Monthly Archives: April 2023

“Look and Listen” yoga storytime

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Opening – How I explain the rules of yoga storytime: stay on your mat, and keep your hands to yourself.
(Skip to my Lou –  from Jim Gill)
Stomping feet, one and two
Stomping feet, one and two
But if my feet were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling.

Clapping hands, one and two
Clapping hands, one and two
But if my hands were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling
(hands in Anjali mudra, or prayer position)

Are you Ready for Yoga? 
Are you ready for yoga?
If you’re ready, then stomp your feet
Stomp your feet and make some noise.
Let’s stomp our feet and make some noise
And do it really fast
Then stop. Stretch your feet up, up, up
And down.
Repeat with arms then both. 
Source: Next Generation Yoga at the National Kids Yoga Conference

Extend and Stretch
Frere Jacques
Extend and stretch (sit in sukasana – easy seated pose, or crisscross applesauce- and do seated side bends)
Extend and stretch
Twist and turn (seated twists)
Twist and turn
This is yoga, (hands overhead on “this,” then bring to prayer position on “yoga”)
This is yoga
Om sweet om, (hands in prayer, bow forward)
Om sweet om
Source: I got this from Kids Yoga Guide teacher training, but here is another from Be Grace Yoga 

Sun Salutations – I use a call and response version of Sargent Salutations from Kidding Around Yoga. 

Book – Look and Listen by Dianne White and illustrated by Am Schimler-Safford
flowers grow – Flower pose
bee – bee’s breath
hummingbird – warrior III/virabhadrasana III
butterfly – butterfly or baddha konasana
bunny – rabbit/sasagasanana
swallow – robin’s breath
deer – warrior I/ virabhadrasana I
frog – malasana/garland pose and jump
dragonfly – dead bug pose
fish – matsyasana/fish

Song – The Seedy Seeds – “My Roots Go Down
Stomping for roots
Tree – vrksasana
Flower pose

Belly Breaths

Savasana 

Peace begins with me
Hold both hands overhead. On the word “peace,” touch the thumbs and pinky fingers together. On the word “begins,” touch the thumbs and ring fingers. On the word “with,” touch the thumbs and middle fingers. On the word “me,” touch the thumbs and pointers. Repeat this four times, the first time loudly and hands overhead. The second time, bring the hands down a little and speak a little softer. The third time, bring hands lower and whisper. The last time, bring hands to knees and speak words silently to self.
Source: Kids Yoga Guide Teacher Training

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Religious Literacy in the Library

When I first became a librarian, many places were still doing holiday storytimes. (And some still are!) It then became more and more taboo to do holiday storytimes in public libraries. We didn’t want to do the more “dominant” culture holidays because then that could cause some of our patrons who don’t celebrate those holidays feel unwelcome. (And that’s fair!) We didn’t want to do storytimes for all the holidays because many of us felt like we didn’t know enough about the holidays we don’t personally celebrate to comfortably answer questions about them.

However, I am earning a second Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education online from Portland State University. The class I just completed was Social Justice and Transformative Practices in ECIE, and it was one of the most informative and enjoyable classes I have ever taken. In it we discussed religious literacy for the very young. We discussed not “celebrating” holidays but teaching them. We discussed the mere mentioning of holidays can be a gateway to tolerance. This resonated with me, and I have begun reading one book for each holiday in storytime. It’s difficult to find some holiday books that are the right length and pace for storytimes, but as I find them, I will continue to add them to this post. Thanks for joining me on this journey!

Holi

Festival of Colors by Kabhir Sehgal and and Suristha Sehgal and illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Ramadan

Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman and illustrated by Sue Williams

Ramadan is Here ©Wendy Gerbi
Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
The moon is a crescent in the sky,
Ramadan is here!

Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here
“Ramadan Mubarak” to everyone,
Ramadan is here!

Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
Eat only when it is dark outside,
Ramadan is here!

Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
Decorate with lanterns and stars,
Ramadan is here!

Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
Be kind to everyone we see,
Ramadan is here.

Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
Put money in the Zakat jar,
Ramadan is here.

Now…

Ramadan is over, Ramadan is over,
“Eid Mubarek” to everyone!
Ramadan is over.

Now it’s time for Eid, now it’s time for Eid
Gifts and candy to celebrate,
Now it’s time for Eid!
Source: Flannelboard Fun

Passover

Is it Passover Yet? by Christ Barash and illustrated by Alessandra Psacharopulo
Pirate Passover by Judy Press and illustrated by Amanda Gulliver
Afikotective by Amalia Hoffman

The Matzah Making Song
(to the tune of “Row, row, row your boat)
Roll, roll, roll your dough.
Make it nice and round.
Make it flat,
Poke lots of holes,
And bake it till it’s brown.
Source: PTS Preschool

I did this book for the first time today (and read The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas afterwards). I had a dad approach after storytime and say that he appreciated the Passover book, that he and his family have never felt seen in a storytime like that, and that he and his family were getting ready for Seder that very evening.

My heart, y’all.

Dia de Los Muertos


Dia de Muertos Numeros – Duncan Tonatiuh

Diwali


It’s Diwali! by Kabir Sehgal and Suristha Sehgal.

Hanukkah

Happy Llamakkah by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Lydia Nichols
The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll and illustrated by Michelle Shapiro