Audrey Bunny by Angie Smith is a simple and beautiful story about love and how unconditional God’s love really is. Explaining in such simple terms that we are chosen, cared for, and loved by our Creator that this children’s book is one I believe every family should own. The story is about a little girl, Caroline, and Audrey Bunny, and how much we are worth spots and all.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of Audrey Bunny from B&H Publishing to review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Caroline picks out Audrey Bunny from a barrel at the toy store. Audrey wants to be loved and to have a home so she works tirelessly trying to keep the smudge over her heart covered. Finally, Audrey is taken to Show and Tell at school and has no way to hide her spot. Will Caroline still love her even when she knows Audrey isn’t a perfect bunny after all?

Mr. T loves this book! He loves the story and he loves Audrey Bunny’s spot over her heart. It’s not just for little girls. B&H Publishing has also included a B&H Kids Parent Connection feature at the end with great questions, Bible verses, and a precious activity so you can help your child glean every ounce of encouragement from Audrey Bunny. Teaching our children to come just as they are and to know that God loves them as His own is one of the most important lessons our children can take into their hearts.

And this quote from page 30, “Those hands . . . they had known all the while.”, well, it got this mama’s heart. Audrey Bunny is not just for children. As a girl with plenty of scars, I believe this story is perfect for any prodigal-come-home girl you may know that needs a little uplifting, whether she is 8 or 80. It is a loving and gentle reminder that God knows us deep down and He loves us as His own, no matter what imperfections we carry with us.

The book is illustrated by Breezy Brookshire with some of the most lovely watercolor illustrations I have ever seen. They are engaging and soft, just like Audrey Bunny. These gorgeous pictures inspired our watercolor activity below.

Favorite Toy Watercolor Portrait

What better way to remember a childhood toy than by creating a special portrait?

Even young artists like Mr. T (almost 4 and a half!) need quality materials. Good brushes, pencils, and paints. However, watercolors are a difficult medium so Mr. T used our Derwent watercolor pencils. They are much easier to control initially than a brush and so cause less frustration for younger artists. I like the 2H pencil because it’s soft enough and light enough that it doesn’t leave too many harsh lines in the finished product. I used my Koi travel watercolors and the pencils. We used Strathmore postcard sized watercolor papers for our project.  Because they are small, the postcards and the 8×8 size pages (we get those at Hobby Lobby) are my recommendations for the 4-6 year old artists. Once the children are a little older, a larger surface may be used.

We got Mr. T’s favorite stuffed animal, his Tigger from Mamaw, and he set to work to draw him in pencil, then colored him in with the Derwent Watercolor Pencils. After he was satisfied, he washed over his pencils with water. He did one big wash so all his colors melded together. We will use his postcard to finish the Parent Connection activity from Audrey Bunny this week. Even your younger artists can create a lovely piece they will be proud of with watercolors!

Then it was my turn. I sketched out Tigger, then filled in the background with a pencil, and traced and filed in the stripes and eyes with a pencil. I finished it off with the Koi watercolors then washed over the background with water. Having a watercolor portrait of a favorite toy, stuffed or otherwise, is something that will make a lovely keepsake for any age child.

Tips for Watercolors with Young Students

• Watercolor pencils allow for more control and less frustration that traditional watercolors.
• Use real watercolor paper so your child does not become frustrated with bleeding and messy paper.
• Use real artist brushes that work for your child, small or medium and with a grip is usually helpful for the youngest artist.
• Only give them a tiny amount of water in a cup for their washing portion or the paper will be soaked.
• Allow them to experiment and make a mess, this is how they learn what works and what doesn’t.

Tips for Watercolors with Older Students

• Use good quality products.
• Take your time with the sketch so you are pleased with your finished product.
• Don’t be afraid to play around with mixing colors, use a scrap paper if you need to.
• If you want to layer colors and have them remain crisp, allow the first layer to dry before applying more paint.
• Remember that there is a learning curve to any medium and proficiency with watercolors takes time.

This is a Book and a Big Idea post linked up with iHomeschool Network.