I’ve been reading it at preschools this month, and it’s been a big hit (yesterday, one little boy begged me to read it again, and then asked if I could bring him all of Pigeon books pictured on the back cover).
In this story, the Pigeon is excited to celebrate his Bird-Day. He has his Bird-Day hat, and can’t wait to eat his Bird-Day hot dog. But wait! Someone has eaten half of his Bird-Day hot dog, and someone else has a Bird-Day hat! It’s the Duckling, who shares the same Bird-Day, along with five newly hatched chicks. Suddenly, his Bird-Day doesn’t feel so special, until he asks YOU, the reader, if you see him, and he finds he is okay with sharing his Bird-Day after all.
This book works so well, partly because it’s such a relatable experience to realize you aren’t necessarily the only one being celebrated on your special day. Also, it’s really fun to say “Bird-Day!” I’m sometimes hesitant to read Pigeon books with younger kids, because they really do rely on the kids answering the Pigeon’s questions, and in shyer, younger groups, they don’t always work. But this one only asks the reader “Will you see me?” And adorably, all the kids I’ve read it to have always answered “Yes.”
This will definitely become one of my go-to read-alouds. Thank you, Mo Willems!
Have you run across any particular favorite picture books published this year? Please share them in the comments below.
Early Literacy Tip: Point out words and letters that behave in surprising ways, like the silent K in words like “knot” and “knee.” It’s helpful for kids to know that words don’t always follow the “rules.”
Still working our way through the alphabet! This week was Letter K. As usual, we started by drawing an upper and lower case K in the air together, and I asked the kids if they knew any words that started with K. They suggested koala, Kindergarten, kite and kangaroo. From my paper bag, I also pulled out a kazoo, a set of keys, and a kalimba (also known as a thumb piano. I brought it around for the kids to try).
Before I read this one, I talked about how the letter K is usually silent when it appears in front of the letter N. Out of habit, I usually pronounce “knuffle” this way, although I’ve read that it’s actually based on a Dutch word (knuffel) that’s pronounced “Kuh-nuffle.” However you pronounce it, this is one of my favorite read-alouds, about a little girl whose favorite toy goes missing at the laundromat, and leads her to say her first words.
Mama’s Kisses by Kate McMullan; illustrated by Tao Nyeu
I read this one for Family Storytime, which is a much smaller group, so they were able to find the baby animals hiding in the illustrations throughout the book. A sweet book about four animal mothers looking for their babies at bedtime.
I love this adorable story about a dog named Katie who is so excited when her owner brings home three little kittens that she just can’t stop herself from howling and chasing them around. She feels terrible for scaring them, but somehow it keeps happening, until she falls asleep, and wakes to find the kittens curled up on top of her. This book does such a good job of capturing the “cuteness aggression” that kids often struggle with around pets, and the kids loved howling along with the repeated “AROOOO’s!”
This book was a great lead-in to our Stay & Play and our last song. It’s a simple story about Bear and Mole making and flying a kite, which flies away and gets stuck in a tree. They are upset at first, until they discover that the lost kite is serving as an umbrella to a grateful nest full of baby birds.
Songs:
The Sleeping Bunnies
We sang this to go along with Knuffle Bunny. It’s one of my favorite songs to use with toddlers and preschoolers because they love lying down and then jumping back up. I usually sing it through three times.
See the little bunnies sleeping (crouch or lie down and pretend to sleep) ‘Till it’s nearly noon. Come, let us wake them with a merry tune? They’re so still. Are they ill? NO! Wake up little bunnies! (jump up) Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop! (hop!) Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop! Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop! Hop little bunnies, hop and stop!
Five Days Old by Laurie Berkner
We sang this after reading Mama’s Kisses. It’s one of my favorite Laurie Berkner songs, because the actions are built into the lyrics.
[C] I’m sitting here, I’m [F] one day old, and [C] I’m sitting here I’m [F] two [G7] days [C] old. [C] I’m sitting here, I’m [F] three days old, and [C] I’m sitting here I’m [F] four [G7] days [C] old. [F] One [C] day, I’ll [F] be a [C] year, then [F] I’ll be [C] two, then [G7] three, then four. [C] As for now I’m [F] sitting here, I’m [C] five days old and [F] no [G7] days [C] more!
I’m jumping up, I’m one day old…
I’m clapping my hands, I’m one day old…
I’m kicking my legs, I’m one day old…
Getting really tired, I’m one day old…
I’m jumping up, I’m one day old…
Old MacDonald
We sang this with the parachute in Outdoor Musical Storytime after reading Katie Loves the Kitten. I threw different stuffed animals on the parachute each time: a cat, a mouse, and (just for fun) a snake!
