Storytime: Stripes and Patterns

Family storytime for ages 3-8 with stories, songs and a craft. (Many ideas from a PUBYAC listserv email.) Myer, Linda. lmyer@marysvillelib.org "'Stripes' storytime - VERY LONG!." 21 Jan 2010. pubyac@lists.lis.illinois.edu (21 Jan 2010).

Books:

 
  Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes: Patterns in Nature by Stephen R. Swinburne


 
Zoe's Hats: A Book of Colors and Patterns by Sharon Lane Holm


 
Horace by Holly Keller  

Additional Books: 

Naughty! by Caroline Castle and pictures by Sam Childs 

Dots, Spots, Speckles, and Stripes by Tana Hoban 

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac and James Bruchac and pictures by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey  

Songs:


 
"Tooty Ta" from Dr. Jean and Friends  


Grandma's Glasses
 
These are grandma’s glasses.
(Make circles around eyes.)
This is grandma’s hat.
(Cup hands and place on head.)
And this is the way she folds her hands and puts them in her lap.
(Fold hands and put them in your lap.)
(Say with a deep voice:)
These are grandpa’s glasses.
(Make circles around eyes.)
This is grandpa’s hat.
(Pretend to put on a hat.)
And this is the way he folds his arms.
(Cross arms and fold.)
Just like that!
 
Craft:

"Striped Zebras" from thebestkidsbooksite.com

Storytime: Poetry

I featured poems and rhymes in this family storytime for children ages 3-8 and their families.

Books:

 
Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw and pictures by Margot Apple



[Selections from] Omnibeasts by Douglas Florian


 Play Day: A Book of Terse Verse by Bruce McMillan

Additional Books: 

Doodle Dandies: Poems that Take Shape by J. Patrick Lewis and pictures by Lisa Desimini 

Go: Poetry in Motion by Dee Lillegard and pictures by Valeri Gorbachev 

Me I Am by Jack Prelutsky and pictures by Christine Davenier 

The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson and pictures by Tracey Campbell Pearson  

Songs:  
I talked about how favorite nursery rhymes are also poems.

Peas Porridge Hot (Traditional)
(chant while clapping)

Peas porridge hot
Peas porridge cold
Peas porridge in the pot
Nine days old
Some like it hot
Some like it cold
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old


Itsy Bitsy Spider  (Traditional)

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.
(walk fingertips together, up like a spider)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
(bring arms down, like rain)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
(arms up and fingers together, making a circle overhead)
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
(walk fingertips again)

Additional verses:
Great big hairy spider (in a loud, growly voice)
Very quiet spider (in a quiet, whisper voice)
 

Craft:

Finger painting

Storytime: Eggs and Chicks

Family storytime for ages 3-8 with a craft.

(My personal holiday storytime policy: Before holiday storytimes I like to ask the group who celebrates which holiday. If all the children celebrate the same holiday I will read applicable books. But, if a family celebrates a different holiday I prefer to avoid all holiday stories. With children this young it's too difficult for them to understand holidays they do not celebrate, so I prefer to leave them out. Even traditions within the same holiday can differ enough to confuse children. I won't throw in a book for one family out of obligation that the other children don't understand just for the sake of inclusiveness. I won't let my kids sit with glazed-over eyes and confused expressions even for one book. Now, if my kids were older I would use it as a cultural opportunity. But, with preschoolers and toddlers? Sorry, no.)

Books:


 
Whose Chick Are You? By Nancy Tafuri


 
The Perfect Nest By Catherine Ford and pictures by John Manders





Duck & Goose By Tad Hills

Easter Books (if appropriate for group):



Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs By Janet Morgan Stoeke




Max Counts His Chickens By Rosemary Wells

Additional Books: 

Hurry! Hurry! By Eve Bunting and pictures by Jeff Mack 

First the Egg By Laura Vaccaro Steeger 

Horton Hatches the Egg By Dr. Seuss 

The Cow That Laid an Egg By Andy Cutbill and pictures by Russell Ayto  

Songs and Fingerplays:


"I Know a Chicken" From Whaddaya Think of That by Laurie Berkner (with egg shakers, naturally)
 

Unhatched Egg

Make a noise like a rooster.
 (Crow)
Make a noise like a hen.
(Cluck)
Make a noise like a chick.
(Peep)
Make a noise like an unhatched egg.
(Silence)

Good! And now you're ready to listen to the next story!
From thebestkidsbooksite.com
 

I'm a Little Chickie  
(To the Tune of: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little chickie,
(crouch down inside your egg)
Ready to hatch,
Pecking at my shell,
(Pecking motion)
Scratch, scratch, scratch!
(scratching motion)
When I crack it open,
Out I'll jump
(jump out of shell)
Fluff my feathers,
Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!
From thebestkidsbooksite.com  

Craft: Easter Chick in Shell From thebestkidsbooksite.com