This story is the second "Llama Llama" book written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney.
If you like big colorful pictures, big print, stories in rhyme and subjects about every day life with children this book is for you, oh yes, and for your little ones, too.
Mamma and Llama are shopping and Llama is getting very bored and starts acting up like most toddlers will do. How Mamma works through Llama's tantrum is a lesson for parents everywhere.
"Llama Llama Red Pajama" was here first "Llama" story. It's good too!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Porridge, Pigs and Pancakes
We are learning to integrate early literacy concepts into our preschool storytimes. This is has been a challenge for me - but good for my brain! Never too old to build those synapses, right? I thought I'd start including a few of my storytimes in this blog - it's one thing to read about a picture book, another to know just where and how to use it in programming.
Our overall theme was food - I pulled stacks and stacks of picture books from the shelves and began wading through them hoping for inspiration. My ideas finally came from Jan Irving and Robin Currie's book Mudluscious : stories and activities featuring food for preschool children. Jan used to be children's librarian here at Stewart Library in Grinnell, so I like to use her ideas in my programs. Her books are about 20 years old and so book selections aren't up to date and early literacy ideas are not apparent. But the books are rich in songs, action rhymes, flannel board and storytelling ideas and materials. Plus Jan includes activities for families to do at home - cooking and crafts.
Storytime is 30 minutes long, for kids ages 3 - 5. The remarks with bullets are items to discuss with kids before the story/rhyme/etc.
Our overall theme was food - I pulled stacks and stacks of picture books from the shelves and began wading through them hoping for inspiration. My ideas finally came from Jan Irving and Robin Currie's book Mudluscious : stories and activities featuring food for preschool children. Jan used to be children's librarian here at Stewart Library in Grinnell, so I like to use her ideas in my programs. Her books are about 20 years old and so book selections aren't up to date and early literacy ideas are not apparent. But the books are rich in songs, action rhymes, flannel board and storytelling ideas and materials. Plus Jan includes activities for families to do at home - cooking and crafts.
Storytime is 30 minutes long, for kids ages 3 - 5. The remarks with bullets are items to discuss with kids before the story/rhyme/etc.
Porridge, Pigs and Pancakes
Opening/ Greeting
Action Song (from Mudluscious)
Early Literacy Concepts: Phonological Awareness: The Letter P; Vocabulary
Opening/ Greeting
Action Song (from Mudluscious)
Breakfast Song (tune: My Bonnie)
My breakfast is calling this morning (hand to ear)
My bacon is crisp in the pan (sniff air)
My pancakes are doing a flip-flop (hop)
I'm running as fast as I can (run in place)
Get up! Get up! (stretch)
Roll yourself out of bed, of bed! (roll hands)
Get up! Get up!
Don't be an old sleepyhead! (wag finger)
Story: The Three Bears - flannel board story
(note: if you have time, you can read one of the many versions of the story, then re-tell it using the flannel board- I found I didn't have time to do it twice, and the families who showed up at storytime had children under the age of 3.)
My bacon is crisp in the pan (sniff air)
My pancakes are doing a flip-flop (hop)
I'm running as fast as I can (run in place)
Get up! Get up! (stretch)
Roll yourself out of bed, of bed! (roll hands)
Get up! Get up!
Don't be an old sleepyhead! (wag finger)
Story: The Three Bears - flannel board story
(note: if you have time, you can read one of the many versions of the story, then re-tell it using the flannel board- I found I didn't have time to do it twice, and the families who showed up at storytime had children under the age of 3.)
- vocab: What is porridge?
Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold
Pease porridge in the pot nine days old!
Some like it hot, some like it cold
Some like it in the pot nine days old!
Pease porridge in the pot nine days old!
Some like it hot, some like it cold
Some like it in the pot nine days old!
Book: Pigs Aplently, Pigs Galore / David McPhail
(this book has p-sounds galore!)
Stretch: Pancake Stack (Mudluscious, p. 6)
Basically this is an exercise in imagination. Have kids stand in circle facing in. Go through the motions of mixing batter, pouring batter, and flipping pancakes. Leader holds out palm and kids flip their hands onto her palm as if their hands were pancakes - at the end you have a stack of pancake-hands (sort of like playing handsies).
Book: If you give a pig a pancake/ Laura Numeroff
Closing/Goodbye
*************************************************************
Additional Books:
(Goldilocks and) the Three Bears
retold by Janet Stevens; James Marshall; Jan Brett; Paul Galdone; Byron Barton
Somebody and the three Blairs/ Marilyn Tolhurst
Pancakes, pancakes / Eric Carle
Curious George makes pancakes/ Rey
Pancakes for breakfast / Tomie dePaola (wordless)
Pigs / Robert Munsch
The Magic Porridge Pot / Paul Galdone
I passed out coloring pages of If you give a pig a pancake and The Three Bears, and parents received story sheets to take home with directions for making pancakes in the shapes of letters and encouraging narrative skills by asking the question (next time the family served pancakes):
What would happen next, "if you give a kid a pancake?"
