Fourth of July Storytime

Nothing says summertime like the 4th of July. As I type this blog post, people are already testing out their firecracker stash in the evening twilight. I'm seeing more and more patrons at the library outfitted in red, white, and blue.

Fourth of July Storytime Lineup:

Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

Who says you can't have Chinese food on the 4th of July? One girl learns that America's favorite holiday is celebrated by others in more ways than one.

Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller

Had to use this one, especially since the star of the story is our very own home-state, Kansas.

Yankee Doodle by Mary Ann Hoberman and Nadine Bernard Westcott

A song from Pre-Revolutionary times gets a Fourth of July spin.

You're a Grand Old Flag by George M. Cohan, illustrations by Warren Kimble

A favorite American song about the good ol' red, white, and blue.

Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer

This book is not about the Fourth of July per se, but it has a couple Fourth of July staples like fireworks, family-time, and a band (even if it was only a one-man band).

Fourth of July Firecracker Craft:

Our firecracker streamer craft is  adapted from Babycenter's Paper Tube Rockets. They weren't the easiest craft for the kids, but with a little grown-up help they were definitely a lot of fun after they were finished. A great to end Sunday's storytime and a festive start to the week's patriotic festivities.

Materials Needed: toilet paper tubes, patriotic paper, colored paper, ribbon, tape, glue stick, scissors, and chopsticks.

Cut to size and wrap a toilet paper tube with patriotic paper. Seal with a glue stick or tape.

Cut a circle from a piece of colored paper. I traced a glass which was a good size to work from.

Cut a slit along the radius of the circle, outer edge to the center.

Fold into a cone, tape or glue, and trim edges if needed.

Tape or glue your cone top to the top of your toilet paper tube.

Cut ribbon into strips and tape to the inside of the bottom of the tube. Have any left over chopsticks from takeout? Tape one chopstick to the inside of the tube as well to create a handle.

L thoroughly enjoyed testing out the examples pre-storytime.

Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!