Meet A Chirp Reader: Banig Story

Hey readers,

Did you read the story The Banig Festival that was in the March issue? Chirp reader Sophie sent us her own banig story and some photos, too. Check it out!

This is Sophie laying on her Lola’s (grandmother in Filipino) real-life banig! Wow, look at all those amazing colours! It looks just like the ones in the story.

When she was a kid, Sophie’s Lola used to sleep on her banig under a mosquito net. After reading the story, she let Sophie have a try! How fun!

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Sophie! We loved seeing your pictures and hearing your family’s special banig story.

Have a great day,

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Grow flowers on your arms OR sprout seeds in your hair?
2. Jump in a giant puddle OR slide down a mud-hill?
3. Have the power to grow trees OR control the wind?
4. Cough butterflies OR sneeze bumblebees?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Dancing Donuts
• Perfect Pandas
• Swimming Seagulls
• Happy Hummingbirds

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Spring has Sprung!

Hey readers,

Spring is such a happy time! Springtime is one of my favourite times of the year because of the warmer weather and pretty flowers.

Are you looking for some fun outdoor activities now that it’s getting warmer outside? Look no further! Here is a list of activities that are perfect for spring!

1. Go on a picnic
2. Go camping in your backyard
3. Plant some flowers
4. Go for a hike or a nature walk
5. Make a bird feeder
6. Go on a bike ride in your neighbourhood
7. Splash around in puddles after it rains

Try these out in the next few weeks! What outdoor activities are you looking forward to doing this spring? Let us know in the comments!

Catch you later,

– Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Thea sent us this awesome artwork. Check it out!

Thea did the Silly Shapes activity from the March issue! Wow, great job, Thea! We really love the picture you made.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Desi sent us a drawing of some terrific tentacles – take a look!

Great work, Desi! This octopus does look like its having tons of octo-fun!

Octopuses are known for their 8 arms, but did you know that they also have 3 hearts? Let us know in the comments below!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Meet a Panda for National Panda Day!

Hey readers,

It’s National Panda Day on March 16th! Check out the May 2022 issue of Chirp, to get to know this cool creature!

Did you know pandas have bones that act like fingers and thumbs? This helps them grab food to eat!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Craft: Shamrock Stamps

Hey readers,

The March issue of Chirp is all about art! To make your own awesome artwork, check out this Shamrock Stamp craft:

You can also find the craft here.

You’ll need:

• Green Pipe Cleaner
• Clothespin (optional)
• Green paint
• Paper

What to do:

1. Wrap the pipe cleaner around each of your first 3 fingers.

2. Carefully pull the pipe cleaner off your fingers. Pinch the 3 leaves together and then twist it to keep everything in place.

3. Once you have your shamrock, just dip it in green paint and start stamping! (For easier gripping, clip a clothespin on the stem)

Have fun creating!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17th, so here are some Green-Themed “Would You Rather” questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Find a lucky four-leaf clover OR a pot of gold?
2. Drink a mint-chocolate milkshake OR eat a mint-chocolate cupcake?
3. Have green fingers OR green toes?
4. Meet a leprechaun OR a genie?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have fun,

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Dr. Zed Experiment: Rock On!

Hey readers,

Find out if you have limestone in your rock collection! Check out the experiment below:

Let us know in the comments how your experiment turned out!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Amazing Animal: Whale Sharks

Hey readers,

Our Animal Animal for the Jan/Feb issue is the whale shark! These giants can be found in tropical oceans all over the world.

Did you know the whale shark is related to the Orthacanthus? It was a shark that lived during the time of the dinosaurs!

To learn more about these amazing animals, check out the Jan/Feb issue!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Look at this awesome photo that Chirp reader Jethro sent us this week!

Jethro went to the Snowking Winter Festival featured in our December 2022 issue! Jethro also got to meet the Snowking himself and pose with Chirp in front of the castle!

Wow! Thank you so much for sending us this photo, Jethro! We think this is super cool.

Readers, would you like to see yourself on the Chirp blog? Send your photos to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Augusta mailed us this terrific drawing. Take a look!

This is awesome, Augusta! I wish I could take a bite out of every single one – yum! My tummy is already grumbling.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Happy Mario Day!

Hey readers,

Its-a-Mario Day! Celebrate the lovable game character and learn some cool facts below!

• Mario was created by game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto in Japan.
• Mario’s original name was Jumpman.
• Mario made his first appearance in the game called Donkey Kong in 1981.
• Mario was originally a carpenter (someone who makes things out of wood), not a plumber.
• Charles Martinet voices Mario, Wario, and Luigi.

What’s your favourite Mario game? Let us know in the comments below!

Have fun!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chirp Story!

Hey readers,

Click play below to listen to The Banig Festival, a story about a kid named Karina who wants to win at a very special festival!

The Banig Festival by Mila Phiipzig (read by author), Chirp March 2023

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chickadee Story!

Hey readers,

Get into the rhythm in the March issue of Chickadee! Click play below to listen to Rap Is Art by Khodie Dill.

Rap is Art by Khodie Dill (read by author), Chickadee March 2023

Happy listening!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Riddles

Hey readers,

Here are some fun and tricky riddles for you to figure out. Good luck!

1. What has words, but never speaks?
2. What kind of cup can’t hold water?
3. What tastes better than it smells?

How many answers did you get without looking? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to share your favourite riddles, too!

Have a good day,

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Answers: 1. A book!, 2. A cupcake!, 3. Your tongue!

Happy Holi!

Hi readers,

Tonight is the start of Holi, the Hindu festival of colours!

Holi is celebrated every year to welcome spring. During the festival, people celebrate by throwing  powdered paints and coloured water in the air, and on each other!

Every colour symbolizes something special and has an important meaning.

It’s also celebrated with singing, dancing, lots of yummy food, and bonfires!

If you’re celebrating Holi, let us know what you’re doing to celebrate the holiday.

– Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Have the head of a lion OR the head of a shark?
2. Read every book OR watch every movie?
3. Turn purple every time you laugh OR turn green every time you cry?
4. Slide down a rainbow OR jump across clouds?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Recipe: Oreo Ice Cream Truffles!

Hey readers,

To celebrate Oreo Cookie day, here’s a delicious recipe! Check it out!

You can also find the recipe here. Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

You’ll need:

• Your choice of ice cream
• finely ground Oreo cookies
• ice cream scoop
• baking sheet
• popsicle sticks (optional)

How to make:

1. Place a large baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill.
2. Using a large ice cream scoop, add scoops of ice cream to the baking sheet and return to the freezer.
3. Let the ice cream scoops set for 20 minutes.
4. Place ground Oreos in a bowl.
5. Coat an ice cream scoop with the ground Oreos and return them to the baking sheet.
6. Place a popsicle stick in the middle of the truffle.
7. Repeat until all the ice cream scoops are coated.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Calla sent us this awesome animal art. Check it out!

Whoa, great work, Calla! We love that you drew your bird standing on one leg.

Did you know that birds do this to warm themselves up? They hide the other foot in their belly feathers to help keep it toasty. Way to fight the cold!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Julia sent us this cool drawing. Check it out!

This is a picture of Julia going to school. Awesome job, Julia! We love the red roof you drew.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com. And comment below how you get to school!

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Zach sent us this awesome art. Check it out!

Wow, great work, Zach! We love that you used popsicle sticks in your drawing. Way to get creative!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Ashley sent us this dynamite drawing. Check it out!

Did you know that both the sun and the rain are needed to make a rainbow? Just like Ashley drew here! Wow, awesome work, Ashley.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Staff Q&A!

Hey readers,

We’re introducing Staff Q&A’s so you can get to know the Owlkids team a bit better.

Today, it’s Dytria’s birthday! Dytria works on the Owlkids Books team and we asked her some fun questions about some of her favourite things and birthday traditions. Check it out!

Your favourite Owlkids book?

An impossible choice because they are all so good! But my introverted heart has a special place for How to Party Like a Snail.🐌

Do you have a birthday tradition?

Nothing out of the ordinary – dinner with my family. Maybe I should start one though…

What’s your favourite colour?

Forest green. 🌲

Favourite activity:

Reading (of course), but I also love doing puzzles, building Legos, and playing sports. ❤️

If you could pick a superpower?

Teleportation for sure! There’s a whole world to see and I would love to skip the plane rides. 🌍

Best birthday cake flavour is:

Strawberry shortcake. 🍰

Amazing, thanks Dytria!

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Grayson mailed us this super cool art. Check it out!

Wow – look at all the colours on this truck! Awesome job, Grayson. We wish we could take a ride on it!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Maven sent us some amazing art. Check it out!

Awesome rainbow flower, Maven. We love that you used all the different colours to make it!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com. And let us know your favourite colour in the comments!

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Meet an Author

Writer Mila Philipzig

Hi everyone!

Did you read the story, The Banig Festival, in the March issue of Chirp magazine? It was written by author Mila Philipzig and illustrated by her childhood friend, Aura Asuncion Yambao. Mila and Aura both grew up in the Philippines so Mila wanted to tell a story that was inspired by the Banig Festival that takes place there. The bridge in the story, that the main character is afraid to cross, was even inspired by a real bridge! Let’s learn more about Mila and her story.

Mila’s son walking across the bridge from the story.

What gave you the idea to write about the Banig Festival?

I love banigs (traditional handwoven mats) and have fond memories of sharing them with my siblings and cousins for afternoon siestas (naps). The banig-weaving industry is not flourishing in the Philippenes anymore and I wanted to call attention to banig, to the festival, and to celebrate these beautiful traditional mats.

How long have you been writing for kids? 

Seven years.

Banigs are very colourful. What is your favourite colour?

Purple!

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Mila!

Have YOU ever been to a festival that was special to you? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

• Jackie

The Talking Birds

Hi readers!

The Amazing Animal in this month’s issue of Chirp magazine is the MACAW.

Macaws are colourful, clever birds. They squawk and screech to talk to each other in the wild but have you ever heard a pet bird actually talk to humans? This video explains how they do it!

Take a Trip: A Dinosaur Museum in Turkey!

Hey readers,

In the Jan/Feb Dino issue of Chirp, we take a trip to Jurassic Land! It’s a dinosaur museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Did you know there’s a 4D movie theatre at the Museum? Explore it from Start to finish!

To learn more about this neat place, check out the Jan/Feb issue of Chirp!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Animal of the Month: Dovekie

Hey readers,

In the Jan/Feb 2023 issue of Chickadee, we learned all about Dovekies!

Did you know that these small birds live near the ocean?

For more neat facts about this amazing animal, check out the latest issue of Chickadee!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Fun Family Day Activities

Hey readers,

Don’t you love a long weekend in the middle of winter? Family Day is coming up (February 20th) in many provinces across Canada. Instead of staying cooped-up and cozy inside, throw on a pair of thick socks and venture out into the cold.

We’ve gathered some some fun winter activities to keep you and your family toasty warm!

• Build a snowman: Be it an Olaf lookalike or a upside-down snowman, get creative with your family in the snow!
• Sledding races: Grab your silly carpets and toboggans and head to the hill!
• Make snow angels: Playing in the snow isn’t just for kids, but something the whole family can enjoy.
• Ice skating: Check out your local skating rink for some good times on the ice!

Don’t forget to wrap up this fun-filled day with steaming cup of hot chocolate – or whatever your fave drink might be!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Hooray for ART!

Hi readers,

The March issue of Chirp magazine is here and it’s all about ART!