(this book has p-sounds galore!)
Stretch: Pancake Stack (Mudluscious, p. 6)
Basically this is an exercise in imagination. Have kids stand in circle facing in. Go through the motions of mixing batter, pouring batter, and flipping pancakes. Leader holds out palm and kids flip their hands onto her palm as if their hands were pancakes - at the end you have a stack of pancake-hands (sort of like playing handsies).
Book: If you give a pig a pancake/ Laura Numeroff
Closing/Goodbye
*************************************************************
Additional Books:
(Goldilocks and) the Three Bears
retold by Janet Stevens; James Marshall; Jan Brett; Paul Galdone; Byron Barton
Somebody and the three Blairs/ Marilyn Tolhurst
Pancakes, pancakes / Eric Carle
Curious George makes pancakes/ Rey
Pancakes for breakfast / Tomie dePaola (wordless)
Pigs / Robert Munsch
The Magic Porridge Pot / Paul Galdone
I passed out coloring pages of If you give a pig a pancake and The Three Bears, and parents received story sheets to take home with directions for making pancakes in the shapes of letters and encouraging narrative skills by asking the question (next time the family served pancakes):
What would happen next, "if you give a kid a pancake?"
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Three Little Rigs, by David Gordon
A parody of The Three Little Pigs, this is a charming little book perfect for storytime. Anyone who spends time with young children knows that most of them are enthralled by trucks and cars and machines with wheels, and it's not just a boy thing.
The Three Little Rigs are sent by their big rig mother out into the world to build their own garages. Although the Little Rigs' garages look much sturdier than the Little Pigs' straw & stick
huts, the garages are challenged not by a mere wolf, but by a huge, mean wrecking ball. In the end the wrecking ball has to enlist help to destroy the third garage, and the three little rigs need to find help, too.
The rigs are illustrated in a sort of retro style in bright primary colors with expressive little faces. The wrecking ball and his cohorts are dark and brooding, as scary as Hallowe'en.
If you incorporate Early Literacy components in your storytimes, this book, like all folktales, lends itself well to Narrative Skills. You can re-tell the story with the kids with a flannel board (made by you), or using toy trucks and machines.
I understand that Gordon has two other books called The Ugly Truckling and Hansel & Diesel, and I can't wait to see them!
The Three Little Rigs are sent by their big rig mother out into the world to build their own garages. Although the Little Rigs' garages look much sturdier than the Little Pigs' straw & stick
huts, the garages are challenged not by a mere wolf, but by a huge, mean wrecking ball. In the end the wrecking ball has to enlist help to destroy the third garage, and the three little rigs need to find help, too.
The rigs are illustrated in a sort of retro style in bright primary colors with expressive little faces. The wrecking ball and his cohorts are dark and brooding, as scary as Hallowe'en.
If you incorporate Early Literacy components in your storytimes, this book, like all folktales, lends itself well to Narrative Skills. You can re-tell the story with the kids with a flannel board (made by you), or using toy trucks and machines.
I understand that Gordon has two other books called The Ugly Truckling and Hansel & Diesel, and I can't wait to see them!
Friday, August 3, 2007
Three Good Books about Animals at Night
If you are planning a storytime about being outside at night, nocturnal animals, owls, bats or cats, families, lost & found, or reunions, here are 3 good picture books:
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson.
This was a favorite book at my house, and is a favorite book with my storytime youngsters. It's not hard to see why. The charming illustrations of the three darling owls tug at your heart. The very simple, repetitive text draws you into the story of the three very worried baby owls. Young children relate easily to the concerns of the owlets as they wonder and wait for their mother to return. After reading the story aloud, it's fun to act it out with the kids, ending with a joyful dance!
Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon
Even though this book has a lot of text, I have had success using it in storytimes with even very young children. The illustrations are realistic (sort of - baby birds hanging by their toes?) and gorgeous. The story of a baby fruit bat raised by a bird mother is humorous, touching, and riveting (watch the kids' eyes as you read - they are absolutely hooked). Stellaluna does not fit in, though she tries very hard. There are funny pictures of Stellaluna trying to eat unappetizing food and learning to fly - her facial expressions are priceless. I think the kids really relate to Stellaluna - who hasn't felt like a misfit at one time or another, or tried to eat yucky food, or learned something new, like riding a bike or using inline skates? This book also has solid lessons about being yourself, accepting others, and diversity, if you care to go into those areas.
If I can find one, I like to end this story with everybody getting a taste of fresh, juicy mango. It's a sweet way to wrap things up!
