I love watching the night sky, but especially the moon. When I was younger, very young, I used to talk to the moon as though it were my grandfather. I’m not sure exactly how I picked up this habit, but it stuck with me for quite a while. Even now, sometimes I look up to the sky and say a few words 🙂
Introduction: This storytime is so much fun to do because there are so many great books about the moon! You can do sub-themes like astronauts or the phases of the moon. The number of nursery rhymes and folktales about the moon. The open-ended questions I begin with are based on the path I take to the storytime. After a little conversation, we sing our opening song and then get started.
Sign of the Day: “Moon” of course! It’s done by using the C handshape. Starting by your eye, you sweep it out and up.
Book: The Mouse Who Ate the Moon by Petr Horácek
The mouse series by Horácek are so great! It reminds me of this Czech cartoon my mom used to let us watch as kids, Krtek. It was one of my favorite shows! In this title, Mouse finds a piece of the moon and can’t resist taking a nibble!
Song: If You’re Going to the Moon (Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It). A quick active song is exactly what we need during this storytime!
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots (stomp stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots (stomp stomp)
If you’re going to the moon, this is what you have to do!
If you’re going to the moon, wear your boots! (stomp stomp)
…wear your suit (ziiiip!)
…wear your gloves (clap clap)
…wear your helmet (pat your head)
Book: Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me by Eric Carle
This cute little story is a quiet beauty and kids are always so surprised at the end when the fold out page comes! It’s such a simple story (and one that I think is universal – what kid doesn’t think that maybe, just maybe they can reach up and grab the moon?)
Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom. This is a great one to get some energy out! We kind of slide our hands together while we sing (but we do the ASL sign for “Moon”), then countdown until blast off where we jump into the air.
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon!
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon!
If you’d like to take a trip, climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon!
5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF!
Rhyme: Silver Moon. A simple little rhyme
Down at the lake, (tiptoe as though walking in the night)
late at night. (Tap wrist)
I saw a path of silver light. (Point to your eyes)
I looked in the sky and what did I see? (Reach up to the sky)
A silver moon winking at me. (wink)
Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Another of my favorites from Henkes! There are so many great interactive possibilities in this one and so many good vocabulary opportunities if you talk about reflections (the moon in the water) or the kitten’s strategies to reach the moon.
Oral Tale: Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
In this African retelling, the Sun and the Moon didn’t always live in the sky. It wasn’t until their friend, the ocean, came to visit and unintentionally flood their home that they found a new place in the sky.
Closing: After reviewing our ASL sign of the day, we say goodbye with the song Tickle the Clouds.
More Books to Check Out:
Librarian Ginny 