Storytime: Emotions & Feelings

This storytime was for a preschool-aged group at my library.

Read Aloud Books

The Day the Crayons QuitWritten by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Duncan's crayons have something to say about their work situation, and he had better fix things up around here! While it can be long (I had to cut out a few colors to fit it in the time slot), it's hilarious. And, surprisingly, it's a really good look into a bunch of different emotions. The kids laughed when we read peach crayon's letter, and then I got to explain what "embarrassed" means. It was quite the perfect book.

No Fits, Nilson!Written and illustrated by Zachariah OHora

Amelia tries to help calm Nilson, but sometimes he still throws fits. How can she cheer him up? And what happens if she snaps? The kids were riveted (especially since they got to roar/growl everytime Nilson did) and the parents appreciated it, too. It's a good lets-get-over-our-tantrum book.

My Friend is SadWritten and illustrated by Mo Willems

I LOVE Gerald & Piggie. I'm sure we've been over this before, but they're great books for kids. This one is all about Piggie trying to cheer Gerald up, and having trouble doing so. The kids loved the robot especially. I love doing their voices; really getting into the dialogue.

Songs and Rhymes

Hello Song

Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it,

Then your face is gonna show it,

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re sad and you know it, wipe your eyes...

If you’re mad and you know it, stomp your feet...

If you’re scared and you know it, hide your eyes...

Song: Shake My Sillies Out

Gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out

Shake, shake, shake my sillies out

Shake, shake, shake my sillies out

And wiggle my waggles away.

Gotta clap, clap, clap my crazies out…

Gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out…

Gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out…

Gotta stretch, stretch, stretch my stretches out...

Gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out…

Goodbye Song

Games and Activities

Flannel: Crayons!

A little lazy of me, but this flannel was basically used while I was reading The Day the Crayons Quit. I passed out each color before hand and as I got to each crayon's spiel in the book, a kid would bring up that color crayon and stick it on the board for me. Soon we got the whole box-worth up!

(The white, peach, and pink crayons are washed-out; they're much more distinct in real life)

Kids could also play with them afterwards. 

Whiteboard: Faces!

Then, I had some fun showing them how to draw different emotions on a face--simply by changing the mouth or eyebrow shape! I had one big happy face on the board and the kids shouted out the emotion. I erased the smile and made it a frown--the kids shouted, "Sad!" Then I made the eyebrows go down--the kids shouted, "Angry!" Then I made the mouth go funny with a tongue and it became "Silly!" The kids also had fun making such faces at me as we went through them. 

Overall, it looked something like this:

And that's how one face can show so many emotions! 

Craft: Today I am Feeling...

A colorful crayon points to your emotion for today! The kids had a lot of fun coloring in their own faces and then telling me how they were feeling today. Luckily, most of them were happy.

Here's the file for the print-out. I did mine on legal-size, 8.5" x 14" so there was enough room for everything:

Other Book Ideas

Llama Llama Mad at Mama Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney

Pete the Cat and His Magic SunglassesWritten and illustrated by by James & Kimberly Dean

The Pout-Pout FishWritten by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Dan Hanna

Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My DayWritten by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell