Last week was Children’s Authors and Ilustrator’s Week, so for Outdoor Musical Storytime, I decided to highlight some local (or formerly local) children’s book authors and illustrators. (If you’re interested in doing a similar theme, here’s a list of some children’s authors from each state on http://authorbystate.blogspot.com/).

Here’s what we did:

Books:

Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff

I discovered too late that Ashley Wolff has moved back to her native Vermont, but she used to live in San Francisco. The kids really enjoyed this story about from the Baby Bear series, describing the different things that Baby Bear sees for the first time (leaves, the sun, butterflies, etc.) to introduce him to different colors.

A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris

Both Mac Barnett (who lives in Oakland) and Shawn Harris (who lives in Half Moon Bay) have done author programs for our libraries. This is a really simple book that follows a polar bear, who starts out invisible against the snow and then emerges to go on a trek down to the water to play with friends. The families all enjoyed the illustrations, and it was a lot of fun to read aloud.

Lion Lessons by Jon Agee

Jon Agee, a San Francisco author/illustrator, has also done author visits at our libraries and local schools. This story follows a little boy as he tries to learn his Lion Diploma in seven easy steps. The kids had fun roaring, stretching, and showing their claws along with the book.

Songs & Rhymes:

Rainbow Round Me by Ruth Pelham

We sang this one after reading Baby Bear Sees Blue. I asked the kids to suggest things they might see outside their window. We had a green tree, a blue jay, a red pizza, a pink bird, and a blue dog:

When I [C] look outside my [G7] window,
There’s a world of color I [C] see.
Fiddle-dee-dee, [F] outside my [C] window 
There’s a [G7] world of color I [C] see.

CHORUS:
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 

And the [C] tree outside my [G7] window,
Is as green as green can [C] be.
Fiddle-dee-dee, [F] outside my [C] window 
It’s as [G7] green as green can [C] be.

CHORUS:
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 
[F] Rainbow, [C] rainbow, [G7] rainbow ’round [C] me. 

And the [C] bird outside my [G7] window,
Is as blue as blue can [C] be.
Fiddle-dee-dee, [F] outside my [C] window 
It’s as [G7] blue as blue can [C] be.
And the tree is [G7] green as green can [C] be.

Going on a Bear Hunt

This is a great way to give the kids a chance to move around in between books.  I like to ham it up by pretending to get a grasshopper stuck in my shirt, wiping the mud off my feet, and shaking myself dry from the lake.  There are lots of variations, but this the script I use, with the kids repeating every line:

We’re going on a bear hunt!
(We’re going on a bear hunt!)
It’s a beautiful day!
(It’s a beautiful day!)
We’re not scared!
(We’re not scared!)

We’re coming to some grass.
(We’re coming to some grass).
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it.
(Have to go through it.)
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! (Rubbing hands together)

We’re coming to some mud.
(We’re coming to some mud.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it.
(Have to go through it).
Squilch! Squelch! Squilch! Squelch! (Clapping hands together).

We’re coming to a lake.
(We’re coming to a lake.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to swim across it.
(Have to swim across it.)
Splish! Splash! Splish! Splash!

We’re coming to a cave.
(We’re coming to a cave.)
Can’t go over it.
(Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it.
(Can’t go under it.)
Have to go inside.
(Have to go inside.)
Tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…
It’s dark in here…
(It’s dark in here…)
It’s cold in here…
(It’s cold in here…)
Two big eyes…it’s a bear!

Run!
Swim across the lake!
Run through the mud!
Run through the grass!
Into the house!
Slam the door!
Lock it!
We’re never going on a bear hunt again!

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Solomon Linda

We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. Here’s a YouTube link to the version by The Tokens if you’re not familiar with the tune (there are lots of variations):

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

[C] In the jungle, the [F] mighty jungle,
The [C] lion sleeps to- [G7]night.
In the [C] jungle the [F] quiet jungle,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

Near the [C] village, the [F] peaceful village,
The [C] lion sleeps tonight.
Near the [C] village, the [F] quiet village,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

Hush, my [C] darling, don’t [F] fear, my darling,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.
Hush, my [C] darling, don’t [F] fear, my darling,
The [C] lion sleeps to-[G7]night.

[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.
[C] Wee-ee-ee-ee ee [F] ee-ee-ee-ee [C] wee-oh weem a-[G7]way.

Stay & Play: Salt and Paint Winter Scene

I got this idea from Stay At Home Educator. Before storytime, I printed and cut out polar bears from this page on Coloring Home.

For the Stay & Play, I put out white paper, sponge brushes, and bowls with a small amount of white, purple, and blue tempera paint. I also put out the polar bear pictures, and bowls of Epsom salt.

The kids painted their paper with the sponge brushes, then stuck their polar bears on while the paint was wet, and sprinkled the salt on top. A few kids also added the stickers we gave out at the end of storytime (like the snowman in the picture above). Anything with paint is always a bit hit (although also very messy!)

What are your favorite books by the local authors and illustrators in your area? Please share them in the comments below.