Christmas Storytime Plan (Series Characters)
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Storytime Plan: Christmas Series Characters Stories
Created by: Laura Baas
Age Group: Preschool
Time: 30 minutes (additional materials included as time fillers if needed)
Introduction and Song (5 minutes):
Introduction: Welcome and happy holidays! Today we’re going to be hearing about what the Christmas season is like for some book characters that you may be familiar with from reading other books in the same series (Note: discuss what a series is and ask for examples that the kids are familiar with–for example, explain that a series is a bunch of books grouped because they contain related subject matter, the same character, and/or the same author). First, let’s warm up with a holiday song.
Song: Father Christmas (to the tune of: Frere Jacques)
Father Christmas, Father Christmas
He got stuck, he got stuck
Coming down the chimney, Coming down the chimney What bad luck, what bad luck
OR
Ring the Bells (to the tune of: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Ring, ring, ring the bells,
Ring them loud and clear
To say to people everywhere
That Christmas time is here.
Books:
1. Froggy’s Best Christmas (Froggy Series) by Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz Froggy usually sleeps right through the Christmas season. Not this year. This year Froggy’s best friend, Max the beaver, wakes him up to join in the Christmas cheer. (Note: you could also substitute Bears Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson since Bear is a series character too and the story has a similar plot)
2. Little Critter Series Christmas Books: Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer or Merry Christmas, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer
3. Merry Christmas, Curious George! (Curious George) by H.A. and Margret Rey, Cathy Hapka, and Mary O’Keefe
Join Curious George as he goes shopping with the man in the yellow hat, gets himself lost, and generally experiences the joys of Christmas.
4. Olivia Helps with Christmas (Olivia Series) by Ian Falconer)
Olivia has soooooo many things to do to get ready for Christmas. Come along with Olivia as she sticks her snout into all sorts of Christmas time activity as she prepares for the arrival of the big day (and the presents).
5. Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow (Toot and Puddle Series) by Holly Hobbie
Tis the season for giving, and Toot and Puddle give each other the best gift best friends can give each other—friendship.
Song for in the Middle: Ring the Bells (to the tune of: London Bridge)
Ring the bells it’s Christmas time,
Christmas time,
Christmas time.
Ring the bells it’s Christmas time,
Merry Christmas time!
(add additional verses as desired: Play the drums, Tap the sticks, Clap your hands, get kids’ input for other verses)
Conclusion and Departing Song (5 minutes):
Conclusion: Thanks for coming in today. I hope you enjoyed hearing about the Christmas experiences of some favorite picture book characters. May your own Christmas experiences and adventures be equally joyous and entertaining.
Departing Song: It’s time to go home, It’s time to go, home, Wave good-bye to everyone, It’s time to go home. (additional verses: We had a happy day, We’ll see you next time)
Time Fillers/Substitutions:
SONG: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S (to the tune of: Jingle Bells)
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is here
That’s how we spell Christmas
It’s the best time of the year!
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is here
Oh what fun we’ll have today
With all our friends so near!
OR
POETRY: Christmas Poems by Jill Bennett and Nick Sharratt or Where Did They Hide My Presents?: Silly Dilly Christmas Songs by Alan Katz and David Catrow
OR
CRAFT OPTIONS: Search the web for a simple Christmas crafts such as the ones found at Kaboose or Enchanted Learning. Sample crafts from the latter site include making a paper bag reindeer puppet or a paper plate snowman.
Christmas-related Series Books to Display:
Angelina’s Christmas (Angelina Ballerina series) by Helen Craig,Katharine Holabird
The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree (Berenstain Bears Series) by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears Save Christmas (Berenstain Bears Series) by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain
Corduroy’s Christmas by B.G.Hennessy
Max’s Christmas Stocking by Rosemary Wells
Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Additional Christmas Books for Display (Code: PB—picture book, BB—board book, ER—easy reader, CB—chapter book):
1. Angelina’s Christmas (Angelina Ballerina) by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig (PB)
2. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman (PB)
3. The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree (Berenstain Bears) by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain (PB)
4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (CB)
5. The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll and Jeni Bassett (PB)
6. Christmas Catastrophe (Geronimo Stilton) by Geronimo Stilton (CB)
7. Christmas in Camelot (Magic Tree House #29) by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca (CB)
8. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (Christmas Miracle of Jon Toome) by Susan Wojciechowski (PB)
9. Corgiville Christmas by Tasha Tudor (PB)
10. Dragon’s Merry Christmas (Dragon Tales) by Dav Pilkey (PB)
11. Eloise At Christmastime by Kay Thompson (PB)
12. Great Joy by Kate Dicamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline (PB)
13. God Gave Us Christmas (God Gave Us…) by Lisa T. Bergren and David Hohn (PB)
15. Henry and Mudge and a Very Merry Christmas (Henry and Mudge Ready-to-Read) by Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson (ER)
16. Holly The Christmas Fairy (Rainbow Magic) by Daisy Meadows (CB)
17. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Deluxe Edition) by Dr. Seuss (PB)
18. Jingle Bell Christmas (The Backyardigans) by Catherine Lukas and The Artifact Group (PB)
19. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg (PB)
20. Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (p.s. so does May.)by Barbara Park and Denise Brunkus (CB)
21. Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday (Judy Moody) by Megan Mcdonald and Peter H. Reynolds (CB)
22. The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola (PB) Note: Befana brings gifts to Italian children on Epiphany; a story of generosity (also by Tomie dePaola is The Legend of the Poinsettia (PB)
23. The Longest Christmas List Ever by Gregg Spiridellis and Evan Spiridellis (PB)
24. Librarian’s Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series) by David Davis and Jim Harris (PB)
25. Madeline’s Christmas (Picture Puffins) by Ludwig Bemelmans (PB)
26. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Mary Engelbreit (PB)
27. (Night Before Christmas Series) by James Rice (PB series)
28. Olivia Helps with Christmas (Olivia Series) by Ian Falconer (PB)
29. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
30. Merry Christmas, Mouse! (If You Give…) by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond (PB)
31. Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read Book 2) by Peggy Parish and Lynn Sweat (ER)
32. Merry Christmas, Stinky Face PB by Lisa Mccourt and Cyd Moore (PB)
33. Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman (PB)
34. Mr. Christmas (Mr. Men and Little Miss) by Roger Hargreaves (PB)
35. Nate The Great And The Crunchy Christmas (Nate The Great, paper) by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, Craig Sharmat, and Marc Simont (CB)
36. Night Tree by Eve Bunting and Ted Rand (PB) 43. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry (PB)
37. The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton (PB)
38. The Reindeer Christmas by Moe Price (PB)
39. Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell and Jason Cockcroft (PB)
40. Stanley’s Christmas Adventure (Flat Stanley) by Jeff Brown and Scott Nash (CB)
41. ’tis The Season (Main Street) by Ann M. Martin (CB)
42. Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow (Toot and Puddle) by Holly Hobbie (PB)
43. The 12 Bugs of Christmas: A Pop-up Christmas Counting Book by David A. Carter by David A. Carter (PB, pop-up)
44. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston and Barbara Cooney (PB)
Note: For more Christmas-related books to display see Laura Baas’ WorldCat.org list for Christmas–Juvenile Audience (since there is no shortage of Christmas books available out there, this list includes mainly recently published picture books, easy readers, and early chapter books).
Feel free to add comments with other favorite Christmas series character books that work well as read alouds.
