Book to Boogie is a monthly series that pairs picture books with dance and movement activities for preschool story time. The series is curated by Kerry Aradhya of Picture Books & Pirouettes and written by a different guest writer each month. We hope that children’s librarians, as well as classroom teachers and dance educators, will find these activities useful and fun!
by Jill Homan Randall
Many alphabet picture books are filled with movement-inspiring words and images. Today we will explore Alphabet Movers by Teresa Benzwie and illustrator Robert Bender. This alphabet book in particular is wonderful because it goes beyond simply listing words that begin with A, B, and C; Benzwie creates a complete story with movement and dancing.
This first activity introduces the group to the big concept for today in a concrete way.
Bring in some simple art supplies and invite each story time guest to make the first letter of his or her name. Pipe cleaners are fun and easy. You can also bring in markers and cardstock paper. The goal is to keep the art activity to about five minutes.
Once each person has his or her letter, gather everyone around your reading area. When you call out a letter — “A!…B!…C!…” — ask the guests to raise their corresponding letters up high.
Warming Up with an Alphabet Book
Next, I suggest using an alphabet book to get the group moving. I like A Children’s Day: An Alphabet of Play by Ida Pearle and ABCers by Carole Lexa Schaefer and illustrator Pierr Morgan. You won’t be reading the whole book to the group for this exercise — just exploring a few of the pages. Ask the group to share out loud one of the letters they just made. Let’s say “S” is said aloud. Turn to the S page in your book and try out that body shape or movement. Ask for about six different letters to explore in this first book as your “warm up.”
The Main Event: Alphabet Movers by Teresa Benzwie
I love this alphabet book for its playful action words and also for its complete text. The words literally “dance off of the page.”
I suggest having the group spread out around the room. They can set their letters aside. Explain that you will read the whole book to the group — and you will dance each page as you go.
A is all about action
The alphabet begins with letter A
You may move in every way
B is for bounce
Can you bounce up and down like a ball?
Bounce yourself large
Bounce yourself small
Play soft music in the background. I suggest Bonobo’s instrumental “Antenna “ or the classic “ABC” by the Jackson Five.
Depending on how the first attempt goes for reading and dancing, you might even try the whole dance once more with a second reading of Alphabet Movers.
Ending on an Alphabet Note
You can end with another alphabet book, this time exploring shapes (positions) to represent each page. Explore all 26 letters or just a few. Animal inspiration can be explored in Creature ABC by Andrew Zuckerman and The New Alphabet of Animals by Christopher Wormell. Other alphabet books to check out for this final activity include Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert and Alligator Alphabet by Stella Blackstone and illustrator Stephanie Bauer.
If you would like to dive into each letter separately for future story times, I have written about books to go with each letter: http://ift.tt/1VELM1p.
Pairing movement and the alphabet together is a natural, joyful way to promote early literacy in children and begin a curiosity around letters, sounds, words, and stories.
from Library as Incubator Project » Library as Incubator Project | Library as Incubator Project http://ift.tt/1Li1iPr
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1Li1iPp
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