Following the midterm exams and with holidays ongoing, we wanted to do something different at our community library site at BLC. Being a boy’s home, the children generally spend much of their time inside during the holidays and restlessness hovers around within the walls.
We decided to do a session based on the story ‘Sam and Dave dig a Hole’ by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. This is an extremely special, absolutely spectacular book about finding something, spectacular! With very simple words and warm clear illustrations, the story leads the reader and listeners, on an adventure, which has many highs and many lows and many ‘aha’ moments of excitement. The twist at the end completes the story in the best way possible.
As we read the story out that evening, the boys hovered close to the book and exclaimed and smacked their heads in frustration and anticipation, as Sam and Dave dug in this direction and that direction, always missing the desired treasure by inches!
After the story, we went outside as a group to search for our own spectacular treasures. The youngest of the group, ran and hauled back a huge spade as big as himself and attempted to start digging for something special, but regretfully had to abandon this task soon. We were still feeling a bit contained and finding that the things getting unearthed were not very exciting, so we decided to move out of this entire space and go on our own adventure. Slippers on, we set off, the boys leading the way. As we hit a narrow mud road, off the main road, the boys just RAN, with the freedom and exultation of being out in the open.
We soon reached a pond where everyone spent some time picking out shells and other treasures. On the way back, the walk was slower and the conversation more relaxed. S pointed out a flying heron, and A picked out a touch-me-not leaf. Stories on different moments and events gone by were remembered and shared. We were no longer contained in anyway, but free and light as the wind that blew by.
There was a sense of contentment as we reached back and shared and talked about our various treasures; many shells, a heart shaped leaf, a stone and a few other things. As we wrapped up to prepare to go back, a voice piped up ‘next week also we’ll go on an adventure?’ 🙂