Preschool Storytime Ideas
Rhinos
Animal storytimes are always popular; I like to do a new animal for each letter of the alphabet over the course of several months. The rhinoceros is a fun choice, and there are some great picture books starring rhinos. For a craft activity, make this simple rhino cutout to paint. The crafts from this website, Learn Create Love, are all very simple and even appropriate for toddlers.
Agee, Jon. MY RHINOCEROS. A brief text that will appeal to a wide age range describes a boy’s unusual pet, a rhino. Fortunately, the ungainly pet comes in handy when robbers are on the scene.
Ardizzone, Edward. DIANA AND HER RHINOCEROS. A proper little English girl befriends a rhino in this classic tale.
Dahl, Michael. WHAT’S BUGGING PAMELA? A bird lands on the back of Pamela the rhino, which improves her mood.
Hadithi, Mwenye. RUNNING RHINO. Near-sighted rhino is constantly running, annoying others on the African savanna, until a tickbird challenges him.
Hart, Caryl. RHINO? WHAT RHINO? Rhino sneaks out of the zoo and creates havoc due to his lack of manners.
Isadora, Rachel. OLD MIKAMBA HAD A FARM. In this African adaptation of “Old MacDonald,” one of the animals featured is a rhino.
Lester, Helen. A PORCUPINE NAMED FLUFFY. Fluffy the mis-named porcupine befriends a rhinoceros named Hippo.
McGuire, Andy. REMY THE RHINO LEARNS PATIENCE. Remy’s horn gets stuck in a tree trunk, so he patiently waits while termites dig him out.
Moser, Lisa. COWBOY BOYD AND MIGHTY CALLIOPE. A cowboy’s “horse” is a rhino, which makes for problems until this team is needed to rescue the herd.
Newman, Jeff. HIPPO! NO RHINO. The wrong sign at the zoo labels the rhino a hippo until a little boy corrects the error in this story that encourages audience participation.
Silverstein, Shel. WHO WANTS A CHEAP RHINOCEROS? Now available in a 50th anniversary edition, comic cartoon artwork pairs with a wryly humorous tale of a pet rhino.
Vernick, Audrey. BOGART AND VINNIE: A COMPLETELY MADE-UP STORY OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP. A little dog befriends a grumpy rhino in this amusing spoof of interspecies friendships.