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. 

Bilingual Spanish Picture Books for Children, Grades K-3

The books listed below are perfect for children, grades K-3, whose heritage emanates from any of the Spanish-speaking cultures of the Western Hemisphere or for any youngster looking for a really fun and vibrant picture book. The list below includes several bilingual materials as well as materials in English that incorporate the Spanish language, while accurately representing these cultures. Hispanics are often underrepresented in libraries and I believe it is important that we serve this growing population in public libraries across America. In addition to the bilingual materials listed below, the Naperville Public Library also has a growing number of Spanish children's books within our World Language Collection located in the Children's Department at each branch! Many libraries across the the U.S. are growing their bilingual collections too and these titles are ones that should definitely be included!

 Easy Fiction

Gonzalez, Maya Christina. My Colors, My World / Mis colores, mi mundo. San Fransisco: Children's Book Press, 2011. Print.

This imaginative picture book features a playful Latina girl, with her cleft chin, beauty mark, and wide, brown, almond-shaped eyes, who tries to find color and beauty in her childhood world of the California Mojave Desert. This bilingual, multicultural, color-concept story is perfect for any young Spanish-speaking girl looking for a beautifully illustrated story with a touch of magical realism.

  Mora, Pat. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day / Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. New York, NY: Rayo, 2009. Print.
In this bilingual English and Spanish picture book, children read aloud in various settings to celebrate ¡El dîa de los niños!/¡El dîa de los libros! (Children’s Day/Book Day). This vibrant story written by award-winning author, Pat Mora, features a happy assortment of multicultural children, adults, and friendly critters with facts about Mexico's annual celebration that encourages literacy among children.

Pérez, Amada Irma. My Very Own Room / Mi propio cuartito. San Francisco: Children's Book Press, 2000. Print.
This colorful story, translated in English and Spanish, is of a young Mexican American girl that feels very crowded in her home with 5 brothers and with the help of her family, the resourceful girl realizes her dream of having a space of her own to read and to think. This story depicts the family life and culture of many Mexican American children with its delightful story that is bound to be very relatable to children living in small spaces.

 

Tafolla, Carmen. What Can You Do With a Paleta? / ¿Qué Puedes Pacer Con Una Paleta?. Bilingual Edition. Berkeley, California: Tricycle Press, 2009. Print.
This award-winning bilingual picture book features a young Mexican American girl that celebrates the paleta, an icy fruit popsicle, and the many roles it plays in her lively barrio. This simultaneous dual-language edition presents a parallel Spanish translation that accompanies the English text while offering an appealing introduction to a yummy aspect of Latino culture.

J Nonfiction

Brown, Monica, and Raúl Colón. My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez = Me llamo Gabito: la vida de Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Flagstaff, Ariz.: Luna Rising, 2007. Print.
This story is an introduction to the life and work of the Nobel prize-winning Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and describes how the things that surrounded him inspired his imagination and his desire to become a storyteller. This bilingual biographical picture book is a very interesting description of what childhood was like for the imaginative young boy growing up in Aracataca, Colombia.

 Emert, Phyllis Raybin. Sonia Sotomayor: a judge grows in the Bronx = Sonia Sotomayor: la juez que crecio en el Bronx. Detroit, MI: Lucent Books, 2011. Print.
A biography of the first Puerto Rican Supreme Court justice emphasizes how she overcame a childhood of poverty in the South Bronx through her own and her mother's hard work and determination.  The Spanish translation of this story makes the book accessible to Latino families, where Sotomayor’s story can inspire children of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds to work hard and pursue educational and professional success.

Morales, Yuyi. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2003. Print.
Skeleton Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, ready to take her to the next life, but after helping her count in English and Spanish as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind. This story is the perfect introduction to counting in both English and in Spanish and is a spirited tribute to the rich traditions of Mexican culture, including the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead.

Picture Books for the Young Budding Artist

Is there a young budding artist in your life? Consider surprising them with one of these beautifully illustrated picture books for children in preschool through grade 3! They're all available at the Naperville Public Library!

 Art by Patrick McDonnell. Rhyming text describes how little Art makes passionate zigzags, "scribbles that squiggle," lots of dots and "the curliest cue." His creations, rendered in watercolor and crayon, become a neighborhood scene and the location of Art's dream. He awakens to find his artwork proudly displayed on the family refrigerator, "put there by Mother 'cause mother loves Art."

