Fun Ideas for Story Time

Start Your Story Time With a Rap

Beth Van Kirk of the Phoenix Reading Corps starts her story times like this: Have the kids snap or clap the rhythm and you do hand gestures. They'll soon join in and want to make up their own raps!

"I'm (your name) and I'm here to say
I've got a real fine story for you today
So put your seat on the floor and your hands in your lap
Wiggle your shoulders; let me hear you clap
Now when your eyes are on me, then we're ready to go
So put your fingers to your lips and blow-Shhhhhhhh
IT's STORY TIME!"

Take the Readers' Pledge!

"I promise to read each day and each night.
I know it's the key to growing up right.
I'll read to myself, I'll read to a crowd.
It makes no difference if silent or loud.
I'll read at my desk, at home and at school,
On my bean bag or bed, by the fire or pool.
Each book that I read puts smarts in my head
'cause brains grow more thoughts the more they are fed.
Come rain or shine, snow, wind or sleet,
Each day of the week reading's a treat.
So I take this pledge to make reading my way
Of feeding my brain what it needs every day."

— Debra Angstead
(New Jersey BookPAL Lawton Paseka taught her kids
this pledge and they recite it each week!)

Planting the Seeds of Literacy

A BookPAL in San Francisco had a great idea which some of you might want to try. She and the chidren created a BookPALS BookTree. Each week they would add "apples" with the title and author of the books read aloud. At the end of the year they have a bountiful harvest.

Return to Reading Tips