Adopt a Book Pet!

One of the earliest ways we learn about caring for others is through spending time with animals. Who can forget Henry Huggins’ love for Ribsy, Peter Hatcher’s attachment to Dribble, or Lyra Belacqua’s symbiotic relationship with her daemon Pantalaimon? Children’s literature is filled with living creatures that play incredibly important and formative roles in their owners' lives.

You are invited to create an animal from literature using your favorite craft and send him to your partner with official adoption papers. Your pet can be any type of animal that exists in children’s literature, either real or imaginary! The animal should be somehow significant to your chosen book, though it doesn’t have to specifically be a literal “pet.”

You will send your partner:

1. One Handmade Animal--Please choose from ONE of the following to make:
   --Pet Plush (may be neatly sewn, knitted, or crocheted, minimum 6 inches long. Glue should not be the primary means of holding your plush together.)
   --Pet Embroidery (should be a neatly finished piece in the form of a mounted or framed wall hanging, tea towel, handkerchief, etc. Please no bookmarks this time, however.)
   --Pet Portrait (original illustration by you: may be hand-drawn or painted on nice paper/mini canvas/fabric/etc, minimum 4 x 6 inches and finished in a frame)

2. An official Pet Adoption Certificate transferring ownership over to your partner.

3. Letter of Adoption Send a creative letter talking about the pet and congratulating its new owner.

Items must be neatly made by you using quality materials; please be somewhat adept in the craft medium in which you choose to make your pet. Attention to detail is important, but your animal doesn't have to look exactly like it does in the book, just something inspired by it. Frames may be embroidery hoops, simple painted wooden craft shop ones, thrifted, vintage, store-bought, etc.

This swap is sender’s choice, so you will have an opportunity to share a book and craft you love with someone else, plus be surprised by a fun animal adoption packet by your partner!

This swap was inspired by an Adopt a Monster Plush swap hosted by @weeatcrayons in another group awhile back. :) Photo of the embroidered White Rabbit is from kloin on Etsy.