If your kids are off to camp this summer, or if you enjoy camping as a family, pack a printout of this month's campfire coloring page to keep little hands busy. Children's book author and illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg, graciously contributes a new coloring page every month and it's hard to believe we have been collaborating for nearly 3 years. That's a lot of coloring pages, folks!
As with all the coloring sheet posts, I like to offer up a suggestion that makes a black and white printout more than just a busy work activity (although there is nothing wrong with that!). Sometimes the coloring page doubles as a pretend play prompt as is the case with the school and pizza parlor page, sometimes it can be turned into a father's day card, or an emotions learning exercise.
This month I'd like to suggest that you sit down with your own coloring page and work alongside your child. I often do this when Melanie sends over the new design each month.
Yesterday my 6 year old and I did this as an after school activity and it sparked a wonderful conversation. Among the things we talked about:
- Whether or not art has to be realistic because he asked if he could color his page with whatever colors he wanted.
- How the color of flames indicate temperature because he asked if there is such a thing as blue fire.
- Ethnicity and race because he noticed the different colored skin of the children on my page.
- Vitamin D and sunburns because... see above.
- How sun different parts of the world get in the winter because... see above.
- What songs the children might be singing in the picture. (He said definitely NOT "Let it Go")
Science, geography, social studies, art.... The only subject we didn't get to was math!
Who knew doing a coloring page could be a mother-son bonding experience? Quality family time my friends, quality family time.
Download and print --> (By clicking on link you agree to our terms of service, *see below) CAMPFIRE COLORING PAGE
More summer coloring pages:
- Ocean coloring page
- Seaside coloring page
- Mermaid paper dolls
- Summer reading log and library coloring page
See all of Melanie’s coloring pages:
Meet the illustrator:
Melanie Hope Greenberg is an award winning author and illustrator of more than 15 children’s books. Her cheerful, vibrant illustrations can be found in books such as Good Morning, Digger, Down in the Subway and A City Is. Her very popular Mermaids on Parade was selected as a Bank Street Best Book, and for the Texas Reading Club and PBS Kids Summer Reading Lists.
Melanie also visits schools to talk about the process of creating a book. Learn more about her internationally recognized art work at her official website.
I’m sure you know a kid who likes diggers. Or mermaids? Or subways? Melanie signs all copies of her books purchased through her Amazon vendor link. (Book covers are affiliate links.)
*Terms of Service: this coloring page is used with permission from Melanie Hope Greenberg and is for non-commercial use ONLY. You many print out as many copies as you like for personal, library or classroom use. If you would like to share this coloring page, you MUST link to this blog page. It is expressly forbidden to link directly to the coloring page pdf file.
melanie hope greenberg says
This is my most favorite post. Sweet! xxox