Danny's Drawing Book by Sue Heap. A snowy trip to the zoo with his friend Ettie prompts Danny to write an illustrated story with pencil sketches in his drawing book. Danny draws himself and Ettie into the story and suddenly the friends are on an exciting adventure with an elephant and an aardvark. This imaginative story is sure to inspire many children to write their own illustrated stories this winter!

Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty. This adorable picture book features Jeremy and his unique illustration of a monster that comes to life! Suddenly, the blue, squiggly, horned monster demands that Jeremy draw him a whole assortment of objects. "Draw me a sandwich. I’m hungry!" "Draw me a telephone. Somebody might call," the monster exclaims. How will Jeremy ever get rid of this annoying monster?

Lily Brown's Paintings by Angela Johnson, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Lilly Brown loves spending time with her family, but when she begins painting, the stars visit sidewalk cafes, the trees wear hats and drink tea, the fruit at the market stand laughs out loud, and the wind carries stories across the ocean. Vivid watercolor illustrations celebrate children’s imaginations and depict the magic that the young girl finds in art.

A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch. A Day With No Crayons is a delightful children's picture book celebrating creativity. When young Liza draws on the white wall with crayons, her mother takes them away. With the crayons gone, all the color drains from Liza's world. What does the budding artist do? She squirts her toothpaste angrily and stomps through mud puddles. Through these acts, Liza inadvertently creates art—and eventually discovers color in the world around her.

When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden. In this charming tales of modern artists, a cleverly named pig, Pigasso, and a colorful bull, Mootisse and Pigasso start out as neighbors but end up fueding when they start criticizing one another’s work. The painters end up with a colorful mess by ultimately building a fence between the two. Based loosely on the real-life relationship between Picasso and Matisse, this tale is a wonderful tribute to these exceptional talents and to the concept of accepting the ideas of others. This title is sure to be perfect for any young artist’s personal library.

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg. This riveting children’s picture book encourages children to view mistakes not as failures but opportunities. As the book states, "A torn piece of paper" (the cardboard is actually torn)… is just the beginning (of an alligator’s smile). Throughout this book, various spills and paint blobs are transformed into animals, a folded sheet of paper becomes a penguin’s head, and most notably, a panel with a hole in the center telescopes outward, accordion-style, to reveal a tiny creature way at the bottom. This inspirational book is sure to inspire children to take creative risks and not condemn their mistakes.

Recent research demonstrates a correlation between the arts and higher academic performance. In the report, "Learning, Arts and the Brain", seven universities presented several studies discussing how visual arts, music, and dance training and skill positively impact learning (The Dana Foundation, 2008). To encourage artistic expression among children, rouse their creative spirit by checking out one of the above illustrated picture books!

You'll Never Believe What Things You Find in the Library!

Patty and Me as "Thing 2"! We both accidentally ordered the same iron-on transfer. Oh well :) We are twins and I think we look awesome! I'm on the right, by the way. 

Make It Take It! Wire Sculpture

The arts can make you smart! Recent research demonstrates a correlation between the arts and higher academic performance. In the report, “Learning, Arts and the Brain,” seven universities presented several studies discussing how visual arts, music, and dance training and skill impact learning (The Dana Foundation, 2008). This is why I try to incorporate as much art as I can within my library programs. This blog entry talks about the Make It Take It program that I lead at 95th Street Library.  Make It Take It  is a weekly program that features a 15 minute storytime followed by a unique and fun craft. Activities are geared towards 3-5 year olds.  This craft is specifically inspired by Alexander Calder's wire sculptures: 

Alexander Calder | Ball Player (c. 1927)

Alexander Calder | Elephant (c. 1928)

The craft will be done using a styrofoam base, pipecleaners, and beads and is meant to inspire creativity within children! Here is what the craft will look like: 

Short Storytime Outline: 

Opening Song Options: 
My Energy by Laurie Berkner (Great action song to get kids moving)
I'm Me & You're You by Laurie Berkner

(This song has an excellent message about how kids are all unique individuals. Here is a snippet of the lyrics: "I'm me and you're you. I like green, you like blue. I use tape, you use glue. I stayed short and you grew. It doesn't matter what we do. 'Cause I'm still me and you're still you." I would sing this with Shakers and have lyrics on the white board)

Books:

A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch

Lines that Wiggle by Candice Whitman

Art by Patrick McDonnel

The Straight Line Wonder by Mem Fox

Flannel Boards / Fingerplays & Songs

Clancy the Clown  - A Flannelboard Story

(This was a really fun story that was very interactive! This flannel helps children identify their colors and shapes and is also very funny!)

Clancy was a clown in a circus.  Every day he put on a funny face that made the children clap and laugh.  Then he did somersaults and rode a pig.  Clancy blew a trumpet and that made the children clap and laugh too.

One day Clancy went to put on his funny face.  He put on his silly eyes (place eyes).  He put on his happy mouth (place mouth).  He put on his crazy hair (place hair).  But Clancy Clown couldn't find his funny nose. "I know my nose", said Clancy.  "My nose is round and red.  Where is my funny nose?"

Clancy found a nose that looked like this  (put on a blue square nose). It was a blue square nose. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? (The kids scream out, "NO!") "No", said Clancy Clown. "This is not my nose. This is a blue square nose. My name is round and red. (remove blue square) I know my nose!" 

Clancy found a nose that looked like this. (Put on a green triangle nose). It was a green triangle nose. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? "No" said Clancy Clown. "This is not my nose. This is a green triangle nose. My nose is round and red.  (Remove green triangle) I know my nose!"

Clancy found a nose that looked like this (Put on a big yellow circle) . It was a big yellow round nose. Was this Clancy Clowns's nose? (Children scream out, "NO!") ,  "No." said Clancy Clown. "This is  a round nose, but it is big and yellow. My nose is round and red. (Remove yellow circle) I know my nose!" 

Clancy found  another nose that looked like this (Put on a tiny purple circle).  It was a tiny purple circle. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? (Children scream out, "NO!") "No" , said Clancy Clown. "This is not my nose. This is a round nose but it's tiny and purple. My nose is round and red. (Remove purple circle) I know my nose!" 

Then Clancy found a nose that looked like this (Use red circle). It was a round nose. It was a red nose. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? (let audience scream "YES!"). 


Clancy Clown put on his funny nose and went out to turn somersaults and ride a pig and blow his trumpet so the children would clap and laugh. Clancy Clown knows his nose... and now so do you!

Rainbow Colors

Tune: Hush, Little Baby

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue
Rainbow green and yellow, too
Rainbow orange, rainbow red
Rainbow smiling overhead.
Come and count the colors with me
How many colors can you see?
One, two, three, down to green,
Four, five, six can be seen
Rainbow purple, rainbow blue,
Rainbow green and yellow, too.
Rainbow orange, rainbow red,
Rainbow smiling overhead.

Source: King County Library System

Rainbow Colors
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Start by putting all the rainbow shapes out on the flannel board - as you sing the song, point to each colored rainbow. (Center the red rainbow in the middle of the board). Build the rainbow starting with red on the outside working into purple as you sing the line "Rainbow smiling overhead." Pause until the rainbow is assembled then continue singing. 

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue,

Rainbow green and yellow too

Rainbow orange, rainbow red

Rainbow smiling overhead.
(Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple... assemble rainbow at this time)

Come and count the colors with me

How many colors can you see?
One, two, three, down to green,

Four, five, six can be seen

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue,

Rainbow green and yellow too

Rainbow orange, rainbow red

Rainbow smiling overhead. 

You have counted the colors with me
All of the colors that we see. 

Our Shapes 

Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”

Did you ever see a circle, a circle, a circle? 

Did you ever see a circle? 

It looks like a ball.

Did you ever see a rectangle, 

Rectangle, rectangle? 

Did you ever see a rectangle? 

It looks like a door.

Did you ever see a triangle, 

Triangle, triangle? 

Did you ever see a triangle? 

It looks like a sail.

Did you ever see a square, 

A square, a square? 

Did you ever see a square? 

It looks like a box.

Source: Addison Library

Wire Sculpture Craft Instructions: 

Materials:

·        Styrofoam Base

·        Multicolored Pipe Cleaners 

·        Multicolored Pony Beads / Assorted Beads

Instructions:
1) Put as many or as little beads of any color onto a pipe cleaner
2) Bend, curl, and twist pipe cleaners into any shape you like. Poke each end of the pipe cleaner into the Styrofoam base.
3) Intersect the pipe cleaners and make them tall or short and twist them into whatever funky shape you like! The purpose of this craft is to be creative. No two sculptures should look alike.

