June MOSS Kids Book Club
- Kara Cecchi
- Jun 10
- 7 min read
And our June pick is...
June Pick -- And Then Came You
A delightful rhyming picture book that's just right for anyone facing the challenges that come with change. Bit by bit, and branch by branch, this "family tree" grows to make room for more and more (and more!) love.
Families grow and change, but what if you like things just the way they are? What if you aren't ready to welcome in a new parent, a messy pet, or a baby sister who cries a lot and is leaking goo?! Change can be scary, but even a full heart has room to grow.
Both hilarious and heartwarming, this endearing children's book is a powerful tool for helping little ones understand that there are often silver linings to the changes life brings. Even when things are initially uncomfortable, an open heart paves the way and teaches us that a family can be full of love at any size.
Meet Our Creators:
Author: Christina Shawn
Christina Shawn is a reading specialist, literacy coach, and writer. She loves winy days, dandelion wishes, and the feeling of a story coming to life. With her husband, three wacky kids, & two fluffy bunnies at home, she has learned firsthand that a heart is never too full to grow. She loves yoga, beach bike rides, mountain hikes, and adventuring to new places. Mostly, she loves the spark of learning something new and passing it along. Her other books include: Lucas Plays & an upcoming book, No Love Potion coming Sept 2026. She lives in Richmond, VA. You can explore more of Christina's work on her website, at https://www.christinashawn.com/
Illustrator: Shahrzad Maydani
Shahrzad Maydani is an illustrator of Iranian-English descent, raised in Niger and Kenya. Her debut children's book, Poetree, received the Crystal Kite Award and was a Spring 2019 Kids' Indie Next selection. Her following book Bird Boy, written by Matthew Burgess, was a Junior Library Guild selection and Francis Discovers Possible was named one of THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR by Banks Street College of Education, 2023 Edition. Our Shahrzad favorites are: Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love, which lyrically & ephemerally discusses pregnancy loss, & Sourgrass, about a child's best friend moving away filled with the soft, vibrant illustrations we've come to love by Shahrzad. Sourgrass has recently been accepted into the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show for 2024 -- which is HUGE! She lives with her family in California. Learn more about Shahrzad on her website: https://www.shahrzadmaydani.com/
Below you will find our monthly craft; printable activity sheets; and our community outreach activity where we will come together to create a space for our peers to enjoy & invite others to join. For more books to read this month, don't forget to check out our supplemental book list:
We really hope you enjoy this month of book club as we continue to keep our nationwide book club free & accessible for all. Each book is intentionally handpicked with each activity and outreach curated to engage and enrich our youth's experiences. Through these diverse and inclusive reads, working and playing together, and giving back to their own community, we hope to instill empathy, understanding, & kindness in our kids.
Let's Craft: vibrant floral chalk art
Summer bursts onto the scene like a splash of paint across a blank canvas—vibrant, warm, and full of life. The days stretch long and golden, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of laughter on the breeze. Everywhere you look, color takes center stage with roses blushing in shades of pink and red, sunflowers turning their golden faces to the sky, and fields dotted with wildflowers that look like confetti thrown by nature. It’s the perfect time to slow down and savor the simple joys of life—barefoot walks in the grass, a cool glass of lemonade, or getting lost in a good book under the shade of a tree.
With this story & craft, we wanted to tie in the Color Your World summer reading theme created for libraries across the country. Just like summer, And Then Came You is vibrant, reminding us of the beauty that blossoms when love is shared. Note: These will be pieces of art so act accordingly. Have your kids sign their work & hang them on the fridge or better yet, frame them.
Materials:
Construction paper, the brighter the better
Chalk
Markers
Scissors
Glue
Workable Fixatif Spray
Modifications:
Easy: Prepare all materials ahead. Do option 1 craft.
Moderate: Allow children to create, may need occasional assistance with scissors.
Hard: Allow child to create with no modifications.
Instructions:
1. Gather materials. If you need an easier craft with minimal prep & little to no assistance, have children draw with chalk on their construction paper. Show them the surprise cover of And Then Came You (see below), underneath the dust jacket for inspiration. Once finished, skip to step 4.
2. Allow kids to pick their favorite color of construction paper.
3. Encourage kids to draw a background for their art using chalk. They can use multiple colors. Draw dashes, swirls, waves, etc.
