A Review
Forts. I can still see the pattern of my mother's green square sofa cushions that made for a perfectly-sized fort with a roof that fit both myself and my little sister. Then there was the one that Trudy and I built in the woods. Little did we know that we were using poison ivy vines to bind together the branches! (We never revisited it, but it was pretty sweet to look at from the distance.) I also remember how many contented hours my daughter and son had in the small patch of woods in front of our house as they used whatever materials were on hand and designed and redesigned their fort, no matter the weather.
What better activity to capsulize the joy of childhood than building a makeshift fort. And Megan Wagner Lloyd celebrates that simple joy in her picture book illustrated by Abigail Halpin, Fort Building Time.
In the winter, mitten-wearing kids join forces to build a snow fort. In the spring, despite the rain, they build a fort among the trees. In the summer, a driftwood fort makes for a perfect place to dry their beach towels. And in the fall, they go all out with the most-inspiring fort a group of kids could dream up.
What better activity to capsulize the joy of childhood than building a makeshift fort. And Megan Wagner Lloyd celebrates that simple joy in her picture book illustrated by Abigail Halpin, Fort Building Time.
In the winter, mitten-wearing kids join forces to build a snow fort. In the spring, despite the rain, they build a fort among the trees. In the summer, a driftwood fort makes for a perfect place to dry their beach towels. And in the fall, they go all out with the most-inspiring fort a group of kids could dream up.
"Every season has it's own secret dreaming, cozy keeping, hush-listening, fort-building time."
Kids, ages 3-7, will love both the story and the illustrations in Fort Building Time. Each page is bright and full and indicative of the season. The prose is sparse yet inspiring. Teachers, from pre-k to first grade, who have the four seasons on the curriculum will love using this book to describe the changing weather. And what parent won't love using it as an opportunity to encourage outdoor play and the use of the imagination without electronics.
I loved this book not only because of the story and the fond memories it stirs up, but also because it shows children from all walks of life sharing in an activity that promotes friendship and inclusion with no heavy hand to tell it. It's a simple ode to kids who know how to have fun-filled fort-building times, season after season.
Fort Building Time, was a 2018 Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices selection. It is written by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Abigail Halpin, and published by Alfred A. Knopf. Purchase your copy HERE.
I loved this book not only because of the story and the fond memories it stirs up, but also because it shows children from all walks of life sharing in an activity that promotes friendship and inclusion with no heavy hand to tell it. It's a simple ode to kids who know how to have fun-filled fort-building times, season after season.
Fort Building Time, was a 2018 Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices selection. It is written by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Abigail Halpin, and published by Alfred A. Knopf. Purchase your copy HERE.
