This is a great theme for Fall or Winter and can be paired with the topic of “Cozy Things” or even something like knitting or stuffed animals. I like to do mine right around the time we have our first snow.
Introduction: This storytime is all about blankets and coziness! So I start the storytime by asking the kids if they have a special blanket or stuffed animal that makes them feel cozy, warm, and safe. Then I ask them to tell me a little about it, which brings in a great opportunity for vocabulary building! After we’ve talked about our blankets, we sing our hello song.
Sign of the Day: After we’ve talked a bit about their blankets, we learn the sign for “Blanket” of course!
Book: Five-Dog Night by Eileen Christelow
I LOVED this book when I was younger. It’s all about a grumpy old man and his slightly nosy neighbor who is worried for him when it gets cold. But the man doesn’t worry because he has five dogs to keep him warm. It’s a long book, which is why I do this one first, and sometimes I have to abbreviate it a bit due to attention spans, but it’s such a lovely and funny book.
Song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We talk about how blankets are great for bedtime (and connect that with the prior book since the man uses dogs instead of blankets to snuggle down for the night), and then I tell them we’re going to sing a classic lullaby that’s perfect for bedtime when you’re snuggled up with your blanket.
Twinkle twinkle little star (open and close hands while swaying side to side)
How I wonder what you are? (Touch index finger to chin)
Up above the world so high (Reach up high)
Like a diamond in the sky (open and close hands while swaying side to side)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star (open and close hands while swaying side to side)
How I wonder what you are? (Touch index finger to chin)
Book: The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum
I love love love Hyewon Yum’s stories (especially on the twins)! They’re so sweet and relatable, even if you aren’t a twin. Plus, the illustrations are just lovely without too much clutter. This one centers on the twins getting a bit older and getting their own beds and new blankets instead of their old blanket that they shared.
Rhyme: Oh Me, Oh My. This is a little call and response I adapted from the Storytime Source Page. The italics are the parts that the kids and their grownups say. We keep a little tapping beat on our knees with a short break to sign the ASL sign for “Blanket.”
At breakfast time, – oh me, oh my
Milk spilled on my blanket – oh me, oh my
Have to wash my blanket – oh me, oh my
And lay it out to dry – oh me, oh my
oh me, oh my, have to lay it out to dry.
At lunch time, – oh me, oh my
Peanut butter spilled on my blanket – oh me, oh my
Have to wash my blanket – oh me, oh my
And lay it out to dry – oh me, oh my
oh me, oh my, have to lay it out to dry.
At dinner time, – oh me, oh my
Spaghetti spilled on my blanket – oh me, oh my
Have to wash my blanket – oh me, oh my
And lay it out to dry– oh me, oh my
oh me, oh my, have to lay it out to dry.
At bedtime,– oh me, oh my
Cookie crumbs fell on my blanket – oh me, oh my
No time to wash or dry – oh me, oh my
Have to shake out my blanket – oh me, oh my
oh me, oh my, It’s time for beddy bye
Puppet: Have You Seen My Blankie? by Lucy Rowland
Before I start the story, I bring out a scarf to act as the blankie in the story. I ask the kids to describe it a bit. What colors does it have, what it feels like, is it big or little, etc. Then, I use puppets for the brother, giant, dragon, etc in the story and have the kids say the line, “Have YOU seen my blankie?” everytime a new puppet is introduced. I also ask them if they can remember what the blankie looked like so that I can tell the puppet what I’m looking for.
Closing: Once we finally found the Blankie in our Puppet story, we review our ASL sign of the day and then sing our goodbye song!
More Books to Check Out:
Librarian Ginny 