Paper Lanterns

By Stefan Czernecki

Paper Lantern is a very poignant and heartwarming story about a friendship between Old Chen and Little Mouse. Old Chen is a master lantern maker and makes the most beautiful lanterns in all of China, but he is getting tired and there is no one to replace him, until Little Mouse comes along. Little Mouse begs Old Chen to let him be his apprentice but instead Old Chen offers him work around the shop. Little Mouse patiently studies and watches Old Chen and his two apprentices and practices diligently at home. One day Old Chen is not well enough to make the Dragon lantern for the lantern festival so Little Mouse steps up to the plate to show that patience and persistence really does pay off.

I loved this book! It teaches of friendship, work and dedication. It shows that through patience and perseverance you can achieve anything you want.


Activity : Paper Lanterns

We decided that today we would work on our own lanterns just like Old Chen and Little Mouse did in the story.


Supplies:

8.5x11 Cardstock
Scissors
Stapler or Tape
Anything you would like for your child to use to decorate their own lanterns.

Supplies we used:

Fold your 8.5 x 11 cardstock in half lengthwise. Cut horizontal slices every inch starting from the folded edge and stop about 1” from the open end. Cut a 1 x 11 inch strip from another piece of cardstock to use for the handle.

Eg.

After cutting, open the paper out on the table and have the children decorate however they wish.


Here's what we did:


Sonny Boy figuring out how to apply stickers


Sweetie Pie working away


We're done!