Storytime - Holiday Happiness

I'm always a little nervous when it comes to talking about the Winter holidays, but I think it's important to discuss them. I only cover Hanukkah and Christmas, only talking about the bare bones of their traditions (dreidels, lighting the menorah, gelt, latkes, Santa, decorating a tree, reindeer, etc).

Books

Hanukkah Lights by David Martin

Toddler

It's Christmas by Tina Burke

Toddler

Hanukkah: A Counting Book in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish by Emily Sper

Preschool

I'm Not Santa by Jonathan Allen

Preschool

Songs/Rhymes

I Am a Little Dreidel
I am a little dreidel
(Point to yourself)
I am a little top
(Pat your head)
When you twist my handle,
(Spin around)
I spin until I drop!
(Fall to the floor)

--PreschoolEducation

Note: This is the cutest song. Children and parents love singing it over and over again!

Let's All

Sung to: "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
and spread Christmas cheer.

2.Jumping
3.Twirling

--PreschoolEducation

Reindeer Pokey

Sung to: "The Hokey Pokey"
You put your antlers in,

You put your antlers out.
You put your antlers in and you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Pokey and you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!
You put your hooves in....
You put your red nose in....
You put your fluffy tail in...
You put your reindeer body in...

--PreschoolEducation

This is especially cute if you make reindeer masks or antler headbands.

Felt Board

Hanukkah Candles

Sung to: "I've Been Working on the Railroad"

I've been lighting all the candles
On this Hanukah night.
I've been lighting all the candles
Just to see them shining bright.
Flicker, flicker little candle
Fill me with your glow
Now the time has come to count them
Ready set let's go!

Count candles.

--PerpetualPreschool

Five Little Christmas Trees 

Five little Christmas trees,
Standing all alone.
Their hearts were very sad,
'Cause they hadn't found a home.
Then chop went the ax

Make a chopping action with arm

And down fell the tree
And off one went with a happy family!
(continue from 4-1 Christmas Trees)
No little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home!!!

--PreschoolEducation

Games

Spin the Dreidel

I explained to the preschoolers what a dreidel was, then modeled how to spin it. Every child who wanted to give it a try was invited to come to the front and give it a whirl. Not everyone came up to do it, but the brave ones who did had lots of fun. 

Craft

Holiday Candles

This is a super easy craft to prepare AND make, leaving more time for holiday songs and games. I used this craft with both groups.

Materials: Colored tissue paper squares, toilet paper rolls, and a yellow construction paper flame. That's it! No glue or tape required.

Directions: Wrap the tissue paper around the roll, tuck in the ends, and tuck in the flame on top.

Christmas in the Square

Last night was our city's annual festival Christmas in the Square. It takes place in the blocks surrounding city hall. Organizations around town, such as churches, animal rescue groups, etc., join in the fun and have booths set up. Children's crafts, ice sculptures, a tree lighting ceremony, carriage rides, and visits with Santa Claus are just some of the fun activities they have for free, and there are many carnival culinary treats to indulge in as well. The festival starts at 5:30 and ends at 9:30, and is always on the first Thursday of the month.

The library has participated in years past, each time with a craft. Last year we began handing out bags stuffed with information about the library, including services that parents would be interested in (storytimes, homework help databases, ebooks). We also began inviting a costumed character to our booth. We had two children's librarians (me and a colleague) and a library assistant, as well as the character.

This year, we ordered 300 bags from Upstart, and ran out by 7:30. I think we'll have to order at least 500 next year.

We decided on using Magic Scratch Gingerbread Ornaments for our craft. These turned out to be a VERY good idea, since they had no little pieces and were not messy at all, so there was very little setup and cleanup involved. They are pre-cut in the shape of gingerbread boys and girls, and all the children have to do is scratch them with the provided styluses to show the rainbow design underneath.

I ordered 500 of these, and we were out of them by 8:30. I think we'll have to get at least 600 next year.

Our costumed character was the mouse from Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. He came complete with a backpack and a cookie in his front pocket. Luckily, one of our shelver pages loves to wear the costumes, and she did a fantastic job. Everyone wanted their picture taken with the mouse, including me, as you can see in the picture!

All in all it was a fantastic night. We talked to so many people who were loyal fans of the library and found some new supporters, too. It's always fun to go out in the community!

Flannel Friday - Holiday Extravaganza!

The Flannel Friday Holiday Extravaganza is finally here! I have two activities for you on this festive occasion.

"Hanukkah Candles"

Sung to: "I've Been Working on the Railroad"

I've been lighting all the candles
On this Hanukkah night.
I've been lighting all the candles
Just to see them shining bright.
Flicker, flicker little candle
Fill me with your glow
Now the time has come to count them
Ready set let's go!

Count candles.

--PerpetualPreschool

The pattern came from The Best of Totline Flannelboards by Kathleen Cubley (Torrance, CA: Totline Publications, 2000). You can also use this flannel board with the song "Holiday Candles" from 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays by the Totline Staff (Torrance, CA: Warren Publishing House, 1994). I purposely made one candle shorter than the others, and the worker candle (the Shamash) is the tallest.

UPDATE: I found this today when I walked the aisles of Target. If anyone doesn't have time, or doesn't want to make their own, they can buy this felt Hanukkah menorah for $8.00!

My next activity was one that I came up with when I first started doing storytime, five years ago. The children always love the chopping motion of the axe.

"Five Little Christmas Trees"

Five little Christmas trees,
Standing all alone.
Their hearts were very sad,
'Cause they hadn't found a home.
Then chop went the ax,
And down fell a tree,
And off he went with a happy family!
(continue from 4-1 Christmas Trees)
No little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home!!!

--PreschoolEducation

This week's roundup is hosted by Library Quine. Anne at so tomorrow has the links to the previous roundups and the upcoming schedule. You can view all of our submissions on Pinterest. And, stop by and join in our discussions on our Facebook page.

Happy Holidays, everyone!