It’s been a while since I’ve written up a food-themed storytime, so I thought I’d do an updated one. I’ve actually done three different storytimes this week, with the same theme but for different age groups, so these are some of the highlights:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
I had to include this classic, of course, especially for my toddler groups. Lately, I’ve been trying to add an interactive element into one or two of the books I read, so, since I read this one after doing a song with play scarves, I asked the kids to pretend that their scarf was a caterpillar while I read. We made munching noises and pretended the scarf caterpillars were eating the foods on each page, and when the caterpillar went into his cocoon, we stuffed the scarves into our fists, then had them emerge as “butterflies.”
Food Fight Fiesta by Tracey Kyle; illustrated by Ana Gomez
This rhyming book is so much fun, especially since it is based on an actual celebration in Buñol, Spain, where the whole town has a huge tomato fight. Once again, we used the scarves, only this time we pretended they were tomatoes, which we threw into the air whenever the story called for it. The kids loved it!
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Jen Corace
One of my all-time favorites, this hilarious story about a pea who hates to eat candy is always a hit.
How Are You Peeling by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
This is another fun book to share. The kids love shouting out the names of the vegetables and fruits in each photo, as well as answering the questions posed by the text about feelings.
Sausages by Jessica Souhami
This is a wonderful, funny, simple adaptation of the classic Three Wishes folk tale, where a couple are granted three wishes, and accidentally waste them on a string of sausages, which get stuck to the man’s nose.
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Adorable and hilarious story about a crocodile who accidentally swallows a watermelon seed, and imagines that a watermelon vine is growing in his stomach. The kids loved repeating the “Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!” lines.
SONGS:
If You’re Happy and You Know It: I sang this one after reading How Are You Peeling? For the past few years I’ve changed it to add in different emotions, and the kids love it. Here’s what we sing (with ukulele or guitar chords):
C G
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands, (Clap, Clap)
G C
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands, (Clap, Clap)
F C
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,
G C
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap, Clap)
If you’re sad and you know it, cry Boo Hoo! (“Boo Hoo!”)…
If you’re angry and you know it, say, “I’m mad!” (Stomp your feet while saying, “I’m Mad!”)…
If you’re sleepy and you know it, yawn and stretch (Yawn! Stretch!)…
If you’re shy and you know it, hide your face (cover your eyes, then uncover them and say “Peek-a-boo!”)…
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hooray! (Hooray!)
If All the Raindrops
I use this song all the time, with a wide range of age groups. The lyrics below are the “real” version, but usually when I sing it for storytime, I just do the first verse, then have the kids suggest other foods for the next few verses. Click on the arrow to hear the tune:
C
If all the raindrops
G C
Were lemondrops and gumdrops
C G
Oh, what a rain that would be!
C G C G
I’d stand outside, with my mouth open wide
C G C C
Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah!
C G C
If all the raindrops were lemondrops and gumdrops,
C G C
Oh, what a rain it would be!
If all the snowflakes
Were candy bars and milkshakes…
If all the sunbeams
Were bubblegum and ice cream…
Candy Corn for Dinner: I wrote this song several years ago for an Ice Cream Storytime, and it’s a fun one to have the kids play along to with maracas and egg shakers. Click on the arrow to hear a recording:
C G7 C
My mom and dad put me in charge of our dinner tonight.
C G7
They said I could make anything as long as we ate right.
C G7 C
I had to serve some vegetables, a salad, and a stew.
C G7 C
I thought a while and cooked a bit, and here is my menu.
F C
We’re having candy corn for dinner
G7 C
With a side of chocolate stew.
F C
A three jelly bean salad,
G7 C
And an ice cream sandwich too.
I don’t know why Mom and Dad say cooking’s such a chore,
‘Cause I had such a great time going to the grocery store.
My mom said we were out of milk, so I bought a big milkshake,
And since my dad likes cheese so much, I got him a cheesecake.
We’re having candy corn for dinner
With a side of chocolate stew.
A three jelly bean salad,
And an ice cream sandwich too.
CRAFT: SPICE PAINTING
This week, I ended up doing Playdough for craft time, but one of my all-time favorite art activities is spice painting, which I did a few months ago. Basically, you just mix different spices with water (turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, etc.) and give the kids paper and brushes to paint. The kids loved the different colors and smells. There’s a description with pictures on Mama.Papa.Bubba: https://mamapapabubba.com/2014/02/19/spice-painting/
OTHER BOOKS ABOUT FOOD:
How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle; illustrated by Mark Fearing
I love this story, although it works better for older preschool and early elementary school kids. Martha has always hated eating green beans, but when they kidnap her parents, there is only one way for her to rescue them.
Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins
This hilariously quirky book describes how cakes who never say please or thank you get their comeuppance when they encounter a cyclops who likes to wear cakes as hats. Delightfully random and very funny.
What are your favorite picture books about food?
The Loudest Librarian! 