Elsa is three years old and she loves books. Over the holidays when she was here, she carried a book with her wherever she went - even if they just had words and no pics! She would rather have a book than a toy or doll, but I do think she'd pick a cookie over a book, she is my granddaughter after all!
Elsa is also very, very sweet. She never makes a fuss, hardly ever cries, and is the happiest little girl there ever was. Just look at that face!! That face is the reason why I made her a Quiet Book...when I had sworn I would never, ever make another!
Quiet Books are an old-time kind of thing - mainly used in church or any environment where you want your child to sit quietly and play. They also served to teach the child how to do basic things, like button a button or braid or use a zipper. Now days, parents just hand their three year old their phone to play with to keep them entertained - or else the three year old just uses their OWN phone! Not many people have Quiet Books any more - and really, not many people had them years ago because someone had to make it...and they take time...lots and lots of time!! Hours and hours (almost 100!) of sewing by machine and hand...but in the end, it was worth it!
The cover of the book has been reinforced with two layers of interfacing; even though it's just fabric, it's pretty durable. Two buttons hold the book closed. I added a handle to Elsa could carry it around easily...although it's kind of heavy, but heavy from added treats - once she eats those it won't be too bad! I also opted to use ribbon to hold the book together instead of metal rings. The rings were either too big or too small and there was just too much "play" with the pages - the ribbon holds the pages close and they slide easily without making noise.
Inside the cover is a pocket, which I stuffed with candy, kleenex and fruit snacks...just what every girl needs. The first page is for apple picking - snapping the apples off the tree and putting them in the basket, then snapping them back on. Elsa's little fingers will love doing this!
This is the "Let's Eat" page - where Elsa can set the table with waffles, butter, bacon juice and a fork, knife and spoon. All are made from doubled fabric with interfacing and they are velcroed on.
Chalkboard fabric for Elsa to write on! The opposite page has two little notebooks in the top left pockets, crayons, colored pencils and the bottom left pocket has a chalkboard erasing cloth and a box of colored chalk. I think Elsa will like this page the best - and so will her brother Max.
Laminated cards are attached with a ring so Elsa can set the clock to different times. The opposite page is called Weave the Pie...every girls needs to know how to weave a lattice crust, right? Oh, it's cherry pie underneath, in case you were wondering!
No Quiet Book would be complete without a tic-tac-toe game! The opposite page has a pocket to store the X's and O's and a few extra treats.
These are my favorite pages...the little bee has to fly out of his hive and visit all of the flowers - can you see him? He is very small - and let me tell you, it was REALLY hard to find a small bee!!
On these pages Elsa will be able to give the dog his bone (it's removable) and undo his collar. Elsa likes dogs so she'll like this page. I don't know how she feels about horses...but she'll be able to braid the horses tail...and yes, that is a horse, it was the best I could do!
Make A Chain - this page should keep those little fingers busy! The opposite page has shapes that are buttoned on...and the pocket holds Skittles - her favorite!
The last page in the book is all about Elsa - there's the mirror and in the plastic pouch there are wipes, two lip glosses and a comb...she loves to play beauty parlor!
The inside of the back cover has a pocket which was stuffed with more candy and goodies for my little girl. I wish I could be there when she opens it! I really did have fun making this book but I will never, ever, ever make another!!!
Happy 3rd birthday Elsa!
