Hi, everyone! My name is Miss Haley, and I’m so happy you’re joining me for story time today. This story time will be a bilingual story time, and bilingual means more than one language. So that means today I’ll be reading and singing songs in both English and Spanish.

Today, we’ll be reading books that have to do with Halloween and a similar Mexican holiday called Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, that is all about celebrating the lives of loved ones who are no longer with us. Our first book today is filled with musical skeletons who will help us learn how to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, and our second book is about Batty Betty, a witch who can’t seem to get her magic spells right.

Now before we get started, let’s get ready for story time by singing our welcome song, called “Buenos dias (Good Morning).” This song has some hand movements that go along with it, and I would love if you would do them along with me. Are you ready? Let’s sing it in English first and then in Spanish.

 

Song: “Buenos dias (Good Morning)” 

English Lyrics:

(To the tune of Frère Jacques or Are You Sleeping)

Good morning

Good morning

How are you?

How are you?

Very well, thank you

Very well thank you

And you?

And you?

Spanish Lyrics:

Buenos dias

Buenos dias

¿Como estas?

¿Como estas?

 

Muy bien, gracias

Muy bien, gracias

¿Y usted?

¿Y usted?

 

Credit: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

Book: Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration

Written and illustrated by Richard Keep and read with the permission of Peachtree Publishers.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Flannel Board: Five Little Ghosts (Cinco pequeños fantasmas)

Spanish vocabulary used in this activity:

Colors (colores)

  • White = blanco
  • Red = rojo
  • Blue = azul
  • Green = verde
  • Orange = naranja
  • Brown = marrón

Food (comida)

  • Strawberry = fresa
  • Blueberry = arándano
  • Broccoli = brócoli
  • Orange juice = zumo de naranja
  • Chocolate chip ice cream = helado de chocolate
  • Milk = leche

 

Book: Batty Betty’s Spells (Los hechizos de Chela la Lela)

Written by Hilary Robinson, illustrated by Belinda Worsley, and read with the permission of the author and School Specialty Publishing.

 

Take & Make Craft: Climbing Spider Craft (Artesanía araña trepadora)

Pick up a craft kit at the library, available in the Youth Services Department or from the drive-up window while supplies last.

Supplies needed at home:

  • Glue stick
  • Silver or black marker

Included in library kit:

  • One oval spider body (black construction paper)
  • Eight spider legs (black construction paper)
  • Two googly eyes
  • Cardboard tube with pre-punched holes
  • White yarn
  • Two beads

Instructions:

  1. Glue the spider legs to one side of the oval body.
  2. Turn the body over and glue on the googly eyes.
  3. Draw a mouth using a silver or black marker (silver will show up better).
  4. Take the cardboard tube and thread the yarn through both holes on one side of the tube and then back through both holes on the other side.
  5. Thread one end of the yarn through a bead and tie it around the bead with a double knot. You can wet the end of the yarn to help thread it through the bead. Repeat this step with the other end of yarn and the second bead.
  6. Glue your spider onto the cardboard tube.
  7. Hang the spider from the top of the string.
  8. Take one bead in each hand and pull out to the sides (not down) to make the spider climb.

Credit: Twitchetts

 

Bilingual Literacy Tip:

Encourage play that involves naming, describing, and communicating.

  • Set up a zoo with all the stuffed animals. Stage a race with the toy cars. Put your toddler in charge and ask lots of questions.

Proponga juegos que incluyan nombrar cosas, describir y comunicar.

  • Arme un zoológico con todos los animales de peluche. Proponga una carrera con los autos de juguete. Deje que su hijo dirija el juego y haga muchas preguntas.

Credit: Colorín Colorado

More Spanish-English Halloween / Day of the Dead Books:

The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos: A Bilingual Celebration, written and illustrated by Bob Barner and translated by Teresa Mlawer.

Hallo-what? / Marcelina y la noche de Halloween, written and illustrated by Christel Desmoinaux and translated by Elena del Amo.

I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story / Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un Cuento del Día de los Muertos, written by Janice Levy, illustrate4d by Loretta Lopez, and translated by Miguel Arisa.

Calavera abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter.

La viejecita que no le tenia miedo a nada / The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, written by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd.

Announcements:

Our next Spanish and English bilingual story time will take place on Thursday, November 5th. After that, bilingual story times will be held on the first Thursday of each month going forward.

We’re just about done with story time, so thank you all for joining me today. Let’s sing one more song together to say goodbye for now. This one is a call and response song, so when I point to you, repeat after me, okay? Here we go.

 

Song: Goodbye Song in English and Spanish

English Lyrics:

Goodbye

So long

To you

My friend

Stay well

And fine

Till we meet

Again

Spanish Lyrics:

Adios

Adios

A ti

Mi amigo

Cuídate

Muy bien

Nos vemos

Otra vez

Credit: Burlington Specials

– Haley, Youth Services Specialist