Welcome to the Stratford Library Children’s Department.
DIY Storytime – Be Proud
Do-It-Yourself Storytime
Theme – Be Proud!Enjoy this DIY Storytime whenever you like
Books:
Be Who You Are
• Written and illustrated by Todd Parr
• Published by Scholastic
• Presented by Books and Brushes for Kids
This picture book encourages kids to be proud of what makes them unique, where they come from, and how they express themselves and see the world.
https://video.link/w/nzPxc
Kids can use Play Doh to create models of their unique selves or anything they like. If you don’t have any, here’s a recipe from Highlights Magazine to make clay.
https://www.highlights.com/parents/crafts/homemade-clay
Sparkle Boy
• Written by Lesléa Newman
• Illustrated by Maria Mola
• Published by Lee & Low Books
• Read by Lesléa Newman
Young Casey loves sparkly things. But his older sister does not approve until an encounter with teasing bullies helps her learn to accept Casey for who he is.
https://video.link/w/q1Pxc
Discussion Guide:
https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/433/Sparkle_Boy_TG.pdf
Make a positive self-talk bracelet with beads:
https://www.theottoolbox.com/kids-positive-self-talk
Red: A Crayon’s Story
• Written and illustrated by Michael Hall
• Published by Greenwillow Books
• Read by Francie Dillon
A crayon’s label says he is red, but no matter how hard he tries, his color comes out blue. Red feels like a misfit until a new friend shows him to be proud of his hue.
https://video.link/w/D4Pxc
Watch this video on how to dye pasta. Kids can use the colorful pasta to make rainbow necklaces or mosaics.
https://video.link/w/Z5PxcSongs:
Be Yourself
The Singing Lizard – Munchkin Music
https://video.link/w/r8PxcProud!
Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs with Sweet Tweets
https://video.link/w/q9PxcTrue Colors
Sung by Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick from the movie Trolls
https://video.link/w/4APxcRhymes & Fingerplays
If You’re Proud and You Know It
If you’re proud and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you’re proud and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you’re proud and you know it, then you really ought to show it
If you’re proud and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)If you’re proud and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
If you’re proud and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
If you’re proud and you know it, then you really ought to show it
If you’re proud and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)If you’re proud and you know it, shout “Hurray!” (hoo-ray!)
If you’re proud and you know it, shout “Hurray!” (hoo-ray!)
If you’re proud and you know it, then you really ought to show it
If you’re proud and you know it, shout “Hurray!” (hoo-ray!)If you’re proud and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you’re proud and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you’re proud and you know it, then you really ought to show it
If you’re proud and you know it, do all three. (clap-clap, stomp stomp, hoo-ray!)You Be You
(tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)You be you and I’ll be me (point ahead, point to yourself)
This is how we like to be. (nod head up and down)
You are great just like you are (thumbs up)
Be yourself and you’ll go far. (point ahead, then make an arc)
You be you and I’ll be me (point ahead, point to yourself)
This is how we like to be. (nod head up and down)You be you and I’ll be me (point ahead, point to yourself)
This is how we like to be. (nod head up and down)
I like me the way I am (hug yourself)
No one does me like I can. (clasp hands and shake from side to side like a cheer)
You be you and I’ll be me (point ahead, point to yourself)
This is how we like to be. (nod head up and down)It’s Up to You
(tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)Girls can wear hoodies if they want
Boys can wear hoodies if they want
You can wear hoodies if you want
It’s up to you to choose.Girls can wear sparkles if they want
Boys can wear sparkles if they want
You can wear sparkles if you want
It’s up to you to choose.(repeat verse, adding any type of clothing or accessories you like)
*The Stratford Library encourages families to use online resources with caution and is not responsible for broken or altered hyperlinks.
Craft Idea
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Color the rainbow with crayons or glue on dyed pasta.DIY Juneteenth Storytime
Enjoy this Do-It-Yourself Storytime on the theme of Juneteenth whenever is convenient for your family.
BOOKS:
I’m Gonna Push Through
• Written by Jasmyn Wright
• Illustrated by Shannon Wright
• Published by PS 46 Bronx
• Presented by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
A story of empowerment for all children.
https://video.link/w/DDH0c
Here is a curriculum guide to go along with the book:
https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/tagged_assets/5641805/9781534439658_cg_i%27m%20gonna%20push%20through!%20curriculum%20guide.pdf
Juneteenth for Mazie
• Written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper
• Published by Capstone Young Readers
• Presented by Storytime with Little Book Nook
Mazie learns about Juneteenth and what it means to her family.
https://video.link/w/oEH0c
The Juneteeth Foundation celebrates this holiday every year. Sign up to receive the link to the virtual celebration here:
https://thejuneteenthfoundation.com/FreedomFest/
All Different Now – Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom
• Written by Angela Johnson
• Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
• Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Presented by Seed of Melanin Kids!
Through the eyes of one little girl, this picture book tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom came to the last of the slaves in the South.
https://video.link/w/REH0c
PBS has a video to explain Juneteenth to kids:
https://video.link/w/6FH0c
Familyhood Central has some ideas for celebrating Juneteenth:
https://www.familyhoodcentral.com/family-friendly-activities-to-celebrate-juneteenth/SONGS:
Lift Every Voice and Sing from The Wise Channel
(Referred to by the NAACP as the Black National Anthem. Written in 1900 as a poem and hymn by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938). Contains religious elements.)
https://video.link/w/UFH0cJuneteenth Jive with Knux and Kna & Family
A family’s celebration and homage to the day. Includes kids, families, and musicians, with an interview at the end with an older relative.
https://video.link/w/4GH0cKye Kye Kule – a traditional call and response children’s song from Ghana that you can sing at your own Juneteenth celebration!
