One of the things I miss about summer is our local library’s storytime at the park. Each week, a librarian from the children’s department sets up a selection of books on a certain theme under one of the big trees at a nearby park. For the next half hour, parents and kid gather around on blankets, listening to stories, singing songs and rhymes, and sometimes participating in little skits. Of course, they have indoor story times the rest of the year too, but summer is the only time that my kiddos are all able to participate together.
So today, I decided to create my own little storytime for my kiddos. (We haven’t actually done it yet, but I’ve got it all ready to use later this week when things are a little less hectic!)
I chose a selection of books on leaves. Four of them are new to us…
Leaf Trouble by Jonathan Emmett
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
And one, Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, was an old favorite.
I found that it’s super simple to pull together your own storytime theme! Though I actually gathered my selection of books beforehand, I then googled “leaves storytime” and found exactly what I needed to add a fun little song or rhyme between each song.
Here are a few sources I came across in my search. They are excellent resources if you’re looking for a little inspiration in starting your own storytimes with your kiddos!
Awesome Storytime
Sturdy For Common Things
Sunflower Storytime
I haven’t quite decided yet which craft we’ll do…leaf rubbings, gluing crumpled leaves on tree silhouettes, or painted thumbprint trees. Knowing us, it’s likely we’ll end up doing more than one.
And I thought I’d make a fun snack too. Maybe these Corn Flake cookies…kinda resembles a pile of leaves, don’t you think? My aunt used to make them when I was little, but called them Clue Cookies. Sadly enough I don’t think I’ve ever shared them with my kiddos yet! This just might be the perfect time!
It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it. ~ Oscar Wilde
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Thank you so much for including “Falling Leaves Storytime” in your list!! Leaves by David Ezra Stein is a fall favorite of mine