Early literacy tips:
By encouraging the child to use their fine motor skills to put pony beads on the pipe cleaner and bend it, they are developing the muscle strength needed to be able to write successfully someday. The children will also feel that the art is more their own when they are completing it themselves. Instruct children to bend pipe cleaners into different shapes. Parents could help children make more complex shapes. Older children may want to make people, animals, trucks, or anything they’d like, or they can just make an abstract work of art.

Coloring Sheet:

Pass out an art-themed coloring sheet inspired by famous artists after the activity! There are free printable sheets here:

http://makingartfun.com/htm/art-masterpiece-coloring-pages-index.htm

Display:

Since it is Fall, I also have a display of art books in the J Non-fiction section. Here is my display: 

Family Storytime: Apple Pie!

Hello everyone! I have not updated in quite some time because I have started a new job as a Children's Services Associate at a large public library with 3 different branches. I have also begun working on my Masters in Library Science at Dominican University so I am quite the busy lady! I have finally settled into my new job though and I am excited to share all of my programming ideas with you once again. 

Since it is October, I put together an apple themed storytime! This was presented at our Family Storytime program which allows all ages to join in although most of the books are geared towards preschoolers. This post includes stories about apples, apple trees, and apple pie (yum, yum!). Here are some ideas:

Opening Song: Raffi - Shake My Sillies Out

Book: Odd Dog by Claudio Boldt

This is a really cute story about a dog whose apples from his tree keep falling into his neighbor's yard. The dog is really worried about it because he wants all the apples for himself! Turns out, the dog's neighbor doesn't even like apples and he returns the apples to the dog. In the end, the "odd dog" ends up having a picnic for all his dog friends, sharing apple pie. I really liked this story because it also teaches children about friendship and sharing which is an important moral lesson!

Song: A.P.P.L.E. (Tune: "BINGO")
For this story, I had giant foam letters that spelled out A P P L E on our flannel board. I pointed to the letters as I sung the song. 

I know a fruit that grows on trees, 
An apple is its name, oh!
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E 
An apple is its name, oh!

In summer and in early fall
It's time to pick an apple!
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 

It may be sweet or may be tart,
It's red, or green, or yellow! 
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 

A McIntosh or Granny Smith, 
A Winesap or Delicious!
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 

Make applesauce or apple juice 
Or apple pie with apples! 
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 
A-P-P-L-E 


Song: Way Up High in the Apple Tree by Carole Peterson
Lyrics:
Way up high in the apple tree 
One little apple smiled at me! 
I shook that tree as hard as I could 
Down came the apple – Mmmm, it sure looks good! 
(repeat with another smiling apple)

Two little apples under the tree 
One for you, and one for me 
Two little apples, crunch crunch crunch! 

Two little apples, let's eat them for our lunch! YUM


Book 2: Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

This is a great story about a girl that picks apples and sells them at the farmer's market! I like it because it shows all the different foods you can make simply from picking apples. 


Flannel Board: 5 Apples in a Basket

The first apple in the basket was a bright and shiny red.
The second apple in the basket said, “My what a cozy bed.”
The third apple in the basket said, “Now we two are a pair.”
The fourth apple int he basket said, “Please move over there.”

The fifth apple in the basket said, “Oh dear, oh me, oh my!  This basket looks like a pastry–I think we’re in a pie!”

This flannel is super cute! I made it myself and it was a lot of fun to present. I got the idea from this Falling Flannelboard blog!


Song: Apples and Bananas by Raffi

Book: All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin and Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

This is a classic book about pie!


Flannel Board: Fly Fly, Little Fly

Put the pie slices up on the board, asking children what each flavor the slice was. Then I had the children cover their eyes so I could hide the fly. Each flavor we would song together: 

Fly, Fly, Little fly, are you under the (insert flavor here) pie?

And so on until we found the fly!

Idea from Fergus Falls Public Library


Closing Song: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill - played with Shakers! 

At the end of storytime I had children line up for a pie or apple stamp on their hand. They really love getting stamps at the end! 

Other Books to Consider: 

Ned's New Home by Kevin Tseng

Amazing Apples by Consie Powell 

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne F. Rockwell (Good for a Halloween theme)

Apple Pie Tree