https://video.link/w/rdU0c
Here is a teacher singing the song with her children:
https://video.link/w/UuU0cRHYMES AND FINGERPLAYS:
Hey, Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins
Hey Black Child
Do you know who you are
Who you really are
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be
Hey Black Child
Do you know where you are going
Where you’re really going
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn
If you try to learn
What you can learn
Hey Black Child
Do you know you are strong
I mean really strong
Do you know you can do
What you want to do
If you try to do
What you can do
Hey Black Child
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation
Will be what you want it to beHappy Juneteenth
(tune: Happy Birthday to You)Happy Juneteenth to you, (point to another person)
Happy Juneteenth to me, (point to yourself)
Happy Juneteenth, everybody (spread arms wide)
Happy Juneteenth to us. (wave hands to celebrate)You can be what you want to be, (point to another person and nod)
I can be what I want to be, (point to yourself and nod)
‘Cos we are all free (spread arms wide)
We can be what we want to be. (clap hands to celebrate)You can celebrate today, (wave both hands to the right)
I can celebrate today, (wave both hands to the left)
We can celebrate our freedom (spread arms wide)
We can celebrate today. (wave both hands up in the air)The Juneteenth Flag
Wave a flag, a special flag (pretend to wave a flag)
On the nineteenth day of June
It’s a day to celebrate
And sing a happy tune.That’s the day we call Juneteenth
Since 1865 (use one hand to close around the wrist of other hand)
When Texas slaves learned they were free (release the hand so both are free)
What a day to be alive!The Juneteenth flag has a white star
With five points and they say (hold up a hand with five fingers spread out)
It represents freedom for Blacks
Across the USA.The star’s surrounded by a burst (hold up fists, then spread out fingers)
Just like a nova bright
To show a new beginning
Because freedom is a right.The curve that arcs across the flag – (hold arms up above head to create an arc)
A new horizon for
All African Americans
With new prospects in store.And like the US stars and stripes (pretend to salute the American flag)
This flag’s red, white, and blue
Since Blacks who lived both then and now
Are all Americans, too.
This CNN site explains the symbols and colors of the Juneteenth flag and what they mean:
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https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/us/freedom-day-juneteenth-flag-meaning-trnd/index.htmlDIY Storytime – Colors
Enjoy this Do-It-Yourself Storytime on COLORS whenever is convenient.
BOOKS
Mixed: A Colorful Story
• Written and illustrated by Aree Chung
• Published by Henry Holt & Company
• Presented by Storyteller Academy
The Reds, Yellows, and Blues lived apart, until one Blue and one Yellow decided to mix.
https://video.link/w/CZPvc
Cut out squares of colored paper to use with these printable color theme patterns from Clever Learners that can help your child with color recognition and sorting skills.
https://cleverlearner.com/pattern-worksheets/printable-color-patterns-worksheets.html
Sky Color
• Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
• Published by Candlewick
• Presented by Reading Rhinos
Marisol figures out a way to draw the sky when she doesn’t have any blue paint.
https://video.link/w/oYPvc
Modern Preschool has a Rainbow Paint Chip Color Match activity that uses the paint color chips you can find at your local paint store.
https://modernpreschool.com/rainbow-paint-chip-color-matc/
The Colors of Us
• Written and illustrated by Karen Katz
• Published by Henry Holt & Company
• Presented by Books and Brushes for Kids
Lena observes the beauty and diversity in the color of ther friends’ skin tones.
https://video.link/w/CWPvc
Welcoming Schools has a list of other books that look at skin color:
https://assets2.hrc.org/welcoming-schools/documents/WS_Looking_at_Skin_Color_with_Books.pdfFor more color-themed activities, look at this Child Fun website:
https://www.childfun.com/themes/colors/SONGS
So Many Colors, So Many Shapes by The Singing Walrus
https://video.link/w/tVPvcI See Something Blue by Super Simple Songs
https://video.link/w/WTPvcI Can Sing a Rainbow by Little Clementine YV
https://video.link/w/KSPvcRHYMES AND FINGERPLAYS
So Many Colors (from the Growing Book by Book website)
(Make this rhyme into a game by giving your child a box of crayons in different colors. Ask them to tell you the color that rhymes in each couplet. They can take out the crayon that is named.)
So many crayons, they’re dancing in my head!
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with bed? (red)So many crayons, I could draw a crown.
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with frown? (brown)So many crayons, that is true.
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with glue? (blue)So many crayons for us today.
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with tray? (gray)So many crayons, they make me feel mellow.
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with fellow? (yellow)So many crayons we need to pack.
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with sack? (black)So many crayons make me blink!
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with think? (pink)So many crayons from dark to light.
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with kite? (white)So many crayons I’ve never seen!
Can you find a crayon that rhymes with bean? (green)Color Movement Song
(Do each movement as instructed)Red, red – shake your head
Blue, blue – touch your shoe
Black, black – touch your back
Brown, brown – stomp on the ground
Pink, pink – make your eye wink
Purple, purple – turn in a circle
White, white – take a bite
Green, green – look real mean
Tan, tan – wave your hand like a fan
Yellow, yellow – jiggle like Jello
Gray, gray – shout hooray!Five Little Crayons
Five little crayons standing in a row (hold up the fingers from one hand)
The first one said, “I’m red, you know.” (wiggle the thumb)
The second one said, “I’m grren like a tree.” (wiggle the pointer finger)
The third one said, “I’m blue like the sea.” (wiggle the middle finger)
The fourth one said, “I’m yellow like the sun.” (wiggle the ring finger)
The fifth one said, “Being orange is fun.” (wiggle the pinky finger)
Five little crayons, happy as can be (hold up all fingers from one hand)
Coloring picture with you and me. (pretend to draw)
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