At last week’s storytimes, I decided to focus on the animals of the North Pole. It ended up being a lot of fun.

Here’s what we did:

Books:

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

I have a special fondness for Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris, because they are both Bay Area authors, and have done a number of programs for us (Shawn Harris even provided the artwork for our My Summer Adventure program this summer). They were also childhood friends, and it’s fun to hear them talk about their collaborations as adults. This is a beautiful, simple story that follows a polar bear as he wakes up and goes for a swim. The kids were mesmerized by the illustrations.

If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws by Kim Norman; illustrated by Liza Woodruff

Fun, Arctic-themed version of If You’re Happy and You Know It, featuring actions like tasting a snowflake, sipping hot chocolate, and building a snowman. The kids enjoyed miming the motions.

Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks

Very simple, cute story about a penguin and a polar bear who live on opposite poles, but meet once a year in the Galapagos Islands. They are opposites in lots of other ways too, but still manage to be very good friends.

Little Whale by Jo Weaver

This was a wonderful story for our community because we often get to see the gray whales as they migrate along the coast. It’s about a baby gray whale and her mother as they travel through the ocean to the feeding grounds in the North. Several parents commented that the baby whale reminded them of their kids asking “Are we there yet” on family road trips.

Songs:

If You’re Happy and You Know It

We sang this to accompany If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws. I always throw in other emotions.

[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!”

Two Little Black Birds

We sang this to accompany Polar Opposites, since it’s a song about opposites.

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill, (Hold up both thumbs)
One named Jack, and the other named Jill.
Fly away, Jack! (Put one thumb behind your back)
Fly away, Jill! (Put the other thumb behind your back)
Come back, Jack! (Bring the first thumb out in front).
Come back, Jill! (Bring the second thumb out in the front).

Two little blackbirds sitting on a cloud,
One was quiet, and the other was loud (I make my voice as loud and obnoxious as possible each time I sing the word “Loud!”)
Fly away, Quiet!
Fly away, Loud!
Come back, Quiet!
Come back, Loud!

Two little blackbirds sitting in the snow.
One flew fast!
And the other flew slow!…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate.
One was early, and the other was…late!…

Snow Is Falling Down

We sang this with play scarves, waving them up and down for the rain, and throwing them in the air, then letting them fall for the snow.

Rain is falling down. SPLASH!
Rain is falling down. SPLASH!
Pitter patter, Pitter patter,
Rain is falling down. SPLASH!

Snow is falling down. SHHH!
Snow is falling down. SHHH!
Swirling, twirling, swirling, twirling,
Snow is falling down. SHHH!

Baby Beluga by Raffi

We sang this as our play-along song at the end, to accompany Little Whale.

C] Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea
Swim so wild and you [G7] swim so free
Heaven above and the sea below
And a little white whale [C] on the go

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] is the water warm?
Is your mama home [G7] with you so happy?
[C] Way down yonder where the dolphins play
Where you dive and [G7] splash all day
Waves roll in and the waves roll out
[G] See the water squirting [C] out of your spout

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] sing your little song,
Sing for all your friends. [G7] We love to hear you!
[C] When it’s dark you’re home and fed
Curl up snug in your [G7] water bed
Moon is shining and the stars are out
Good night, little whale, [C] goodnight

CHORUS
[F] Baby Beluga, [C] Baby Beluga, [D] with tomorrow’s sun,
Another day’s begun. [G7] You’ll soon be waking.
[C] Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you [G7] swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale [C] on the go.
[G7] You’re just a little white whale [C] on the go!

Stay & Play: Polar Bear in the Snow

This was a fun, if messy, painting activity. Before storytime, I cut out polar bear templates on white paper. For the Stay & Play, I put out blue construction paper, bowls of white tempera paint, repositionable glue sticks, and cotton swabs.

I told the kids they could glue their polar bear on the paper with the repositionable glue stick and then paint snowflakes all around with the cotton swabs. I gave them the option of either leaving the polar bear template on the paper, or painting around it with the white paint, and peeling it off to leave the outline.

What are your favorite books about Arctic animals? Please share them in the comments below.