Storytime Ideas
Rain and Snow
Some libraries have noticed fewer boys attending their programs. Science themes appeal to boys (and girls), and are fun – that’s why kids enjoy visiting the Lawrence Hall of Science and other science museums. During the winter months, storytime can include books on rain and snow. An activity you could include is an art project based on Charles Shaw’s IT LOOKED LIKE SPILT MILK.
-Cut out a white “cloud” and glue to blue (sky) paper.
-Glue packing peanuts to blue paper to resemble a snowstorm.
-Make a rainbow windsock by taping strips of colored tissue paper to a paper tube and hang on the porch.
-Make paper snowflakes like those found in SNIP, SNIP, SNOW!
Rain:
- Shaw, Charles. IT LOOKED LIKE SPILT MILK. The classic picture book, where different white blobs resemble an ice cream cone, a rabbit, etc.
- Keats, Ezra Jack. A LETTER TO AMY. Peter loses the invitation he wants to send Amy, while walking to the mailbox in the rain.
- Freeman, Don. A RAINBOW OF MY OWN. A small boy imagines that he “owns” the rainbow.
- Hesse, Karen. COME ON, RAIN! One of the few books about rain in the city, with African-American characters celebrating the end of the drought.
- Aardema, Verna. BRINGING THE RAIN TO KAPITI PLAIN. Written in the same pattern as “The House That Jack Built,” this African folktale describes a drought.
- Barrett, Judi. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS. A very funny story about what would happen if it rained giant food items.
Snow:
- Burton, Virginia. KATY AND THE BIG SNOW. Katy is a snow removal machine who must dig out the city after a snowstorm.
- Keats, Ezra Jack. THE SNOWY DAY. The Caldecott classic about a snowstorm in the city, and how Peter plays in the snow.
- Enderle, Judith. SIX SNOWY SHEEP. A fun rhyming story about counting sheep playing in the snow.
- London, Jonathan. FROGGY GETS DRESSED. Froggy usually hibernates all winter, but he wakes up to find that it has snowed!
- Poydar, Nancy. SNIP, SNIP, SNOW! This simple story about a girl wanting to play outside includes instructions for making paper snowflakes.