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Original poster

Please May I have book ideas for group story reading for refugee and migrant to toddlers..

58 replies

FLOrenze · 05/08/2023 17:41

In September I am taking a volunteer post as “Story book Lady” in our children’s. Centre.

This is a mixed group of under 5s and SENs up to 9. If anyone has books that their toddlers love could you let me know. Nothing that is frightening, has monsters or soldiers. Big colourful pictures would be good. Repetitive words, animal sounds and books that. Involve the children in shouting out or making gestures we be good.

If anyone has experience of engaging with groups of toddlers through books, your advice would be invaluable.

OP posts:
FionnulaTheCooler · 05/08/2023 17:44

We're Going on a Bear Hunt was a favourite with mine at that age, lots of repetition in that.

ZMum22 · 05/08/2023 17:48

Wonky donkey!! So funny get so many giggles Everytime

Sirzy · 05/08/2023 17:50

Jill Murphy books are nice ones. Not a lot of repetition but lovely stories.

julia Donaldson ones often have repetition in - Tiddler is a good one for it.

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FloweryName · 05/08/2023 17:54

Handas Surprise is a nice one, or the hungry caterpillar so you could give them fruit to taste that will help engage them.

Agree wit the bear hunt suggestion too, you can get them doing lots of movement and actions with that story.

Google sensory story ideas and you might find something you like.

Sirzy · 05/08/2023 17:56

Little rabbit foo foo

Sirzy · 05/08/2023 17:57

Going on a bear hunt is great but does involve running away from the bear at the end. From what you have said it may not work for the target group

Alargeoneplease89 · 05/08/2023 17:58

Julia Robertson books

SH23B · 05/08/2023 17:59

The Oi! Series are quite good. Oi Cat is my favourite.

The4Seasons · 05/08/2023 18:03

Mine all loved Tinga Tinga tales and Elmer when they were young. Very colourful and lovely stories about animals.

Thesearmsofmine · 05/08/2023 18:03

Peace at Last has reception and is nice and gentle, some Julia Donaldson books like The Snail and the Whale. The very Hungary Caterpillar of course and you could also sing there’s a tiny caterpillar after with the movements and it lends itself to easy crafts.

Bubbleswithsqueak · 05/08/2023 18:05

Rod Campbell books are great for children with little language - lots of repetition and naming. Dear Zoo, obviously, but also 'Oh Dear' was a firm favourite of children with a language delay.

Hollyhead · 05/08/2023 18:10

julia Donaldson has a range - at the more simple end I’d recommend One Mole Digging a Hole for rhyme etc. I always liked the underlying messages of Sharing a Shell.

Kendras surprise as recommended above is ok but a little problematic in that it portrays quite a stereotype of black Africans so it might be better to seek out better representations to ensure your book choices are diverse enough.

Hollyhead · 05/08/2023 18:11

Oh yes Dear Zoo and Oh Dear both favourites. The other book that was a hit with my 2 year old was Silly Suzy Goose, Petr Horochek is a wonderful illustrator.

Original poster
FLOrenze · 05/08/2023 19:18

This is wonderful, great suggestions. Anything that will make them laugh and join in, calling out and making sounds. I agree bear hunt is not suitable and a bit long too. Their attention span is very short and some are still very traumatised.

OP posts:
DuneFan · 05/08/2023 19:29

My child has a visible disability and I always feel uncomfortable about Wonky Donkey. It might be a hard sell to an SEN crowd.

Goodnight Moon?
Julia Donaldson - a squeeze and a squooze, where's my mum might both be good, lots of repetition. Chocolate mousse for greedy goose was a big favourite here.
Spot, if not too big a crowd to look at the picture together?

DuneFan · 05/08/2023 19:30

Sorry wheres my mum is actually called Monkey Puzzle in the UK.

Hollyhead · 05/08/2023 20:10

@DuneFan agree on wonky donkey I have no idea how it’s so popular, I find it a very uncomfortable read.

Hollyhead · 05/08/2023 20:11

@FLOrenze op - also the ‘that’s not my’ books, possibly not so much fot a big group but they’re always a winner.

Soozikinzii · 05/08/2023 20:20

If you can. Get funding those book bags.with the objects in ( which are actually a big box ) are great. They are expensive but make it much more interesting .

BendingSpoons · 05/08/2023 20:25

'I like it when' - not so much a book for them to join in the words, but they can do the actions.

CatsOnTheChair · 05/08/2023 20:33

I'd go old skool!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The tiger that came for tea
Maybe some of the Jex Alborough books?
I like Hairy Maclary, but not sure how well they'd work with ESL.
Rainbow Fish was popular at our international school.

BeBopALuIa · 06/08/2023 06:10

10 little fingers and 10 little toes

Whyohwhyohwhy123 · 06/08/2023 06:19

I was going to say 10 little fingers and 10 little toes.

ArseMenagerie · 06/08/2023 06:26

A House for Mouse is a nice one

nomorespaghetti · 06/08/2023 06:26

I do a Storytime for babies and toddlers at a local library, and we get a lot of refugees. The kids really like short flap books - the Julia Donaldson acorn wood ones, spot the dog, dear zoo, etc. Long books really don’t work; they have to be very short. Favourites of mine to do include: a busy day for birds, hooray for fish, very hungry caterpillar (although even this is borderline too long!), car car truck jeep (there’s a page about a boat i skip. We’ve glued the pages together), Pete the cat, shark in the park, dinosaur roar. We also do a parachute where we bounce a Teddy up and down, and some ribbon play. Sometimes musical instruments. And lots of songs. Have fun!