The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I was invited in Sofi's school to tell a story.  No certain theme to follow, just come to school with two stories.  Apparently the activity was something to introduce them to community helppers.  Of course I didn't want to use Alamat ng Pating again.  I feel I won't learn anything if I use the same material.

The thought bubble that popped out of my head is that it has to be in English.  Alamat ng Pating is best told in the vernacular, so hands down, it's not to be used.  Besides it might scare them away.  Brought home a few books to study: The Chocolate Covered Cookie Tantrum by Deborah Blumenthal, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  It's funny because the tantrum book has a main character named Sofia who would not stop cry and screaming unless she gets her cookie.  It felt close to home, it was as if I made the story.  I just didn't like the ending as her mom gave her a cookie at the end of the story.  The True Story is funny but I'm not sure if kids Sofi's age will find it funny.  Imagine the wolf explaining his side, isn't that hilarious?

So I chose The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  It's basic but I figured if I use a caterpillar balloon then it would be something else.  I was ecstatic with the idea.  When it's time to make the caterpillar big, we'll just have to put some air to make it appear getting fatter.  I remember buying a few caterpillar balloons last July in National Bookstore.  I felt devastated though when a few days before the stint, I couldn't find the same balloon.  I settled for wiggly balloons.  The night before the activity, Jaims was able to find a similar balloon.  I was saved.

We made a slideshow of pictures but we were not able to use all.  But the story was such a blast, with or without the presentation.

caterpillar

IMAGE RETRIEVED FROM:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/h0/h2340.jpg

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqBDfT3J0uY-O6ZNSkMCh2DH_we-unbb2Y-V-B84zDSh9Q61Pl

Ten Tiny Babies

5 jiggly babies wriggle their toes.
Along comes another...
...who wiggles her nose

Ten Tiny Babies is a colorful, fully illustrated picture book created by Karen Katz. Each spread shows a baby doing a funny action, captured by Katz in a silly rhyme. As the story builds, the number of babies in each spread also grow from 1 to 10.

The catchy rhyme as I read aloud the words in each spread makes my little girl enjoy the book so much. In fact, she already knew what to say before I can even end the words written in each page.

along comes another...

Each baby in the book has a unique face and expression which allows her to think beyond what is said. Why is she dirty? why is the baby spinning? why is she doing like this?

I found it perfect for bedtime, too, as the story ends with all 10 babies sleeping. Their parents peeked in the window as they say goodnight to the 10 cute babies.

Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz
Ideal for Ages 2 - 4.
Available at (I checked the book I'm holding right now but it doesn't say where my library purchased it. I checked NBS, Fullybooked and Powerbooks online but they don't have the title in their databases too. NBS and FB have other Karen Katz titles.)

References:
Katz, K. (2008). Ten tiny babies . New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Ten tiny babies book cover. Retrieved 22 January 2011, from http://fun.familyeducation.com/images/TenTinyBabies_H.jpg