[C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O! And on that farm he [F] had a [C] cow, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O! With an moo-moo here, and an moo-moo there, Here a moo, there a moo, Everywhere a moo-moo. [C] Old MacDonald [F] had a [C] farm, E-I- [G7] E-I- [C] O!
Repeat with different animals…
Let’s Go Fly a Kite by Richard M. Sherman and Robert Sherman
We sang this Mary Poppins song as our instrument play-along at the end. It would also work well with play scarves or ribbon wands.
With [G] tuppence for paper and strings, You can have your own set of [C] wings. With your [G] feet on the [G7] ground You’re a [A] bird in [C] flight, With your [G] fist holding [D] tight, To the string of your [G] kite.
Oh, oh, oh, [C] Let’s go fly a kite! [G] Up to the highest height. [D] Let’s go fly a kite, And [G] send it soaring! [C] Up through the atmosphere, [G] Up where the air is clear, [D] Oh, let’s go fly a [G] kite.
When you send it flying up there, All at once you’re lighter than air. You can dance on the breeze over houses and trees, With your fist holding tight To the string of your kite.
Oh, oh, oh Let’s go fly a kite! Up to the highest height. Let’s go fly a kite, And send it soaring. Up through the atmosphere, Up where the air is clear, Oh, let’s go fly a kite!
Stay & Play: Paper Bag Kites
A fun and easy kite craft, with a paper lunch bag as the base. There are lots of different examples online, but the one I used was based on this Crafty with Natalie example: Paper Bag Kite! – Crafty with Natalie.
For the Stay & Play, I put out paper lunch bags, a hole punch, crepe paper, glue sticks, kids scissors, string, markers, and popsicle sticks. The kids decorated their bags with markers and bits of crepe paper, and the grown-ups helped them punch a hole in the bottom of the bag, tie a long piece of string through the hole, and tie and wrap the string to the popsicle stick. It was cute to see them running with their kites, especially at Outdoor Musical Storytime.
Do you have any favorite picture books or songs based on the letter K? Please share them in the comments below.
Early Literacy Tip: Play rhyming games with your kids by asking them to come up with words that rhyme with another word, or asking them to guess which rhyming word you are thinking of. Rhymes are one of the best ways to help kids learn the sounds that make up the parts of words, an essential skill for learning to read later on.
This week, we focused on the letter J for storytime. As usual, I started by having the kids draw a capital and lowercase letter J in the air with me, and then asked them if they knew any words that started with J. They came up with jellybean, jellyfish, and jelly. I also pulled some items out of a paper bag: a jaw harp, a jar, and a jack-in-the-box (which I demonstrated several times. They loved it!).
This classic book was a childhood favorite of my own kids, and the storytime families were excited to see it too. Rhyming text and large, beautiful illustrations describe a fantasyland full of different kinds of berries and animals.
I love this book about a young boy named Jabari who decides to jump off of the high dive for the first time, but keeps finding reasons to put it off (thinking of the dive he wants to do, doing his stretches, etc.). His Dad tells him that sometimes when he’s afraid, he takes a deep breath, and discovers that the fear feels more like a surprise. His trick works for Jabari, who finally does his dive. The descriptions and illustrations are perfect for storytime.
Joy by Yasmeen Ismail; illustrated by Jenni Desmond
Very cute story about a kitten’s joy at playing with a ball of yarn, until she takes a tumble. A sweet exploration of different types of feelings. I have a volunteer who helps with Family Storytime, and she acted out the kitten’s motions with a kitten stuffed animal as I read.
Classic rhyming story about a group of sheep who take a joyride in a Jeep. Before I read it, I asked the kids to guess the last word in the title, based on the rhyme and the picture on the front cover.
Songs:
Peanut Butter and Jelly
This is an old camp song that I remember learning in Girl Scouts when I was a kid. Our library actually has a set of props for this, and I used them when I sang the song. I often ask the kids to suggest a type of berry to pick for the jam. At the end, I usually pretend to have peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth, and we all pour and drink a pretend glass of milk. The version I sing is a little different than the one in this Super Simple Songs video (they repeat the “Peanut, peanut butter” line after each action, while I only sing it once per verse. See below.), but the tune is basically the same.
First, you take the peanuts and you pick ’em, (pretend to pick peanuts) You pick ’em, you pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em. Then you smash them, you smash them, (clap your hands together) You smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em. Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em. (pretend to spread something on one hand) You spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em. Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly! (wave your hands to the left) Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly!” (wave your hands to the left)
Then, you take the berries and you pick ’em, (pretend to pick berries) You pick ’em, you pick ’em, pick ’em, pick ’em. Then you smash them, you smash them, (clap your hands together) You smash ’em, smash ’em, smash ’em. Then you spread ’em, you spread ’em. (pretend to spread something on one hand) You spread ’em, spread ’em, spread ’em. Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly! (wave your hands to the left) Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly!” (wave your hands to the left)
Then you take the sandwich and you bite it, (pretend to bite a sandwich) You bite it, you bite it, bite it, bite it. Then you chew it, you chew it, you chew it, (pretned to chew) Chew it, Chew it. Then you swallow it, you swallow it, (rub your tummy) You swallow it, swallow it, swallow it. Singing, “Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly! (wave your hands to the left) Peanut, peanut butter (wave your hands to the right) And jelly!” (wave your hands to the left).
Down in the Jungle
For Family Storytime, I gave out play scarves before we sang this one, and then we mimed washing them. I asked the kids to suggest different animals each time we sang it. I use the same tune as the Sing and Learn with Vicky video below:
Down in the jungle where nobody goes, There’s a little baby elephant washing his clothes. With a rub-a-dub here, and a rub-a-dub there. That’s the way he washes his clothes!
Jellies Floating
We sang this with the parachute at Outdoor Musical Storytime. I threw cotton balls on the parachute and told the kids they were our jellyfish.
Jellies floating up and down, Up and down, Up and down. Jellies floating up and down, In the sea.
Jellies floating all around, All around, All around. Jellies floating all around, In the sea.
Jump Up
We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. The kids loved jumping up and down as we sang. It’s such a fun and happy song!
[C] Jump up day is breaking [G7] Jump up let’s get shaking [C] I know you’re lying down [F] Jump up and we’ll dance a-[C]round
Jump up bells are ringing And i hear friends are singing Oh yea, it’s a crazy sound Jump up and we’ll dance around
Jump up stand on your tip toes Reach out grab a rainbow Turn it upside down Jump up and we’ll dance it around
Jump up clouds are passing Look up the sky is laughing I know we’ll be laughing too Jump up I want to dance with you
Jump up you know i love you That’s right i love love love you A new day is shining down Jump up and we’ll dance around
Stay & Play: Beaded Jewelry
I actually did a different craft for Family Storytime, but didn’t get to take pictures. For that one, I just put out white cardstock, markers, and kids scissors, and told the kids to draw a picture and then cut it into a jigsaw puzzle. I told them they could challenge their caregiver to put the puzzle together, or have their caregiver cut the pieces and challenge them do to the puzzle.
For Outdoor Musical Storytime though, I put out a large selection of Pony beads and pipe cleaners, and let the kids make beaded bracelets. They always love threading the beads, and it’s a wonderful activity for developing their fine motor skills.
Do you have any favorite books or songs featuring the letter J? Please share them in the comments below.
Finding books that work well with a large group of kids is always a challenge. They need to have large, clear illustrations, and a text that kids can follow, even if they can’t see all of the details in the pictures. The text also needs to grab and hold their attention. This is especially true for preschool and school-aged classes, where the kids are all sitting together (without a parent or caregiver right next to them), and can be easily distracted by the kids around them. Finding a book that meets all of these criteria is rare, so I was excited to come across The Future Book by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris.
The premise of the book is that the narrator is sharing surprising facts from the future. For example, in the future, instead of saying “thank you,” you put a fish on the other person’s head, and instead of saying, “Goodbye,” you say, “You smell like a baby!” After sharing a list of different things to know about the future, the narrator shares a simple story about going to the supermarket (now known as the “bolly bolly hoo hoo”) to buy some fruit for one bazillion dollars.
Originally, I wasn’t sure if this book would work for preschoolers, and only intended to try it with the second grade classes I read to regularly. But, on a whim, I ended up trying it with a transitional Kindergarten class, and they were practically shrieking with laughter from the very beginning. I don’t know if they all fully understood the idea of the book being set in the future, but I forgot how much kids that age love unexpected words or sounds (like when George the dog says “Meow” in the book Bark, George by Jules Feiffer). The “you smell like a baby,” line had them in hysterics.
I’ve since shared the book with several preschools (one of the teachers just asked me for the title, because the kids were still talking about it month later), as well as Kindergarten, first, and second grade classes. They have all loved it, and I love how it has become an inside joke when I run into any of those kids (they’ll say “I put a fish on your head!” or “you smell like a baby!”).
As a side note, I’ve been lucky enough to attend events with both Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris, and I love to tell kids about how they were childhood friends who ended up writing books together as adults. They also both still live in the Bay Area, and are wonderful with kids.
What are your favorite new picture books? Or your favorite books to share with classes? Please let me know in the comments.
Early Literacy Tip: Ask your child to guess what will happen next in a story. This is a great way to make sure they understand what’s happening, and keep them engaged in the book.
This week’s storytime focus was the Letter I. We started by drawing a capital and lower case letter I in the air together (I also wrote them on my whiteboard), and then we talked about the two main sounds that the letter I makes, and some words that start with I. The families suggested igloo, ice cream, and ice. I also pulled three items out of a paper bag: an insect (honeybee puppet), an instrument (a rainstick), and an ink pad.
Cute, rhyming book about waiting for the ice cream truck, but seeing lots of other trucks instead. When I read this in Family Stortyime, one of the kids started pointing to different animals on each page, and saying, “That one’s me, and that one’s my Dad.” And then other kids started joining in. It was so funny and sweet that I think I may ask kids to point to the animal they would like to be in future books with different animal characters.
Many of the kids were familiar with this book, which I read in a big book format for Outdoor Musical Storytime. It’s a fun one for asking the kids to guess what the mouse will ask for next (my early literacy tip for the week).
Different types of animals argue about which trait is the most important (long neck, spiky quills, tall ears, wings, etc.), and they all imagine what they would look like if they had that trait. The kids really enjoyed the pictures showing all the animals with wings or long necks, etc.
This is an older book, but the ideas and illustrations are imaginative and unforgettable. Each page depicts a different hypothetical scenario, ranging from the magical (if cats could fly) to the creepy (if teeth were toes). The kids were mesmerized by the illustrations (and so were the grown-ups).
Songs:
If You’re Happy And You Know It
Full disclosure: I also sang this song for the letter H last week (as well as Hickory Dickory Dock (below), but it works for both! Plus, it’s the kind of classic song that the kids are usually excited to sing with me.
[C] If you’re happy and you know it, clap your [G7] hands! (clap, clap) If you’re happy and you know it, clap your [C] hands! (clap, clap) If you’re [F] happy and you know it, and you [C] really want to show it, If you’re [G7] happy and you know it, clap your [C] hands! (clap, clap)
If you’re sad and you know it, cry, “Boo hoo!”…
If you’re angry and you know it, say, “I’m mad!”… (stomp feet while saying, “I’m mad!”)
If you’re shy and you know it, hide your face… (cover your eyes, and then uncover them and say, “Peek-a-boo!”
If you’re sleepy and you know it, yawn and stretch…
If you’re happy and you know it, shout, “Hooray!”
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
We sang this with the play scarves in Family Storytime. I had the kids pretend the scarves were spiders that they “crawled” up their arms, and then threw into the air on the “down came the rain” line.
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out! Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
Hickory Dickory Dock
This was a repeat from last week that we did with the parachute. I put a mouse puppet in the middle of the parachute, and we shook the parachute in time to the song, and lifted it up and down to go with the lyrics.
Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse ran up the clock (run fingers up arm) The clock struck one: BONG! The mouse ran down (run fingers down arm) Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands)
Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse ran up the clock (run fingers up arm) The clock struck two: BONG! BONG! The mouse went, “BOO!” (cover your face and then uncover it when you yell, “BOO!”) Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands)
Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands in rhythm) The mouse ran up the clock (run fingers up arm) The clock struck three: BONG! BONG! BONG! The mouse went “Whee!” (run fingers down body quickly) Hickory Dickory Dock (clap hands)
If All the Raindrops
I do this traditional song a lot because it works well for so many ages, and gives the kids a chance to suggest their favorite foods for each verse. We sang it as our instrument play-along at the end.
[C] If all the raindrops were [G7] lemon drops and [C] gum drops, Oh, what a rain it would [G7] be. [C] I’d stand out- [G7] side with my [C] mouth open [G7] wide, [C] “Ah, Ah, Ah, [G7] Ah, Ah, Ah, [C] Ah, Ah, Ah, [G7] Ah!” [C] If all the raindrops were [G7] lemon drops and [C] gum drops, Oh, what a [G7] rain it would [C] be.
If all the raindrops were ice cream and carrots… etc.
Stay & Play: Stamps & Inkpads
This was one of the easiest Stay & Play’s I’ve done, but the kids really enjoyed it. We have a huge collection of different types of stamps and inkpads, so I just put them all out, along with white paper and markers. They had a great time trying out all of the different stamps. One of the caregivers pointed out that stamping is a great way to practice different types of motor skills, because it takes a while for kids to get the hang of pressing down hard on the inkpad, but also being careful to make sure the ink covers the whole surface, and then using enough force and care to make sure the whole image gets imprinted on the paper.
Do you have any favorite picture books or songs featuring the letter I? Please share them in the comments below.
The Loudest Librarian! 