Preschool Storytime Ideas
Mexico
For preschool storytime, you could do a different type of book each week, such as Nursery Rhymes Around the World, Alphabet Books Around the World, but it could be more fun to focus on a new country each week. Hang up a large wall map and show where that week’s country is on the map, and then share stories, folktales, and a craft from that country. Families can bring in items, such as a costume or doll, if they are from that country.
There are many books and websites on Mexican children’s crafts, so look around for what would be good for your community. You might have a library staff member who is originally from Mexico who might have something that is a traditional activity for their family. A very easy craft is a paper bag piñata. Another excellent source for storytime ideas is Bibliotecas Para La Gente.
Aardema, Verna. BORREGUITA AND THE COYOTE. A little lamb tricks a coyote in this folktale that features repetition.
Elya, Susan M. EIGHT ANIMALS ON THE TOWN. Spanish words are woven into this story about animals who go shopping.
Guy, Ginger. ¡FIESTA! and SIESTA and ¡BRAVO! Very simple bilingual rhyming books are Ginger Guy’s signature. Even those of us with high school Spanish can read her books aloud with confidence.
Mora, Pat. UNO, DOS, TRES + ONE, TWO, THREE. Children are looking for a birthday present for Mama in this simple bilingual rhyming story.
Mora, Pat. LISTEN TO THE DESERT. Onomatopoeia will hold young listeners in this simple bilingual story with lots of sound effects.
Ramírez, Antonio. NAPÍ. A Mazateca Indian girl imagines she is a heron and flies above her village. Intense colors in the paintings make this a stunning book.
Reiser Lynn. TORTILLAS AND LULLABIES, TORTILLAS Y CANCIONCITAS. Four generations of a Mexican-American family show how they raise a family.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. MICE AND BEANS. Rosa Maria is preparing for her granddaughter’s birthday party while some mice also get ready for a party.
Winter, Jeanette. JOSEFINA. A woman makes pottery figures in this simple celebration of hand crafts.