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January 20, 2020 | strande
Did you miss our Community Storytime this week? Don't worry, here's what you missed, plus a few more suggestions so you can create your own neighborhood storytime at home, complete with songs and stories.
Don't need a full storytime? Borrow a rhyme when you need a short distraction, or check out these materials and spend a few minutes reading together.
From Storytime
One day Red Knit Cap Girl and her friends discover a hollow tree in the middle of the forest. Join their forest community as the animals share their unique gifts and turn the ordinary tree into a special spot for everyone to enjoy!
HELLO WAVED THE KIND NEIGHBOR (inspired by jbrary)
“Hello” waved the kind neighbor one day, “Hello” waved the kind neighbor.
“Hello” waved the kind neighbor one day, and they all waved “Hello, hello, hello”. But…
We know neighbors go [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms]
[clap] la de la de la [wavey arms], [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms]
We know neighbors go [clap] la de la de la [wavey arms], they don’t go “Hello, hello, hello”.
Can I help you? said the friendly resident one day, can I help you? said the friendly resident.
Can I help you? said the friendly resident one day, and they all said can I help you? But…
We know residents go [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms]
[clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms], [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms]
We know residents go [clap] rub a dub a dub [running arms], they don’t say can I help you?
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Everyone in the neighborhood gets a waft of the scrumptious scent of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses, and one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself? Surely Omu's community won't let her down.
Listen to Oge Mora talk about her first story.
More Songs and Stories to Enjoy
Green grass is fresh for play, and brown dirt is perfect for digging a garden. But when gray buildings start to rise up and a whole city builds, can there be any room for green space? The neighborhood children think so, and they inspire the community to build a garden for everyone to share.
When Julia and her house come to town, she likes everything about her new neighborhood except how quiet it is! Soon Julia finds some housemates, including goblins, mermaids, fairies, and even a dragon. All of the creatures must learn to work together to create a harmonious community.
Errol loves gardening, but he doesn't have a proper garden. Although his home is full of beautiful plants, he longs for an outdoor space where he can grow things. A heart-warming tale about how one small boy's dream of a garden unites a community.
BONUS ACTIVITY:
We had our community-themed storytime on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but you can do this anytime. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr., an activist who believed in working together to make our national community better. His dream of equality and justice for everyone still inspires regular people to go out and make a difference. Check our Children's Biographies, or ask a librarian for help.