Storytime: S is for Snake
Happy Lunar New Year! Did you know that dates of Lunar New Year will change each year with the moons, phases, and it is the most celebrated holiday in many Asian cultures. It’s a time for family gatherings, traditional foods, festivals, red envelopes filled with money, tiger and dragon dances, sweeping the bad luck from your home, forgiving others, and fireworks! And, 2025 is the year of the SNAKE!
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
When your children have happy experiences, they want to repeat them. Starting kindergarten can seem as an extension of informal library “classes.” Children who have had joyful experiences in the public library often approach school with a positive attitude, ready and excited to learn.
Activity
After storytime, talk with your child about their favorite parts of storytime. Was it a particular book, rhyme, song or art activity? You can also point times when you observed your child having “fun,” or parts of storytime you might have enjoyed, too.
Books Presented
Maisy's Chinese new Year by Lucy Cousins
Spending Chinese New Year with her friend Tiger, Maisy learns about traditional symbols, shares a delicious cultural feast and exchanges lucky red hongbao envelopes before listening to a story about the holiday and staying up late to watch a fireworks display.
Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
Snakes Have No Legs by Kelly Tills
An adorably weird but true little book about snakes for toddlers, and early readers. In this silly picture book about snakes, learn how they can slither up trees, on land and even in the water. See all the fun shapes they can make with their bodies. Snakes Have No Legs is perfect for home or for classroom read-alouds.
Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie learn to play catch with their new friend Snake.
Where are You? by Sarah Williamson
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Dawn Casey
Discover the legend behind the Chinese Zodiac! Follow 12 animals as they embark on a thrilling swimming race to determine their place in the lunar calendar. With lively storytelling and colorful illustrations, this book offers an engaging way to introduce young readers to Chinese culture, festivals, and traditions.
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
We’re Going on a Snake Hunt
We’re going on a snake hunt! (We’re going on a snake hunt!)
It’s a beautiful day! (It’s a beautiful day!)
We’re not scared! (We’re not scared!)
We’re coming to some grass. (We’re coming to some grass).
Can’t go over it. (Can’t go over it.)
Can’t go under it. (Can’t go under it.)
Have to go through it. (Have to go through it.)
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! (Rub hands together)
We’re coming to some mud…
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Have to go through it.
Squilch! Squelch! Squilch! Squelch! (Clap hands together).
We’re coming to a lake…
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Have to swim across it. Splish! Splash! Splish! Splash!
We’re coming to a cave.
Have to go inside. Tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…tiptoe…
It’s dark in here…
It’s cold in here…
Two green eyes…it’s a SNAKE!
Run!
Swim across the lake! Splish! Splash! Splish! Splash!
Run through the mud! Squilch! Squelch! Squilch! Squelch! (Clap hands together).
Run through the grass! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! (Rub hands together)
Into the house!
Slam the door!
Lock it!
We’re never going on a snake hunt again!
Source: The Loudest Librarian
S-N-A-K-E
I had a snake
he was so green
as green as snakes can be!
S-N-A-K-E, S-N-A-K-E, S-N-A-K-E,
he was my favorite snake!
As I went Swimming in the River
As I went swimming in the river today,
I met a ________ along the way,
And what do you think the _______ did say?
Source: Macaroni Soup
Five Little Snakes
ONE little snake looking for something to do
He finds another and that makes TWO.
Two little snakes wrapped around a tree,
Another slithers up and that makes THREE.
Three little snakes by the garden door,
They see another and that makes FOUR.
Four little snakes notice one more arrive,
Basking in the sun, the snakes make FIVE.
Source: Read, Sarah, Read!
Crafts and Activities
Lunar New Year coloring page created with Canva
Paper Chain Snake
Additional Books
Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival by Kat Zhang
When Amy accidentally breaks her family’s lantern, she learns to mend the old with the new to create a new tradition. Includes instructions on how to make homemade lanterns.
The Tray of Togetherness by Flo Leung
Playing with Lanterns by Yage Wang
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim
One Chinese New Year, her mother sends Goldy Luck to the pandas next door with a plate of turnip cakes, but the pandas are out and disaster follows. Includes a recipe for turnip cakes and an explanation of Chinese New Year.
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