Bonjour! - A Storytime Outline

As I had probably mentioned before, my library generally celebrates the many cultures in the community. Granted there are so many of them that we can't do all of them. Last year, when doing a Hispanic Heritage storytime, I decided that it was time do a culture and language that I do know... French! I don't claim to the fact that I can pronounce French words perfectly or can speak fluently, but I can speak French considerably better than Spanish.

I didn't know what reaction to expect from the children and parents. Isn't it always the truth when you, the Children's Librarian, that you are super excited about a storytime theme and everyone else is lack luster? Well.... I'm sad to say that it was a little like that this morning. :: sigh :: Oh, well. I get props for trying! Right?

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Everyone Bonjours! written by Leslie Kimmelman and illus. by Sarah McMenemy (T)
I used bonjour about half the time it came up in the book. The rest of the time I said hello. Whichever language I used, I still waved hello.

The Moon Was the Best written by Charlotte Zolotow and photographs by Tana Hoban (T)
This is a great book with nice pictures of Paris in it. I didn't read the text word for word as I wanted the toddlers, which varied in age, to pay attention to the pictures mostly.

The Secret Circus written and illus. by Johanna Wright (P)
I read this little story with a mouse finger puppet.

The Happy Lion written by Louise Fatio and illus. by Roger Duvoisin (P)
I grew up reading this book thus I wanted to read it for the preschool kids. They liked it and were happy to respond to the question what they would do if they found a lion walking down the street.

Madeline written and illus. by Ludwig Bemelmans (P)
How can you not include Madeline in the line up of French stories? I actually got a soft laugh from the parents when, in the story, all the school girls were crying because they wanted their appendix out too.

Crepes by Suzette written and illus. by Monica Wellington (P)
I had the children help describe where Suzette was (park, a fair, and etc.) and who she was serving a crepe to. The children did it a little, but lost interest after awhile.

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Frere Jacques (T, P)
Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques
Dormez  vous? Dormez vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
Ding, dang, dong, ding dang, dong.

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding, dang, dong, ding, dang, dong.
Source: Toddler Storytime

The Wheels on the Metro (T, P)
tune: The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the Metro go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the Metro go round and round,
All through the town.

continue with:
The doors... open and shut
People... sway back and fourth
Babies... wha, wha, wha, wha
Source: ME! I piggy backed this to make it a French-y song!
 
Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

ACTIVITIES

Egg Shakers (T)
The toddlers got restless easily today so we played with the egg shakers. They loved it!

Pictures of things from France (P)
I printed out photos of things from France like the Eiffel Tower, baguettes, croissants, stinky cheese (emphasize stinky), berets, the Mona Lisa and so on.

CRAFTS

A Sunny Day at the Eiffel Tower (T)
The Toddlers got a coloring sheet showing the Eiffel Tower. They to color and scribble to their hearts content, but they also got to clue a yellow circle in the sky to make it a sun-shinny day. Simple and very cute.

A Picnic in Paris, France (P)
One fun thing to do in Paris is to have a picnic in the park under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The Preschool children got to color and create their picnic spread. This was an opportunity for them to also practice cutting out their food (generally I pre-cut everything) with the safety scissors. They all enjoyed it. 

PICTURES

The Wheels on the Metro flannel board,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Pictures of things from France,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

Sunny Day at the Eiffel Tower, Toddler Storytime craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

A Picnic in Paris, France, Preschool Storytime craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2012

MORE BOOKS

Murphy Meets Paris written by Harriet Ziefert and illus. by Emily Bolam (P)
I didn't have time to read this book during the Preschool Storytime and which I did have time!!! Ack!
Zat Cat! written and illus. by Chesley McLaren
This is a great rhyming book that includes French phrases (and their pronunciation on the same page) to tell the story.
The Cat Who Walked Across France written by Kate Banks and illus. by Gerog Hallensleben (P)
La La Rose written and illus. by Satomi Ichikawa (P)
Come Fly With Me written and illus. by Satomi Ichikawa (P) 
Pastry School in Paris: An Adventure in Capacity written by Cindy Neuschwander and illus. by Bryan Langdo  (P, SA)
The Cows Are Going to Paris written by  David Kirby and Allen Woodman and illus. by Chris L. Demarest (P)
Mama's Perfect Present written and illus. by Diane Goode (P)