Ice Cream Storytime

This storytime is targeted at preschool-aged kids at the library—just in time for summer! It's pretty hot here in AZ, so this storytime is all about ways to stay cool.

The idea for this storytime is brought to you today by the letter "I." These are the words highlighted:

Read Aloud Books

Should I Share My Ice Cream? Written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Gerald is so excited about his delicious cone of ice cream. But should he share it with Piggie? He better decide quickly... Not only great for a lesson in sharing, but it's so cute and funny. I mean, it's Elephant and Piggie, so obviously.

The Thing About Yetis Written and illustrated by Vin Vogel

Yetis LOVE winter...but even the coldest of cold days can make them feel down. How can they bring a little summer into their lives? Okay, okay, so this one is a bit of a stretch, but it's SO CUTE and a great opportunity to talk about seasons, and different activities you can do during said seasons. Plus, there's an "I" in yeti, so...

Ice Cream Summer Written and illustrated by Peter Sis

One little boy is excited to tell his grandpa all about his summer. He's definitely busy and practicing his lessons from school! ...and definitely enjoying his ice cream. This one is  pretty hilarious, but the tongue-and-cheek subtleties in the illustrations and such that would be better enjoyed by a smaller group (it'd be hard to explain every picture to a large group of storytimers). So if it doesn't work for you, try...

Flora and the Penguin Illustrated by Molly Idle

Flora is sliding and gliding all over the ice with Penguin. But when some snubbing takes place, both will have to work past the cold shoulder. Yes, this is a wordless picture book--which can be so awesome for storytime! This is great fun for kids--I let them tell the story from what they see.

Songs & Rhymes

SONG: "I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!"

by Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. K. King

(see lyrics or download song)

SONG: "Hokey Pokey"

(good for practicing in and out)

You put your right foot IN

You put your right foot OUT

You put your right food IN

And you shake it all about

You do the hokey pokey

and you turn yourself around

That's what it's all about!

Games & Activities

Flannel: Ice Cream Colors (click for full description and printables)

Oh here is some ice cream, the best in the town!

So many flavors, but first? The chocolate BROWN.

The second's the creamiest I've ever seen!

Let's scoop up the ice cream that's minty and GREEN.

The third scoop is yummy—the best some might think.

Let's eat up the ice cream that's strawberry PINK!

The fourth flavor isn't nearly so mellow—

So tart and sweet is the lemony YELLOW!

A popular flavor is fifth—what a sight!

There at the tip-top is vanilla that's WHITE.

Oh it's incomplete! Before we can be fed,

Let's top off our treat with a cherry that's RED

Flannel: Five Little Penguins Playing on the Ice

Five little penguins, playing on the ice

One slipped off and "Ouch! That's not nice!"

Mama called the doctor and the doctor's advice?

"No more penguins playing on the ice!"

And so on down the line, until all of our penguins had slipped off!

Craft: Ice Painting

I did this craft back when I did my Frozen storytime (see recipe and instructions), and it'd be perfect here! The kids could practice painting the letter "I".

Other Book Ideas

I'm Cool by Kate & Jim McMullin

Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise by H. A. Rey

Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger and Julie Downing

Igloos and Inuit Life by Louise Spilsbury