We were honoured to feature beadwork artist Skye Paul in the Look & Learn section this month. Check out the issue to see step-by-step photos of how Skye makes one of her beaded pieces. To learn more about Skye and to see more of her amazing art, be sure to visit her website: runningfoxbeads.com

What is your favourite kind of art to make? Tell us about it or send us a picture! chirp@owlkids.com

Valentine’s Day Poem!

Hey readers,

Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate this day, Chickadee reader Rana, 7, sent this sweet poem. Check it out!

Valentine’s Day

Valentine means love

Valentine means kindness

Valentine whispers

“It’s all for you!”

On this special day

I would like to say

What a great friend you are!

Thank you so much for sharing this with us Rana! Readers, tell us what Valentine’s Day means to you in the comments below.

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Kinsley sent us this awesome drawing. Check it out!

This drawing is of people doing winter sports. Great work, Kinsley! We wish we could be playing with them in the snow and sun!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Teya mailed us this adorable art. Check it out!

Super work, Teya! We think this creature is soo cute! We especially love the little heart on top.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Happy Umbrella Day!

Hey readers,

Happy Umbrella Day! Celebrate today with some fun facts about umbrellas!

1. The name ‘umbrella’ comes from the latin word ‘umbros’, which means ‘shade’ or ‘shadow’.
2. The umbrella was invented in China.
3. Umbrellas are coated in a water-proof material called Teflon.
4. A long time ago, many women used umbrellas as a part of their outfit – for fashion!
5. Umbrellas are also called parasols, which is a lighter umbrella.

If you have a fun fact you would like to share, comment below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Waffle-Saurus!

Hey readers,

Our Waffle-Saurus has been a fan-favourite! Check out how to create your own from the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of Chirp.

*Remember to ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Contest: Oscar Lives Next Door, A Likkle Miss Lou Book Giveaway!

Hey readers,

To celebrate Black History Month we are giving away some copies of Oscar Lives Next Door and A Likkle Miss Lou!

For a chance to WIN 1 of 3 prize packs of Oscar Lives Next Door and A Likkle Miss Lou, comment below your name and age. 

Contest Deadline: February 28th, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Winners will be chosen by random draw.

Prize courtesy of Owlkids Books.

Click HERE for full contest rules and regulations.

Good luck!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Brynlee mailed us this great drawing. Check it out!

Amazing sunset, Brynlee! We love all the colours you used. And we love the birds, too!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Nora sent us this glittery art. Check it out!

Nora made this awesome gemstone art using crushed glass! Wow! We think it looks incredible, Nora.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Sutton sent us this great drawing. Check it out!

We love your rocket, Sutton! Super cool. We also think you’ll make an amazing astronaut one day!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Chirag sent us this amazing leaf art. Check it out!

Whoa! Great job, Chirag. We love that you used fall leaves to make the lion’s mane! Super cool.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Mad for Mad Libs: Travel to the Ice Age!

Hey readers,

Check out this fun mad lib from the December 2022 issue of Chickadee!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Chirp Science Corner: Frozen Fun!

Hey readers,

Check out this cool Chirp Science Corner experiment to dig up some dinosaurs!

What fossils will you discover?

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

We Saw Disney on Ice!

Hi readers,

Have you ever heard of Disney on Ice? It’s a live performance of your favourite Disney characters … skating on ice! This year’s performance is called Disney on Ice: Find Your Hero and it’s all about recreating tales of heroism from famous Disney stories. It stars Micky, Minnie, and many of their friends.

Chirp readers Norah, Alistair, and Milo got to see a Disney on Ice performance this week. Let’s hear what they thought of the show!

Norah, Alistair, and Milo in front of the Disney on Ice stage. The show is about to start!

“I liked how Eric’s boat fell apart so fast in the storm. And I liked when Moana’s boat and the staircases moved by themselves around the ice. I was a teensy bit scared when the firecrackers went “KABLOOEY!”  I think other kids would like to see this show because it has lots of characters and maybe they can even get a snack.” – Alistair, 6

“The one time when Rapunzel whacked Flynn in the head with a frying pan was funny. The next time too. Flynn made funny noises. I liked Flounder, too.  He was so cute. I think other kids would like to see the cute Flounder in the show with Ariel too.”-  Milo, 3

“My favourite part of the show was when the princes lifted the princesses off the ice and the princesses did acrobatic things in the air. I also liked when Ariel got her new feet and was lifted up into the air on this pulley-thing and did acrobatics. It also had cute characters like Maximus, Olaf, Sebastian, Flounder, Lumiere, Cogsworth, and others.  The Ursula costume was very impressive.” – Norah, 8

Sounds like a great show, thanks Alistair, Milo, and Norah!

Disney on Ice: Fine Your Hero is playing across North America until April 2023. If you are in Ontario, you can check out these upcoming shows:

Toronto – Feb 3-5/Scotiabank Arena

Ottawa – March 9-12/Canadian Tire Centre

Handwriting Day!

Hey readers,

It’s handwriting day! Celebrate this day by practicing your handwriting. Trace over letters or try some fun dot to dots – the choice is yours! Check it out.

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Julia mailed us this amazing art work. Check it out!

Really good work, Julia! This house looks so cool. We love the bright coloured paper you used, too!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Alexander sent us this cool drawing. Check it out!

This is Flam, and we think it’s awesome! Great job, Alexander. We love that it has all the colours of fire!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com. And if you want to see more super cool dragons, check out the Jan/Feb issue of Chickadee!

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Have a panda as a friend OR a zebra as a friend?
2. Moo after every sentence OR bark after every sentence?
3. Skateboard everywhere OR ski everywhere?
4. Be a unicorn OR be a pegasus?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Kid Inventor’s Day!

Hey readers,

Did you know that the Popsicle, the television and earmuffs were all invented by kids? It’s true! Today is Kid Inventors’ Day and its a day to celebrate the great stuff that kids invented in the past…and will invent in the future!

Check out some cool facts below about what was invented by awesome kids…just like you!

