Countdown to Summer Reading

There are just a little over two weeks until we kick off our summer reading program with our registration event!  This week we ventured out of the library to local schools to promote the upcoming events.

Since we had such a good time with the beach theme last week, I thought I'd share some of the same books over again when I spent this Wednesday at a nearby kindergarten.  The morning classes thought To the Beach by Linda Ashman was especially funny and enjoyed interacting with How Will We Get to the Beach? (see last week's post for a summary).

I also found a clever "Five Little Seashells" fingerplay on the Songs for Teaching website (http://www.songsforteaching.com/hughhanley/5littleseashells.htm) that I adapted a little to fit right in with our theme:

Five little seashells lying on the shore,
CRASH went the waves,
And then there were four.

Four little seashells pretty as can be,
CRASH went the waves,
And then there were three.

Three little seashells all pearly and new,
CRASH went the waves,
And then there were two.

Two little seashells lying in the sun,
CRASH went the waves,
And then there was one.

One little seashell lying all alone,
I put it in my pocket
And I carried it home!

We wrapped things up with Bats at the Beach, which transitioned nicely into my summer reading program pitch (author/illustrator Brian Lies also illustrated the program's poster and promotional materials).

I was prepared to do a repeat performance for the afternoon classes, but learned that I'd be seeing a handful of "extended day" kids for a second time.  Luckily, I was just down the street from the library and had an opportunity to run back for some fresh material!

The afternoon classes were treated to fewer beach books and more nighttime books and the kids LOVED it!  We read a couple of monster pop-up style books that I had found in our Halloween collection (Scare the Moon by Harriet Ziefert and You Monsters are in Charge by Jill Sardegna) as well as Kitten's First Full Moon.

Overall, I think this bodes well for a great summer reading program as we'll be celebrating the "Dream Big-Read!" theme with lots of nighttime stories of stars, lullabies, camping, and even a few monsters!