You are on page 1of 19

s t G ra c e

Ju
Activity Kit!
Here are some things you will find in this kit:
1. Fun activities based on the Just Grace books to do with your friends or by yourself
2. How to make Grace’s 100 percent favorite breakfast food
3. Superheroes (Well, not actual real ones like Batman and Wonder Woman, but Not-So-Super
(But Still Good) heroes you make up your very own self)

Here are some things you will not find in this kit:
1. Tips on the care and feeding of hermit crabs
2. Hairstyling dos and don’ts
3. How to build a really cool three-story tree house

T
HE JUST GRACE BOOKS by Charise Mericle Harper chronicle the life of Grace Stewart, her
best friend Mimi, and their friends Sammy and Max. Miss Lois, their third-grade teacher,
gave Grace the horrible classroom name “Just Grace” so it won’t be so confusing with the four
Graces in her class. Grace has a teeny-tiny superpower—she can always tell when someone is
unhappy, and then she has to do something to help that person. So what kinds of adventures does
a sort-of superhero with a fabulous downstairs French neighbor get herself into? Read all the Just
Grace books to find out!

“Fans of Amber Brown, Clementine, and Judy Moody will love her.”
—School Library Journal

★ “She’s a hero through and through.”


—Booklist, starred review
www.JustGraceBooks.com
Learn more about the author at
www.ChariseHarper.com

Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved.


Postcard
Grace and Mimi make fabulous postcards featuring Mrs. Luther’s cat, Crinkles.
Make your own postcard and send it to a friend.

Instructions:
1. Print this page on cardstock.
2. Cut out the postcard.
3. Write your message on the left side of the card.
4. Add the name and mailing address of your friend on the lines.
5. Put a postcard stamp in the stamp box.
6. Turn the card over and draw a comic or illustration on the front side of
your card, or glue on a 4x6 photo the way Grace and Mimi did on their
postcards for Mrs. Luther.
7. Mail your card!
et t he stamp!
g
Write your messag Don’t for
e here.

Stamp
goes
here!

Put your
friend’s
name and
ere.
address h

ere.
Cut h

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Your Superhero
In Just Grace Goes Green, Grace’s class learns about ways to protect the environment. Miss Lois asks the students
to draw their own superheroes of conservation. Grace draws two:

In the space below, create your own superhero persona, complete with costume. What will your superpowers be? Will
you save the earth? Or help cheer people up when they are sad? Or be the world’s greatest dog or cat sitter? Or . . .

Draw
your
superhero
here.

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
French Toast
Whenever Grace has a big day of empathy superpower work ahead of her, she likes to eat French toast for
breakfast. With an adult’s help, make your own French toast. Do you think Augustine Dupre loves it since France
is 100 percent her favorite country?

Ingredients:
2 eggs

¹ ³ cup milk
A pinch of sugar
A pinch of salt
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
Cooking spray or butter
Bread

Crack the eggs into a pie plate or other shallow bowl. Add milk and beat
with a fork. Mix in the sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Heat a skillet or frying pan (be sure an adult does this part!). Spray the
pan with cooking spray or melt butter or margarine across the surface. Dip
the bread into the egg mixture; turn it over and dip the other side. Gently
place the bread onto the hot skillet. Cook 3-4 minutes per side or until
browned. Experiment with different types of breads (wheat, sourdough,
croissant, etc.) until you find your favorite.
Top each piece of French toast with cut-up fruit and/or your favorite jam
or syrup.
t us!
d us, but then you'll have to ea
You can ad

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Bookmarks
There are so many fabulous Just Grace books. How will you keep track of the ones you’ve read? How will you save
your place as you’re reading? With these bookmarks, of course!
Print this page on cardstock using a color printer. Cut out the bookmarks below and never lose your place
again! You’ll be the superhero of book place remembering!

How many
Just Grace books
Just Grace
have you read? will
Keep trac
k here
remember
❑ Just Grace
❑ Still Just Grace your
❑ Just Grace Walks the Dog
❑ Just Grace Goes Green place!
❑ Just Grace and the
Snack Attack
❑ Just Grace and the
Terrible Tutu
❑ Just Grace and the
Double Surprise
❑ Just Grace and the
Flower Girl Power
❑ Just Grace, Star on Stage
❑ Just Grace and the
Trouble with Cupcakes
❑ Just Grace and the
Super Sleepover

ere.
Cut h

Cut here
.

