5 Activities for The Very Lonely Firefly Book
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I had to include The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle in my book-based summer activities for kids because my own children spent so many summer nights chasing fireflies. Fireflies and summer go together perfectly.
The story begins with the birth of a brand new firefly. He is all alone and goes in search of other fireflies. He is attracted to many different light sources, but it takes quite a few tries before he finds firefly friends.
Read The Very Lonely Firefly and then do the activities with your kids.
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Very Lonely Firefly Activities
Make a Glowing Firefly Craft
This cute craft pairs perfectly with The Very Lonely Firefly! Kids can make their own firefly using leftover plastic Easter eggs and a battery-operated tea light.
Little kids might like to use this craft as a little night light . . . or they can act out The Very Lonely Firefly.
Have a Glow in the Dark Hunt
One of the things that makes fireflies so special is their ability to glow in the dark. Let’s have fun with that by having a glow-in-the-dark hunt!
To have a glow in the dark hunt you will need:
- Something to hide (my family used wrapped candy)
- Glow in the dark tape
- A dark place (outside at night or a dark room)
- LIGHT UP ANYTHING – Halloween Decorations. Instantly transform any object or space with our fluorescent glow tape from Lockport. Mark your belongings…
- GLOW RADIANTLY THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT – Keep everything illuminated until sunrise. Our luminous tape shines visibly from a long distance, helping you find…
- FAST CHARGE, LONG-LASTING GLOW – Harness the power of any standard or UV light source. Our fluorescent tape quickly absorbs energy, reaching a full charge…
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
All you need to do is charge the special tape by letting it sit in the sun. Then attach it to whatever you are going to hide. Hide it whenever you are ready and let your kids find it after dark.
This is a fun activity for The Very Lonely Firefly if you live somewhere without many of these illuminating bugs.
Get Ready to Catch Fireflies
When my kids were younger they loved catching fireflies. As soon as it got dark outside, they would run around the backyard trying to catch the flashing insects. It can be harder than it looks. After all, fireflies can fly higher than little arms can reach.
Our house rule was that they could catch fireflies to look at, but they couldn’t keep them. They would put them in a little jar for a few minutes while they looked at the insects up close. Then they would release them so they could be with their little bug families.
The firefly population is decreasing, so we want to make sure we release them in the same condition we caught them in.
Get ready to catch fireflies as a The Very Lonely Firefly activity by preparing a jar ahead of time.
Choose a clear glass mason jar and puncture a few holes in the lid. Kids can decorate the lid if they would like. I don’t recommend decorating the jar itself. Decorations on the jar might interfere with the ability to see inside the jar clearly.
Then place a damp coffee filter or paper towel in the jar. This keeps the environment humid to protect the firefly.
Now you are ready to catch fireflies! Try using a flashlight to attract these flying insects. They really are attracted to light, just like in the book!
Make Collage Art
The artwork in The Very Lonely Firefly was created by making a torn paper collage. Many kids are not familiar with torn paper collages. I know in my house we usually gravitate towards paint for art projects, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
The Eric Carle website offers a great guide to help kids create their own torn paper collage art project.
Tip: Anytime you are looking for ideas to complement a book, check out the author’s website. Sometimes they have discussion questions, extra information about the topic, or themed activities available.
Try a Free Unit Study About Fireflies
Want to learn more about fireflies? Try the free unit study all about fireflies from Rabbit Trails Curriculum!
The Rabbit Trails curriculum is a fun choice for elementary-age kiddos because it uses high-quality books as a way to introduce topics. In this free firefly unit study, kids will read great books, learn all about fireflies, and complete a cute craft.
Related: Rabbit Trails Curriculum Review
For more awesome book-based ideas, check out the Summer Activities for Kids series!
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