Storytime Resources
Introduction to Storytime
Storytime at the library is an important program that promotes literacy and language development in young children. Storytime can help build social skills, listening and communication skills, and inspire creativity and imagination. Many storytimes are directed towards the 3-5 age range which is the period when children develop knowledge of the alphabet and phonetics. However, storytime can be for all ages and is a great way to connect with your community.
This page is designed to collect resources and ideas for storytime programming. If you are new to storytime programming, please check out the following resources:
- Jbrary is a blog dedicated to Youth Programming. They have excellent articles on creating / hosting story time programs including:
- Toddle Storytime Planning Sheet [PDF]
- Storytime Plans [Sample Themes including Books, Music, and extension activities]
- Storytime Resources for Presenting to Preschoolers [LibGuide]
- Storytime Sprout [Premade Themes with Book, Rhyme and Activity Ideas]
Examples:
- Baby Storytime [Loudoun County Public Library]
- Fantasy & Fairy Tales Storytime [Maricopa County Library District]
- Library Storytime: Draw and Tell [Ryde Library Service]
- Preschool Storytime Online [Wake County Public Libraries]
- Storytime Online: Friends [Wood Library]
- Storytime with Elizabeth - Dog's Colourful Day [Vancouver Public Library]
- Toddler Storytime with Rachel [Denver Public Library]
Available on TRACpac:
- Cooking Up a Storytime: Mix-and-Match Menus for Easy Programming [Book]
- Let's Talk About Race in Storytimes [Book]
- Multicultural Storytime Magic [Book]
- School Library Storytime: Just the Basics [Book]
- Supercharged Storytimes: An Early Literacy Planning and Assessment Guide [Book]
- The Handbook For Storytime Programs [Book]
- The Storytime Handbook: A Full Year of Themed Programs, with Crafts and Snacks [Book]
- Toddler Storytime Programs [Book]
- Transforming Preschool Storytime: A Modern Vision and a Year of Programs [Book]
Resources:
- Tell Me a Story (Database of Rhymes & songs with linked videos on how to perform)
- Storytime Rhymes & Songs [Tacoma Public Library]
YouTube Playlists:
- JBrary Rhyme & Song Playlists
- Songs & Rhymes from Our Storytimes Playlist [Champaign Public Library]
Available on TRACpac:
Resources:
- Activity Village Crafts
- Crayola Crafts
- Enchanted Learning [Crafts for Kids]
- Hands On Crafts for Kids [Projects & Lesson Plans]
- iHeartCraftyThings [Kids, Holiday and Seasonal Crafts]
- Krokotak [Educational and Creative Crafts & Activities]
- Red Ted Art [Cute and Easy Crafts for Kids]
Flannel Boards:
- Flannel Friday [Ideas. Tips and Patterns]
- How to Make a Flannel Board Story
- Kiz Club [Printable Flannel Templates]
Colouring Pages:
- Coloring Only
- Cool2bKids
- Crayola
- Doodle Art Alley
- Freepik
- Just Color
- Monday Mandala
- Printable Free Coloring
- Super Coloring
YouTube:
- Paper Crafts - TR [Simple Crafts]
Available on TRACpac:
Resources:
- Brightly Storytime [Picture Book Read-Alouds]
- KidLit TV [Storytime Read-Alouds, Art Sessions, Crafts]
- Story Girl [Immersive Reading for Pre-K to Grade 2]
- Storyline Online [Videos of Celebrated Actors reading storybooks aloud]
- Storytime From Space [Videos of Astronauts reading storybooks aloud]
- Tata Storytime [Storytime Read-Alouds that feature authors from African, Caribbean & African American heritage]
- Ukulele Storytimes [Baby Rhyme Time and Classic Sing-Along Songs]
Storytime Kit Resource Binder
Below are linked craft and song pages. These are included in the resource binder that comes with the kits. We only have the files for the Ages 4-6 kits.
Storytime Kits (Ages 4-6)
- Bears ( crafts | songs )
- Big Machines and Construction ( crafts | songs )
- Bugs and Insects ( crafts | songs )
- Cat Tales ( crafts | songs )
- Christmas and Other Lands ( crafts | songs )
- Circus ( crafts | songs )
- Dinosaurs ( crafts | songs )
- Fairytales and Tall Tales ( crafts | songs )
- Fall and Thanksgiving ( crafts | songs )
- Farm Animals ( crafts | songs )
- Folktales ( crafts | songs )
- Métis and First Nations ( crafts | songs )
- Oceans ( crafts | songs )
- Pets Kit #1 ( crafts | songs )
- Pets Kit #2 ( crafts | songs )
- Pirates ( crafts | songs )
- Polar Regions: Animals and Folktales ( crafts | songs )
- Safari Kit #1 ( crafts | songs )
- Safari Kit #2 ( crafts | songs )
- Space ( crafts | songs )
- Spring, Summer and Easter ( crafts | songs )
- Winter and Valentine's Day ( crafts | songs )
Share Your Ideas!
Click on the below links to share your ideas: