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It was a gift to be with you!
Thank you for having me. Below is a recap of some of our topics and activities.
New Children’s Book!
MISS PRIM GOES WILD
School Visit Recap & Resources
Noticing changes us!
especially good at Noticing
The best storytellers, artists, and nature-lovers all have something in common. It’s something children are especially good at.
They notice.
They take time to look closer and pay attention to small details.
Noticing helps us as writers and artists. Like the little blue diary I shared, begin by writing the “small stories” of your life in a notebook, simply the little things you notice.
Writing Prompts for Noticing
“I stood in a place I’ve never stood in my yard, and this is what I noticed...”
Creative story idea: Use a piece of string to make a circle on the ground. Everything inside this circle is a tiny jungle. Who lives here? What are the plants doing? Spy three things that are smaller than your fingernail.
A Healthy Way to Notice
I revealed that I wrote this line into Miss Prim Goes Wild as a reminder for myself:
“Then she marched outside to look for problems.”
We discussed how, when we go around looking for problems, we find problems. But if we live our lives looking for the gifts all around us, we find gifts.
What we pay attention to changes our lives!
I shared what I tell my own children: A grateful heart makes a great life!
Art Time: A Totally Wild Painting!
We painted a garden scene entirely out of WILD ingredients! Tutorials are available online for creating your own nature paint, or a powdered-paint shortcut I brought to the event can be purchased below. These are paint pigment powders made out of vegetables. At our event, I sketched the scene with coffee, and we painted the flowers with pumpkin, spinach, beets, and sweet potatoes!
Art Time: Illustrator’s Tip!
Drawing faces is one of the hardest jobs for illustrators. Ask your child if they remember the Math Problem for drawing emotion in faces!
eyebrows + mouth = emotion
Activity: Begin by drawing two simple dot eyes and a nose. Have your child show you the ways a face changes by simply changing the position of the eyebrows and mouth. Try various emotions: Mad, scared, surprised, happy, peaceful
Next time you look at a picture book, notice all the facial emotions!
Supplies to help you Notice
Magnifying Glass
Nature Journal
Click the button for an entire post on creating displays from your children’s meaningful nature collections!
How to make your own Nature Journal
On the final pages of Miss Prim Goes Wild, children can see how Miss Prim keeps her nature journal!
Read this post for all about how to make a fun and useful nature journal for your family.
Be joyful. Get curious. Go wild.
Fix Your Mind on Things Above
The Bible talks too about where we focus our attention. We are encouraged to fix our minds on things above, and to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
Activity: Think of a little “signal” word together that will serve as a joyful reminder to redirect your thinking to excellent things.
My three hopes for you
My parting hopes:
Notice the ways nature reminds you of God’s love. (Remember the caterpillar and butterfly)
Notice how you can help others as you create your own stories and art. (Remember the acorn and the mighty oak.)
Notice God’s gifts everywhere. (Remember that what we pay attention to changes how we feel.)
Wonder and wisdom await in the wild!
Event Review
I so value your opinion. If you or your child attended a book event at a school or bookshop, would you consider taking 30 seconds for a quick review? Thank you!
Looking for more fun nature projects to do together? Here are five quick and simple ideas!
Discover the world of nature with your family
New Children’s Book!
MISS PRIM GOES WILD
Discover the wonder of history together
Historical Book that both children & adults enjoy!
Lilibet the Brave
The Unusual Childhood of an Unlikely Queen
About the Author
Katy Rose is an author and fine artist who seeks to inspire parents and children to care for and cultivate a love for nature—a shift that she believes will affect how the next generation stewards the earth. Her writing projects include Lilibet the Brave; contributions to Every Moment Holy, volume 3; and devotions for the Love God Greatly Bible. Katy’s art projects include collaborations with brands, authors, and collectors around the globe. She and her husband live in Texas with their four fantastic children.