Messy Car Wash inspired by David McPhail {January Virtual Book Club for Kids Blog Hop}

Welcome to the Virtual Book Club for Kids January blog hop.  This month we are featuring the works of David McPhail.  My favorite part of the Virtual Book Club is learning about new authors. My boys and I have really been enjoying his books!

A few of the David McPhail books we enjoyed reading available on Amazon:

One of our favorites is Pig Pig Gets a Job.  It's the story of a young pig who wants money.  He suggests to his mom chores he can do in order to earn the money.  One of the suggestions he makes is washing the car.  JZ (5) and J-Bug (3) love helping my husband wash our car whenever they get the chance.  Since it's been a rainy week I decided to bring the car washing fun indoors.  But what fun is washing a clean car?  First we had to get the cars dirty!

I set out a Dollar Tree cookie sheet for each boy and covered each of the cookie sheets with shaving cream and brown paint.  (Brown for mud.)

Each boy got a bowl of warm water and Dawn.  They were surprised that I made it warm.  Considering it was fifty something outside, which for us is cold, I figured it would be more enjoyable that way.  In addition to a bowl of soapy water they each had a bowl of warm water for rinsing.  I also set out a towel, although in hindsight a couple of towels probably would have been better.

They eagerly ran their cars through the "mud" and got them good and dirty.

I loved hearing them make sound effects and really get into the car racing.  They made up scenarios and had their cars do tricks.  I can set out an invitation to play, but it's really up to them to take off with the activity.  It's always fun to watch where their little minds go!

As much as they love shaving cream play, they both especially enjoyed playing in the soapy water.

In addition to cleaning the cars they loved squishing the shaving cream and soapy bubbles in their hands.

By the time they were done nothing was clean, least of all the cars!  The water quickly became dirty from all the trips in and out of the shaving cream and paint mixture.  It was a lovely time of messy, sensory play, and we all enjoyed it immensely.  As a bonus I had clean floors when we were through.  Okay they were only clean because I mopped, and I had to mop thanks to the watery mess.  It was worth it for sure.

More Virtual Book Club:

• November - {Tomie dePaola} The Art Lesson
• October - {Amy Krause Rosenthal} Little Pea
• September - {Lois Elhert} Eating the Alphabet Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z

To keep in touch all year long follow the Virtual Book Club for Kids Pinterest board, and like us on Facebook.

Here is a list of blogger participating in the Virtual Book Club for Kids:

Toddler Approved - Rainy Day Mum - Adventures in Reading with Kids - 3 Dinosaurs - Royal Baloo - The Educators' Spin On It - Inspiration Laboratories - Pleasantest Thing - Edventures with Kids - Two Big Two Little - Playing With Words 365 - Kitchen Counter Chronicles - Outlaw Mom - Mommy and Me Book Club - Crafty Moms Share - No Twiddle Twaddle - The Good Long Road - Ready. Set. Read 2 Me - Reading Confetti - Mama Smiles - Juggling with Kids- Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas - Creekside Learning - Creative Family Fun - The Usual Mayhem - Teach Preschool - PlayDrMom - CraftoArt - Here Come the Girls - Being a Conscious Parent - Smiling like Sunshine - Crayon Freckles - Train Up a Child - Smile Play Learn - Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - Coffee Cups and Crayons - Having Fun at Chelle's House- Love, Play, Learn - Juggling With Kids

And finally, if you have blogged about an activity inspired by a David McPhail book we'd like to invite you to join link up your post.