Jon Scieska And The Mysteries Of The Blanket Fort

We constantly underestimate kids. But, they just get it. From my time in the classroom, I realized that adulthood is just a lot of unlearning all the things we’ve been told along the way are worth giving attention. But, kids, kids just get it. We could say it’s because they understand life on a simpler level, with a less-developed lens so to say, but I think they are just, quite frankly, more present to the moment. They are seeing life without the price tags, the wear and tear on the car, the expectation for a clean kitchen or tucked-in sheets, or the risk of a broken limb. So, when we cross the bridge under the canopy of trees at the park it’s a magical path to somewhere unknown, with mystical creatures taking up residence below. When we build the blanket fort in the playroom, it’s a hide-out in which they are safe from the scoundrel on their trail. Or, much, much simpler, a pink balloon becomes a three little pig and brown construction paper is the wolf’s ear. All they see is opportunity and adventure.

Being under quarantine has brought life down to a tick-tick-tick pace. I saw that with full awareness that I’m juggling very little work with my extra dose of parenthood right now. But, nonetheless, I’ve been given the chance to slow down, leave the sheets untucked and the car turned off, and explore the mysteries of the blanket fort.

Jon Scieska, author of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, said in an interview with Reading Rockets: “But I was thinking adults would be a great audience until I started teaching second grade and just saw how smart these little guys were. But in different ways. I mean it's not like they're gonna explain something to you or write a position paper, but they just understand what's going on. I knew they would understand Three Little Pigs told by the wolf, or they would understand goofing around with fairytales. I think that's what informs all my writing. I always go back to just how smart those little kids are. I just know that at some deep level.”

Check out our Three Little Pigs puppet show from last week! It’s a very adaptable project for your kid’s favorite characters.

Creating Something Beautiful

 “In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf…”

In a 2019 video released by Penguin Random House, Eric Carle said, “Children need hope. You, little insignificant caterpillar, can grow up into a beautiful butterfly and fly into the world with your talent. Will I ever be able to do that? Yes, you will. I think that is the appeal of that book.”

Amidst the fear and turmoil of the world right now, amidst the isolation and limitation and disconnect, let’s hold on to a piece of this hope that Carle gives us through this insignificant bug that turns into a butterfly. Let’s both remember and show our children that we can still find something so beautiful and become something so beautiful with what we have right now.

Also, let’s show solidarity with caterpillar that some days we’re going to eat green leaves and fresh fruits, and some days we’re going to eat twelve kinds of junk food… It’s all about balance.

Check out the pictures for an Eric Carle inspired activity you can do with your kids at home.