Storytime: Rain and Rainbows!

It’s been raining a lot here, lately, so I decided to include that as part of my theme for my virtual storytime. For this storytime, I went heavy on the rain portion of the storytime because I adore a good rain storm! However, you can add in more rainbows easily! There are SO MANY great songs, rhymes, and books about this topic. What are some of your favorites?

Introduction: I always think of spring when it’s raining! What do you think of when I say the word Spring? Why?

Opening: ECRR Song

Sign of the Day: For today’s storytime, we learned two signs. “Rain” and “Rainbow”

Book: Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre

I love April Pulley Sayre for quick, engaging, non-fiction options to introduce a topic. This one centers on nature during a storm and has some great onomatopoeia words and rhymes.

Felt Rhyme: Sing a Rainbow. I love this classic song and remember my mom singing it to me as a child. For this song, I have a felt rainbow that we build while naming the colors. It slows down the song a lot, but that’s fine, because once we’ve built it the first time around, I don’t rebuild it for the second time, but just point to the colors. We also use the ASL sign for rainbow every time we sing the word.

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue.
I can sing a rainbow, Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too!
Listen with your eyes, Listen with your eyes,
And sing everything you see.
I can sing a rainbow, Sing a rainbow,
Sing along with me!
(Repeat Colors)

Book: Rain by Linda Ashman

This is a fun little book about a little boy, who is excited for the rain, and an older man, who is very grouchy about the rain. It’s a great one to talk about perspective, likes and dislikes, or making the best of a situation.

Song: Rain is Falling Down.

Felt Rhyme: One Red Umbrella

One red umbrella, One yellow hat. / One shiny raincoat, now look at that! / Two yellow rainboots and one big smile, I think I’ll go outside for a while. / One wet puddle, just down the lane. / One big Splash! I love the rain!

Book: The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates

I love ending with this title because it not only plays into my theme well, but it’s also a book about kindness and whenever I can work that in to a storytime, I do. It also shows a wide, diverse cast and if great for pointing out details or building on vocabulary as you describe people and events in the pictures.

Song: Pitter Patter. This is a super simple song that’s great for littles and preschoolers! For littles, I have the caregiver tap their child’s shoulders or legs. For preschoolers, I ask them to tap their legs, then challenge them to go faster and faster.