Thankful for Storytime!

I really do feel very thankful that I am able to deliver my weekly storytime...I am also thankful that I have great kids that come and very supportive parents. I am also thankful that after a year of doing this, attendance is pretty consistent at around 10 children. For this particular library on a military base, this is a huge number. So, this Monday, our stories celebrated Thanksgiving. Our craft was little construction paper turkeys and we sang some of the same turkey themed songs and rhymes as last week and added some new ones. We even had a flannel turkey with multiple colored feathers.

Here's what we read:
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving book for toddler storytime...it has lovely pictures, animals, humor and a happy ending. When Mr. and Mrs. Moose are putting the finishing touches on their Thanksgiving table and she wistfully expresses a wish for Turkey for Thanksgiving, since everybody has a turkey, Mr. Moose sets out to find one for her. All the other guests join him and help him find the perfect turkey for Mrs. Moose - the kids, worried about Mr. Turkey, love the twist at the end.

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book with its lovely pictures and simple rhyming text is a wonderful reminder of what Thanksgiving is really all about. It uses everyday images and simple text that even very young chlidren will understand and identify with and reminds them that play dates and piggy back rides and crisp apples are all things to be grateful for.

The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the tale of two - very different - Thanksgiving celebrations. The Archer family sits down to a perfect table, the family is well mannered, the food is delicious and after dinner there is no arguing and even the kids share all their favorite toys. Overnight guests find chocolates on the pillow of their perfectly made bed. The narrator's family has a very different kind of celebration - with gravy spills, raised voices and somewhat chaotic activity after dinner. That night loud snores can be heard from the sleeping bags that are laid out willy-nilly throughout the house. As much as I would secretly like to host a "Martha Stewart" Thanksgiving, my family celebration is closer to the narrators. What we find out though is that both families, like mine, enjoy their particular celebration just as it is.

This Is the Turkey by Abby Levine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This text is focuses on preparations for Thanksgiving with a rhythm and rhyme like "This is the House That Jack Built" The turkey "to shout about" is chosen by Max and goes into the oven on schedule. Dad works on preparing cranberries, ruby and red, while sister kneads bread...family and friends arrive adding to the story. When the moment finally arrives for dinner...well, lets just say that the picture made all the children at my storytime giggle and laugh! Max and his family have a marvelous dinner, in spite of the calamity.

This was a storytime enjoyed by all. On Monday our stories will be all about Moose and Deer. But that is for another post.