I led this branch Family Storytime in anticipation of our El día de los niños/El día de los libros program at the main library. For the record, I tend to use diverse books in all my storytimes and actively look for ways to promote diverse books at all times—not just on special celebrations like Día. April is also National Poetry Month, so I threw in a poem here, too.

Opening: “Hello Friends” (with ASL)

This was my first time ever using this song and I think I will use it from here on out. It’s simple, it’s catchy, and the kids learn it quickly and love doing the signs.

Song: “Let’s Go Riding On an Elevator” (with scarves)

We got extra silly and stood on our tippy toes to get to the sixth floor before crashing to the ground. So. Much. Fun.

Rhyme: “Open, Shut Them” 

Book: Say Hello! by Rachael Isadora

Rhyme: “Little Mousie Brown” (with puppet)

Little Mousie Brown is my recurring character. She even gets her own puppet card on our visual schedule. This week, in addition to going through her rhyme with the kids, Mousie asked me to share a poem out loud.

Poem: “April 23” from When Green Becomes Tomatoes

there are things that are yellow
and new
and popping up everywhere
and there are red rubber boots
with the mud on the inside
(and maybe a frog)
and everything is squishing
and everything is soggy
but sometimes sun
is just enough
for a robin

Song: “Mi cuerpo hace música”

There’s not much in the way of action, but I really love this song. And I really wanted to include a song in Spanish. One of these days, I’m going to attempt my “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”/”Mi cuerpo hace música” mash-up. One day…

Song: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”

The kids were so into it that we added the next verse this time.

Book: Families, Families, Families by Suzanne Lang & Max Lang

Book: Children Just Like Me (DK)

Goodbye: “Goodbye Friends” (with ASL)

How It Went: We had a relatively small group (8 children, 6 adults), mostly regulars. So I took the time at the beginning to ask each child their name and write it up on the easel. I intended to use these names for an activity later (“Hickity Pickity”) but ended up scrapping it. The group was young and squirrely. They weren’t into the books all that much—though they did enjoy labeling animals and pointing to things they could see. My favorite part was probably when I opened Children Just Like Me and showed the kids that there was a boy in England who had my name. A Latinx kid in the front pointed at a child on the cover of the book and said, “That one looks like me!” I consider that a victory.