The Storytime Handbook

Fresh, fun ideas for children’s storytime fill this book. The author, a long-time storytime facilitator, has put together 52 weekly themes plus additional plans for holidays, all with detailed instructions for talking about the theme and choosing the books, crafts, songs, poems, games and snacks. Each storytime idea is illustrated with photographs of a suggested craft and snack for easy reference. Libraries, bookstores, preschools and parents alike can use this book to offer themed storytimes that include discussion, literature, art, music, movement and food. Options are provided for each storytime, so the ideas can be used year after year.

Nina Schatzkamer Miller has written stories for the Chicken Soup for the Soul books and conducted storytime at bookstores and a local community center. She is also an artist who has exhibited her art quilts and fused glass pieces in local shows. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Nina Schatzkamer Miller
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 280
Bibliographic Info: 175 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6668-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0353-7
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Dedication and Acknowledgments  vi

Preface  1

Introduction  3

January

  Snow 11

  Community Workers 15

  Dogs 19

  Homes 24

  Sheep 27

February

  Senses 32

  Royalty 38

  Colors 42

  Alligators and Crocodiles 46

  Holiday—Valentine’s Day 51

March

  March 56

  Ladybugs 60

  Spring 63

  Farms 67

April

  Rainbows 73

  Horses 77

  Rain 80

  Plants and Seeds 84

  Holiday—Easter 88

May

  Butterflies 93

  Flowers 96

  Baseball 100

  Family 103

  Feathered Friends 108

June

  Bathtime and Bedtime 113

  Magic 118

  Mice 122

  Foods 126

July

  Beach Vacation 132

  Moon and Space 135

  Numbers 140

  Monkeys 143

  Trains 147

August

  Cats 152

  School 156

  Circus 162

  Alphabet 165

September

  Apples and Johnny Appleseed 170

  Zoo 174

  Dinosaurs 178

  Autumn Leaves 182

October

  Music 187

  Bears 191

  Naughtiness 195

  Pumpkins 198

  Art 202

  Holiday—Halloween 206

November

  Names 212

  Lions 216

  Monsters and Strange Creatures 219

  Turtles 224

  Holiday—Thanksgiving 227

December

  Africa 233

  Fish 237

  Sizes and Shapes 240

  Pigs 245

  Holiday—Christmas 250

  Holiday—Hanukkah 254

Appendix A: Helpful Websites  259

Appendix B: Storytime Template  261

Suggested Reading  263

Index  265