• Story book

• Choose a story from the following suggestions:
  • A Cup of Light by Pamela Baxter (2010). Include this book as many times as is appropriate to help young children understand the symbol of the chalice. Children of this age like repetition as reinforcement and reassurance. This is also a good book to suggest to parents as an addition to their home library.
  • Eat Lots of Colors by Helen Martiller and Valerie Bouthyette (2010). This is a light-hearted first look at the nutritional benefits of eating colorful foods. Simply written and charmingly illustrated, it motivates young children to make healthy food choices. They learn that eating whole and "real" foods actually helps them feel good about themselves, their bodies, and their capabilities.
  • The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (2013). This book won the Geisel Award at the 2014 Youth Media Awards. The star of the book, a green crocodile, tells us he loves watermelon, but then worries when he swallows a seed. His angst is very dramatic, and he swears off watermelon when the seed finally dislodges.
  • Go, Go, Grapes! A Fruit Chant by April Pulley Sayre (2012). Get ready to go bananas at the market, where the aisles are filled with eye-popping displays of delicious and nutritious fruits. Children will be chanting along in no time-and trying to snatch fruity snacks right off the pages!
• 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 that 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 each find a place 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.

Any children who have hearing or sight difficulties should be seated near the reader.