Night Cat, by Margaret Beames, illustrated by Sue Hitchcock
This book came out in 2000. I don't know how I missed it for so long, because it is a real hoot, especially for cat lovers. Oliver is a black cat with huge bright yellow eyes. Prowling around the garden one night he decides he doesn't want to go back into the house. He wants to stay out and hunt all night. In the end Oliver does not stay out all night, but he has plenty of intriguing and frightening adventures before he's able to curl up in his bed inside the house. Sue Hitchcock's illustrations are spooky and mysterious and occasionally scream out loud funny. The depiction of Oliver's cat-titude, both in the text and the pictures is spot on. A very enjoyable story. I haven't tested yet for storytime, since I just came across it today. I will add comments later once I find out how children respond to it.
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson.
This was a favorite book at my house, and is a favorite book with my storytime youngsters. It's not hard to see why. The charming illustrations of the three darling owls tug at your heart. The very simple, repetitive text draws you into the story of the three very worried baby owls. Young children relate easily to the concerns of the owlets as they wonder and wait for their mother to return. After reading the story aloud, it's fun to act it out with the kids, ending with a joyful dance!
Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon
Even though this book has a lot of text, I have had success using it in storytimes with even very young children. The illustrations are realistic (sort of - baby birds hanging by their toes?) and gorgeous. The story of a baby fruit bat raised by a bird mother is humorous, touching, and riveting (watch the kids' eyes as you read - they are absolutely hooked). Stellaluna does not fit in, though she tries very hard. There are funny pictures of Stellaluna trying to eat unappetizing food and learning to fly - her facial expressions are priceless. I think the kids really relate to Stellaluna - who hasn't felt like a misfit at one time or another, or tried to eat yucky food, or learned something new, like riding a bike or using inline skates? This book also has solid lessons about being yourself, accepting others, and diversity, if you care to go into those areas.
If I can find one, I like to end this story with everybody getting a taste of fresh, juicy mango. It's a sweet way to wrap things up!
Night Cat, by Margaret Beames, illustrated by Sue Hitchcock
This book came out in 2000. I don't know how I missed it for so long, because it is a real hoot, especially for cat lovers. Oliver is a black cat with huge bright yellow eyes. Prowling around the garden one night he decides he doesn't want to go back into the house. He wants to stay out and hunt all night. In the end Oliver does not stay out all night, but he has plenty of intriguing and frightening adventures before he's able to curl up in his bed inside the house. Sue Hitchcock's illustrations are spooky and mysterious and occasionally scream out loud funny. The depiction of Oliver's cat-titude, both in the text and the pictures is spot on. A very enjoyable story. I haven't tested yet for storytime, since I just came across it today. I will add comments later once I find out how children respond to it.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Oscar's Half Birthday, by Bob Graham
A young couple, along with their little daughter and their dog, celebrate their baby son's six month birthday with a picnic in a city park.
This story brought a long, slow, quiet smile to my face. Memories of my own days as a young parent came flooding back. This is a very simple story about family love and a sense of community. The patient, indulgent parents obviously enjoy their two little children, which makes reading the text and looking at the pictures a joy. The illustrations are lovely and uncluttered, I like that both the beauty and the gritty reality of the city are shown. (My only change would be to show more diversity among the people in the park - I was disappointed that everyone, except Oscar's family, was white. City populations are generally much more colorful!)
Many picture books are full of weird creatures, slam-bang action, and excitement. But to a 3 year old child, the world is still so new and big that everyday life is already exciting - watching traffic, seeing planes in the sky, a leaf falling, taking a walk over a bridge and under the train trestle - these are wondrous things for a very little person. "Oscar's Half Birthday" captures this enchantment perfectly. This would make fine bedtime reading for small children, and big people too!
This story brought a long, slow, quiet smile to my face. Memories of my own days as a young parent came flooding back. This is a very simple story about family love and a sense of community. The patient, indulgent parents obviously enjoy their two little children, which makes reading the text and looking at the pictures a joy. The illustrations are lovely and uncluttered, I like that both the beauty and the gritty reality of the city are shown. (My only change would be to show more diversity among the people in the park - I was disappointed that everyone, except Oscar's family, was white. City populations are generally much more colorful!)
Many picture books are full of weird creatures, slam-bang action, and excitement. But to a 3 year old child, the world is still so new and big that everyday life is already exciting - watching traffic, seeing planes in the sky, a leaf falling, taking a walk over a bridge and under the train trestle - these are wondrous things for a very little person. "Oscar's Half Birthday" captures this enchantment perfectly. This would make fine bedtime reading for small children, and big people too!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Welcome to "I Read Picture Books"
I Read Picture Books is the place to come to find good picture books to read to the young children in your life. Librarians in Iowa are always on the lookout for good books, always reading, always ready to connect readers with the right book.
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