Story Window Storytime Blog: November 2006
Peek inside for storytime ideas! Wilmette Librarians share suggestions for age-appropriate books, rhymes, songs, and crafts.
November 22, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
Holidays for children involve being with family and eating good food. We talked about upcoming Thanksgiving family feasts that would most likely include turkey and maybe some macaroni and cheese for the kids. Another important aspect for Thanksgiving is giving thanks and feeling grateful for what we have. Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim provides examples of nice things children can be thankful for. A funny version of this standard Thanksgiving song, but in this case the turkey has a starring role, with cute illustrations, is Over the River:A Turkey's Tale by Derek Anderson. We read the big book Bear Snores on by Karma Wilson that explores how bears hibernate through the long winter.
Posted by Sue at 10:16 AM
Dinosaurs Like Food
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
We smiled as we noticed what terrible manners the dinosaurs displayed in How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food by Jane Yolen, but happily the dinosaurs decide that eating with good manners is important after all! Children like to find things in pictures which they can do in ABC T-Rex by Bernard Most, a fun game for kids. Reading through this alphabet book, the kids discovered many foods that they and the dinosaurs enjoy eating. Using the flannel board song, "Two Little Eyes to Look Around," the children enjoyed identifying their ears, eyes, nose and mouth.
Posted by Sue at 9:58 AM
November 21, 2006
Thanksgiving Storytime
(For 2.5-3.5 Year Olds)
We did a lot of talking this week. What are the occasions that we say "thank you"? What good things in life do we have that we are thankful for? What do we do to celebrate Thanksgiving? And what are our favorite Thanksgiving foods?
Our storybooks:
- Thank You, by Kelly Doudna. A concept book about the occasions we might say "thank you."
- Thanks for Thanksgiving, by Julia Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette. A list poem of things children might be thankful for.
- 1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving, by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Robin Kramer. A counting book about a large family preparing and cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner.
Songs and Fingerplays:
- "If You're Thankful and You Know It" - Sing it just like the old favorite, but in the third verse sing, "If you're thankful and you know it, say 'thank you!'"
- Rhyme #1
I am a turkey, big and fat (make a big stomach with your arms)
I spread my tail (spread arms), and I walk like that (waddle side to side)
Each day's corn I will not miss (rub stomach)
And when I talk (point to mouth), I sound like this: (point to ear)
Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!
- Rhyme #2
The turkey is a funny bird (hook thumbs and spread fingers like a turkey)
His head goes wobble wobble (wobble your head)
And all he knows is just one word (hold up one finger)
Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!
Posted by Lisa at 2:48 PM
November 9, 2006
Pizza Storytime
(For 2.5-3.5 Year Olds)
Who loves pizza? Everybody! Or just about. Our pizza theme was a hit with the kids the week. Our picture books:
- Pizza at Sally's, by Monica Wellington. Sally the pizza maker has a busy day. This book has bright, friendly illustrations with lots of details.
- Hi, Pizza Man!, by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel. How do you greet the pizza man? Or a pizza kitty? Or a pizza dinosaur? Can you say audience participation?
- The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza), by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Amy Walrod. A new take on the familiar tale. I paraphrased a lot for the sake of brevity.
We sang a pizza-making song to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." Here are some verses. You can, of course, improvise as you like!
1. This is the way we mix the dough, mix the dough, mix the dough
This is the way we mix the dough to make a pizza pie.
2. This is the way we knead the dough...
3. This is the way we roll the dough...
4. This is the way we toss the dough...
5. This is the way we spread the sauce...
6. This is the way we sprinkle the cheese...
7. This is the way our pizza bakes, pizza bakes, pizza bakes
Take it out and eat a slice, our yummy pizza pie!
We also played with the scarves again, pretending to make a pizza. Mix, knead, stretch, toss and twirl the dough (scarf)! Then add sauce, cheese, and toppings. Put in the oven and count to 10. Then take it out, cut yourself a slice, and try it! How's that taste?
By the way, did you know that you can see pizza makers toss and twirl the dough at Homemade Pizza in Evanston? And they always catch it!
Posted by Lisa at 1:45 PM
November 8, 2006
Riding Around our Town
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
Racing cars are exciting, especially ones driven by big dogs, giraffes and hippos! As the animals drove their cars around the race track, we did the hand gestures and we sang a new version of the classic song "Wheels on the Bus" in the very entertaining book Wheels on the Race Car by Zane. It is fun to imitate all the various sounds of vehicles such as cars, trains, buses, and fire engines. Can You Choo Choo?, which is nicely illustrated by Wojtowycz, encourages kids to pretend, chime in and be noisy! I asked the children about the sounds that rain makes on their windows as we read the big story Who is Tapping at My Window by Deming.
Posted by Sue at 9:19 AM
November 2, 2006
Fall Storytime
(For 2.5-3.5 Year Olds)
What time of year is it? Is it fall? Is it autumn? After this week's storytime, all of the kids will tell you that they mean the same thing: leaves changing color and falling from the trees, cold weather, and Halloween! This week's books:
- Fall Leaves Fall, written by Zoe Hall and illustrated by Shari Halpern. Another winner from this dynamic duo.
- Nuts to You!, by Lois Ehlert. A curious squirrel gets in the house. Only nuts can get him out again.
- Clifford's First Autumn, by Norman Bridwell. Just about every kid knows Clifford and loves to hear about his adventures.
SCARVES are a simple yet versatile prop that can be worked into many storytimes. This week, we pretended that our scarves were beautiful fall leaves. We held them high in our branches. When the wind blew hard, the leaves fell to the ground. Then we could kick them, toss them in the air, rake them, and jump on them! You can improvise as kids get into the spirit.
We also used our scarves while singing "Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down" (to the tune of "London Bridge"), and of course after Nuts to You! we had to sing that preschool favorite "Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Swish Your Bushy Tail." For craft time, we made fall pictures.
Posted by Lisa at 1:21 PM
November 1, 2006
Halloween Costumes
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
Several children were dressed up in Halloween costumes, setting an exciting mood for our Halloween storytime. We talked about trick or treating and dressing up as I read stories about cute Halloween costumes, Where's Sam by Gott and Sweets and Treats by Parker. The Halloween cat in the story Moonlight by Rylant enticed the children with bright pictures of pumpkins and a curious cat! We did a famous fingerplay about Halloween. Hold up your five fingers, pointing to each finger:
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."
The second one said, "There's witches in the air."
The third one said, "But we don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."
The fifth one said, "It's Halloween fun!"
And whooo went the wind, out went the light, and the five little
pumpkins ran out of sight. (Hide your five fingers behind your back.)
Posted by Sue at 10:09 AM
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