Welcome to the Storytime at Home series! Every other week, we share a list of book options tied to a kid-approved theme, a craft you can set up to go along with the theme, songs/rhymes you can do during storytime, and additional enrichment activities. All books are available at Richmond Public Library, and crafts will involve items you likely have at home already! Our hope is that we can make it easy for you to share stories with your little ones and create a little bit of library magic at home.
P.S. Love library storytimes? Take a look at all in-library storytime options here. There is a storytime for your child every morning at our various branches!
Okay, now to the fun stuff…
Today’s storytime theme is MERMAIDS!
Mermaids are a fun topic for all ages and genders. From adventurous antics to silly sea shenanigans, mermaid stories are filled with tales (and tails) of exploration, bravery, and imagination. With bright and vivid illustrations and rhythmic writing, these books are sure to please your whole family! The library has some wonderful books about mermaids, and we’ve included some of our favorites below. When you visit, you can also search in our catalog or ask a librarian to help you find the perfect book for you and your child.
Books
Reading to your kiddos turns them into confident thinkers. Making books a regular part of your daily routine is a great way to build children’s love of reading and learning. Storytimes also help build excitement around reading to support their literacy development.
Here are a few book options you can choose from for your mermaid-themed storytime.
Preschool
- The Mermaid by Jan Brett
- The Mermaid Princesses by Maya Cameron-Gordon
- Oona by Kelly Dipucchio
- Merdaddy by Wednesday Kirwan
- Mermaid Lullaby by Kenneth Kraegel
- Mermaid Day by Diana Murray
Toddler/Baby
- Mermaid Dreams by Kate Pugsley
- That’s Not My Mermaid by Fiona Watt
- Merbaby’s Lullaby by Jane Yolen
There are many ways to make reading fun and engaging for your little one!
Click here to see some of our favorite tips for bringing stories to life at home.
- Point at the pictures and ask your child what they see. Help build their vocabulary by pointing to pictures and saying the word aloud.
- Ask your child questions about the story: What do you think will happen next? How do you think this character is feeling?
- Read with expression and enthusiasm, and use different voices for different characters.
- Act out what’s happening in the story.
- As your child gets older, count objects in a book, discuss the different colors they see, point out shapes in the story, etc.
- Snuggle up and be patient. Reading is great bonding time for you and your child. Take your time walking them through the story. If your child wants to turn the page or be finished with reading, that’s OK too. You don’t have to read every word or even every page for reading with your little one to be beneficial for their development.
Songs and Rhymes
We love adding songs and rhymes to our storytimes. This is a great way to practice language with your child and support their physical (motor) development through movement.
Here are two songs and rhymes you can use for this themed storytime.
The Waves In The Sea
Tune: Wheels on the Bus
We love this spin on a classic song! Take a look at Miss Eliza’s version that includes mermaids!
Counting Rhyme: Five Little Mermaids
Hold five fingers up and count down as you recite the rhyme; add movements for the mermaids’ actions if desired
Five little mermaids were swimming near the shore;
One took a dive and then there were four.
Four little mermaids were swimming out to sea;
One went for food, and then there were three.
Three little mermaids, “Now what shall we do?”
One swam away, and then there were two.
Two little mermaids were having great fun;
Then one took a plunge, then there was one.
One little mermaid, “I like the warm sun.”
Away she went and then there were none.
Arts and Crafts
Adding a craft along with a book is a great way to continue allowing your child to learn, explore, and grow. Crafts are a nice supplement as they encourage motor development, creativity, self-confidence, and more.
In fact, art and craft activities:
- Build fine motor skills. Actions such as painting, coloring, gluing, and cutting develop small muscles in small hands and improve coordination skills as children learn to use both hands at the same time.
- Support early literacy. When children make art, they learn vocabulary and how to follow directions when getting verbal instructions from parents and caregivers. They also boost their communication skills via talking about their work!
- Teach early math concepts. Math skills are used frequently in arts and crafts. Kids learn about and recognize different shapes, count and sort art supplies, and even measure out materials.
- Encourage creativity. Art helps develop creativity, self-expression, problem-solving, and curiosity.
- Boost self-esteem. Doing arts and crafts can give children a sense of achievement and allow them to take pride in their work, which builds confidence.
- Offer bonding time. Kids love spending quality time with parents and caregivers, and arts and crafts are a great opportunity for this.
Here is a craft activity you can do along with the mermaid theme.
Cardboard Mermaid Craft
Materials Needed
- Cardboard
- Mermaid template
- Embellishment materials (markers, paint, stickers, pom poms, sequins, glitter, ribbon, buttons, etc.)
- Glue
- Scissors
Inspiration image from Baker Ross
Directions
- Cut the template out and trace it onto the cardboard.
- Cut out your cardboard mermaid.
- Have your child decorate their mermaid as desired!
Additional Enrichment Ideas
The fun doesn’t have to end at books, songs, and a craft. There are many ways to enrich a storytime with additional activities and lessons. Here are a few ideas for you and your child:
- Create a mermaid lagoon sensory bin. Fill a bin with water, beads, shells, etc. to create a sensory wonderland for your little one. Add small mermaid figurines to extend the play!
- Practice early math skills like counting and measurement by making mermaid slime.
- Use scarves, extra fabric, necklaces and other sparkly jewelry, etc. to create mermaid costumes as home. Have a mermaid dance party, tea party, picnic, storytime – whatever you and your little mermaids want to do!
- Enjoy mermaid-themed treats together. Get inspiration from this list.
We share these Storytime at Home posts twice a month, so be sure to check back soon for more. You can also search “#storytimeathome” to see all past posts.
Have a suggestion for the next theme we cover? Email Sarah at sarah.fenninger@rva.gov and let us know!
