Books for Benjamin: Fun Activity Ideas

Create a personalized bookmark featuring Benjamin the worm peeking through a tunnel. Discussion Tip: Ask your child what kind of stories Benjamin might find inside the book they are marking today.

Instructions:

1. Cut a long rectangle from a piece of cardstock or a recycled cereal box.

2. Draw a long, wiggly worm shape starting from the bottom of the card and moving upward.

3. Color the worm and add a friendly smiley face and tiny glasses just like Benjamin.

4. Use a hole punch or a pencil to make a small hole at the top of the rectangle.

5. Thread a piece of colorful yarn through the hole and tie a knot to create a tassel.

6. Decorate the rest of the bookmark with tiny drawings of miniature books and stars.

You will need:

• Book and read along

• Cardstock paper

• Washable markers

• Kids safety scissors

• Yarn

Transform a corner of your home into a magical library just like the one Benjamin found. Discussion Tip: Ask your child why libraries are special places and how they help us find new stories.

Instructions:

1. Gather all the children's books in your house and place them in a central pile.

2. Work with your child to sort the books into categories like animals, space, or funny stories.

3. Place the sorted books into baskets or boxes and create simple paper labels for each section.

4. Clear a small corner of the room and layer it with soft blankets and pillows to create a reading nook.

5. Set up a small table or crate to act as the 'Check-out Desk' where Benjamin might go to find his next read.

6. Take turns being the librarian and the visitor, practicing how to ask for a book recommendation.

You will need:

• Book and read along

• Soft pillows

• Cozy blankets

• Storage baskets

Use household items to create a Benjamin puppet that can 'read' along with you. Discussion Tip: While playing, ask your child to tell a story through Benjamin's voice about his favorite adventure.

Instructions:

1. Cut a single row of four or five cups from an empty cardboard egg carton.

2. Paint the entire row a color and let it dry completely.

3. Poke two small holes in the top of the very first cup to serve as the head.

4. Thread a pipe cleaner through the holes and twist them to create two antennae.

5. Glue googly eyes to the front of the head and draw a big, happy smile with a marker.

6. Use your new Benjamin puppet to 'crawl' over the pages of your books as you read together.

You will need:

• Book and read along

• Empty egg carton

• Acrylic paint

• Pipe cleaners

• Googly eyes

Draw a map of Benjamin's journey from the dirt to the library. Discussion Tip: Talk about the obstacles Benjamin faced and how he stayed persistent even when he was scared.

Instructions:

1. Tape a large piece of paper to the floor or a low table using painter's tape.

2. On one end of the paper, draw Benjamin's home in the dirt with scraps of food.

3. Draw a long, winding path that leads all the way to the other side of the paper.

4. Add 'obstacles' along the path, such as a large cat's paw, a macaw's beak, and a big library building at the end.

5. Use different colors to represent Benjamin's feelings, like yellow for happy or blue for nervous, at different points on the map.

6. Place your Benjamin puppet or a small toy on the map and act out the story as you move along the path.

You will need:

• Book and read along

• Large roll of paper

• Crayons

• Painter's tape

Find everyday items and weave a new story for Benjamin based on those objects. Discussion Tip: Ask your child how an ordinary object like a spoon or a leaf could become a magical tool in Benjamin’s world.

Instructions:

1. Go on a 'treasure hunt' around your house or backyard to find five small, interesting objects.

2. Look for items like a shiny button, a smooth stone, a fallen leaf, or a clean sock.

3. Place all the items in a small basket or bag.

4. Sit together and have your child pull out one item at a time.

5. For each item, imagine how Benjamin might use it—perhaps a leaf is his boat or a button is his tiny shield.

6. Tell a brand-new adventure story where Benjamin uses all five items to find a hidden treasure chest filled with books.

You will need:

• Book and read along

• Small basket