PRPG:

Blog

8 Steps to a Peg Doll with The Story of Presidents

February 16, 2023

By: Dr. Candace Byrd

The Valentine’s candy has been eaten and the hearts are put away, now it’s time to teach your little one about Presidents’ Day! This year Presidents’ Day falls on February 20th and we  have the perfect bookish craft pairing for this holiday! Celebrate with The Story of Presidents and this fun peg doll craft below. 

Here’s what you will need: 

  • Wooden Peg Dolls 
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Paint palette or paper plate
  • Cup of water
  • Paper towels
  • Optional: permanent marker, toilet paper roll, cotton balls 

Step 1: Choose which presidents you want to make. We chose George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Barack Obama. You may also want to make a peg doll of your little one so they can imagine themselves as president one day! 

Step 2: Look at the illustrations to decide which details you want to include and what paint colors you will need. 

Step 3: Squirt your paint onto the palette so it’s all ready to go.

Step 4: Start painting! We started with the lighter colors first since they’re easier to cover if you make a mistake. We painted skin tone, George Washington’s hair, and the white shirts. 

Step 5: Clean your brush in your cup of water and wipe dry. Be sure to do this step every time you change paint colors. 

Step 6: Move to the darker colors. Here we painted Abraham Lincoln’s and Barack Obama’s shirts and hair. 

Step 7: After the faces have dried, paint the eyes, nose, and mouth. You can also use a permanent marker for this step. 

Step 8: Use the marker or paint to add any other details you wish. We used red paint to make Barack Obama’s tie and permanent marker to make Abraham Lincoln’s bow tie and buttons. 

Optional: Make accessories for your president peg dolls with whatever materials you have at home. We used a toilet paper roll to make Abraham Lincoln’s famous hat. You could also use a cotton ball to make a wig for George Washington! 

And finally . . . play away! Use your peg dolls to act out pages from the book, from George Washington’s daring fight against tyranny to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address!


The Story of Presidents

This adorably illustrated board book will introduce little readers to 14 American presidents and the accomplishments they are famous for. It begins, “Our flag flies proud; red, white, and blue, Our presidents serve me and serve you. They represent us, rich and poor, Now let’s meet some who came before.” Each page shows the courageous leaders who helped shape our nation, until finally it asks “Who could the next president be? . . . When you grow up, could it be you? 


Dr. Candace Byrd is a mother of two with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She has a passion for sharing high quality picture books and promoting early literacy, play-based learning, and social emotional well-being. 

Instagram: @nestingwiththebyrds