The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great storytime books for preschoolers and kinders. This month’s post is by Charmaine Atrooshi, Children’s and Teen Services Librarian at the Hazeldean Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

The Hazeldean Children’s team loves storytime and all things picture books! In this blog we will share some of our favorite stories, and online resources for preschoolers and kinders!

When I begin my storytime programs here at the branch, I love to begin with the Hello Friends song, with matching sign language actions. It’s great as it has a lot of repetition and teaches children some basic signs! Want to learn some other hello and good bye songs? The team at JBRARY has compiled many, many videos of storytime songs for all to learn and enjoy! Looking to learn some new French songs? Try 1, 2, 3 on chante!

Pete the Cat and His four Groovy Buttons by James Dean and Eric Litwin is a storytime classic! Not only does it have children counting, but it also has humor and a super catchy jingle that everyone can sing along to! (”my buttons, my buttons, my four groovy buttons...”). Not sure of the tune? Check out the HarperKids video for a sing along!

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? By Jan Thomas

Big bright pictures, ’fun loving cows,’ and a tiny chicken’s sofa- what’s not to love about this book? The cows love to jump, wiggle, and dance on chicken’s sofa.... but chicken is not too happy about this.... A fun story that will have kids jumping up and down, and dancing, following cow’s actions.

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

This Caldecott medal winning picture book features a lovely little kitten who just wants to have that little bowl of milk in the sky. She chases it, runs up trees, and tries her very best to get it...but ends up all wet and hungry. However when she gets home there is a surprise waiting for her!

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Little dog George cannot bark! George’s mother says Bark! But George meows, quacks and oinks instead! What is wrong with George? His mother takes him to a vet, where the uncover the problem... A fun story that will have toddlers practicing their animal sounds and laughing out loud as George tries so hard to just ...bark!

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

Everyone knows the wheels on the bus—but what about the seals on the bus! A great book to sing along to -- tigers on the bus roar, geese go honk, monkeys go eeeeeh, eeeeh and there are even skunks---- and they go sssss, sssss, sssss! This book is even more fun with puppets!

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Eric Carle is a world renowned children’s author who writes beautiful colorful picture books for children that are easy to follow, and fun to read. Head to Toe features animals trying to show small children how they move, and encourages them to try as well-- for example, cat arches their back-- can the child do it too?!trying to show small children how they move, and encourages them to try as well-- for example, cat arches their back-- can the child do it too?

Mortimer by Robert Munsch

Last (but not least) is Mortimer by Robert Munsch! We love Mortimer - and all his noise! -- ”Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang Gonna make my noise all day. Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang Gonna make my noise all day.” Children love to sing along with Mortimer as he makes his noise—and adding instruments to the mix makes for even more fun!

All these great books are available to borrow from the Ottawa Public Library! Really love one of the titles and want to find something similar? Check out NoveList K-8 for read-alikes, recommendations, and we also have a vast array of children’s e-books and audiobooks to borrow available through Overdrive.

And don’t forget Tumblebooks—with read alongs for all ages including picture books as well as chapter books, and even songs!

Don’t have a library card yet? No problem, you can register online!

Stay safe everyone, and we hope to see you all one day soon.