You’re invited to a Mad Hatter Tea Party

Published in 1865, Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has inspired many different retellings of the topsy-turvy world a little girl named Alice finds at the bottom of a rabbit hole.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library last week hosted its own adventure inspired by this beloved book. Upon entering the library’s Wonderland, participants received a series of clues to solve that guided them from one activity to the next. Participants played croquet with the Mad Hatter, did several fun crafts with Alice, painted roses red in the Queen’s Garden and had tea or lemonade and cookies with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

Make your own mini Mad Hatter’s Tea Party headband! And don’t forget to checkout one of these great retellings of Alice in Wonderland at the library:

‘Steam Tales: Alice in Wonderland,’ by Katie Dicker

Carroll’s original work has been adapted for young readers with new accompanying artwork. At the end of each chapter is an activity that is tied to an event that just occurred in the book. Readers can enjoy over 20 puzzles, experiments, and other STEAM related activities.

‘Alice in Wonderland,’ adapted by Lewis Hefland

Middle grade to older readers will enjoy this edition of the Alice in Wonderland story. Using Carroll’s original text, Alice’s adventure is beautifully illustrated and retold as a graphic novel.

‘Little Master Carroll Alice in Wonderland: a Colors Primer,’ by Jennifer Adams

Babies and toddlers can even enjoy this edition of Alice in Wonderland. Children can learn their colors while being introduced to Carroll’s characters with bold illustrations of the Red Queen and the White Rabbit.

Craft time!

For this craft you will need:

1. Cut one piece of cardstock in half, length wise.

2. On one of the halves of paper draw a circle with a 3-inch diameter. Find a jar or glass to trace if possible.

3. On a full sheet of cardstock draw another circle with a 5.5-inch diameter.

4. Cut out each circle.

5. Roll the paper, creating a 3-inch tube and secure the ends of the tube with hot glue.

6. Add hot glue around the rim of the tube and gently place the 3-inch circle on top.

5. Cut a .5 x 11-inch strip out of the third piece of cardstock, which is a different color than the first two pieces.

6. Add hot glue to the length of the strip and then wrap it around the bottom of the tube. This creates the top part of the hat.

7. Glue the hat to the 5.5-inch circle, which is the brim of the hat.

8. Glue the whole hat to the head band.

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