4. Once finished, spray construction paper with Workable Fixatif. It takes about 10-15 mins to dry completely. This spray will make sure the chalk doesn't rub off onto hands & clothing. If you're doing the easier craft, this is your last step before step 8.
5. While the paper dries, have children grab a couple other pieces of construction paper to create their florals. Draw a few different flower shapes using markers on the construction paper, the brighter the better.
6. Cut out each flower.
7. When the background is dry, arrange the flowers onto the chalked paper & glue them down.
8. Frame art. Add to fridge. Have a summer art show. Invite your friends & family. Let love grow.
*Additional activities: At picture books on tap, our adult guests will be making flower crowns our of pipe cleaners in honor of Marsha P. Johnson & PRIDE after reading One Day in June. This activity could also work for And Then Came You. Make a floral arrangement out of pipe cleaners & stick in a vase!
Remember: We encourage you to request your local library purchase the title for your community to share. It's easy to request. Head to your local library's website. On the site, there will be a "Suggest A Title" tab (see below). Just add the book And Then Came You by Christina Shawn & submit. You can even share this blog with them. After reading or listening, we encourage you to please review the books on goodreads, on Amazon, & on your social media platforms. Reviews will help get the word out about these incredible books!
printable activity sheets:
Author Christina Shawn sent us an incredible educator guide filled with lessons, including: pre-& post-reading questions, rhyming activities, & social-emotional learning around change. Thank you so much Christina for sending us this incredible guide!! Download the kit below:
Community Outreach: create a safe space for you & friends, we're decorating a cardboard treehouse
The world is on fire right now. And the changes happening can be scary. They can be difficult. And we all know that it's better to usher in change with a community of support & a safe space to play & rest. This month, we're creating safe spaces for our friends at each meetup. We're working together to color in a cardboard treehouse. We grabbed this one from Target for $25, but right now it's on sale for $18.75. The plan is for each group to come together & color the treehouse fort together to be able to play & rest. An invitation to play & to cultivate community. You don't have to buy one of these cardboard coloring houses. You can just create a safe space for your kids & their peers with pillows, blankets, snacks. Maybe make a massive pillow fort. Maybe just be a welcoming home with listening ears & a caring heart.
This activity doesn't need to be extravagant. This is a way for us to celebrate & educate with our kids -- to talk about change & work to create a safe space to talk about our feelings, play, & rest.
Please do not skip the community outreach activities. We truly believe this outreach activity is a vital part of childhood & an opportunity to raise kind kids. Teaching our youth the importance of celebrating & educating & appreciating art within ourselves & our community. To learn the importance of understanding that every family is different, unique, & brings their own culture & experiences to create something beautiful. To learn kindness, empathy, acceptance, & understanding of others & choose to gift that to our community.
supplemental books:
We're also reading In This Family, The Gathering Table, Where Are You From?, & Peter's Chair to celebrate & educate on families -- their uniqueness, their gatherings, their experiences, & their growth. There are a few great resources for our supplemental books, check them out below:
YAY! Another MOSS Kids Book Club pick, craft, printable sheets, and community outreach activity. We would love to see all the floral art pieces your kids create. You do not need to share kid's faces. Please be sure to tag us on Instagram @mosskidsbooks & use #mosskidsbookclub. Sharing about MOSS Kids Book Club is a way for your community to learn more about what MOSS Kids has to offer & for them to know about brand new diverse & inclusive books. By doing so, we can reach & help more kids across the country. We'd also love to hear any feedback you may have, please email us at hello@mosskidsbooks.com. We appreciate you all so much for taking the initiative to bring kids together to read diverse books & hopefully learn vital life skills to help make our world a better place.
Don't Forget: We Have Local moss kids book club locations in eastern north Carolina!!
Wednesday, 06/11 at 7pm: Picture Books on Tap at Larema Beverage Co in Rocky Mount
Friday, 06/13 at 1030am: MOSS Kids Book Club at Braswell Memorial Library in Rocky Mount
Saturday, 06/14 at 10am: MOSS Kids Book Club at East Tarboro Eco Garden in Tarboro
Saturday, 06/28 at 10am: MOSS Kids Book Club with Drag Story Hour at Boxyard RTP
Schools out for the summer! But we have plans to pop-in at Freedom Org's Farmlympics for storytime & further craft learning. We'll be reading at Braswell Memorial Library's summer reading kickoff. And providing the queen & king readers from Drag Story Hour at Raleigh Pride with stories & crafts to follow.
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