Storytime: Adventures in Imagination

by | Jul 1, 2024 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

Did you know that imaginative or pretend play contains the building blocks of developing critical thinking skills, following directions, expressive language, and even managing emotions? So, grab those sheets, boxes, mud, dishes, and anything you can think of to help your child expand their universe with their imagination!

Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.

Ages 2-5

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Reading is one of the best ways to foster imagination. The more we read, the better we can build up and expand our knowledge. We can be open to new ideas and have an understanding of new things. ~http://worldliteracyfoundation.org/reading-enhances-imagination/

 

Activity

When you read a book with your child, run your finger under the title as you read the words. If the book has a repeated phrase, run your finger under those words as well. Encourage your child to say the repeated phrase, methodically pointing to each word as he says it. ~Lambert

 

Books Presented

Book cover for Pete the Cat's Groovy Imagination by Kim Dean

Pete the Cat's Groovy Imagination by Kim Dean

When a cloudy gray sky cancels Pete the Cat’s beach day plans, a big box is all he needs to beat the rainy-day blues.

Book cover for Manolo and the Unicorn by Jacki Azúa Kramer

Manolo & the Unicorn by Jackie Azúa Kramer

Despite being teased by his classmates, Manolo continues to believe in unicorns and meets one of the magical creatures on his way home from school.

Book cover for Ready to Soar by Cori Doerrfeld

See This Little Dot by Jane Yolen

Illustrates the characteristics and possible functions of a dot.

Book cover for Are You a Monster? by Guilherme Karsten

Are You a Monster? by Guilherme Karsten

Warning! This book contains a monster. A really angry, really scary, really bad monster… or so the monster says. And Monster has a very important question: are you a monster too? A fun interactive read-aloud picture book that will have children of all ages roaring and stomping along, as Monster encourages them to be the scariest monster possible.

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Pete In The Box

Pete in the box*
sits so still
Will he come out?
Yes, he will!
*rocket ship, submarine, race car

Unicorn, Unicorn

Unicorn, unicorn
Where can you be?
Are you behind the _______ tree?

Polka-Dot Monster

(tune: I’m a little teapot)
I’m a little monster, friendly and bright.
I promise I won’t give you a fright.
I really love polka dots, but I have none.
So step right up and give me [color] ones.

Source: Little Bit Librarian

Crafts and Activities

Coloring page featuring a hippo flying an airplane.

Adventures in Your Imagination

 

 

Airplane craft made from folding paper strips and gluing them together onto a blue background.

Monster Mask

Additional Books

Book cover for I Lived Inside a Whale by Xin Li

I Lived Inside a Whale by Xin Li

A young girl escapes from a too loud and busy world by living inside a whale, but when her retreat is disturbed by an intruder, she learns people will be quiet and listen whenever she tells a story.

Book cover for Daddy, Tell Me a Story by Kathleen Long Bostrom

Daddy, Tell Me a Story by Kathleen Long Bostrom

Daddy’s bedtime story turns into a collaborative and unforgettable tale thanks to Sophie’s narrative revisions.

Book cover for What If Bedtime Didn't Exist? by Francine Cunningham

What If Bedtime Didn't Exist? by Francine Cunningham

A whimsical and lyrical celebration of imagination and exploration if we simply asked, “What if . . .” Follow two siblings through their day as they let their imaginations run wild in this joyful story about all the possibilities a simple “what if” can conjure up: What if the monsters in your closet wanted to be your friend? What if all of the dinosaurs were shrunk to be teeny-tiny when the comet hit the earth? And what if bedtime didn’t exist and we could imagine anything we wanted? What If Bedtime Didn’t Exist? places an Urban Indigenous family at the heart of a fun and fantastical celebration of daydreaming, adventure, and play while living in the city. The tenderness and care in this intergenerational home is seen through relationships with all members in the family.

Book cover for Daisy the Daydreamer by Jennifer P. Goldfinger

Daisy the Daydreamer by Jennifer P. Goldfinger

Daisy’s daydream clouds sometimes get in the way, but she and her teacher find a creative way to make things work for her

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