Happy Hollisters fans, are you feeling crafty? We came up with a few ideas to complement The Happy Hollisters books for National Craft Month, which is celebrated each year in March. If the spring air is giving you some extra energy, give one of these crafts a try and show us what you make. These suggestions are perfect for homeschooling families or anyone who is feeling creative!
Let’s Go Fly a Kite
The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach (volume 3)
“Oh boy, I’ll be able to fly a kite in the meet!” Pete exclaimed. “Daddy, may I earn some kite material by helping you at The Trading Post?”
“Sure thing. Come down with me after lunch.”
Pete helped his father for more than a day, and in return got kite sticks, paper, and lots of string and glue . . . That evening he worked with the supplies he had brought from The Trading Post and by bedtime had put together a large, good-looking kite.
She Cements Sea Shells By the Sea Shore
The Happy Hollisters at Circus Island (volume 8)
“And here,” Miss Sally said, “is my butterfly collection.” She pointed to an ebony shelf upon which were more than a hundred exquisitely-colored butterflies.
“Why, they’re not real,” Ricky exclaimed. “They’re made of shells!”
“You’re right,” the woman admitted.
“That isn’t all,” Rita told the Hollisters. “Look over here.” She led them to an old sea chest which stood in the corner of the room. “These are Miss Sally’s birds.”
Poised on the chest as though ready for flight were some fifty birds fashioned from shells.
Author Andrew Svenson (aka Jerry West) and his staff scoured multiple newspapers for ideas to use in his books. This clipping was in his research file for The Happy Hollisters and Circus Island and likely was his inspiration for Miss Sally and the figurines she crafted from Florida seashells.
Sew Your Own Way
The Happy Hollisters and the Merry-Go-Round Mystery (volume 10)
Pam went to the sunroom where Gram had already started work on the rag dolls. Holly and Sue had cut-out front and back pieces on their laps.
“We leave the head open,” Gram said, “so we can put the cotton stuffing inside.”
Sue had trouble managing the needle, thread, and thimble all at the same time. But she worked hard and finally she cried out, “Look, mine’s all finished.”
“Fine!” Gram replied. “Bring it here, and I’ll show you how to stuff it.”
As Sue picked up the rag doll, her own skirt came with it!
Pam laughed. “You’ve sewed the doll to your dress!” she said.
Schnitzelmeister Students
The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery (volume 24)
“If we find an old Schnitzelmeister,” Ricky said, “maybe he can teach us how to carve little birds and animals and things.”
Uncle Russ suggested that they might start practicing right away. “Soap carving would be a good way to learn,” he suggested.
Mrs. Hollister provided cakes of soap and some small knives which were sharp enough, but not dangerous for the children to use. Pam spread newspapers on the kitchen table, and they all sat down to receive instructions from their uncle.
First the cartoonist drew a little figure on each cake of soap. Then he showed the children how to cut away the soap in tiny bits. “Be sure to follow the outline,” he cautioned, “and don’t cut too deeply, or you might break the soap.”
Additional suggestions for crafts inspired by Happy Hollisters books:
Puppets: The Happy Hollisters and the Punch and Judy Mystery (volume 27)
Beaded Jewelry: The Happy Hollisters and the Indian Treasure (volume 4)
Pine Cone Bird Feeder: The Happy Hollisters at Circus Island (volume 8)
Paper Snowflakes: The Happy Hollisters at Snowflake Camp (volume 6)
Shoebox Totem Pole: The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Totem Faces (volume 15)
Paper-Plate Crowns: The Happy Hollisters and the Castle Rock Mystery (volume 23)
You can find multiple tutorials and how-to instructions on the internet for these and other crafts. Let us know if you have other ideas for book/craft tie-ins that we haven’t thought of! Please be sure to send us photos of your completed projects so that we can share them in our email newsletter. You can email them to support@thehappyhollisters or post them on social media (be sure to tag us!)
A Little Red Hat of Your Own
The Happy Hollisters (volume 1)
Everyone who shares a project with us before September 1, 2025, will be entered in a drawing for a one-of-a-kind little red hat lovingly made by one of Andrew Svenson’s granddaughters-in-law!
