Bedtime Shadow Play
Shine your film up on the ceiling, then use its glow to make these little friends with your hands. Each one shows the shadow you are making, and exactly how to hold your hands to make it.
How it works: hold your hands in the light, between the projector and the wall or ceiling, a few feet from the surface. A small, bright light makes the sharpest shadows. Move slowly, and wiggle a finger to bring each animal to life.
Dinosaur
from the dinosaur dreams
Hold one arm out in front of you and let your hand flop down loose at the wrist. Keep your fingers together, that is the little head and snout, and your arm is the long, long neck. Sway it slowly like a gentle dinosaur.
Puppy
a friendly classic
Hold both hands side by side, fingers pointing away from you for the snout. Point both thumbs up and rest one index finger over the other, the thumbs make the two ears. Wiggle your little fingers down to open his mouth so he barks.
Fish
from under-the-sea nights
Hold one hand out flat, fingers together and your thumb tucked underneath. Tip it on its side and wiggle it gently to swim through the water.
Bunny
from the dreamy meadow
Hold one hand up sideways. Curl your ring and little fingers into your palm. Keep your first two fingers up tall and together for the big ears, and tuck your thumb in as the face. Give the ears a little twitch.
Bird
from the night sky
Lay one hand over the back of the other with both palms facing you, and hook your two thumbs together. Your spread fingers are the two wings, flap them slowly to make it fly.
Butterfly
from the fairy garden
Cross your hands and hook your thumbs the same way as the bird, then spread all your fingers wide and flutter them gently. Those are the butterfly's big wings.
Snail
from the glowing meadow
Make a fist with one hand for the shell. With your other hand, poke your first two fingers up in a V for the antennae and tuck it against the fist. Inch him along, slow and sleepy.