Jan Brett-A Christmas Story Time

Opener:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Snowflake Stretch

Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve 
(Jan Brett) 4 and up
In classic Jan Brett style with ornate Scandinavian illustrations with delightful embellishments, learn how one boy and his bear solved a pesky troll problem.







Gingerbread Baby (Jan Brett) 4 and up
While the entire town chases a very naughty gingerbread baby, his creator sets to work at crafting a solution to catch the runaway cookie.  As usual, Jan Brett's work is a visual feast!






Home for Christmas (Jan Brett) 4 and up
This delightful story, set in Scandinavian folklore teaches us the value of work...that the easy way out isn't all it's cracked up to be!


Felt Board:  Five Little Gingerbread Men
Craft: I Spy Ornaments
Snack:  Gingerbread Men

Have a Merry Christmas!

Silent Night

Openers:  

Oh Hey Oh Hi

Snowflake Dance

Bear's First Christmas (Kinerk) 3-5

Follow Bear through a cold winter night and see how he learns that the greatest gift of Christmas...is in his heart!

Song:  Love Grows

Finger Play:  Ten Little Fingers

Night and the Candlemaker (Somary and Bartram) 2-5

Somary and Bartram team up to introduce a very large idea within a very simple story children can embrace.  In a beautiful metaphor for Hope, observe the patient and wise candle maker as he sets about his task making light...a light that pierces even the blackest darkness.  (One of my favorites!)

Song:  This little light of mine

Night Gliders (Ryder) 2-4

Set to poetry that glides and descends as smoothly as these squirrels on a winter night, introduce children to a rarely-seen nocturnal resident of our northern forests--flying squirrels (actually, they glide...). 

Song:  Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Felt Board:  T'was the Night Before Christmas

Closer:  Wave Goodbye (Rob Reid)

Coming Next Week:

Jan Brett and an I Spy Christmas ornament craft!

Can't wait to see you all again...

Chinese New Year

Opener:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!/Snowballs
Greetings Around the World

The Empty Pot (Demi)3-5
Gentle and beautiful watercolors portray the noble tale of a Chinese boy who remains honest, even when it appears he will suffer great shame.  Find out what the great Emperor thinks of his choices.
Finger Play: Moon Phases
Song: Chinese Lantern 

The Squiggle (Schaefer) 2-4
Explore the vivid details of a little girl's imagination when she picks up an ordinary piece of red string.  Delightful Asian themes run throughout.
(Hand out red crepe paper streamers so children can follow her thoughts with their bodies.)
Wiggler:  My Thumbs are Starting to Wiggle


Felt Board: I see hearts
Craft: Chinese Snake Stick Puppet

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lion/
Chinese New Year Gift: Red Paper Envelope with Coin Candy
"gung hay fat choy"  May You Be Prosperous
Closer:  Wave Goodbye

More Books (from Story Time Source Page)

Preschool Read Alouds

Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park
Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin

Dragon Dance by Joan Holub

Dragon Dancing by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Fortune Cookies by Albert Bitterman - illustrated by Chris Rascha 
My Chinese New Year by Monica Hughes
My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz

Red Book by Barbara Lehmen

Yum Yum Dim Sum by Amy Wilson Sanger

Kindergarten Read Alouds

Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin 
D is for Dragon Dance by Yin Chang Compestine

Dumpling Soup by Jama Kim Rattiga

One is a Drummer by Roseanne Thong
Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann

Red is A Dragon by Roseanne Thong

Round is A Mooncake by Roseanne Thong

Ruby's Wish by Sharin Yim

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
Yum, Yuck by Linda Sue Park

Oceans Alive

Opener: 
Oh Hey Oh Hi
Snowflake Dance

Out of the Ocean (Debra Frasier) 3-6
With lovely paper-cuttings and collage, this story helps us think of the ocean in  a new way...for the gifts it brings.  Find treasures along with a daughter and mother and turn a new eye to the shore!
Song:  Row, Row, Row Your Boat




Crab Moon (Ruth Horowitz) 3-6
In this NSTA (National Science Teacher's Association) Outstanding Science Trade Book, follow the delightful story of a boy discovering the natural habits of horseshoe crabs outside of a rented summer cottage.  Beautiful, golden-hued paintings accompany this tale, suggesting the very tenderness and warmth with which the story unfolds.

Song:  Ocean Hokey Pokey

Tickly Octopus (Ruth Galloway) 2-4
Ever had a sibling that didn't know when to stop tickling?  Many of us have.  Find out out Octopus finds what ELSE he's good at...

Song:  My Thumbs are Starting to Wiggle

Felt Board:  10 Shells on the Sand
Closer:  Wave Goodbye Poem (Rob Reid)


More Books! (from Story Time Source Page)
Toddler Read Alouds: 
At the Beach by Anne Rockwell
Baby Loves Summer!  by Karen Katz 
Ben Goes Swimming by Jan Ormerod
Big Fish, Little Fish by Ed Heck
Brownie and Pearl Take A Dip by Cynthia Rylant  ~ simple narrative for Toddlers
Fish Wish by Bob Barner
Hooray for Fish!  by Lucy Cousins 
Jack It's A Sunny Day by Rebecca Elgar
My New Sandbox by Donna Jakob
One Sun by Bruce McMillan
Sea, Sand, Me! by Patricia Hubbell
To the Island by Charlotte Agell
Where Is Baby's Beach Ball? by Karen Katz
Who Sees You At the Ocean? by Carla Dijs

Preschool Read Alouds: 
All You Need for A Beach by Alice Shertle
George's Store at the Shore by Francine Bassede
How Will We Get to the Beach? by Brigitte Luciani
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
I Saw the Sea and the Sea Saw Me by Megan Cash
Louie's Goose by H. M. Ehrlich
Little Fish, Lost by Nancy Van Laan
Ocean Parade by Patricia McCarthy
Rub-A-Dub Sub by Linda Ashman
Sand Castle by Brenda Yee
Six Sandy Sheep by Judith Enderle
Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
10 Little Hermit Crabs by Lee Fox
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Shell by Lucille Colandro
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck = MY PERSONAL FAVORITE

Kindergarten Read Alouds:Beach Day by Karen Roosa
Billy's Bucket by Kes Gray
Flip Flop Bop by Matt Novak
Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan
Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler
Seaweed Soup by Stuart J. Murphy
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout by Teri Sloat
Fins and Flippers, Scales and Nippers by Ann Garrett