• Benjamin Franklin invented…swimming flippers.
• George Nissen and Larry Griswold invented….the first trampoline.
• Louis Braille invented…the Braille system.

These inventions are still used today and changed the world. Maybe this will inspire you!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Sweet Smoothie
• Bouncy Berry
• Cute Critters
• Great Grapes

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Katelyn sent us this great drawing. Check it out!

Wow, Katelyn! We love how many different colours you used for the trees, the sky, and your bird! Really amazing job.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Isabella mailed us this colourful art work. Check it out!

You did such a great job, Isabella! This is a really cool painting.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Craft: Button Tree!

Hey readers,

It’s International Creativity Month! Here’s a fun Button Tree craft to celebrate. If you don’t have buttons, you can use other things like macaroni or pompoms!

You can also find the craft here.

You’ll need:

• canvas
• paint
• buttons

What to do:

1. Paint a tree with empty branches. You can also paint shapes or numbers – whatever you want to stick buttons on!
2. Use glue to stick the buttons on the canvas. Make them random, or organize them by shape, size, and colour.
3. Get creative!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Riddles!

Hey readers,

It’s International Brain Teaser Month! Test yourself by figuring out these riddles:

1. What invention lets you look right through walls?
2. What has lots of keys but can’t open any door?
3. What word is spelled wrong in every dictionary?
4. What gets bigger the more you take out of it?

How many answers did you get without looking? Let us know in the comments below, along with your favourite riddle!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Answers: 1. A window! 2. A piano! 3. The word “wrong”! 4. A hole!

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Have a superpower to breathe ice OR have a superpower to create ice sculptures with your hands?
2. Bike ride in the snow OR ski on ice?
3. Ice skate OR roller skate?
4. Go a whole year without playing winter sports OR go a whole year without summer sports?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Recipe: Edible Dinosaur Eggs!

Hey readers,

The January/February Issue of Chirp is all about Dinosaurs! Click on the link to learn how to make cool edible dino eggs!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Kate sent us this cute winter drawing. Check it out!

Amazing work, Kate! Your bear looks so cozy and warm!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Lena mailed us this fantastic drawing. Check it out!

Really great work, Lena! We love all the different colours and animals you used!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chickadee Story!

Hey readers,

Get into the rhythm in the Jan/Feb issue of Chickadee! Click play below to listen to Wacky Winter Poems by Bowman Wilker, illustrated by Maira Chiodi.

Wacky Winter Poems by Bowman Wilker (read by author), Chickadee January/February 2023.

Happy listening!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chirp Story!

Hey readers,

Click play below to listen to Luna Loves Dinos, a story about a kid named Luna, who loves dinosaurs so much she wants to be one!

Luna Loves Dinos by Kendra Brown (read by author), Chirp January/February 2023.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Easy Craft: Origami Crafts

Hey readers,

In the Jan/Feb issue of Chickadee, we shared a fun origami whale craft! Check out this fun origami boat craft below:

You can also find the craft here.

You’ll need:

• 1 rectangular sheet of paper

What to do:

1. Flip the paper so it is vertical or with the edges going up and down. Fold the bottom half up to the top. Then fold the bottom right corner over to the left and pinch the edge so that it makes a small crease. Then open it back up.

2. Use the crease as a guide and fold the left and right bottom corners up to the middle. Rotate the paper so the point is up to the top and fold one layer of paper up.

3. Flip the paper over to the other side and fold the bottom edge up. Unfold the paper and then fold the bottom right corner along the crease you made. Repeat on the bottom left flap.

4. Re-fold the bottom edge back up. Open the bottom of the boat and flatten them. Insert the overlapping flap on the left underneath the right section.

5. Fold one layer up to the top and repeat on the back. Then, open the bottom of the model.

6. Pull the left and right flaps apart, flatten it out and make sure it is in the shape of a boat. Open it slightly and you have a boat!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Colour with Chirp!

Hey readers!

Did you know you can download free colouring sheets from issues of Chirp on the Owlkids website?

Click on the image above to colour Chirp meeting a dinosaur or click here to get more FREE colouring sheets!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Happy New Year!

Hi Readers,

Tonight marks the last day of 2022. When we wake up tomorrow it will be a new year! We hope you have a fun New Year’s Eve and a great start to 2023! We are excited to bring you 10 new issues of Chirp in 2023. We have all kinds to great issues coming up, including DINOSAURS, ART, DOGS, and more!

What was one of your favourite memory from 2022? Share it in the comments below.

See you next year!

• Jackie

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Ski down the biggest hill OR sled down the biggest hill?
2. Have icicles for hair OR snow for eyebrows?
3. Play winter sports OR make winter crafts?
4. Invent a new holiday drink OR invent a new holiday tradition?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Super Snow
• Wonderful Winter
• Terrific Taboggan
• Excellent Earmuffs

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Genevieve sent us this wonderful drawing. Check it out!

Look at all those colours! Fanatastic job, Genevieve! We love how bright the yellow is.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Faye sent us this great drawing. Check it out!

Faye drew this picture of Chirp, Tweet, and Squawk! Amazing work, Faye! They look like they’re having so much fun together.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays to everyone who is celebrating today. We hope you have a wonderful day full of family, feast, laughter and … SNOW!

The Chirp Team

Chirp Science Corner: Make Invisible Ink!

Hey readers,

Check out this cool Chirp Science Corner experiment to make your own invisible ink!

All you need is a plain white paper, baking soda, a paint brush, water, and some grape juice!

What secret message will you write?

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Happy Holidays!

Hey readers,

Happy holidays from the Chirp and Chickadee teams!

Have a wonderful and safe time!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Happy Winter Solstice!

Hi readers,

Today is the first official day of winter, otherwise known as the winter solstice! To celebrate the shortest day of the year, check out these cool facts!

1. The North Pole is tilted away from the sun during the winter time.
2. Each planet in the Earth’s solar system has solstices.
3. In Wiltshire, England, there’s a stone monument called Stonehenge that was built over 5,000 years ago. It is one of the 7 Wonders of the World and some think it was used as to mark solstices. Every year, people gather there to celebrate the event.
4. It’s not always on the same day. The solstice can fall on any date between December 20-23rd. This is because the Earth is never in the same spot each year.

How will you be spending your winter break? Leave a comment down below!

Bye for now,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Games Day!

Hey readers,

To celebrate Games Day, check out this fun craft! Featured in the November issue of Chickadee:

What’s your favourite game to play?

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Chirp’s Cookie Recipe for Bake Cookies Day!

Hi readers,

To celebrate Bake Cookies Day, bake this fun cookie recipe! Check it out!

You’ll Need:

• 2 cups whole wheat, spelt, or white flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup raw almond butter or Wow Butter
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp molasses (optional)

What to Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.
3. Add chocolate chips.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk the rest of the ingredients together, then add the dry ingredients.
5. Spoon dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for about 11 minutes. Let the cookies cool for a minute and then transfer them to a baking rack to cool further.

Happy baking, everyone!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Arabic Language Day Facts!

Hi readers,

In honour of Arabic Language Day, here are some fun facts!

• The oldest form of Arabic literature is poetry
• Arabic is spoken by people all over the world and each dialect, or type, is quite different from one another
• Some English words come from Arabic, like Coffee (Arabic: Qahwah), Algebra (Arabic: Jabr), and Cotton (Arabic: Qatn).
• Arabic is written from right to left

Do YOU know any fun facts about arabic that you’d like to share? Leave them in the comments below for us.

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader William sent us this cool artwork. Check it out!

Amazing job, William! We love that you used pipe cleaners to make snowflakes for your penguin.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Aislynn sent us this amazing drawing. Check it out!

We love this adorable fox, Aislynn! You did a great job.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Animal of the Month: Collared Lemming

Hey readers,

In the December 2022 issue of Chickadee, we learned all about collared lemmings!

Did you know that these furry animals grow a white coat in the winter time?

For more neat facts about this amazing animal, check out the latest issue of Chickadee!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Take a Trip: Snow Festival!

Hey readers,

In the December Winter issue of Chirp, we take a trip to a snow festival in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories!

Did you know that everything at the festival is made of ice and snow?

To learn more about this neat place, check out the December issue of Chirp!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chickadee reader Vedika sent us this amazing drawing. Check it out!

This is Vedika’s super colourful city – wow! Look at all those cool faces, too. We would really love to visit one day!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hey readers,

Chirp reader Emily sent us this colourful drawing. Check it out!

Emily coloured one of the pages from the magazine! Amazing work, Emily! Looks like Chirp is having lots of fun.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Podcast Review: African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo

Hey readers,

Today I have a fun podcast to share with you called African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo. This award-winning podcast features diverse short stories that have been passed down through generations. All the traditional tales originate from Africa and are told with a twist and a lesson to be learned at the end!

You can listen to the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Readers, do you have a favourite podcast? Let us know in the comments below!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

App Review: ABC Mouse

Hey readers,

I have a fun app to share with you today!

ABC Mouse is an app designed to help kids learn reading, math, art, music and so much more! It’s an app created by teachers and education experts and has over 10,000 exciting learning activities for kids at all academic levels.

There are also videos, books, puzzles, printables, games, and animations to check out too! There’s also a progress tracker, so kids can go at their own pace.

You can download ABC Mouse for free from the App Store and Google Play Store. Or check out the website here.

If you try it, let us know in the comments below what you think!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Amazing Animal: Snow Leopards

Hey readers,

Our Animal Animal for the December issue is the snow leopard! These cute creatures can be found in the Himalayan Mountains in India.

Did you know snow leopards are the only big cats that can live in cold, mountain areas?

To learn more about these amazing animals, check out the December issue!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Scribble Brownies for Brownie Day!

Hey readers,

To celebrate Brownie day, here’s a delicious recipe! Check it out!

You can also find the recipe here. Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

You’ll need:

• Your choice of brownie mix (boxed or homemade)
• 1 container chocolate frosting
• 1/2 cup of vanilla frosting
• 3 microwave safe bowls
• 3 re-sealable plastic bags
• gel food colouring in blue, pink, and yellow (or whichever colours you prefer)

How to make:

1. Bake the brownies to your liking.
2. Wait until they have completely cooled.
3. Frost all brownies with chocolate frosting.
4. Add vanilla frosting to 3 separate bowls.
5. Add gel food colouring to each bowl. 1 bowl neon blue, 1 neon pink, and 1 neon yellow.
6. Melt the frosting and transfer them to 3 separate re-sealable plastic bags.
7. Cut off a corner of the bag and drizzle the frosting over the brownies.
8. Let the frosting cool before cutting the brownies into squares.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Book Review: Don’t Let Go

Hi Friends!

Are you looking for a wintry book to read? Check out Don’t Let Go by Elisabeth Eudes-Pascal. It’s a fun book about a polar bear family’s day at a frosty beach. Let’s hear what Chirp reader Anura thought of this book!

“It was a very good book because it made me laugh.

This book is about feeling scared. I have a connection to this book, when I go to the beach and jump in the water it’s pretty scary.

It reminds me of when we go to the beach in the summer and there are lots of people doing different things in the water.

I liked all the speech bubbles! I also loved the illustrations in the book. I would recommend this book to other readers.” 

Thank you, Anura!

Happy reading, everyone!

• Jackie

Reader Art of the Week

Max drew this picture of Chase from Paw Patrol! Great work, Max! It looks just like your toy.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

These are Lily’s comic characters, Nate (the penguin) and Martin (the polar bear). We love them, Lily! I wonder if they know our pals, Chick & Dee?

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chirp Story!

Hey readers,

Click play below to listen to A Winter Journey, a story about a painted turtle named Missy, and her journey as a new hatchling.

