Both oral storytelling and shared book reading provide rich early language and literacy activities for young children. Research shows that when children hear new words in the context of a captivating story, they are more likely to understand, remember and incorporate the words into their own working vocabulary. They also learn how books and oral narrations are organized, with a beginning, middle and conclusion (“The End”), and develop a sense of how to create a captivating narration of their own. Watch your child’s language skills grow!
The Parents section presents easy steps to make spontaneous storytelling an enjoyable activity to share with your child wherever you are. Together, you can even turn them into illustrated picture books of your own as your child gets ready to become a reader and writer in elementary school.
Children
Book Reading: When Spring Comes 
What is it? A book reading of When Spring Comes, written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek.
How does it work? Children can listen to Teacher Jill, and see the pages and pictures to learn about the Spring season.
Why might this be a good choice for your child? Children will learn about the natural world and the changing of seasons in a fun way.
Book Reading: Rino-Maní (Spanish)
What is it? Audio-visual presentation of children’s story in Spanish. Teacher Patty reads the story, Rino-Mani in Spanish so that children can listen, follow the text and look at pictures.
How does it work? Play the video of the story for your child. Your child can listen, watch and read a funny story about Rino’s lunch adventure with his friends. This book shows friend relationships of helping, kindness and sharing.
Why might this be a good choice for your child? Listening to books sparks your child’s imagination, expands their knowledge of their world, and improves their language and reading skills! With this book your child can learn about friend relationships, helping, kindness and sharing.
What is it? Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, as read by Teacher Patty.
How does it work? This is a slide show presentation with audio and storybook pages.
Why might this be a good choice for your child? This is an entertaining tale about a peddler, some monkeys and some colorful hats. This book has repetitive phrases to help give confidence to a child while learning a story. It also presents expressing emotion.
What is it? This is a youtube link to books read aloud by astronauts in space. There are videos in English an
d Spanish which range from 10 to 25 minutes in length.
How does it work? The youtube link takes you to the channel’s page, from there you can select which video you would like your child to watch.
Why might this be a good choice for your child? Listening to books sparks your child’s imagination, expands their knowledge of their world, and improves their language and reading skills! Plus these stories may spark your child’s lifelong interest in “S.T.E.A.M” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math).
What is it? A “Live Action” book reading of Not A Box by Antoinette Portis.
How does it work? Enjoy as Teacher Jill reads and acts out the story!
Why might this be a good choice for your child? Spur creativity and imagination as children consider the possibilities of a simple box.
El Bicho Extraño (Musical Story in Spanish)
Que es? Este link es del canal YouTube de Musicando Badabadum. Donde cuentan cuentos con música.
Cómo funciona? Niños y niñas pueden escuchar y mirar este video y pueden participar en la canción.
Qué aprendería mi niño/niña? Los niños/as aprenden a raíz de la repetición. Con este cuento musical pueden practicar como seguir un ritmo musical. Pueden también trabajar habilidades de observación y repetición. Y este libro trae un final interesante que rompe el estereotipo de los libros.
What is it? Audio visual book reading of the story Dandelion by Don Freeman. Read by Teacher Patty with permission from Scholastic.
How does it work? A book reading of the story Dandelion so that your child can listen and watch pictures of the book.
Why might this be a good choice for your child? This is a classic story of Dandelion the lion who is invited to a tea party and decides to fancy himself up but is not recognized when he goes to the party. In the end, he realizes that he will not try to pretend to be someone else but will remain true to himself.
Story Stone Stories and How-To video
What is it? This is a video in which Teacher Lourdes shows children how to make Story Stones and how to tell stories with them. It is about 15 minutes long.
How does it work? Watch video and follow the steps or simply copy what you see.
Why might it be a good choice for your child? Sequencing (knowing what happens first, next and last) is a skill children need in order to recognize patterns to understand the world around them. Hearing and telling stories helps them practice this skill. They learn to understand that events happen in a logical order and they can start to predict what will happen next. This skill will be important as it helps them succeed in the future in school.
What is it? This video has audio of Teacher Jill reading while showing pages of Eric Carle’s book The Tiny Seed. Follow the life and growth of this tiny seed from one autumn to another; from seed to magnificent flower.
How does it work? This story has been enhanced with sound effects to immerse the viewer in the story.
Why might this be a good choice for your child? This book beautifully details the life cycle of a flower. It also has a message about patience and not comparing yourself to others.
What is it? This link from NAEYC gives a list of suggestions on how to encourage storytelling at home.
How does it work? Click on the link and read the list and try out one or two of the suggestions at home.
Why might this be a good choice for you and your child? Storytelling helps preschoolers learn new words and prepare to become readers and writers in elementary school.
Apoye La Escritura En El Hogar
Que Es? Este link de la organización NAEYC le da una lista de sugerencias para incentivar la escritura en la edad temprana.
Cómo funciona? Siga el link y lea la lista, luego pruebe algunas ideas en su hogar.
Qué aprendería mi niño/niña? Los niños/as empiezan a escribir antes de empezar a leer. Tener experiencias divertidas con la escritura a una temprana edad los ayudara a amar la lectura y escritura cuando estén en la escuela primaria.
What is it? This is an activity for painting or drawing on rocks, then telling a story using the rocks. This can be done with children 2½ years of age and up.
How does it work? Read the activity sheet and follow the instructions. This activity can be done indoors or outdoors. Once you have painted stones with different things on them, you can take them anywhere and you and your child can tell stories of all kinds. Younger children will need more help telling the stories, or you can tell the story and they choose the stones. Older children can tell their own stories and you can ask questions to help them.
Why might this be a good choice for you and your child? Sequencing (knowing what happens first, next and last) is a skill children need in order to recognize patterns to understand the world around them. Hearing and telling stories helps them practice this skill. They learn to understand that events happen in a logical order and they can start to predict what will happen next. This skill will be important for future school success.
Actividad con Piedras Pintadas
Que Es? Esta es una actividad para pintar piedras y contar cuentos con ellas. Puede ser usada con niños(as) de 2 años y medio a más.
Cómo funciona?Lea y siga las instrucciones de la actividad. Se puede llevar a cabo dentro o fuera de casa. Las piedras pintadas pueden ser llevadas a donde quiera y contar cuentos con ellas allí. Todo lo que necesita es imaginación. Niños(as) más pequeños necesitarán más apoyo y guianza para crear cuentos, o usted los puede contar y ellos escogen las piedras. Con niños(as) mayores ellos pueden decidir que sucede en la historia y usted puede hacerles preguntas para ayudarlos.
Por que es beneficioso? El secuenciar o poner en orden los sucesos de un cuento es un habilidad que los niños(as) necesitan para poder reconocer patrones para entender el mundo a su alrededor. Escuchar y contar cuentos ayuda a practicar esta habilidad. Ayuda a que los Niños(as) entiendan que eventos suceden en un orden lógico y pueden empezar a predecir que sucederá. Esta habilidad es importante porque los ayudará en su futuro aprendizaje escolar.
How to Use Story Stones, by Early Impact
What is it? This link takes you to the Early Impact website. It lists and describes 11 ways to use story stones with children.
How does it work? Follow the link, read the descriptions and choose one that suits you and your child best. With preschoolers you can talk about what happens first, next and last in the story. You can also talk about the characters, the setting, the problem and the resolution. What will they be and why?
Why might this be a good choice for you and your child? Using Story Stones helps children develop their imagination. They also learn about the parts of a story (first, next and last), and can develop descriptive vocabulary as they tell you about the characters and situations.