DIY: Beautiful things box
A special keepsake box, inspired by the Jewish storybook, The World Needs Beautiful Things
I love the natural curiosity of children. The way they really look and take in everything around them. I remember one warm summer day taking a walk with my friend Aleah and her little boy Caleb. What would normally be a routine turn around neighborhood became an adventure. Every few steps, Caleb would joyfully find a new treasure to share with us. Our walk was extra long and extra happy that day - discovering tiny leaves, crumpled pieces of paper, a lady bug, and so many other wonderful things.
The happiness in finding something new. Caleb…showing us so many beautiful things.
With the world feeling a little unsettled, I think that children (and adults too) can find some comfort and grounding in the world around us - especially in small and familiar spaces, like a backyard or neighborhood park. Here we can also discover something wonderful! Like Caleb showed us on our afternoon walk, there is something beautiful all around us, we just need to take a look!
One of our favorite Jewish children’s storybook celebrates this very idea, The World Needs Beautiful Things, by PJ Library author Leah Rachel Berkowitz.
For families raising Jewish children, The World Needs Beautiful Things, and other Jewish children’s books, can be mailed to your children at no cost each month by PJ Library! Click the link to learn more!
In the story, Bezalel (the story’s hero) finds and collects ‘beautiful things’…a feather, a stone, piece of string. Bezalel keeps his beautiful things in a keepsake box, and later uses them to create an extraordinary piece of art.
Taking the time to really notice and take in the beautiful things around us is the Jewish value Shmiat HaOzen (attentiveness). A fun activity is to have a ‘beautiful things’ scavenger hunt (and especially wonderful on Shabbat too)! Lay a soft blanket on the ground, and let your little one take look around to see what they can discover. Maybe it’s treasure inside the house, like a loose button or piece or ribbon, or maybe it’s something from nature. It’s special to find something new through their eyes!
Whether you go on a beautiful things scavenger hunt with your little one, or they just roundup some of their small treasures, we love Bazalel’s idea of making a beautiful things box. You only need a few things to make your own!
Beautiful Things Box
You will need:
An unfinished recipe box
Glue
Markers
A collection of decorations to glue on, like fabric flowers, pom poms, bits of fabric, shiny rhinestones, colorful washi tape (to name a few).
That’s it! It’s time to get decorating! This is a process art activity, and there isn’t a right or wrong way to decorate a beautiful things box.
We love that one of our most-loved Jewish storybooks inspired this activity! If you would like to receive Jewish books like The World Needs Beautiful Things, and build your own Jewish library, you can enroll your child in PJ Library! Each month, they will send your child a new Jewish themed book at no cost to you, and if you want to hear some wonderful Jewish stories, songs and podcasts, the PJ Library's, Listen Hub is always open too.
For more activities about exploring our world, you can go on a Birthday of the World Nature Walk (especially wonderful for Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year), create something special from flowers and foliage right outside your backdoor, and lift your spirits at the beginning of a new week with a Havdalah spice bag.
We hope you find something beautiful this week! ♥
PJ Library sends families raising Jewish children picture books each month, beginning at 6 months old to 8 years old. Books are sent at no cost to families by this wonderful non-profit organization. Click here to learn more and enroll (and share this link with a Jewish friend)!
