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Storytime Mellie

African/African American Protagonist

Giant Steps to Change the World by #OwnVoices Spike and Tonya Lee and Sean Qualls

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“Following the success of their much beloved picture books, Please, Baby, Please and Please, Puppy, Please; Academy Award nominated director Spike Lee, and his talented wife Tonya Lewis Lee offer up an inspirational picture book about activism and taking the big steps to set things right set to beautiful illustrations by the award-winning Sean Qualls. Using examples of people throughout history who have taken “giant steps”, this book urges kids to follow in their footsteps and not be hindered by fear or a sense that you are not good enough. Despite the challenges, even the smallest step can change the world. So, what’s your next step going to be?” —Amazon.com

Another by #OwnVoices Christian Robinson

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In this wordless book a cat that looks just like the little girls cat comes into her room though, I don’t know? A wormhole? It takes the other cat’s toy and the cat follows it through the hole followed by the girl. They go on a wonderful adventure and in the end the girl sees herself and the cat and they get the toy back. I love the concept, and I LOVE Christian Robinson’s illustrations.

Inclusive Story Time–Bedtime Stories (Putting Little One to Bed)

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Books:

Tell Me One Thing Dad by Tom Pow and Ian Andrew

Keep Love in Your Heart Little One by Giles Andreae and Clara Vulliamy

Snug in Mama’s Arms by #OwnVoicesAngela Shelf Medearis and John Sandford

Inclusion:

In Snug in Mama’s Arms an African American mother and daughter go through their night time ritual to a soothing lullaby.

Game:

Simon Says (Sleepy Version)

I plan on wearing pajamas and a sleeping cap, so Simon decided to go the sleeping cap route as well. 🙂

Simon is going to lead the kids through relaxing yoga poses and breathing exercises.

yoga cards for kids in black and white and color

We’ll be using these free yoga cards and posters to show the poses to the kids. Get them here.

Flannel Rhyme:

FIVE WHITE FOXES

Out in the woods under the sun,

Up ran a white fox and that made one.
One white fox under a sky so blue,

Up ran another and then there were two.


Two white foxes sitting by a tree,

Up ran another and then there were three.
Three white foxes trotting by the shore,

Up ran another and then there were four.


Four white foxes watching a beehive,

Up ran another and then there were five.
Five white foxes sunning by the shore,One went swimming and then there were four.


Four white foxes underneath a tree,One chased a squirrel and then there were three.


Three white foxes looking for something new,One found some berries and then there were two.


Two white foxes having so much fun,One chased a butterfly and then there was one.


One white fox enjoying the bright sun,It ran home for supper and then there were none.

Credit: Adapted from Five Red Foxes

Music:

My assistant Travis, who plays the guitar is in charge of the music, and I honestly don’t know what he’s picked out yet. I asked to to lean toward lullabies.


Inclusive Story Time–Bedtime stories (Saying Good Night)

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Books:

I just Want to Say Good Night by Rachel Isadora

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey and Tom Lichtenheld

Goodnight Bob by ann and John Hassett

Inclusion:

I just Want to Say Good Night by Rachel Isadora is about a young African girl who has to say goodnight to all the animals before she goes to bed.

Game:

Simon Says (Sleepy Version)

I plan on wearing pajamas and a sleeping cap, so Simon decided to go the sleeping cap route as well. 🙂

Simon is going to lead the kids through relaxing yoga poses and breathing exercises.

yoga cards for kids in black and white and color

We’ll be using these free yoga cards and posters to show the poses to the kids. Get them here.

Flannel Game:

Little moon, little moon, hiding in the sky.

Is that you behind the blue cloud I spy?

(repeat with other colors)

I changed this to either the sun or the moon since I thought the colors ended up looking like sunset.

Credit: https://storytimeinthestacks.com/2016/08/12/flannel-friday-little-moon-little-moon/

Music:

My assistant Travis, who plays the guitar is in charge of the music, and I honestly don’t know what he’s picked out yet. I asked to to lean toward lullabies.

Poem:

I breathe slowly in,

I breath slowly out. My breath

is a river of peace.

I am here in the world.

Each moment I can breath and be.

There’s a quiet place

in my head like an egg hidden

in a nest. A place

I go when the world is loud.

A moss-green forest with birds.