Painting (revised)
The 2017 summer reading/learning program themes of “Build a Better World,” from CSLP, and “Reading by Design,” from iREAD and the California State Library, both focus on building, construction, and design. Over the next few months, BayNews and our blog will feature storytime plans that fit those themes while still being appropriate for preschoolers.
For a painting theme, one of the most fun activities is to allow free painting, either with fingerpaints or watercolors. If you are hesitant to allow free painting due to the mess, you could offer rubber stamp art instead.
Beaumont, Karen. I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! The rhyming text is written to the pattern of the song, “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More,” which will have the audience chanting along to the repeated title phrase.
Brennan-Nelson, Denise. Willow. In art class, everyone’s tree paintings look the same except Willow’s.
Daly, Cathleen. Emily’s Blue Period. After Emily’s parents divorce, she channels her emotions through painting.
McHeffey, Adam. Rudy and Claude Splash into Art. Claude the bird attempts to explain art to Rudy the mouse.
Menchin, Scott. Grandma in Blue and Red Hat. A little boy demonstrates that anything is a worthy subject of a painting.
Reynolds, Peter. The Dot. A girl believes she has no talent for painting, but begins with just a dot to see what develops.
Suen, Anastasia. Scissors, Paper, & Sharing. A multicultural class makes art projects in this celebration of creativity.
Trice, Linda. Kenya’s Art. Kenya recycles her broken toys into art.
Walsh, Ellen Stoll. Mouse Paint. Three white mice get into jars of paint containing primary colors, and mix the paint to make secondary colors in this clever story.