When publicizing your storytime parents and caregivers appreciate knowing that you have thought carefully about your curriculum. These themes are fun and help teach creative expression and literacy skills.
I have our storytime program begin two weeks after the start of the regular school year. This allows families with older children and those attending pre-schools to settle into that routine before adding storytime classes to their schedule.
Week One: Enrollment & Welcome
Introduce yourself and families to the concept of storytime. I like to begin the year with Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn. In this story Lola and her mother visit their local library to return and check out books, attend story readings, and share a special treat.
Week Two: Up/Down
Oliver Jeffers has created another great book in Up & Down. Even though the penguin and the boy are close friends and do many things together, the penguin decides that he wants to fly and he wants to do it on his own.
Week Three: Let’s Take A Walk
I Took the Moon for a Walk is a delightful rhyming book by Carolyn Curtis. It follows the magical adventure of a young boy who goes exploring with his friend, the Moon
Week Four: Jump For Joy
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow takes a beloved finger play story and and gives it a joyful twist. Children will love shouting, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Week Five: On The Move
Week Six: Fall Into Leaves
Lauren Thompson's "Mouses First..." series is a must for any storytime. Mouse's First Fall is fun and enjoyed by those 2to 5 years.
Week Seven: Shhhhhh!
A great week to have a pajama party! Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping by Julie Markes also celebrates community helpers. "The teacher is sleeping. / School's done for the day. / The librarian is sleeping. / Books put away."
Week Eight: Scarecrows
In Don't Be Scared, Scarecrow by Pirkko Vainio, scarecrow runs away because he's not scary enough, but he finds out that being scary isn't what he thought.
Week Nine: Pizza
Oh, what fun you can have. Talk to a local pizzeria and ask about having dough for the children to play with. Read Pete's a Pizza by William Steig. What do you do when Pete's in a bad mood? When it is raining and he cannot go out and play? Turn him into a pizza, of course!
Week Ten: Bats
What can be better than Bats at the Library by Brian Lies? Bats discover an open library window and fly in to enjoy the photocopier, water fountain, and especially the books and stories found there.
Week Eleven: Halloween
Eve Bunting's Scary, Scary Halloween takes the scary parts of Halloween and makes them a friendly fright.
Week Eleven: Let's Fly!
Fancy Nancy, Explorer Extraordinaire! in this adventure by Jane O'Connor Nancy and her friend Bree explore the fascinating world of birds and insects in their exclusive and glamorous Explorers Extraordinaire Club.
Week Twelve: Thanksgiving
Another classic from Eve Bunting, A Turkey for Thanksgiving. Mr. and Mrs. Moose try to invite a turkey to their Thanksgiving feast, but turkey thinks they have other plans.
Week Thirteen: Count On Me
Counting Kisses by Karen Katz takes a grumpy little one and through counting and love puts her safely to bed.
Week Fourteen: Can't Catch Me!
Janet Squires has rounded up a wonderful book in The Gingerbread Cowboy. A freshly baked gingerbread cowboy escapes from the rancher's wife's kitchen and eludes his pursuers in this version of the "Gingerbread Boy."
Week Fifteen: Christmas
Angelina's Christmas by Katherine Holabird expresses the giving of Christmas. Angelina and her cousin Henry help bring Christmas to a lonely old postman.
Adapt this schedule to meet the needs of your library.
