Tag Archives: Cátia Chien

Baby, You’re a Firework!

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Call it a milestone! In twenty years of story time crafting, we never thought to do a light up hat. This illuminated chapeau was incredibly simple to put together, but judging from the kids’ reactions, it might just win most popular craft for 2026!

We read Fireworks, written by Matthew Burgess, and illustrated by Cátia Chien (Clarion Books, 2025). It’s a special summer night in the city, and from up top of the building, the sun sets and the firework show begins. Artistically written and boldly illustrated, more than one parent told us they wanted to add this picture book to their home library.

Huzzah! Fireworks won the 2026 Caldecott, congrats to Mr. Burgess and Ms. Chien!

You’ll need:

  • 1 plastic fedora hat
  • 1 strand of LED lights
  • Sparkle stems
  • Metallic embossed paper, cellophane, and Mylar for fireworks
  • Star stickers
  • Poster board hatband (preferably gold metallic)
  • Scissors and tape for construction
  • Metallic markers for decorating

We had a bunch of shiny purple fedora hats in the art cabinet, and they turned out to be perfect for this project (I believe they were originally from Oriental Trading Company). We also had a bunch of LED light strands from the discount holiday section at CVS.

For best results, we recommend you use the thin wire LED lights (not the wires covered in thick plastic). First, tape sparkle stems around the crown of the hat, then wrap the wire lights around the stems so they are elevated above the hat – the messier the lights, the better! Tape the LED battery holder to the back of the hat for easy access:

Next, use embossed foil paper, cellophane, and mylar to make bursts of fireworks, and tape them to the wire and sparkle stems. Decorate a poster board hat band with metallic markers, then finish the look with star stickers around the hat brim.

And remember, when it comes to firework hats, it can’t be too tall or too fancy! Go BIG!

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Turtle’s Terrific Town

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turtle's terrific town

Why go to town, when you can BE the town? One turtle ventures forth to find the answer!

We read The Town of Turtle, written by Michelle Cuevas, and illustrated by Cátia Chien (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018). Turtle lives a quiet life with only his shadow for company. But he dreams of a big, beautiful town full of light and laughter. So he decides to build one on his shell, complete with houses, gardens, parks, a library – even an ice-skating rink! Exhausted, Turtle falls asleep, and his dream ventures forth to other animals, telling them of the amazing new town. Enchanted, they move in. When Turtle awakes, he is surprised to find exactly what he always wished for – a lively town of happy friends, riding right on his back!

You’ll need:

  • 1 corrugated cardboard base (ours was 7″ x 10″)
  • 2 toilet paper tubes
  • An assortment of small boxes and tubes
  • An assortment of construction paper
  • Scissors, tape, and glue for construction
  • Markers for decorating

turtle tableFirst, build your “turtle table.” This is a corrugated cardboard base with 4 toilet paper tubes halves attached to the bottom. We used heavier weight poster board for the head and tail, but construction paper works too. Then, gather assorted boxes and tubes to create a town!

finished turtle townWe offered patterned paper and construction paper to decorate the boxes. The windows and doors are old mailing/file labels and dot stickers. Some green pom-pom shrubs finished the look. But some kids opted to simply decorate their boxes with markers. Really, anything goes!

Two questions: 1) Does this project remind anyone of Terry Pratchett’s Great A’Tuin; and 2) Have you seen this awesome cake version by Kayleigh’s Creations?