Polar Friends Storytime

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

Today's storytime is brought to you by the letter 'P'. So, on the board when the kids walked in was:

Read Aloud Books

Polar OppositesWritten and illustrated by Erik Brooks

Alex is a big, messy, shaggy polar bear! Zina, however, is a small, neat, smooth penguin. But even polar opposites can meet in the middle and be best friends. I love this story because it teaches opposites really well, while still telling a good story. The kids loved it, too, especially when they got to guess what the opposite would be.

Lost and FoundWritten and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

When a sad-looking penguin shows up at his door, a boy decides to return the lost animal. But perhaps the penguin wasn't sad because he was lost, but because he was lonely. Jeffers has created some great opportunities to teach inference with this book. The illustrations tell their own story. The kids really liked it.

Penguin and PineconeWritten and illustrated by Salina Yoon

Penguin has found a strange object...but it quickly becomes a friend! But pinecones aren't meant for the arctic, so Penguin must help it home. Will he ever see his friend again? This story got a collective "aww" by the end. It sure was cute!

Songs & Rhymes

Hello Song

Song: If You're a Polar Bear and Know It

(Tune: If You're Happy and you Know It)

If you’re a polar bear and know it, clap your paws

If you’re a polar bear and know it, clap your paws

If you’re a polar bear and know it

and you really want to show it

If you’re a polar bear and know it, clap your paws

Song: Penguin Hokey Pokey

(Tune: The Hokey Pokey)

You put your flippers in,

You put your flippers out,

You put your flippers in

and you shake them all about

You do the penguin pokey

And you turn yourself around

That’s what it’s all about!

Goodbye Song

Games & Activities

Felt: Five Little Polar Bears

Five little polar bears riding on a sled

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,

“No more polar bears riding on a sled!”

And so on down the line until they had all fallen off...

A rather simple variation of "Five Little Monkeys" that the kids really enjoyed. It was easy for them to say the rhyme and do the actions because of the familiarity of it. Success

Craft: Painting with Pom-Poms

Since we were talking about the letter 'P' today, the kids got to paint with pom-poms. I simply put out black and white so they could paint their favorite polar friend. The kids had fun!

Other Book Ideas

Flora and the PenguinIllustrated by Molly Idle

The Little Polar BearWritten and illustrated by Hans de Beer

A Penguin StoryWritten and illustrated by Antionette Portis

The Three Snow BearsWritten and illusrated by Jan Brett

Up and DownWritten and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers