The theme for Fun Friday on April 23 was caterpillar.

The Story

The book was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The finger-play

Finger-play of the Caterpillar

Here comes a caterpillar,


Creeping up a tree.

(crawl your fingers up your arm)


It’s munching every leaf in sight,


Hungry as can be.

(Make eating motion with hand.)


It sheds its skin and forms a shell:


The changes we can’t see.

(fold hands)


Then out of the shell a butterfly comes,


Flying fancy-free!

(clasp thumbs, spread fingers and wave them)

The craft

1. Gather supplies needed: 1 colored craft stick, 1 sheet white paper, 2 google eyes, ½ of a pipe cleaner cut into 2 pieces, scissors, a pencil, and crayons.

2. Trace the child’s fingers onto white paper as shown. 

3. Have them color the wings with
markers or crayons (you could also use finger paint or bingo markers).

4. Cut out the wings and glue onto the craft stick.

5. Glue on google eyes and pipe cleaner antennas.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

Earth Day is this Thursday, April 22nd. Join us for fun activities for you and your little ones + giveaways:

• Recycled Memo Game – construct a Plan Toys game made from recycled cardboard. A memo game for your little one to bring home.
• Plant a flower – seeds, soil, etc will be provided.
• Homemade play dough – color your play-dough and bring some home.
• Free Cotton Shopping Tote – Get a free Plan Toys reusable shopping tote. No purchase required. While supplies last.

Join us this Thursday from 5 pm to 7pm at our Valley Junction store.

The theme for Fun Friday on April 16 was grass.

The Story

The book was In The Tall Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

The finger-play

Finger-play of the Beehive

Here is the beehive,

Where are the bees?

Hidden inside where nobody sees.

Watch and you will see them come out of the hive

One, two, three, four, and five!

Here is the beehive, but where are the bees?

They’re flying around so everyone sees.

Watch and you will see them come back to the hive.

One, two, three, four, and five!

The craft

1. Cut 11/14 sheets of green construction paper in half the long way.

2. Fold the bottom up ¾ of the way.

3. Cut almost to the fold every inch or so to make the grass.

4. Make one strip for your child.

5. Cut some construction paper in ¼ the long way. These will be used to extend the hat if needed.

Give your child one of the folded grass strips. Tell them that this will be their “tall tall grass” hat. Let them pick out stickers to put in the grass on their hat. To finish the hat staple the ends together to form a hat. If the hat is too small, use construction paper strips to extend it to size needed.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

Swap-O-Rama-Rama (SORR) is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which a community explores creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing. And it’s happening right here in Des Moines on April 24, Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The entrance fee is $10 + any size bag of clothes.

During this event you’ll learn to foster creative thinking in terms of clothing modification, screen printing, and embellishment. It’s more than a clothing swap! Experts will be on-hand to help and teach!

Check out the Swap O Rama website for more info.

There will be three showings of Handmade Nation during the event. Showing times are 11.30 am, 2.30 pm, 4.30 pm. The entry fee for this is $5.

Find SORR events in your area here.

The 5th Annual Earth Day in the Junction Celebration is on Sunday, April 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This celebration of Earth Day includes a diverse group of exhibitors, children’s activities, live music, demonstrations and food, including:

11 am – 1 pm – Stretch your mind and body with Yoga

1 pm – 2 pm – Prairie Prints – make your own print using reused materials

1 pm – 2 pm – Dan Wardell of IPTV Kids Clubhouse

2 pm – 4 pm – Experience the water cycle with hands-on activities

11:30 am; 12:30 pm; 1:30 pm – View and learn about live birds of prey

This year’s Earth Day in the Junction Celebration will feature a 5K Run/Walk beginning at 10:00 a.m. Click here for more information.

Also enjoy live music throughout the day featuring Mary McAdams from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Kalimbaman – Strolling Minstrel from 1-3:30 p.m.

Our shop in Valley Junction will open at 9 am. during this year’s Earth Day in the Junction Celebration.

Last week we started Fun Friday. We will have this event every week where you and your little ones participate in an interactive storytelling, singing, finger play and crafts. The theme was clouds and rain for Spring.

The story

The book was Little Cloud by Eric Carle.

The finger-play

The finger-play of Three Little Raindrops:

Three little raindrops sitting in a cloud

The first one said, “The thunder sure is loud!”

The second one said, “The lightning’s very bright!”

The third one said, “A rainbow is in sight!”

Then splash went the raindrops, down from the sky

To water all the plants and help them grow up high.

The craft

For the craft we made a cloud with raindrops. Here’s how to make one with your child at home:

1. Cut out one cloud shape from white cardstock.

2. Punch a hole at the top (middle) of each cloud.

3. Cut three raindrops from blue cardstock or construction paper.

4. Cut three strips of paper (8 ½ long x ½ wide).

5. Cut one string (approx 12 in.).

Give your little one a cloud shape, some cotton balls, three raindrops, three strips of paper, one string and a glue stick. Have your child glue cotton balls on their cloud shape. Next have them glue the three strips of paper along the bottom of their cloud. Strips can be straight or folded accordion style. Then have the children glue a raindrop on the end of each paper strip. Finally have them tie the string thru the hole at the top to make a loop for hanging.

This upcoming Fun Friday

The next Fun Friday is on April 16. Christine will be reading In The Tall Tall Grass by Denise Fleming and we will be making tall tall grass hats!

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

About Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a weekly event at KangarooBoo in Valley Junction. Join us every Friday at 10a.m. for interactive storytelling, singing, and crafts. A fun way to foster a love for reading and develop your child’s imagination. This event is free — no registration required.

What: Fun Friday
Where: KangarooBoo, 415 5th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
When: Each Friday at 10a.m.
Who: Babies and kids, 6-months to 6 years old.

Gallery Night in Historic Valley Junction is this Friday, April 9 from 5-9 PM.

If you’re in the neighborhood, come say hi! We will be open till 9 PM this Friday.