MORE Activity Kit

MORE
978-0-547-61

By I. C. Springman
083-2

Illustrated by Brian Lies

One magpie, lots of stuff, and a few friendly mice show young readers that less
is more—a lot more.
Through spare text and glorious illustrations, this innovative picture book
begs the question: when is MORE more than enough? A magpie picks up trinket
after bauble after doodad and stores them all in a multitude of over -crowded
nests. A team of well-intentioned mice step in to help their friend see that “want”
doesn’t equal “need,” and that “enough” is better than “too much.” The subtle
message of overconsumption and conservation will resonate with youngsters,
who’ll find more and more in this book with every reading.

plore
ies in t h is k it to k. ex
e ac t i v it boo
Use t h r y specia l
a n y facets of t h is ve
m
t he
Magpie Facts
• Magpies are found across the globe: western North
America, northwestern Africa, Australia, and Eurasia.

• There are at least fifteen different species of magpies. They are most closely
related to crows, but are much more colorful with their black and white plumage
and iridescent blue-green wing tips and tails.

• The scientific name for the magpie is Pica Pica.

Magpies are omnivores—they eat a variety of
fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, eggs, and small animals
and reptiles.

• Magpies are notorious for taking shiny objects and

stashing them in their nests.

• In China and Korea, the magpie is a symbol of good luck and good fortune. In the
United Kingdom, one magpie is bad luck, but seeing two magpies is considered
good luck.

• Magpies mate for life. Female magpies lay

from five to eight eggs and the eggs hatch
after about three weeks. Magpie chicks
are able to fly when they’re between
three and four weeks old.

• Adult magpies are 16–18 inches in size

and they have a 20–24 inch wingspan.

MORE Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Brian Lies. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution. 2
Finders Keepers
Can you find these objects hidden in the magpie’s nests?
Marble Key Coin Toy car Plug
Lock Pencil Golf ball Can opener Block
Watches Toothbrush Fork Tape measure Thimble
MORE Illustration copyright © 2012 by Brian Lies. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution. 3
Word Search
The key words and phrases from More that are listed at the bottom
of this page are hidden within the letters below. Words can appear
backward, frontward, and diagonally. Can you find them all?

M S H B J G V B O P E H O S Q B T T V S
B U S M Q N F T Y A V E C U E Q V I O R
G A C E W I T E W N E K R P E I K M U O
P P O H L H X W Z R R A J B B Z E H I N
J L E L T T W J H C Y H G F R T P P Z O
R I E C M O O L N C T C Z X H F A R B K
S X O N M N O L D Y H O M I E N O U G H
I W N S T O L M A P I E N A G Y Q N G T
E E Z A I Y J X U Y N G H C U M T I B A
O P J D P A W Q O C G E O J V B D B T Q
S X X E B Z M I I P H W X O Z O O X L J
H A V A L E E M W U A S A C B X V A P U
H E E P O S B R V K R S D T Z A R A Z C
P Q H V N Y S V O A Z X P A M E N S A Q
S G D G Z M W Y W M E E W F V V E C F H
X S Y J A T C K K F A U C E W D L I U U
U X L Z X R A V W M V W S K L D F A T V
W L H C T Y N H Q A I F G E J Z G F K I
E P R Y H N F Q T D U U S R F E A E A I
R F P H Y E Q T D H M S B E Q K M W H F

A BIT MUCH LESS PLENTY

A FEW LOTS SEVERAL
ENOUGH MORE SOMETHING
EVERYTHING MUCH TOO MUCH A LOT LESS
NOTHING

MORE Illustration copyright © 2012 by Brian Lies. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution. 4
Treasuring the Nest
Magpies love to stash found objects in their nests. Draw your own magpie treasure in
the nests below. How many objects will you put in each nest?

A few
Several

Lots
Way too much

MORE Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Brian Lies. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution. 5
Recycled Art
MAGPIES ARE NATURE’S RECYCLERS! They take bits and pieces of objects left
by humans and re-purpose them. You can be a recycler too, and use what you find to
create an original piece of art.

• Find a treasure box—an empty shoe box or tissue box works fine. Label
your box and put it in a safe place so it doesn’t accidentally get recycled.

• Look around your house and yard for any small “treasures.” Think like a
magpie! Treasures can be just about anything—foil wrappers, a random
puzzle piece, or a broken bit of jewelry. Look in the backs of junk
drawers and on the floor of your closet. Add any treasures you
find to your treasure box.

• When you’re outside, keep an eye peeled for more items to add to your
collection. Never pick up anything sharp—if you’re unsure, ask an adult
for help. Always wash your hands after picking up objects outside.

• Once your collection is substantial, have an adult look through your

treasure box and make sure there’s nothing there that’s important
to keep.

• Next, find a form for your artwork. What can you attach your treasure
to? A small wooden picture frame? An old jewelry box? You can cut
cardboard into an interesting shape like a star or a heart. Make
sure mom or dad approves of your form.

• Attach your treasures to your form with strong craft glue.

When you’re finished, you’ll have a
truly unique piece of recycled art.
Display it proudly!

MORE Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Brian Lies. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution. 6
Feed the Birds
REDUCE! REUSE! RECYCLE! Give an empty milk jug new life, and feed your
neighborhood birds at the same time.

• Rinse an empty gallon or quart plastic milk container and let it dry. Recycle
the cap. With an adult’s help, cut large openings on the two sides of the
container opposite the handle. (A box cutter works well to start the job; finish
with scissors.) Be sure to leave at least 2 inches of jug beneath your openings so
your birdseed will stay in the container.

• Stretch a pencil or stick across the openings and secure it to the section in the
middle with twine. This will form a perch for larger birds.

• Tie another length of twine to the middle of a pen or thick stick. Insert the
pen or stick into one of your side openings and thread the end of the twine
through the top of the jug. The pen or stick will fit securely across the neck of
the jug as you pull the twine up, creating a sturdy hanger for your birdfeeder.
Attach the top of the twine to a tree branch and fill the bottom of your jug
with birdseed.

• Tell your fine feathered friends

that dinner is served!

MORE Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Brian Lies. All rights reserved. This page may be photocopied for free distribution. 7
MORE books by Brian Lies

Bats at the Ballgame Bats at the Beach Bats at the Library

978-0-547-24970-4 hardcover
Do you think humans are the
only ones who enjoy America’s
favorite pastime? Grab your
bat — the wooden kind—and your
mitt, and join these captivating
bats as they flutter off to watch
their all-stars compete.
978-0-618-55744-8 hardcover
978-0-547-55437-2 lap board book
Pack your buckets, banjos, and
blankets—don’t forget the moon-
tan lotion—and wing with this
bunch of fuzzy bats to where
foamy sea and soft sand meet.
978-0-618-99923-1 hardcover
Join the free-for -all fun at the
public library with these book-
loving bats! Shape shadows on
walls, frolic in the water fountain,
and roam the book-filled halls
until it’s time for everyone, young
and old, to settle down into the
enchantment of story time.

Brian Lies (rhymes with “cheese!”) is the author and/or illustrator

of more than twenty-five children’s books, including the New York
Times bestselling Bats books. Brian was born in Princeton, New Jersey.
After graduating from Brown University, he moved to Boston to study
painting and drawing at the Boston Museum School, also known as the
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He lives in Massachusetts
with his wife and daughter and two cats. When he’s not creating books
and art, he enjoys bicycling, woodworking, reading, and tending his big
vegetable garden.