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012, 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Comic Power
Grace loves to draw comics. Drawing can help her feel better when she has
a problem. She also draws comics just for fun. Create your own comic in the
panels below. Add speech bubbles to show what your characters are saying.
Your story contin
re. ues here.
Start he

Keep going. You’re al


most there!

ur
End yo re.
e
Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
comic h
Cats and Dogs
Are you a cat person like Augustine Dupre? A dog person like Mimi (who is 100 percent not a cat person
because she is completely allergic to them)? A cat person and a dog person like Grace? Or a not-a-cat-or-a-dog
person like Sammy?

Crinkles Mr. Scruffers (a girl dog with a boy name)


Things I like about cats: Things I like about dogs:
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________

Things I don’t like about cats: Things I don’t like about dogs:
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________

I am a
❑ cat person
e
❑ dog person o f a ny t h ing you lik
n’t think
❑ cat and dog person If you could ogs, check this one.
or d
about cats
❑ not-a-cat-or-a-dog person

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Make a Zine! Augustine Dupre shows Grace how to make a zine, a tiny little
comic book. Follow the instructions below to make your own zine!
Email a scan of your zine to childrens_publicity@hmhco.com. It might make the Zine Gallery at www.JustGraceBooks.com!
Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2012 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Cupcake Fun
Who doesn’t love a glittery sparkly decorated cupcake? Make your very own cupcake to hang in your room.
Don’t eat this one! Ask your mom or dad to help you make the eating kind of cupcakes once they see how cool
this paper one turns out. (Great recipe on next page!)

HOW TO MAKE A STUFFED CUPCAKE


Supplies needed: Construction paper, scissors, stapler, markers, newspaper for crumpling, string
for hanging, plus anything glittery and glue if you want to make your cupcakes sparkly!

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Cupcake Recipe
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Makes 16 standard cupcakes or 12 standard and 12 mini cupcakes

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup lightly packed brown sugar


¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 large eggs
¾ teaspoon baking soda 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
½ teaspoon baking powder 1 cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the muffin cups with paper liners.

2. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium
bowl. In another medium bowl, with an electric mixer on high, beat the butter and sugar
until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each
addition. Beat in the melted chocolate. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture
alternately with the buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with the flour mixture
and beating just until blended. Stir in the vanilla.

4. Spoon half of the batter into a ziplock bag. Snip a ¼-inch corner from the bag and fill the
paper liners two-thirds full. Repeat with the remaining batter. Bake until set and
a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the cupcakes from the baking pan, place on a wire rack,
and allow to cool completely.

Recipe reprinted with permission from Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make
by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson. Find lots more cupcake fun in this great book!

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Frosting Recipe
ALMOST-HOMEMADE VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Makes 3 ½ cups

1 container (16 ounces) Marshmallow Fluff


3 sticks (3/4 pound) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup confectioners’ sugar, plus additional sugar if necessary

Spoon the Marshmallow Fluff into a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low.
Gradually add the butter pieces, beating well after each addition, until smooth. Add the
vanilla extract and the ½ cup confectioners’ sugar. Scrape the bowl well to incorporate.
Add more confectioners’ sugar, if necessary, to adjust the texture.

Recipe reprinted with permission from Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make
by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson. Find lots more cupcake fun in this great book!

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Emotion Commotion
In Just Grace and the Trouble with Cupcakes, Grace discovers that it’s not easy having two different feelings
in your body at the same time. She makes up new words to describe the combined emotions. Try creating
your own new-feeling words.

SAD + MAD = SMAD

AFRAID + EXCITED = _______________________

MAD + CONFUSED = _______________________

HAPPY + NERVOUS = _______________________

ANNOYED + IMPATIENT = _______________________

EMBARRASSED + ANXIOUS = _______________________

CALM + CONFIDENT = _______________________

SURPRISED + GLAD = _______________________

WORRIED + JEALOUS = _______________________

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Super Sleepover
In Just Grace and the Super Sleepover, Grace F. has a birthday party sleepover in her backyard. Grace and Mimi have
a fabulous time! At your next sleepover, use this handy checklist so you will be 100 percent sure that you and your
friends bring everything you need. Try the fun Sleepover Activities!

