Read Susan Lowell's southwestern version of the three little pigs, "The Three Little Javellinas." Make houses out of natural materials to mimic the adobe, tumbleweed and saguaro rib houses in the story. Make cactuses by gluing toothpicks to precut cactus forms or insert toothpicks into Styrofoam balls. Offer collage materials, such as craft sticks, clay and natural materials, and allow children to form other houses. Paint cut-up egg cartons pink, and add elastic for an instant javellina nose.
"Dusty Locks and the Three Bears," also written by Susan Lowell, recounts the adventures of Dusty Locks, a girl straight out of the Wild West. After reading the story, paint with pine boughs, feathers or honey. Make headbands out of construction paper and add circles for bear ears.
Read "The Little Red Hen" for an exploration of farm life. Add wheat or oatmeal to paint for an interesting sensory art project, sponge paint with stamps or sponges shaped like farm animals, or paint the children's feet yellow to make footprints. Cut out the footprints, once dried, and add an orange beak and a black dot to the big toe to make chicks. Draw feet along the bottom of the footprint. Glue cotton balls to a small, clean Styrofoam meat tray. Cut feet and a head out of black construction paper to make sheep.
Read "B Is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet" by Gleaves Whitney. Make stick horses out of wooden dowels or cardboard rolls and add a horse's head, fashioned out of construction paper or fabric. Cut cowboy hats and vests out of construction paper and brown grocery bags.