hosted a number of workshops in the area and beyond where children illustrate the text of a story she has written. During Story Art she will be reading one of these child-illustrated stories and then leading the children in an art challenge.

Our second guest that will be joining us in Stretching with Stuffee this week is Dr. Q from AAC Family Wellness Centers on March 18, 2011 from 10:00-10:30 AM. Dr. Michael Quartararo graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic, where he received specialized training in pediatrics.

Hope you can join us for these events! Thanks to Jessica and Dr. Q for sharing their talents with us at the museum!

The members of AAC Family Wellness Centers are dedicated to educating our communities that proper spinal alignment and function promotes optimum health and wellness.