A Winter Journey by Nancy Cooper (read by author), Chirp December 2022

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chickadee Story!

Hey readers,

Put your thinking caps on for this mysterious story in the December issue of Chickadee! Click play below to listen to The Case of the Mysterious Tracks by Jessica Westhead, illustrated by Nneka Myers.

The Case of the Mysterious Tracks by Jessica Westhead (read by author), Chickadee December 2022

Happy listening!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Cuddly Cat
• Better Butter
• Cows Crossing
• Perfect Pumpkins

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Quinn drew the cover of the March issue of Chirp! Great work, Quinn!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Ira made this awesome Lego caterpillar! Really good job, Ira! We love all the different colours you used.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

International Cake Day Cake Pops!

Hey readers,

It’s International Cake Day on November 26! Here’s a yummy recipe you can make to celebrate this sweet day! Click on the link below to learn how to make it.

Optional: If you don’t want to make Shelldon cake pops, you can use different coloured candy melts and toppings to make it your own.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Take a Trip: Rock City!

Hey readers,

In the November Mountains issue of Chirp, we took a trip to an ancient rock city in Petra, Jordan!

Did you know this city is built in the side of a mountain?

To learn more about this neat place, check out the November issue of Chirp!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Perfect Parfait!

Hey readers,

November 24 is Parfait (say: PAR-fay) Day! A parfait is a sweet dessert with layered ingredients. What those ingredients are, is totally up to you! Check out this breakfast parfait recipe from the September 2020 issue of Chickadee.

*Remember to ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Jump in a pile of leaves OR jump in a pile of snow?
2. Have flowers for hair OR grass for eyebrows?
3. Always be cold OR always be hot?
4. Try a new hobby OR play a new sport?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Animal of the Month: Marine Iguana

Hey readers,

In the November 2022 issue of Chickadee, we learned all about the marine iguana!

Did you know that these rad reptiles are great swimmers?

For more neat facts about this amazing animal, check out the latest issue of Chickadee!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Chirp Science Corner: Frosty Fun!

Hey readers,

If you’ve wondered how frost forms, check out the Chirp Science Corner video below!

Watch editor Jackie make frost at home with ice and some table salt.

Have fun!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com 

Chirp’s Welcome to Kindergarten Contest Winner

Congrats to the 2021 Welcome to Kindergarten Contest Winner Jasper! Here is a photo of Jasper playing with the items from his WTK bag.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest. We hope you are having a great school year so far!

The Chirp Team

Reader Art of the Week

Theia called this “The White Snowflake.” Amazing work!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

This is Gigantomax Robot battling ghosts with 4 arms! Great job, Xavier! This is really cool.

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

The December issue is here!

Hi everyone,

The December issue of Chirp is here and it will get you excited for snowy winter fun! You can learn how skates work, make a hanging icicle ornament, and read a story about a turtle getting ready for the season. We hope you like this issue!

Meet a Snow Leopard

Hi readers,

Did you meet the snow leopard in the December issue of Chirp? Check out this adorable video of some snow leopard cubs in China!

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Terrific Trees
• Winter Winds
• Slippery Skates
• Grumpy Grinch

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chirp Story!

Hey readers,

Click play below to listen to Bear and the Mountain, a story about a bear and her friends trying to move a mountain!

Bear and the Mountain by Sandra Dumais (read by author), Chirp November 2022

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Wow! Great job, Emerson. We love your one-eyed Minion!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Great work, Claire! We love how happy the sunshine and rainbows make us feel!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Cute Animal Video!

Hey readers,

Here’s a video of a cute beaver eating a grape!

Do you have a favourite animal? Let us know in the comments below!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Easy Craft: Erupting Moon Rocks

Hey readers,

Blast into space and land among the moon rocks with this fun craft!

You can also find the craft here.

You’ll need:

• Moon Dough
• Water
• Squeezy Bottles
• Vinegar
• Large dish

What to do:

1. Add water to the squeezy bottle.
2. Slowly add water to the moon dough to form a ball. Make sure to add the water slowly as to not dissolve the dough.
3. Leave the moon rocks out in the dish overnight until they are dry. They should be firm to the touch.
4. Add vinegar to the squeezy bottles and spray the vinegar over the moon rocks to see them erupt!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Great job, Oskar! We love that you included lava at the top to make it look like an erupting volcano.

If you want to make your own volcano, check out page 10 in the November Issue!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Amazing job, Rachel! We love them!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Beckie, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Fruit Rockets!

Hey readers,

Our November issue is filled with fun facts about space! We’re trying out this rad rocket treat, check it out!

*Remember to ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

You can also find this recipe here.

You’ll need:

• 15 strawberries
• 1 cantaloupe
• 30 regular sized marshmallows
• wooden skewers
• small circle cutter

What to do:

1. Cut the cantaloupe in half and scoop out the seeds.
2. Slice the cantaloupe into half slices, and then into trapezoid shaped pieces.
3. Cut the crust off of each piece and use the circle cutter to round out the smaller end of each trapezoid piece.
4. Cut the strawberries into three slices.
5. Layer the fruit onto the skewers: cantaloupe first, then strawberry, then a marshmallow until the strawberry tip is the last piece on the skewer.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Colour with Chirp!

Hey readers!

Did you know you can download free colouring sheets from issues of Chirp on the Owlkids website?

Click on the image above to colour Chirp exploring a cave with Sparky or click here to get more FREE colouring sheets!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cups!

Hey readers,

To celebrate Banana Pudding Lovers Month, here’s a yummy recipe! Check it out!

You can also find the recipe here. Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

You’ll need:

• 2 bananas
• 1 box of banana pudding mix
• 2 cups milk
• Nilla wafers (or any choice of wafer cookie)
• Whipped cream
• OPTIONAL: Chocolate chips or any other candy topping.

