BOOKS:
Ashman, Linda. Castles, Caves and Honeycombs. Illustrated
by Lauren Stringer. Harcourt, 2001.
Describes some of the
unique places where animals build their homes such as in a heap of twigs, on a
castle tower, in a cave, or in the hollow space inside a tree.
Dodd, Lynley. Slinky Malinki, Open the Door. Illustrated
by author. Gareth Stevens, 1994.
Slinky Malinki, a
mischievous cat, and Stickybeak Syd, a bird, get into lots of trouble when they
are left alone in the house.
Gliori, Debi. Flora's Surprise. Illustrated by
author. Orchard, 2003.
Flora, a young rabbit,
tries to grow a house by planting a brick.
Juster, Norman. The Hello, Goodbye Window. Illustrated by
Chris Raschka. Hyperion, 2005.
A little girl describes the magic kitchen
window in her grandparents' home.
MacDonald, Margaret Read. The Squeaky Door. Illustrated by
Mary Newell DePalma. HarperCollins, 2006.
When Little Boy is frightened by a squeaky
bedroom door, his grandmother brings in various animals to help him feel secure
enough to sleep.
Skorpen, Liesel Moak. We Were Tired of Living in a House.
Illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Putnam, 1999.
Four children, a cat,
and a dog move to a tree, a raft, a cave, and finally the seashore, enjoying
each new dwelling until they discover its drawbacks.
Suen, Anastasia. Raise the Roof. Illustrated by Elwood H.
Smith. Viking, 2003.
A family helps build their new house.
Wormell, Christopher. Blue Rabbit and Friends. Illustrated
by author. Putnam, 2000.
In his search for just
the right home, Blue Rabbit helps a bear, a goose, and a dog find the perfect
place to live.
STORYTELLING:
Kessler, Leonard. Mr. Pine's Purple
House. Illustrated by author. Purple House Press, 2001.
Mr. Pine wants to make his house different
than his neighbors' houses. This beginning reader can easily be made into
a magnetic story.
The Three Little Pigs
The audience joined in on the repetitive
phrases. We said "Little Pig, Little Pig, let me come in" and
"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down" in a deep
growly voice for the wolf. We said "Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin"
in a regular voice. When I told the story, I ended with the wolf sliding
down into a pot of boiling water, yelling "ouch!" (very loudly) and
then running away never to be seen again. The first two pigs also run away
when the wolf blows down their houses. They are reunited with the third
pig at the end of the story and they all live "happily ever
after." However, use whatever version works best for
you.
VIDEO:
Is This a House for Hermit Crab?
Great Plains National Instructional Television
Library, 1993. Based on the book by Megan McDonald. Story portion of
video approximately 8 minutes.
When Hermit Crab outgrows his old house,
he ventures out to find a new one in this Reading Rainbow episode.
PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES:
Building a House-fingerplay
from page 95 of 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays compiled by
the Totline Staff. Warren Publishing House, 1994.
Houses-fingerplay
(traditional)
Here is a nest for a robin.
(cup hands)
Here is a hive for a bee.
(make fist with one hand, wrap other hand around
it)
Here is a hole for a bunny
(make circle with thumb and index finger)
And here is a house for me.
(put arms above head with fingers touching at an
angle)
In and Out the Doors
(sung to "Go In and Out the Window")
Step in and out the front door.
(take a step forward, then back)
Step in and out the front door.
Step in and out the front door.
Then make a doorbell sound.
(say "ding dong")
Jump in and out the back door.
(jump forward, then back)
Jump in and out the back door.
Jump in and out the back door.
Bend down and touch the ground.
(touch ground with hand)
Slide in and out the side door.
(slide to one side, then other)
Slide in and out the side door.
Slide in and out the side door.
And then turn all around.
(turn around)
Step in and out the front door.
Jump in and out the back door.
Slide in and out the side door.
Then sit yourself right down.
(sit down)
Knock, Knock, Who's There?-fingerplay
CRAFT:
Door knob hanger
Buy door knob hangers from a craft store or use the pattern
on page 296 of my book, A Storytime Year. Let the children decorate
it with markers, stickers, sequins, feathers, etc. You could personalize
them by writing "Welcome to (the child's name)'s place."
Paper House
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Paperhouse.shtml
* "In and Out the Doors" and "Knock, Knock, Who's There?" which were written by Susan M. Dailey, can be used freely in programs, but may not be re-posted, reproduced, or sold without prior permission.