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Over this past month I have been doing many Halloween themed STE sessions and am sadly getting to the end of my creepy repertoire. But, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite reads and a little pre-school insight to go along.
The first fave is “The Ugly Pumpkin” by Dave Horowitz which I read during my “Pumpkin Patch” story time. I let the kids know from the start that this is a very sad book. But, they are always quick to remind me that they can handle it. After a few “crying lessons” (they will come in handy later on in the book) we begin by noticing the odd shape of the ugly pumpkin. Here is an odd occurrence: every single time I share this book, the kids tell me the ugly pumpkin looks like an apple. (I completely didn’t see it until just now as I am writing I realize they mean he looks like an apple that has been eaten- the core! Aha! Those clever kids!)
Once we actually open the book, the first observation are the beautiful end papers lined with a rock wall and red and orange leaves that prove, yes indeed, this story takes place in the fall. The ugly pumpkin is a sad little soul who hopes for the best. Sadly, no monster, witch or skeleton take the pumpkin home with them. The children particularly like yelling the “No way!” that the skeleton shouts at the ugly pumpkin.
Then, the most villainous and most awesome characters are introduced. The trees. Ever since I was extremely little and saw those faced, singing, kidnapping, monstrosities on “Babe’s and Toyland” I have always been a bit apprehensive of trees who talk. When the kid’s of story time see Dave’s rendition of scary trees they are in awe. From their first introduction, the children are crying: “Don’t trust those trees ugly pumpkin!” Like a silly damsel in a horror movie, the naive pumpkin “lays down his roots” no sooner to be pelted with apples. The kid’s are sad, but giggle, just a little.
The ugly pumpkin has a break down, he screams at the sky. He cries with the rain. The children love to act this out. (Story teller note- WARNING- Do not ask children to make “blowing of the nose” sound. It will end in boogers. Lots of them)
Then the pumpkin has an epiphany, a realization of self. Oh my gosh, he is a squash!
The last scene is a silhouette of the ugly pumpkin walking off into the sunset. He is accompanied by another squash, who judging by the “flippy” hairstyle and the high heels- I think she is a girl squash. However, many little boys who I have read to recently beg to differ. Ugly pumpkin would never hold a girl’s hand.
Only four days to Halloween!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
Since we last chatted, I have been all over place sharing my STE program with a few local pre-schools and two great libraries. Here is a list of all my favorite things said/done by the little ones I met:
1. During Culture Kids, I show various items (winter coat, hat, etc.) and ask the kids if I should pack them for our trip to Botswana. Every single group told me to pack my fairy wings and wand. I love the practicality of preschoolers.
2. I actually made a child scream while reading, “Honey, Honey… Lion!” by Jan Brett. I actually feel kind of bad for that one. No, I was just the reader. Jan should feel bad for screaming “LION!” like that.
3. On the subject of lions, while driving through the jungle we spotted one of those maned beasts and I called out to my little explorers, “What should we do?” to which a brave little boy responded. “Make ‘em dead!”
4. While reading “My School’s a Zoo!” we get to the final page where a dinosaur appears to be outside of the window. A little guy told me that he has a dinosaur that lives in his closet and steals things. When I asked him what sort of things he stole he told me everything he wasn’t suppose to have. Hmmm, blame it on the dinosaur, eh?
5. That just about every child I met told me they rode an elephant this week. (The big e is in town, ya know.)
6. That I get to be there! I have so much fun with these kids and love, love, love to hear their stories, their take on the literature presented, and just hearing them giggle.
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
