Food

Since there is a serious lack of really decent books that are appropriate for Toddlers and Preschoolers about Thanksgiving (especially ones that are culturally sensitive), we are learning about FOOD instead this week. 

Books:

Toddler Books:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle

Apple Pie ABC - Alison Murray

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and THE BIG HUNGRY BEAR - Don and Audrey Wood

Preschool Books:

Peanut Butter & Cupcake - Terry Border

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake - Laura Numeroff

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and THE BIG HUNGRY BEAR - Don and Audrey Wood

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Alligator Pie:

Alligator, alligator, alligator pie (open/close hands in chomping motion),

If I don't get some, I think I'm gonna cry (pretend to cry),

You can take away the grass (wiggle fingers near ground),

You can take away the sky (move hands over head),

But don't take away my alligator pie! (chomping motion with hands)

Source: I learned this from a mentor librarian years ago but here's a similar version that has additional verses.

Five Big Strawberries:

Five big strawberries in a bowl,

One fell out and started to roll (roll arms),

Where did it go?

It hit my toe! (hit toe with strawberry),

How many strawberries left in the bowl?

1-2-3-4.

Repeat until: No more strawberries left in the bowl!

Source: Sunflower Storytime

Stir the Soup (Tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"):

Stir, stir, stir the soup,

Stir it all day long.

Add some ____,

Take a taste (slurrrp),

Soup will make us strong! (flex arm muscles).

Repeat with different veggies.

Source: Jen in the Library



Update:
I'm a member of a Facebook group specifically for librarians that deliver storytimes for young library members, called Storytime Underground. One of the librarians recently posted about how there are not enough good picture books (and books in general) about American Indians, especially Thanksgiving books at this time of year. Diversity in books, especially children books, is a huge issue but one of the librarians shared a blog,  American Indians in Children's Literature, run by educator Debbie Reese. It has lists of books appropriate for certain age groups that are diverse, accurate, and well written.

Also, I've had the same thoughts as the people in this BuzzFeed video when I have read some of the books in my library about American Indians: