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

[FLOrenze]

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.

Cried the first time I read it

Oh No, George!

Mine absolutely loved the Janet and Allan Ahlberg books - particularly, Peepo, Each Peach Pear Plum, The Jolly Postman and especially The Jolly Christmas Postman. Also a very loved book was Goodnight Moon.

Kitchen Disco is good fun for this age group.

‘You’re called what’ is a funny one about real random animals, great pictures. Dear Zoo and any stories that you can add props to work wonderfully, especially finger puppets too. How lovely to be doing this!

Also came on to say Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes!

Pippi Longstocking
Six dinners Sid
PeeBo
Hairy McClery from Donaldson’s dairy

When I read stories at a play group Shark in the Park was the most popular. Very clear illustrations and the children get really excited about the ending, you can go fairly over the top with the telling!

I don't have experience working with migrant children but I do with migrant women, and one thing I'd say is be conscious of both their language ability and of culturally-specific references. E.g. my toddler roared with laughter at "a stuck man??" in Stick Man, but a child with limited English might not get it. Equally "Each Peach Pear Plum" is a beautiful book but completely relies on the reader having a knowledge of traditional English fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

Handas surprise. Lovely story and lots of accessible content.

A basket of tangerines would be nice to give out at the end if you have the funding.

www.booktrust.org.uk/book/h/handas-surprise/

Very Hungry Caterpillar - short, some repetition, lovely bright colours, and nothing obviously scary/triggering.

Also agree Peace at Last would be a good one.

No funding sadly. Thank you for your recommendations. Those with experience with this age with limited language. Can you suggest activities to go with the story telling. It would be great if the ideas can include the accompanying adult too.

Pip and posy are excellent in terms of illustrations, simple story. I find them a stepping stone between lift the flap books and picture books.

Shark in the park
Funny Bones
Hairy Mclairy
Fergus the farm yard dog

The Alfie books by Shirley Hughes - my kids loved them as toddlers. Very much about everyday life with kids.

I think lots of these books will be too long for toddlers. Stick Man and that sort of thing are too long.

How many kids are you expecting? Thimgs like Where's Spot and Dear Zoo are ideal if the kids can get close enough.

Our library has dual language books in some languages, mainly Arabic, but they now have some in Ukrainian too. If you don't have that can you maybe get a translation of some of the words for the parents? Then they can follow what's going on. Although easy picture books should be fine without.

Flash cards with pictures of the things (pr the actual things) in the Dear Zoo book that you can hide around the room, assuming you've not got 50 kids and it turns crazy.

Your local library may have story sacks you can borrow. These have a book, characters from the book (usually soft toys) you can use to help tell the story and a game related to the story. I read Mrs Honey's hat recently and the kids can help take off and add objects to her hat.

We loved Mr Big and Giraffes Can’t Dance. Both have messages about being on the outside but then being loved for being yourself. But may be better for 4 year olds.

That’s not my …. For smaller groups.
Funny Bones

Very short, simple songs will really help - they are great for language development, as well as breaking up the stories (i.e. shortening the amount of time the children will have to concentrate), and for structuring the session.
I would have a hello/greeting type song at the beginning, a short and simple counting song, maybe a song to do with the book (e.g. Old Macdoonald for Oh Dear), and a goodbye song at the end. No more than one verse, and sing it at least twice, probably 3 times.
Any props or puppets that you can incorporate will also work.

This is quite a challenge, isn't it?
Are the children all of the same nationality or are they a mix?
What is the aim of the group? For them to learn English, for them to listen to stories or for the parents & children to have a chance to socialise?
I think I'd be cautious about some of the stories suggested. Monkey Puzzle was one of our favourites but presumably some of these children will be missing a parent, either temporarily or permanently so won't be able to find them and have a big cuddle: Peepo has quite a few war related illustrations (father in uniform; barrage balloon); Tiger who came to Tea is someone coming into your house uninvited whilst your dad isn't there and eating all of your food.

Simple short songs with repetition. Ideally with finger movements. I work with 3-5 and a lot of younger ones have no English. They seem to manage fine though. We usually do itsy spider, 5 monkeys jumping on the bed, baa baa black sheep, sleepy bunnies, wheels on the bus, row row your boat with a crocodile scream at the end. I find old McDonald a bit wordy for the little ones. Look up YouTube if you need help with words or actions. As they get a bit settled we do bear hunt, ring a Rosie, hokey pokey but at first they can run off when they do the stand up ones so we keep it sitting at the start.

Agree with all of this. Also Stick Man, as well as being too long and complex, is about a dad going missing.

Some of the Sandra Boyntons may be OK. Opposites is short and very descriptive. Maybe Hey! Wake Up!

My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss is nice - bright bold colours and non-confrontationally about feelings.

Also a hello song at the start where you introduce everyone in turn and they wave hello to the group. Again try YouTube. I know 3 versions used in different rooms at work but no idea where they came from.

This is a new venture taking place in one of our children centres. The aim is for families to socialise and have fun. From past experience, I am expecting most of them won’t join in, but will be happy to watch. So all the suggestions with action and lift the flap book will be good.

I know a lot of reading groups ask children to pick a book and speak about what they see. However, a lot of these children won’t have seen books before and do not have toys. We have Asian, Arabic, Africans and Europeans and the pictures won’t have as many recognisable references as they would for British Children.

i think I will buy some animal puppets and soft toys to help and maybe some musical instruments as long as they are not too loud.

You could have a look at 'Mix It Up' by Herve Tullet, it's not so much a storybook but it's interactive as the children have to use their fingers to mix up the 'paint' on the pages.