Monster bookmarks

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix created a craft that will keep kids reading this summer. Art Studio Manager John Bomhoff shares instructions.

Ages: preschool and above.

Materials: 4” x 8” piece of colored construction or cardstock paper, markers, hole puncher, scissors, yarn scraps, three-inch lid or any round object, ruler and sequins.

Instructions:

Choose a piece of paper. Use a lid to trace a circle at one end of the paper.

Place a ruler at the bottom of the circle and trace around the ruler to the 4” mark.

Cut out the bookmark you have created. Using markers, draw a silly monster face in the circle.

Decorate the body. Punch holes for eyes or to tie yarn hair onto the face.

Add sequins or sparkles if you have them.

When placed in a book, your monster peeks out of the top at you.

TEACHABLE MOMENTS

Creating “Monster Bookmarks” is a wonderful motivation for older children to continue reading during the summer months. For the younger child, explain the purpose of a bookmark. (Or, their bookmark could become a puppet.) Then share two of our favorite monster books with them. Go Away Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberly empowers small children to deal with their fears. In A Beasty Story by Bill Martin Jr. and Steven Kellogg, some brave mice chase a scary monster. An added bonus is that they introduce the reader to the primary and secondary colors.

About the Children’s Museum of Phoenix

The mission of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is to engage the minds, muscles and imaginations of children and the grown-ups who care about them. With hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for children ages birth to 10, the Museum focuses on learning through play, with emphasis on early childhood education and school-readiness.

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is located at 215 N. 7th St. in downtown Phoenix, at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Van Buren in the historic Monroe School Building. In 2011, it was named one of the “10 Best Children’s Museums” by Parents magazine.