• Story book

• Choose a story from the following suggestions:
  • When I Build with Blocks by Niki Alling, 2012. Step into the block area of a pre-K/kindergarten classroom, through the eyes and imagination of a child. Each block structure included originated from ideas in actual pre-K and kindergarten classrooms.
  • Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins, 1987. In this charming, wordless picture book, a little wooden couple are happy in their building-block house-until it catches fire. The solution? They transform the house into a fire engine! But then there's so much water that they have to build a boat.
  • Block City by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Daniel Kirk, 2005. Renowned illustrator Daniel Kirk has joined his "blocks"-in this case, bright colors, bold shapes, and retro style-with Robert Louis Stevenson's classic poem to construct a nostalgic yet exuberant celebration of fun and imagination. It is a joyous look at playtime that will encourage toddlers to build dreams all their own!
  • Be My Neighbor by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko, 2006. Around the world, children live in community with others, sharing homes, resources, and experiences with their neighbors.
• Review How to Read a Story Book, under Resources in the Introduction.

Hold up the book and say, in these words or your own:

Here's how I am going to read the story. Does anyone need to move so they can see and hear?

This will help the children move if they need to and then get settled before the story is started, so they don't interrupt the reading. It also serves as a reminder that if they stand or sit right in front of the pages, no one else can see. Invite them to find a place to settle so that everyone can see. When all are ready, read the story. When you finish reading, ask if anyone has thoughts about the story that they would like to share.

Seat a child with hearing or sight difficulties near the reader.