We get a lot of weird things through our library recycling program, but these little babies take the cake. They’re stiff felt pieces – I assume from a vintage felt board set?
Yes, they’re funny because they’re so obviously retro. But what’s also funny is that only these pieces of the set remain. When you group them outside the context of the larger set, the effect is rather…weird. Honestly, I think it’s the basket of fish that puts it over the edge.
Never one to pass on an opportunity to share the weirdness, I decided to turn these pieces into a writing prompt for Cotsen Critix, our literary society for kids ages 9-12. I told the kids they had to take these objects and create a story or describe a situation. But to make the prompt extra challenging, I told them they could only do it…in haiku. Here are a few of the resulting poems:
Three naughty children
Trying to catch a big bird
Oh no, that is bad
The bird eats the fish.
Can the bird eat the weird fish?
Suddenly it dies.
Yellow, pink, red, green
Let the fish swim in the stream
In a crate they scream
The bird flurries by,
A calm wind trails behind her,
Whee! This is so fun.
Flowers so dandy
Too bad birds eat the flowers
Sad so really sad
The boy ate dyed fish
Have fun in the stomach fish
Good bye Good bye fish!
The bird sips nectar
It’s so sweet, so delicious
Yummy yummy, yum!
Why so surprised fish?
Knee socks are really hip now
Too bad you’re knee-less
It’s gonna die soon!
It’s going on a flower!
It doesn’t matter.
The exercise, of course, was primarily meant for a bit of fun. And as you can see, there were silly poems, crazy poems, and goofy poems (did you spot mine?). But then, this little piece of perfection floated off a pen…
My nose is tired
Of the many smells of spring
When will winter come?
At the event, kids examined the books and guessed who damaged what book. If they identified the perpetrators correctly, they were awarded a small plastic magnifying glass. I bought mine from Educational Innovations. Cheaper (but lower quality) magnifying glasses can be found at Oriental Trading Company.
Last year, when The Met launched 
The exhibit was spread over two large tables. At the first table you could find things like damaged books, sample of paper, and posters of pests.
Here’s my personal favorite – a microscope that shows a buggy book muncher up close.
Here’s a book catalog the conservators water-damaged on purpose for the event. So if you’re thinking of doing a similar table, and can’t find damaged books in your personal collection, feel free to customize one that would otherwise end up in the recycle bin!
At the second exhibit table, there was information on how to fix books, including the various materials conservators use.
I really loved this – a laptop showing before and after shots of fixed books:
During the event, conservators gave a presentation, encouraged kids to touch and explore, and fielded all sorts of questions.
The library also hosted a bookplate-making activity in a side room. On display were some of their fascinating historic bookplates (the real ones – not reproductions!).
Nearby were plenty of art materials to make your own bookplate. Fantastic!
If you haven’t been to The Met, by all means go. After my family and I left the MetKids event, we explored the rest of the museum. We were not prepared for how astounding, amazing, gigantic, and beautiful it was. I always wondered why Claudia wanted to run away to The Met and how the siblings managed to stay hidden (I speak, of course, of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler). But now I understand. I understand!
Just posted! A webcast with Tracey Baptiste, author of The Jumbies.