Read Me a Tree, Rhyme Me a Bee

Experts agree that it's essential for children to spend time exploring and enjoying the outdoors; when they come back in, librarians and teachers can supplement their adventures with nature storytimes. In this comprehensive book full of storytime plans, veteran children's librarian Heather McNeil recommends storytime books that encourage respect for nature and an understanding of the fragility of ecosystems. Each chapter includes crafts, games, songs, and rhymes that focus on learning about and appreciating nature. Some crafts use items from the outdoors; others represent nature's beauty or mystery.
Storytime plans include all the components of a successful storytime: books, songs, movement, and creative participation. Librarians and early elementary teachers will enjoy using this book to support literacy and social emotional goals while helping children develop an appreciation of the natural world.

Heather McNeil was Manager of Youth Services at Deschutes Public Libraries, Bend, Oregon, USA. An actress, author, and third-generation storyteller, McNeil has represented the United States at International Storytelling Festivals in New Zealand and Scotland. She is the author of Bringing Heart and Mind into Storytime: Using Books and Activities to Teach Empathy, Tenacity, Kindness, and Other Big Ideas (Libraries Unlimited, 2022) and Read, Rhyme, and Romp: Early Literacy Skills and Activities for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents (Libraries Unlimited, 2012).