Resources for Educators: Storytime Resources

Supplemental resources for teachers, parents, and other caregivers

Storytime "Kits"

Below you will find thematic picture book lists. These can be used to build a storytime, or just to find books on popular subjects! Check out a book, watch a video, sing, and dance, and then talk about what what you thought about the whole thing! 

Beach

Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? book cover

Investigate:

  1. What is your favorite thing to do at the beach?
  2. Have you ever ate sand? What were you thinking?
  3. What does the ocean smell like? 
  4. What can your find at the beach? 

Butterflies

cover of book dinosaurs roar butterflies soar

Investigate:

  1. What are some differences between Butterflies and Moths? 
  2. Can you fly like a butterfly? 
  3. Would you like to be a butterfly? Why or why not?

Dogs

Bark George by Jules Feiffer book cover

Investigate: 

  1. If you could have any pet what would it be?
  2. What other sounds do animals make? 
  3. If you had a dog, what tricks would you like to teach it?

Frogs

cover image of mctoad mows tiny island

Investigate:

  1. What does a frog say?
  2. Can you jump like a frog? How high can you jump? How far?
  3. Would you like to eat flies? How come?

Ice Cream

what can you do with a paleta book cover

Investigate: 

  1. What animal does ice cream come from? 
  2. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?  
  3. Do you eat ice cream when it’s cold outside? 

Rain

Rain by Linda Ashman book cover

Investigate:  

  1. Do you like it when it rains?
  2. Do you notice any animals come out when it rains?  Hint: ribbit ribbit! 
  3. Where does the rain go after it falls?

Space

Gravity by Jason Chin book cover

Investigate:  

  1. Do you think there are aliens? What do they look like? Draw or create one out of craft supplies.
  2. Build a rocket ship out of a old box. What will you take to outer space?
  3. You're on the moon! moonwalk around the living room (make an obstacle course with your couch cushions and anything else you have on hand).

Bears

Investigate: 

  1. What is your favorite type of bear and why?
  2. Do the bear walk. Do bears move fast? Do you think you're as fast as a bear? 
  3. If bears don't eat egg sandwiches...what do they eat?

Colors

cover image of green is a chile pepper

Investigate:

  1. What is your favorite color and why? Ask other people about their favorite color too. Draw a picture for them in their favorite color!
  2. What happens when you mix colors? 
  3. What colors are in the rainbow? Can you draw a rainbow?

Dinosaurs

Edwina the dinosaur who didn't know she was extinct book cover

Investigate: 

1.  How many of your foot prints do you think can fit inside a dinosaur foot print?  

2.  Would a dinosaur be a good pet? Why or why not?  

3.  Did you know that modern day birds are relatives of the dinosaurs from long ago? Look at some birds and see if you can see dinosaur-like characteristics. 

Gardening

My Garden by Kevin Henkes book cover

Investigate:

  1. Get a paper towel a little wet and place it in a plastic ziplock bag. Then, put a pinto bean inside the paper towel. Tape the bag to a window that gets sun. Check the bag every day, and add a little water if the paper towel gets dry. What happens to the bean? 
  2. Look at some flowers for a little while. Did you see any insects or animals visit the flowers? What kinds? Why are they visiting the flowers
  3. What are the colors of some flowers you know? How many can you think of ?   

Numbers

Investigate:

  1. How high can you count? Show me!
  2. Can you count back down again?
  3. How many letters are in your name?

Robots

Investigate:

  1. Can you walk like a robot?
  2. Why do robots walk like that?
  3. Would you like to have a robot? What would the robot do?

Birthday

book cover of I Got a Chicken for my birthday

Investigate: 

  1. What is your favorite flavor of cake? 
  2. Do you like cake or cupcakes better?
  3. What is your birthday? Do you know what year? How old are you?
  4. What is your favorite birthday activity and why?

Dessert

Arnie the Doughnut Book Cover

Investigate:  

  1. What is your favorite dessert and why?
  2. Play with measuring cups and filling them up. What cups are bigger? Which are smaller? How many times do you need to use a smaller cup to fill up a bigger cup?
  3. How did Pigeon feel when the duckling got a cookie? Did his feelings change? 

Farms

Barnyard Boogie book cover

Investigate:

  1. What sound does a cow make? A pig? Make other farm animal sounds! How many can you make?
  2. Pretend you're riding a tractor on a farm! What does it sound like? What do you see?
  3. What can you find at a farmer's market? What if you go in winter? In summer?

Hot Dogs Vs. Tacos

The pigeon finds a hot dog by mo willems book cover

Investigate: 

  1. do you prefer hot dogs, tacos...or SPAGHETTI?
  2. Have you ever had breakfast for dinner? Would you eat pancakes, eggs, or cereal?
  3. Take a poll, ask your friends and family what their favorite dinner is. Can you create a chart to display your information?

Penguins

cover image of A Penguin Story

Investigate:

  1. Can you waddle like a penguin? How fast can you go? 
  2. Would you rather be a penguin or a bird who can fly? How come?
  3. Would you like to live outside on the ice like a penguin?

Shapes

box shapes cover

Investigate:

  1. Can you make a circle with Your fingers? A triangle? Any others?
  2. Find five shapes in your house today. Can you find more?
  3. What is your favorite shape? 
  4. If you had to draw your self using shapes, which shapes would you use? Is your head a circle? A triangle? A square? What about your legs?