Christmas!

Last year, I presented a Christmas themed storytime (separate from our regular sessions) for families. By the time I had written everything about it up, it was January! So I saved it to post for this holiday season. So, here it is — in the old blog format — a Christmas storytime!

First up, I opened with “Bear Stays Up For Christmas” by Karma Wilson.

I love the Bear series! This story is very sweet, as Bear’s friends to try to keep him awake for Christmas. This led to a couple different reminders/discussions about how bears sleep for winter. The kids were very into trying to help keep Bear up — they really wanted him to see Christmas.

After, I read “I Love Christmas” by Anna Walker.

I love the simplicity in this book. There is one page spread in this one that refers to a nativity — I read it at my storytime, but my community is very Catholic, so be aware! This book was definitely a favorite of the group. It spurred many discussions on what their favorite parts of Christmas were. Next, I introduced our first song:

Action Song: “Let’s All Do a Little Clapping” (Tune: We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
Let’s all do a little clapping
Let’s all do a little clapping
Let’s all do a little clapping
And spread Christmas cheer.
(Jumping, bending, twirling)
Credit: Preschool Education

The kids really got into this song, there were tons of giggles during it and after. To settle them down again, I launched right into our fingerplay:

Fingerplay: “Here is the Chimney”
Here is the chimney (Make fist, enclose thumb)
Here is the top (Palm of hand on top of fist)
Open the lid (Remove hand quickly)
And out Santa will pop (Pop up thumb)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

And then it was time for our next book, “I’m Not Santa!” by Jonathan Allen.

Little Owl is a favorite character at my library. The kids just love learning what his “I’m not” saying is for the book and shouting it along with me. It was time for another fingerplay:

Fingerplay: “Christmas Time”
See the snowflakes falling (Wiggle fingers down like snow)
See the candles glow (Hold up one finger)
See the wreaths upon the door (Make circle with hands)
It’s Christmas time, I know! (Clap)
Credit: The Holiday Zone

Next, we read “The Three Bears’ Christmas” by Kathy Duval.

This was a find from the shelf — when I was shelf-reading. It was a great read because it has a built-in guessing game and a pattern just like Goldilocks. The kids were so excited to tell me that Santa was coming, each and every page spread. Then it was time for a little traditional music with some motions for the kids:

Action Song: “Up on the Housetop”
Up on the housetop, reindeer pause (point up)
Out jumps good old Santa Claus (jump)
Down through the chimney with lots of toys (point down)
All for the little ones, Christmas joys
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go? (make Santa belly, shrug shoulders)
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go? (make Santa belly, shrug shoulders)
Up on the housetop, click, click, click (snap fingers)
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick (touch ground)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Our flannelboard: “Ten Little Snowmen” was an in-house flannel set. I used the version that is sung to “Michael Finnigan/Ten Little Indians.” Then our last book was “Jingle-Jangle” by Nicola Smee.

This is pretty much a Christmas version of “Clip-Clop” which is one of my very favorite storytime books. During this one, I bought out our jingle bell sets and pretty much let the kids shake them as I turned the page. At the end of the storytime, we sang “Jingle Bells” before starting our craft:

Scratch art is a favorite of everyone at the library and I really liked the gingerbread house!