Sleepover Checklist
❑ Sleeping bag and pillow ❑ Pajamas
❑ Flashlight ❑ Toothbrush and toothpaste
❑ Favorite stuffed animal ❑ Clothes to wear the next day

SLEEPOVER ACTIVITIES
Paint each other’s fingernails. Make each nail a
different color! Use a toothpick to add polka-dots to
nails or to create a smiley face, or even the earth if
you’re really good at tiny drawing!

Tell spooky stories. When it’s your turn to tell a


scary story, turn on your flashlight and hold it beneath
your chin, shining upward. It will make you look super spooky. Whisper so your listeners have to lean
in to hear you, and then shout “Boo!” at the climax of the story!

Have everyone lie on their back in a circle, with each person’s head resting on someone else’s stomach.
You start the game by saying “Ha!” out loud. The person with her head on your stomach then says
“Ha! Ha!” The next person says “Ha! Ha! Ha!” and so forth around the circle. How many “Ha’s” can
you get through before everyone is laughing for real?

Serve a super-special breakfast the next


morning. Maybe even Grace F.’s Birthday
Pancake Cake, even if it’s not your birthday!
(Skip the candles, in that case.)

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Stuffed Creature
Make your own stuffed creature like Grace and Mimi do at Grace F.’s super sleepover. You can sew your creature if
you’re like Mimi and love to sew, or you can use glue if you’re not in the mood to be that crafty.

Supplies needed:
Muslin fabric
Pins
Scissors
Pillow stuffing
Googly eyes
Felt (sticky-backed and regular)
Yarn
Pompoms
Sparkly sequins
Glitter glue
Markers
Needle and thread or colored embroidery floss and embroidery needle
Instructions
Cut
Print the next page and cut out the pattern. This will be the body of your stuffed creature. Use pins to attach the
pattern to two pieces of muslin placed one on top of the other. Carefully cut around the pattern, making sure you’re
cutting through both pieces of muslin. Remove the pins to reveal your two muslin creature shapes.

Sew
There are three ways to put your creature together: run glue around the edges
and wait for it to dry; use the colorful embroidery floss and sew around the
edges; or ask your mom or dad to use a sewing machine to sew the two
pieces together and then turn them inside out. Whichever method you
choose, be sure you leave a 2-inch opening for your stuffing entry point.

Stuff
Take the pillow stuffing and push it through the 2-inch opening to fill
the body of your creature. You can use the eraser end of a pencil to
work the stuffing into arms and other hard-to-reach sections. Sew or glue the
open section together once your creature is stuffed.

Decorate!
Now that your creature’s body is finished, it’s time to decorate him or her! Give him a fun face with the googly
eyes and other accessories. Does she need a cape? A bow tie? Yarn hair? Be as creative as you like. What will you
name your stuffed creature?

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Stuffed
Creature
Pattern
Here’s the pattern for the body
of your stuffed creature.

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
Color and Play
Have your own Super Sleepover adventures with Grace and Mimi with these fun figures! Print these four pages on
card stock. Cut out the figures and accessories and color them in with markers, crayons, or colored pencils.

Grace in play clothes


Mimi in play clothes

Mr. Scruffers

Mimi in pjs Use these rectangles to make your figures


stand. Insert one in each of the bottom slits.

Grace in pjs
Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
SLEEPOVER TENT
This is the front of your cool sleepover tent! Cut along the border and also on the dotted lines. Fold the doors back
so Grace and Mimi and Mr. Scruffers can go in and out. Cut two rectangles from card stock that are 6x11 inches
(these will be the sides of your tent) and one rectangle that is 6x8 inches (this will be the back wall of your tent).
Attach the walls together with tape. You’ll have a rectangle tent with no roof. Decorate your tent with colorful
rugs and sleeping bags and add drawings to the walls!
Fold to here
Cut
Fold to here

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
TENT ACCESSORIES
Sleeping bags

Rugs for the sleepover tent

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.
SLEEPOVER TR AMPOLINE
Cut a 1x8-inch rectangle of card stock to make the base for your trampoline. Make it into a ring and tape the 1-inch
ends together. Affix this to the bottom of the trampoline with tape.

Trampoline

More rugs for the sleepover tent

Just Grace Activity Kit  Illustrations © 2013 by Charise Mericle Harper. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution.

You might also like