Story Tray – A Squash and a Squeeze
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Julia Donaldson is one of our favourite authors. The way she writes is engaging, repetitive and full of vocabulary builders- perfect for our children!
‘A Squash and a Squeeze‘ certainly lived up to expectations set by previous titles we have visited.
We meet an old woman who seems to feel like her home is uncomfortably small. She seeks advice from a wise old man who suggests she brings some farm yard folk into her home.
Her chicken is the first to join her. Having found that the chicken does not make her home feel bigger she seeks advice from the old man again and again. Before to long her home is full of animals and the old woman feels more and more cramped in her home.
Our Wooden Farm House was the perfect visual aid to demonstrate how adding animals into a house most certainly does not make it more spacious. Miss 4 and Miss 19m were listening to the story and watched attentively as I moved the figurines into the house. I was pleasantly surprised when Mr 10 also joined us.
He took over the moving of the figurines and took turns with Miss 4 reciting the repetitive lines.
It wasn’t until the wise old man suggested to the old woman that she remove he animals from her house, that she began to understand that her home wasn’t so small after all.
I loved the morals behind this story. It’s really is very clever and I will be referring to it when the kids ever start moaning about not having room here or there as they do sometimes.
Dani D x
Disclosure: This Blog does contain affiliate links which I may earn a small commission from if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
Does your little one love farms too? Check out these fun resources!
It’s a good idea that the toys come along with the book. My son is 2 years old but he loves story books too much. He would definitely love this book
The toys were some we already had… to set up these trays I just pair the books up with some toys that would suit the story. That’s brilliant that your son loves books!
Wow..I love this idea of reading book. This will definitely capture kids attention and make them learning thing s easier and fast.
You are right! Learning through play! Makes it fun for everyone involved
What a creative way to learn and capture their attention!
Thank you!
I wish I had these interactive story trays for my daughter when she was younger. I know she would have gotten so much more out of the stories I read to her, aside from the silly voices I would add.
Silly voices would have added so much to her stories times alone! You’re a super dooper dad!
I love when there are toys to play along with a children’s book it just really makes the story come to life!
It really does! Being able to act out the story is so helpful for building comprehension.
That’s a great way of making things more interactive for you and your kids!! I love the adorable visual aids!! I’d love to hear the story using that as the visuals too if I were a kid!
Thank you! Visual aids work wonders in our house for lots of things #chartseverywhere !
what a cute little house and book. this is so adorable and interactive!
What a lovely way to tell a story and learn something along the way. When you visually see something it stays in your mind Better.
This is absolutely adorable! I really love the books that have toys that go along with them. Allowing them to learn and play at the same time.
My son is past that age now but the ideas revery innovative. I’ll introduce mothers of younger kids to your post
This is such a wonderful way of engaging your child and keep him occupied. We do a lot of reading sessions too.
Thank you! This type of activity really puts the story into perspective and is so much fun!
I love kids books that have morals like this one! I’ll have to look for this book!
It’s great isn’t it? Gratitude for what we have is such an important lesson in life. This is a fun and comprehensive way of explaining that. Thanks your stopping by!
What a fun activity for kids! Mine would have loved this when they were small. They were always excited about farms.
Farm play is the best! Thank you for your kind words. All the best for 2019!
I must say this is really a good idea to keep our kids busy. Thank you for sharing such an amazing work with us
You’re most welcome! Thanks for your kind words. All the best for 2019
What a great way to read a book. This helps kids to love reading and learning.
I hope so! Thanks for dropping by!
this is a good post, great story for the young
Thank you! It’s definitely a family favourite!
This is so wonderful. A very innovative way of engaging your child. I’ve to look for this
Thank you! It was really fun and the activity really does help build comprehension to the story.