Read, Discuss, Do Holiday Gift Guide

  It’s that time of year again. The time of year when we’re all thinking about what books to give the people in our life! If you’re at a loss or just need some fresh ideas, we’re here to help with a list of some books that we think would make great gifts. From babies to middle graders, from fans of board books to graphic novels, there's something for all the young readers in your life on this list! Read the full list here . Don't miss a thing. Sign up for our biweekly newsletter by filling out the form below! 

12 Story Time Activities that You Can Do Anywhere

by Rebecca J. Gomez

Sometimes, combining story time with an activity isn't convenient. You may be in the car, in a waiting room, or you might just want to stay curled up on the couch! But that's no reason to cut story time short. After reading the book and discussing the story in general, try going further with one or more of these activity ideas. No extra material required!


1. Make up alternate endings.

2. Ask your child to relay the story to you in their own words.

3. Act out the story in part or in whole.

4. Use context clues to define new and unfamiliar vocabulary.

5. Investigate the illustrations for additional layers to the story.

6. Look through the text for examples of literary devices, such as alliteration, rhyme, and simile.

7. Tell personal stories that relate to the text of the book.

8. Examine your immediate surroundings and compare/contrast them with the book's setting.

9. Have little ones explore the text to find familiar letters or words.

10. Go back through the illustrations and count repeating elements.

11. Play a game of charades based on the book's characters and events.

12. Choose a letter of the alphabet. Have your child go through the book's illustrations to find things that begin with that letter.

Do you have any ideas you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

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A version of this post previously appeared on www.rebeccajgomez.com

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