For this week's Family Matinee at home, Angie travels back to the Wizarding World to tell us all about her favorite fantastic beasts — and why you should watch J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and its sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald. These prequels set before the events in the Harry Potter books and films are excellent additions to the Wizarding World, full of magic and fantastic beasts. And you can make your very own Bowtruckle with this week's craft activity!
VIEWING
Both films are available to rent on iTunes, Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is available on HBO Go (with HBO subscription)
If you have a library card with Shreve Memorial Library or Bossier Parish Library, you can also place a hold on these movies and pick up the DVDs at one of the pickup branches.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITY: Bowtruckle craft
You’ll fall in love with Pickett, Newt’s Bowtruckle that insists on staying in the magizoologist’s pocket! Now you can make your very own to carry around wherever you go! Watch the video for craft demonstration.
SUPPLIES:
Floral wire or another posable wire — pipe cleaners will also work!
Floral tape
Scissors
Wire cutters
Two leaves from a fake plant
Marker
INSTRUCTIONS
There’s no wrong way to make a Bowtruckle! They look like twigs, so they can take on any shape that you’d like!
First, cut your wire and begin shaping — since the shape is up to you, some tips to keep in mind are you’ll need arms, two antennas to attach your leaves and legs. Angie recommends three legs to make your Bowtruckle sturdier in posing.
Wrap the wire around your shape to your desired thickness.
Cover the wire structure in floral tape. The tape is self-adhesive, so you just need to pinch it together to make the tape stick. Cover the entire wire shape, making sure no wires stick out.
Hold the stems of your fake leaves against the wire antennas you created, and then wrap floral tape around the stems and wire.
Press firmly on all areas of the tape to make sure it is secure. Try posing your Bowtruckle to make sure he can stand. Adjust if needed.
Add facial features with your marker — give your Bowtruckle eyes and a mouth!
READ THE BOOKS
J.K. Rowling’s book that inspired the film, an illustrated edition and the original screenplay are also available to check out from Shreve Memorial Library and Bossier Parish Library!