by Nancy Krulik
Just then, Katie noticed the trees were moving with the wind. And so was the flag outside Mrs. Derkman’s house.
Phew. This wasn’t the magic wind at all. It was just a regular old fall wind.
Katie was sooo glad. She was really happy to be Katie Carew, ordinary fourth-grader.
At least for now.
Don’t Leaf Just Yet!
Mr. G. had a lot of extra leaves left over once the kids had finished decorating their beanbags (and themselves!). But he didn’t let them go to waste. Katie’s mega-cool teacher showed the kids how to make autumn leaf prints. Then he hung their artwork all over class 4A.
Here’s how you can make leaf print pictures of your own! Hang them in your classroom or your bedroom. It’s a great way to keep the fun fall spirit going all year long!
You will need: fresh, moist, colorful autumn leaves (try choosing leaves that are all different colors and shapes), a thick wooden board, thumbtacks, unbleached muslin material, glue, scissors, a hammer, and a brown paper grocery bag. You’ll also need a grown-up to help you with the tacks and the hammering.
Here’s what you do:1. Gather your fresh, moist, colorful leaves and place them in the grocery bag.
2. Cut your muslin material into a 12-inch-by- 12-inch square.
3. Place one leaf on the wooden board.
4. Cover the leaf with the muslin. Have a grown-up help you tack the muslin to the board so it won’t move.
5. Use your hammer to beat on the part of the muslin that is covering the leaf. (Be sure a grown-up is around while you do this and make sure to hit every part of the leaf. That’s how you make sure all the color comes off onto the muslin material.)
6. Continue to place one leaf at a time under your muslin material and hammer each one completely. The colors of the leaves will come off onto your material.
7. When you are finished making your print, brush off any leaf parts left on the material.
8. Create a frame from black or brown construction paper and glue your leaf print to the paper frame.
9. Hang your artwork on your wall. But tape it up well. You don’t want your leaf print to fall!
About the Author
Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 150 books for children and young adults, including three New York Times best sellers. She lives in New York City with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser, their children, Amanda and Ian, and Pepper, a chocolate and white spaniel mix. When she’s not busy writing the Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo series, Nancy loves swimming, reading, and going to the movies.
About the Illustrators
John & Wendy have illustrated all of the Katie Kazoo books, but when they’re not busy drawing Katie and her friends, they like to paint, take photographs, travel, and play music in their rock ’n’ roll band. They live and work in Brooklyn, New York.
