Bilingual Fall & Family Storytime

This storytime was for a Migrant Head Start preschool in my area. They were already studying fall, furniture and families, so we (myself and a Spanish-speaking coworker) catered to those themes.

Read Aloud Books

The Day of the Dead/El Dia de Los MuertosWritten and illustrated by Bob Barner, translated by Teresa Mlawer

A short but good overview of the Day of the Dead, and why it's celebrated. It has a phrase in English, followed by that phrase in Spanish. It was great for this class, and transitioned us into our craft.

The Family BookWritten and illustrated by Todd Parr

In English, it goes through all the many different types of families out in the world. It was great for learning English family terms, everything from mom to step-brother to cousin.

Oso En CasaWritten by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Debbie Harter

This was just fun to go through bear's house. We quized the kids on what the English terms would be and they seemed to enjoy it!

Songs and Rhymes

Hello Song

(from Wiggleworms Love You)

Hello, hello, hello and how are you?

I'm fine, I'm fine, and I hope that you are, too.

Now everybody clap your hands

clap your hands, clap your hands

Now everybody clap your hands

c'mon and clap your hands

Hola, hola, hola y ¿como estas?

Estoy bien, muy bien, y espero que tu tambien.

Now everybody wave hello,

wave hello, wave hello

Now everybody wave hello

Hello, hello, hello!

Fingerplay: My Family

(we also named each member in Spanish)

This is mama (mamá), kind and dear. (point to thumb)

This is papa (papá), standing near. (point to pointer finger)

This is brother (hermano), see how tall! (point to middle finger)

This is sister (hermana), not so tall. (point to ring finger)

This is baby (niño), sweet and small. (point to pinky finger)

This is the family (familia), one and all! (wiggle all fingers)

(other hand)

This is grandma (abuela), kind and dear. (point to thumb)

This is grandpa (abuelo), standing near. (point to pointer finger)

This is uncle (tío), see how tall! (point to middle finger)

This is aunt (tía), not so tall. (point to ring finger)

This is cousin (primo), sweet and small. (point to pinky finger)

This is the family (familia), one and all! (wiggle all fingers)

Song: Las Hojitas

Las hojitas, las hojitas

De los árboles se caen,

Viene el viento y las levanta

Y se ponen a bailar.

Rhyme: Fall Leaves are Falling

Fall leaves are falling

One fell on my head.

One fell on my nose.

One fell on my hand,

The other fell on my toe!

Las hojas de otoño están cayendo

Uno cayó sobre mi cabeza.

Uno cayó en mi nariz.

Uno cayó en mi mano,

La otra parte cayó en mi dedo del pie!

Song: Autumn Leaves are Falling Down

(Tune: London Bridges Falling Down)

Autumn leaves are falling down
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down Red,
Yellow, Orange and Brown.

Goodbye Song

Games and Activities

Craft: Sugar skull masks

(I got the idea and print-outs from My Very Educated Mother)

Other Book Ideas

Veo el otoño / I See Fallby Charles Ghigna (Author), Ag Jatkowska (Illustrator)

The Dead Family Diazby P.J. Bracegirdle (Author), Poly Bernatene (Illustrator)

Bear's Busy Family/ La familia ocupada de Osoby Stella Blackstone (Author), Debbie Harter (Illustrator)