Storytime Share

Piggy and Dad Go Fishing by David Martin

Read the book. Retell the story using props.
Aside: You can retell with your children using things around the house. Retelling the story to your children will help them remember the story and retell it as well. When they retell stories they are developing their narrative skills.
Submitted by Cecil Holland, Ridgeway Branch, Blue Ridge (VA) Regional Library

Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig

Aside: Now I am going to read to you this wonderful book Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig. I especially like this story because it introduces narrative skills, which is the ability to retell a story.
Read the story.
Aside: You can use things from all around the house to tell a story, just as they used things from around the house in this story. Having your child retell stories helps to develop your child’s own narrative skills for later life while at the same time increaseing his memory and imagination and love for books.
Submitted by Miss Yolanda, Washington County (VA) Public Library

Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie Harris

This book is wonderful for how, why, when and where questions! There are several pictures in this book with no words. When you come to these pictures, ask the children what the character is doing, what is missing and how the character is feeling.
Aside: Asking questions using what and how, as I did when I read the story will help strengthen your children’s narrative skills, which in turn helps to build comprehension ability as the child begins to read.
Submitted by Dawn Cheney, Glenvar Branch, Roanoke County (VA) Public Library

Snap! by Marcia Vaughan

Read the book.
Aside: This book lends itself to retelling events. Encourage your chld with questons that leave room for them to describe what they hear or see. I used questions like, “What did Joey do when his Mom fell asleep?” and “Who did he meet?”
Submitted by Donna Hackman, Bedford (VA) Public Library

The Aminal by Lorna Balian

Introduction Aside: Narrative skills is helping your child tell a story. Researchers say this is an important skill towards your child learning to read. In this storytime we will have fun while using narrative skills. 
During the storytime–Book Aside: In this story we will be using narrative skills to tell our story and to talk about the events taking place. Narrative skills are  the six early literacy skills that help your children learn to read. This includes giving your children time to think about and answer questions about the story. Listen as I ask questions that cannot be answered with just yes or no. Read the book.
Closing Aside: Ask your child about storytime today when you get home and help them retell one of the stories.
Submitted by Carolyn B. Morehead, Big Island Library, Bedford (VA) Public Library

Thank You Bear by Greg Foley

Talk about how what is special to one person might not be special to another. People see things and use things differently. Read the book. Then, pull out a cardboard box and have the children act out the story. You are the bear. There can be as many monkeys, owls, elephants, etc. as there are children who want to be that animal. Then talk together about the many things you can do with a box.
Aside: Acting out stories and having children say parts helps develop their narrative skills, the expressive part of language. Retelling stories is one way that children will later more easily understand what they read. If your child did not get a chance to talk about how they might use a box, listen to their ideas on the way home.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

I read it once through even though many are already familiar with the book. Then we stand up, put on our imaginary wolf suits, and have them act it out and tell it back to me.
Aside: Narrative skills is the ability to describe things and talk about or tell stories. It is an important skill for early literacy. Acting out stories, or parts of them, using their bodies, helps children internalize and understand what is happening in the story. Encourage your children to practice telling and retelling stories to improve your children’s narrative skills.
Submitted by Alison Towles, Middlesex County (VA) Public Library

A Good Day by Kevin Henkes

In this book there are four animals (point to them on the cover)–a yellow bird, a white dog, an orange fox, and a brown squirrel. For each animal something sad happens, but then something good does, too! Let’s see what happens. Read the book. Sometimes something happens to us that makes us sad, but then we find a way to be happier. I am going to give each person a piece of paper and there are some crayons to share. I would like you to draw a picture of a time you were sad and a time you could make yourself happy. Then tell me or the adult who brought you about your picture. 
Adults, having your child describe their experiences and feelings aloud helps to develop their narrative skills which will later help them understand what they read.
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting

Blue Sea by Robert Kalan

Read the book. Use the flannel board to retell the story. You put up the pieces and have the participants retell the story as you put up the pieces. You may say a few words to prompt them. Use the handout (attached) as a way for them to retell the story at home.

Adult Aside: Giving your child an aid will help them remember the story and the order. This helps them develop their narrative skills.

Patterns for flannel board pieces  blueseafbpatterns1.doc
Handout for retelling at home blueseaactivhandout.doc
Submitted by Saroj Ghoting

Storytime Handout: Animals All Around Us

Animals All Around Us Handout by Glencoe (IL) Public Library