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I have the great pleasure of being invited back to Holyoke Public Library for more “Once upon a time Story telling”. Here is the schedule:
- Wednesday, July 15th “Mission to Mars”
- Wednesday, July 22nd “Swingin’ Around Saturn”
- Wednesday July 29th “Poor Pluto!”
All story times start at 10am and are great for children 18months-6 years. Free and open to the public. To registar call the library at 413.322.5640
Spacing Out,
Jenn
During the “Pumpkin Patch” story time I think it is essential to use a non-fiction book to aid in the learning. Most of the children know that a pumpkin is grown in a pumpkin patch. Most have even visisted a pumpkin patch at one time or another. But, by the time they ususally arrive the pumpkin is full grown and ready to be picked so introducing the book “The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden” by George Levenson photographs by Shmuel Thaler is great.
I find it some what of a challenge to find non-fiction books that you can use during a read aloud. Usually, it is not at all a question of quality but of size. I sadly don’t have enough time to read the larger books (nor do my pre-school friends necessarily want to sit that long). “The Pumpkin Circle” is the perfect size and so perfectly written for the pre-school learner. Then you add the crisp, large photos and you have a captivating real life story.
We start with a seed. The group looks at the photo of a bright orange glove holding this little seed. We recall pulling these little seeds out of the goopy mess while making a jack-o-lantern. Or we remember eating them warm and toasty from the oven. But, the farmer plants the little seed. The children pretend they are little seeds and I am the farmer pushing them carefully into the ground. I then ask my friends that are now seeds what they need to grow. Sure enough, as the story tells us, they need sun and water and time. We again act this out. The kid’s absolutely love to be watered. Even though they know the water can is empty, the flinch just slightly and giggle as I come around. Now the farmer must wait. We talk about how hard it is to wait. The children show me what they do when they have to wait- lots of eye rolling! We watch the farmer wait. This is my favorite photo as you see the farmer stretched out on a lawn chair arms relaxed behind his head.
The seed does grow though. But much to our surprise every things is green. No orange to be seen. The children comment that it looks just like vines. Bees travel to pollunate. And the farmer waits patiently. Then, finally a bud appears. Slowly, slowly the pumpkin becomes ready for harvest.
The story does not end there, though. The farmer carves the pumpkin into a great jack-o-lantern, lights it, and places outside in the dead of the night under a bright moon. The children love this dramatic full page picture. There are gasps as this little seed as fully transformed into the ultimate Halloween symbol.
Much to the children’s surprise, the story still doesn’t end there. Now the pumpkin begins to decay. This is usually not a pleasant thing to discuss. We don’t like to think of our dear pumpkins rotting away. It reminds me of Frosty the snowman. Who likes the part of the story when he begins to melt? However, the children identify with the pictures as they see the pumpkin “smooshing” into the ground. “That happened to my pumpkin!”, “It stunk real bad!” I hear.
But, wait, what is that? Could it be another pumpkin seed? It sure is. The story ends right where it began: a little pumpkin seed starting out on a long journey.
Only two more days until Halloween!!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
To begin “Giant Toe’s” STE it very important to go over the many make believe creatures and characters of the spooky season. And what a better way to do so by reading “By the Light of the Halloween Moon” by Caroline Stutson and pictures by Kevin Hawkes.
This book is such a joy to share with pre-schoolers. The pictures are so whimsical while being both funny and spooky. The writing flows gracefully and elegantly, unfolding at all the right times.
The end papers, which are pitch black, remind the children of many things. I have heard the night sky, the “spooky-ness”, the black bat, the black cat, and so on. It’s amazing how just using a single color can inspire such creativity.
Then the children see the “toe”. “The toe that taps in the dead of the night, by the light, by the light of the Halloween moon.” They are immediately drawn in by this little toe, wondering who it belongs to? Why are they out in the middle of the night? It’s October, why is the toe not covered with a shoe? It is just hanging there off the side of the dock- just asking for the trouble that in sues. And boy does trouble in sue.
Many characters from a witch, a cat, a bat, a ghoul and so on all want to get their hands (or sharp scary teeth) on this little unclothed toe. Some of the characters like a sprite, a ghoul and a williwaw ghost are vocabulary not generally used around pre-schoolers. However, Kevin Hawkes’ illustrations are so descriptive the children pick up the new words quickly. The rhythm of this story is such a stark contrast to the funny illustrations of the crazy antics of the spooky ones. Towards the end of the story, I see mouths moving to the words “by the light, by the light of the Halloween moon”.
Finally, we are made aware of who the toe belongs to. A little overalled girl with pigtail braids playing her fiddle. She surprises the kids with her gusto as she shouts, “Oh no you don’t! That toe is mine!” and takes her musical instrument now turned weapon and whacks the sprite as he is about to sink his teeth into her precious toe. The children love to imagine themselves shouting this at all the underworld creatures that threaten them. They practically enjoy the idea of hitting them with a fiddle.
The last page shows all the creatures returning to where ever they came from and a little house with the lights on. The concluding thoughts from the pre-schools seem to generally be: don’t play a fiddle outside, if you do where shoes, and stay indoors on Halloween night- unless you are going out for candy, of course.
Only three days to Halloween!!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
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
Holyoke Public Library has been so kind to invite me to do festive fall themes through Halloween. Here is the schedule:
9/19 “Animals in Class”
10/3 “The Giant’s Toe”
10/17 “Pumpkin Patch”
10/30 (The day before Halloween…how spooky!) “Frightening Fairy Tales”
I would love to see you there!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
I love fall! I love visiting libraries with special Back to School and Halloween themed story times, too! And that is just what I am doing very soon at East Longmeadow Library. I will be there:
September 22 – Animals in Class
September 29 – Pumpkin Patch
October 6 – The Giant’s Toe
October 20 – Frightening Fairy Tales
November 3 – The Royal Summons
November 17 – Famous Authors and You
Be sure to give the library a call to reserve space. I can’t wait to see you all, and Leroy, too!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
