Jazz Storytime for 3-5 year olds!

My intention with this storytime is to educate children on jazz music and to also introduce them to the colorful picture books on this subject. The stories read will increase print awareness as many of these stories have repeated phrases in them. In addition, the books I am choosing have a lot of new vocabulary that might be unfamiliar to children. When they leave, I hope they at least have gained some appreciation for jazz music and were exposed to picture books featuring talented African Americans! I enjoy introducing children to a wide variety of books that they have probably never heard of before. This may also pique children’s interest on jazz music to which I can show them the wide variety of jazz music CDs we have in the library. This storytime will also reinforce early literacy skills as I also connect the storytime to the letter of the week (the letter J).

Please visit http://sarahpicciuolo.wix.com/jazzpicturebooks for a more thorough list of jazz picture books!

1.      Opening Song – Good Morning Song (Remix) by the Alphabet Rockers

Hear this song and purchase it on bandcamp!

2.    Discuss letter of the week : J , discuss words that begin with the letter J by giving clues and allowing children to guess. Next, explain what Jazz music is. Children are never too young to learn about Jazz music! 

3.       Book # 1 – When Louis Armstrong Taught me to Scat by Muriel Harris Weinstein

This book is a bit long and might be better suited for older children but I love it so much that I just wanted to include it! If your crowd is filled with more 3 year olds then I would probably not read this due to the length. You know your crowd best though so use your best judgement.

Here are a few snippets of some reviews I've read

"Children can both giggle at the bouncy non sequiturs (“Cricket’s throne/ puppy’s bone/ bug’s umbrella/ mozzarella???”) and absorb some musical history from endnotes on Armstrong and scat. Christie’s vibrant acrylics offer a pleasing, surreal fluidity. Floating purple trumpets, a winding musical staff and appearances by some hep-looking animals all jell with the anything-goes nature of the subject. Ages 5–9. (Feb.) " - Publisher's Weekly

If you're looking for a shorter book then I suggest Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler. This book is another rhythmic book that is GREAT to read aloud. You can read it like a rap, “Grandpa toot-toots. Granny sings scat. Bitty-boppin’ baby goes, Rat-Tat-Tat! Mama sings high. Daddy sings low. Snazzy, jazzy baby says, Go, Man, Go!” This whole family seems like so much fun and the illustrations are kind of retro which I also love! I would love to spend a night with this family, just jiving to the music!

4.       Flannelboard Story : 5 Jazz Musicians  (original flannelboard story from me, Miss Sarah! Please credit me and link to my blog if you use this)

5 jazz musicians playing music at night
one gets hungry and leaves to get a bite

4 jazz musicians playing music so sweet
1 gets a craving so he leaves for a treat

3 jazz musicians playing music in the city
1 leaves quickly to feed his pretty kitty

2 jazz musicians left performing on stage
until 1 leaves to clean his guinea pig's cage

One jazz musician left bopping his head
until he gets sleepy and goes home to bed

Now there are zero jazz musicians anywhere in sight!
They're all home sleeping for it's late at night! 

5.  Poem: When the Jazz Musician was Ten (original poem from me, Miss Sarah! Please credit me and link to my blog if you use this)

When the jazz musician was three he made music on his knee
When the jazz musician was four he thought it was a bore
When the jazz musician five he learned to jive
When the jazz musician was six he picked up drumsticks
When the jazz musician was seven he changed his name to Kevin
When the jazz musician was eight, his drumming was great
When the jazz musician was nine he was doing just fine
When the jazz musician was ten, he joined a jazz band full of men

6.       Book # 2 – Jazzmatazz by Muriel Harris Weinstein

7.       Song : Bouncin on the Bed from the Philly Joe Giraffe’s Jungle Jazz CD

8.   Book # 3 : Bring on that Beat by Rachel Isadora 

9.   Fingerplay :

Clap Your Hands! (To the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat)
Clap, clap, clap your hands, clap your hands together
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap your hands together
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your fingers, wiggle your fingers like spiders
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your fingers like spiders
Shake, shake, shake your shoulders, shake your shoulders now
Shake, shake shake, shake, shake, shake, shake your shoulders now
Move, move, move your hips, move your hips around
Move, move, move, move, move your hips together
Bend, bend, bend your knees, bend your knees right now
Bend, bend, bend, bend, bend your knees right now
Slide, slide, slide your feet, slide your feet like James Brown
Slide your feet, slide your feet, slide your feet like James Brown
Dance, dance, dance around, dance around together
Dance around, dance around, dance around together

 11.   Song : Little Lamb Jam by Oran Etkin on the CD "Wake Up, Clarinet!". You can preview the song on amazon. 

12.   Book #4 – This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhard

This book is awesome! Not only does it reinforce counting skills with preschoolers, the song is very fun to read out loud. The book is to be read to the tune of "This Old Man" and is a playful introduction to nine jazz giants.

13. Fingerplay :

Dance your Fingers
We’re going to dance our fingers up
And dance our fingers down
We’ll dance them to the side
Let’s dance them all around
And we’ll dance them on our shoulders
And we’ll dance them on our head
Let’s dance them on our tummy
And we’ll put them all to bed!

14.   Ending Song with Shakers : Old Mcdonald Had a Farm (any regular version will do) and then play Old Mcdonald Had a Farm by Ella Fitzgerald (the jazz version) to compare! I LOVE Ella Fitzgerald's version.

15. Lastly, have children line up for a music note stamp on the children’s hands!

You could also pass out a book list and a list of internet links to teach jazz music to children. PBS has an AMAZING website, for example.