The listening picnic
Draw different favourites, take turns and make room on one big blanket.
10–15 minutes · Pack page 1
OFF THE PAGE, INTO YOUR DAY
Free printable activities
for ages 4–8.
Five reading, drawing and storytelling activities to enjoy together. Download the free A4 or US Letter pack, or choose one little adventure. No sign-up.
ALL FIVE ACTIVITIES · ONE FREE DOWNLOAD
A little pack of possibilities.
Eight pages to draw, imagine and play together. For children aged 4–8 and their grown-ups, with simple picture cues and plenty of space for their own ideas.
Inside: the listening picnic, make a story, conversation cards, story circle and Christmas welcome.
8 pages per pack · Print at 100% / Actual size · Black and white works beautifully · No sign-up
Choose a printable activity.
Start with the idea your child likes today. There is no order to follow and no need to finish the whole pack. These page numbers help you print just the activity you want.
Make a little story
Invent a character and turn a small muddle into a four-part adventure.
15–20 minutes · Pack page 2
Reading conversation cards
Pick one open question and follow what your child notices in a story.
One question at a time · Pack pages 3–4
A little story circle
Share the included story opening, then plan an imaginary village green.
10–15 minutes · Pack pages 5–6
A little Christmas welcome
Read a festive story opening and invent a welcome for a new visitor.
10–15 minutes · Pack pages 7–8
Make it your own: for a shorter turn, point, talk or draw one idea and let a grown-up write any words. For a bigger adventure, swap roles, add a speech bubble or try a different ending. Follow your child’s interest; anyone may pass.
A few things parents ask.
What ages are these activities for?
They are designed for children aged 4–8 sharing time with a grown-up. Choose the version that suits your child: talking, pointing and drawing all count, and independent reading or writing is not required.
What do we need, and do we need to buy a book?
A pencil, paper and a little time together are enough. Crayons and toys are optional. No book purchase is needed: the story circle and Christmas activity include their opening excerpts. Try the conversation cards with a book you already have or our free story openings.
How do I print only one activity?
Use an individual activity’s PDF, or choose its page numbers from the complete pack using the guide above. Select A4 or US Letter to match your paper, portrait, 100% / Actual size and one page per sheet. Black-and-white printing is fine. Both complete packs contain eight pages.
Can we use these without a printer?
Yes. Read the instructions on the individual activity page, then use plain paper or tell and act out your ideas. Four hand-drawn boxes are enough for the story-making activity.
Can I use the pack in a classroom or library?
Yes. These website activities are free for families, classrooms and libraries. Keep the Willowwick credit on printed copies and do not resell the sheets. No sign-up, child’s name, photograph or upload is needed.
A FREE FAMILY ACTIVITY · WEBSITE ORIGINAL
The listening picnic.
You’ll need paper, a pencil and a few minutes together. An imaginary picnic works just as well as a real one.
- Choose your picnic. You and your grown-up each draw a favourite, then invent a silly surprise together.
- Take a listening turn. Let everyone explain one choice without being interrupted.
- Spot a difference. Find something you chose differently. Ask, “What do you like about it?”
- Make room. Draw one big picnic blanket with everyone’s choices on it.
There’s no winning answer. You can like different things and still share the same picnic.
Ready-to-print PDFs:A4 PDFUS Letter PDF
All five activities, 8 pages:Complete A4 packComplete US Letter pack
Preview the printable sheet. A4 or US Letter · Portrait · 100% / Actual size · One page per sheet. Turn off browser headers and footers. Colour is optional. Choose “Save as PDF” in the print menu to keep a copy.
A free printable HTML sheet for families, classrooms and libraries. Print and use without resale, keeping the Willowwick credit. It is separate from the books.
Bring a story to the picnic.
In Everyone Must Agree Day, Rosie discovers that people can have different ideas. In The Bigger Table, the family explores making room for everyone. Read an opening excerpt together, then ask: “What would you bring to our picnic, and why?”
The stories are intended for ages 4–8 and shared reading. For more ideas, choose a story with our guide for grown-ups.
A LITTLE MORE TO EXPLORE
Keep the story going.
A CHRISTMAS MOMENT
A little Christmas reading time.
Share the opening of The Missing Christmas Star, wonder about a spare chair and draw a welcome for an imaginary visitor. Free to read or print.
Try the Christmas reading activityREAD AND TALK
Questions with room to wonder.
Open-ended conversation starters, with a question to try alongside each Willowwick story.
Find a conversation starterREAD TOGETHER
A little story circle.
One excerpt, a shared drawing and room for different ideas. A flexible guide for families, classrooms and library groups, with simple ways to join in.
Try a story circleIMAGINE AND MAKE
A little adventure of your own.
Choose a character, add a small muddle and make a story together. Tell it, draw it or print the activity.
Make a little storyWillowwick · Read, wonder, make
The listening picnic
Different favourites. One big blanket.
Bring a pencil and your imagination. Crayons are welcome too!
- Choose: you and your grown-up each draw a picnic favourite. Invent a wonderfully silly surprise together for the third box!
- Listen: take turns explaining your choices. Grown-ups join in too. Ask, “What do you like about it?” Let each other finish.
- Make room: fill the big blanket with everyone’s ideas.
My favourite
Your favourite
Our silly surprise
Our everyone-welcome picnic blanket
Add everyone’s choices. Leave a little space for a new guest.
One thing I learned about your choice…
Play again: a tiny dragon joins the picnic. What might they bring?
Make it simpler: each person points to or draws just one choice.