• Pre-school

Where's My T-r-u-c-k? by:Karen Beaumont

Tommy looks everywhere in the house for his lost toy truck.

Kwanzaa principle: Imani/Faith

My First Kwanzaa Book by:Deborah M. Newton Chocolate

Introduces Kwanzaa, the holiday in which Afro-Americans celebrate their cultural heritage.

Kwanzaa principle: Kuumba/Creativity

Feast for Ten by:Cathryn Falwell

Numbers from one to ten are used to tell how members of a family shop and work together to prepare a meal.

Kwanzaa principle: Ujamaa/Cooperative Economics

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands

Clap, clap, clap your hands
As slowly as you can
Clap, clap, clap your hands
As quickly as you can
-Roll
-Shake
-Wiggle
-Rub
-Clap

Kwanzaa principle: Umoja/Unity

Let's All Do a Little Clapping

Tune: We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Let's all do a little clapping
Let's all do a little clapping
Let's all do a little clapping
And spread holiday cheer!
-Jumping
-Stretching
-Twirling
-Bending

Kwanzaa principle: Ujima/Collective Work and Responsibility

10 Good Friends

1 good, 2 good, 3 good friends
4 good, 5 good, 6 good friends
7 good, 8 good, 9 good friends
10 good friends are we!

Kwanzaa principle: Nia/Purpose

The Red Candle Shines

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
Done with a flannelboard kinara

The red candles shine.
The red candles shine,
When it’s time for Kwanzaa
The red candles shine.

The green candles shine.
The green candles shine,
When it’s time for Kwanzaa
The green candles shine.

The black candle shines.
The black candle shines,
When it’s time for Kwanzaa
The black candle shines.
by Gayle Bittinger

Kwanzaa principle: Kujichagulia/Self-Determination

5 Kashatas

"Something between candy and cookie, Eastern Africa's Kashata are a popular snack of Swahili origin."
-recipes.wikia.com

5 kashatas
Sizzling in a pan
1 went POP (clap)
And then it went BAM (slap knees)
4, 3, 2, 1

The goal of this storytime is to introduce the seven principles of Kwanzaa; unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. I have the audience say the Swahili word for the principle each book/song illustrates and briefly explain what the principle means before I begin the book/song.