Winter Weather Preschool Storytime

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

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

We talked about the letter and each word we should listen for that starts with "W."

Read Aloud Books

Blizzard Written and illustrated by John Rocco

Brand new from John Rocco: his childhood experience in a blizzard. Food was running short and the snow plows still hadn't come--he knows just what to do! Seeing as all my kids are living in the Valley of the Sun, I didn't know if this book would really resonate with them ("snow? what's snow?") but they seemed riveted! The beautiful illustrations definitely helped.

The Jacket I Wear in the SnowWritten by Shirley Neitzel, illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker

When playing in the snow, you'll need a jacket, scarf, hat, mittens, sweater, jeans, boots...well, let's just say you need to stay warm! I had fun reading this book faster and faster; the kids had fun guessing what clothing we'll need next. It worked out really well.

Skippyjon Jones Snow WhatWritten and illustrated by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones' newest adventure: all of his sisters want to hear the fuzzytale of Snow White. "Snow What?" Skippy says, and stomps off in disgust to have his own adventure. While I definitely enjoy Skippy--and the kids do, too--it was just too long for my storytime. So I nixed it the next session and went with...

Frosty the SnowmanIllustrated by Wade Zahares

Beautiful illustrations that really grabbed the kids' attention and we could all sing along!

Songs & Rhymes

Hello Song

Fingerplay: Here’s a Hill

Here’s a hill (tilt left arm so that it forms a hill)

And here’s a hill (tilt right arm so that it forms a hill)

All covered with snow (raise hands up, bring down in slow, fluttery motion)

I’ll put on my coat (put coat on)

And jump on my sled (jump and hold on a sled)

And ZOOM, down the hill I will go! (slid hands down)

Credit: The Holiday Zone

Action Song: Once There Was a Snowman

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman

Once there was a snowman, tall, tall tall!

In the sun he melted, melted, melted

In the sun he melted, small, small, small!

Song: What's the Weather

(Tune: Clementine)

What’s the weather, what’s the weather,

What’s the weather, everyone?

Is it snowy, is it cloudy,

Is there rain, or is there sun?

Credit: Storytime Katie

Action Song: Winter Hokey Pokey

You put your mittens in, you take your mittens out

You put your mittens in and you shake them all about

You do the winter pokey and you turn yourself around

That's what it's all about!

You put your boots in...

You put your hat in...

You put your coat in...

(or I like to ask the kids what 

they want to put in next)

Goodbye Song

Games & Activities

Felt: What clothes for what weather?

I put out the rain, sun, and snowflake felt while we were singing "What's the Weather?" (above). Then I asked volunteers to come up and pull an item of clothing from my handy-dandy washing machine. We then figured out which clothing would work best with which type of weather. The kids thought it was pretty silly when I suggested swimming in the snow.

Letter Craft: "W"

I die-cut some Ws out of poster board and decided it would be great practice in fine motor skills to "wrap" the W in some nice "warm" yarn. It seemed to go over pretty well.

Other Book Ideas:

The Snowy DayWritten and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

The SnowmanIllustrated by Raymond Briggs

The MittenAdapted and illustrated by Jan Brett

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's WonderPhotographs by Mark Cassino