How to make:

1. Make your banana pudding according to the package instructions.
2. Add milk to the pudding and whisk together until thick.
3. Place 1/2 cup of pudding in a dish.
4. Top with sliced bananas, Nilla wafers, and whipped cream (and your choice of candy toppings)!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Happy Halloween!

Hey readers,

On behalf of us at Chirp and Chickadee magazines, we wish you a very happy and safe Halloween!

Share your cool costumes with us at chickadeeblog@owlkids.com OR chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Stay safe and have fun!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

What a great job, Shivani! The October issue of Chirp is full of fairytale fun and pretend! Check it out for fun recipes, crafts, puzzles and more!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have an great weekend!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe Creation!

Hey readers,

Check out Charlotte’s Halloween re-creation of the Sprinkly Snack recipe!

Amazing job! The fairy-bread looks really yummy, thanks for sharing it with us. And just in time for Halloween!

Readers, if you’d like to try out the recipe, check out the October issue of Chirp.

Enjoy,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Scare someone at a haunted house OR be the one getting scared?
2. Be a zombie OR a ghost?
3. Watch a scary movie OR read a scary book?
4. Have a creative costume OR have a scary costume?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

The November Issue is Here!

Blast off! This month, we take off to space to explore the International Space Station. Find out how astronauts live there and other interesting facts. Then, try out a recipe for a galaxy treat and launch a paper rocket. As always, we have fun puzzles and comics, too. Look out for the issue in your mailbox or at your local bookstore or library.

The Chickadee Team

Meet a Kid Scientist!

Hi Readers,

In the November issue of OWL Magazine, you get to meet young scientist and inventor, Safal. She experimented with using magnets to bring an elevator to a slow and safe stop. She showcased her project at last year’s Canada Wide Science Fair. To learn more about the steps she took to get her elevator to work, click here.

Do you have an engineering project you would like to share with us? Email us at owl@owlkids.com

Happy building, everyone!

• Jackie

The November Issue is Here!

Hi, everyone,

The November issue of Chirp is all about MOUNTAINS! Meet mountain animals, make a volcano and visit an ancient city. This issue ROCKS!

Colour with Chirp!

Hey readers!

Did you know you can download free colouring sheets from issues of Chirp on the Owlkids website?

Click on the image above to colour Chirp at a party with his forest friends or click here to get more FREE colouring sheets!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Dr. Zed Experiment: Candy Colours

Hey readers,

Make cool colours with your Halloween candy! Check out the experiment below:

Let us know in the comments how your experiment turned out!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Be a vampire OR be a werewolf?
2. Eat 100 chocolate bars OR eat 100 sour candies?
3. Be the one scaring others OR being scared?
4. Have a pet spider OR have a pet snake?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Recipe: Pizza Party!

Hey readers,

October is Pizza Month! Make this yummy rainbow pizza recipe to celebrate!

*Remember to ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Craft: Mini Forest

Hey readers!

In the October issue of Chirp we show you how to make an enchanted mini forest for your toys!

Have fun!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Sprinkly Snack

Hey readers,

In the October issue of Chirp, we show you how to make a sprinkly, magical snack called fairy bread!

Read on below to learn how to make it:

*Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Knock-knock Jokes

Hi readers,

We have some funny knock-knock jokes to share with you!

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Turnin.
Turnin who?
Turnin to a vampire this Halloween!

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Ghost.
Ghost who?
Ghost stand over there and I’ll bring you some candy!

Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Dishes.
Dishes who?
Dishes a very scary haunted house!

Do you have any favourite knock-knock jokes? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Monster Mayhem
• Jolly Jack O’ Lanterns
• Scary Spiders
• Great Ghosts

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Crafts: Door Dress Up!

Hey readers,

Dress up your door with these cool crafts – just in time for Halloween!

Have fun!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chirp Story!

Hey readers,

Click play below to listen to The Farmer’s Lesson a Pakistani folktale, a story about three sons who learn a valuable lesson from their father!

The Farmer’s Lesson – a Pakistani folktale retold by Mariam Ahmed (read by author), Chirp October 2022

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Listen to a Chickadee Story!

Hey readers,

Gather round to listen to a spooky tale in the October issue of Chickadee! Click play below to listen to The Terrifying Tale of the Zombicorn by Naseem Hrab, illustrated by Kelly Collier.

The Terrifying Tale of Zombicorn by Naseem Hrab (read by author), Chickadee October 2022

Happy listening!

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Orange Shirt Day

Hey readers,

Today is Orange Shirt Day. Today, many people wear orange shirts to commemorate, or raise awareness, about residential schools and the process of healing for Indigenous people and their families.

It’s important to learn about Indigenous history and read books by Indigenous authors. Click here for a reading list to get you started!

For more information about Orange Shirt Day, click here. And for more resources check out these great websites: 4CAnoes.org and Goodminds.com

Let us know how you will be raising awareness for Orange Shirt Day.

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Blooming Blueberries
• Excellent Elephants
• Seven Swans
• Raking Rakes

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

What a great job, Alexandra!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Samantha, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Snow Geese!

Hey readers,

Check out the October 2022 animal, the Snow Goose! The famous fairy tale character of Mother Goose is based on these cute creatures.

Here’s a video of a Mom snow goose with her baby goslings:

Reader Project: LEGO Plane!

Hey readers,

Liam, 5 made this awesome LEGO airplane! Check it out!

Do you have cool projects to share? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great day!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Cake Cones!

Hey readers,

To celebrate Ice Cream Cone day, here’s a yummy recipe! Check it out!

You can also find the recipe here. Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

You’ll need:

• Your choice of cake mix
• 24 flat-bottom ice cream cones
• Cupcake liners
• Cupcake baking tray
• frosting (store-bought or homemade)
• OPTIONAL: You can add your favourite toppings like mini chocolate chips, breakfast cereal, animal crackers, dried fruit, candy sprinkles, crushed hard candy, or granola.

How to make:

1. Line the cupcake tray with the cupcake liners.
2. Mix the cake batter and pour evenly in muffin cups.
3. Place ice cream cones upside down on batter in each cup.
4. Bake 16-22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
5. Wait about 30 minutes, or until cooled completely.
6. Remove paper baking cups and frost cakes.
7. Decorate!

TIP: To keep the Ice Cream Cone Cakes steady on a serving plate, put a small amount of frosting on the bottom of the cone and press lightly onto the plate.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Have flowers for eyebrows OR have rainbow coloured hair?
2. Dance like a monkey OR dance like a bear?
3. Be able to hop around everywhere like a kangaroo OR dance everywhere like a ballerina?
4. Turn into a heart-shaped pillow every time you felt happy OR a cloud-shaped pillow every time you felt happy?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Cool Cows
• Neat Newts
• Great Grapes
• Fresh Fishes

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Dr. Zed Experiment: Egg Drop!

Hey readers,

Can you design a contraption to keep an egg from breaking! Check out the experiment below!

Let us know in the comments how your experiment turned out!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hi readers,

Chirp reader Armaan sent us this cool colouring job! Check it out!

Awesome job, Armaan!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have an awesome weekend!

-Samantha, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

What a great job, Gael!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Samantha, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

The October Issue is Here!

Jump into the world of pretend with the Fairy Tale issue of Chirp magazine!

What is your favourite fairy tale character? Tell us in the comments!

Happy reading!

• Jackie

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Fly a kite OR sail a boat?
2. Eat a watermelon OR a mango?
3. Be able to change the future OR change the past?
4. Wear shoes made out of marshmallows OR wear a hat made out of gummy bears?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Reader Art of the Week

Hi readers,

Chirp reader Gavin sent us this cool colouring job! Check it out!

Awesome job, Gavin!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have an awesome weekend!

-Samantha, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

What a great job Yumi!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chickadee blog? Send it to chickadeeblog@owlkids.com.

Have a great weekend!

-Samantha, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

Enter Chirp’s Wiggles Contest!

Hi Readers,

Owlkids is running a contest with our friends at Treehouse that will give readers like you a chance to see The Wiggles live!

The Wiggles Big Show Tour is coming to Canada this fall and The Wiggles will be performing all their hits for you to sing along with and dance around to.

Enter for a chance to WIN:

PRIZE: 4 tickets to The Wiggles Big Show concert of your choosing. Click here to see where and when you can catch the shows.

HOW TO ENTER: Visit the Owlkids Facebook page to learn more!

DEADLINE: September 21

Click here for full contest rules and regulations.

Good luck and keep on wiggling!

Reader Art of the Week

Hi readers,

Chirp reader Margaret sent us this cool drawing! Check it out!

Awesome job, Margaret!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have an awesome weekend!

-Samantha, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Colour with Chirp!

Hey readers!

Did you know you can download free colouring sheets from issues of Chirp on the Owlkids website?

Click on the image above to colour Chirp visiting the library with Grandma or click here to get more FREE colouring sheets!

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Celebrate Honey Month!

Hey readers,

September is Honey Month! Celebrate bees and honey all month long. This holiday was created to raise awareness about beekeeping and using honey as a healthy sweetener instead of sugar.

Here are some fun facts about honey:

• The oldest jars of honey were more than one thousand years old!
• Over twenty-thousand bees are needed to create just one jar of honey. That’s a lot of hard work!
• Honey is self-preserving. This means that honey can never go bad because it has so many nutrients, that bacteria can’t survive in the honey.
• Bee farmers in the United States have bees that produced purple honey- and they don’t even know how it happened!

Do you know fun facts about honey? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com

World Beach Month!

Hey readers,

September is World Beach Month! This holiday was created to remind everyone to help take care of the beach and keep it free from litter so we can continue to enjoy it.

If you don’t know where to start, here are some ideas:

• Ask your parents if you can help clean up a local beach
• Talk to family and friends about the beach and local wildlife
• Help recycle things around the house by turning them into fun crafts

Tell us how you’ll be celebrating World Beach Month below!

Talk to you later,

– Mariam, chirp@owlkids.com

Would You Rather Wednesday

Hey readers,

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions for you! Check out the scenarios below and decide which one you would rather do.

Would you rather: 

1. Breathe fire OR breathe ice?
2. Drink chocolate milk OR drink strawberry milk?
3. Live on Mars OR Jupiter?
4. Wear flip-flops in the snow OR four-layers of clothing in the summer?

Let us know your answers in the comments below!

Have a great day,

-Mariam, chickadeeblog@owlkids.com 

Tongue Twister Tuesday

Hey readers,

It’s Tongue Twister Tuesday! Can you say these five times fast?

• Knitting Kittens
• Amazing Apples
• Growing Glowworm
• Bamboo Baboons

Do you have any favourite tongue twisters? Let us know in the comments!

Talk to you later,

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Recipe: Marshmallow Puffs

Hey readers,

For National Toasted Marshmallow Day, here’s a yummy recipe! Check it out!

*Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen.

You can also find the recipe here. Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen!

You’ll need:

• 36 large marshmallows
• 1 and 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. butter
• OPTIONAL: You can add peanut butter or any other nut butter if you’d like. Melt this with the chocolate and butter.

How to make:

1. Line an 8 or 9 inch pan with foil. Butter the foil.
2. Arrange the marshmallows in the pan.
3. In a microwave, melt the chocolate chips and butter. Stir until smooth.
4. Pour and spread all over the marshmallows.
5. Let it chill completely and then cut into 1 inch squares.

Enjoy!

-Mariam, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week

Hi readers,

Chirp reader Miranda sent us this cool drawing! Check it out!

Awesome job, Miranda!

Readers, would you like to see your art on the Chirp blog? Send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.

Have an awesome weekend!

-Samantha, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Reader Art of the Week