Story time is such a positive experience you can share with your little one and is one of the most important aspects of early literacy. When you read aloud to your child, there are so many things happening.Your child’s listening/language skills are blossoming, his vocabulary is growing, and his imagination is soaring (just to name a few).

It is so very important to introduce our children to an array of rich, age appropriate books, in order to foster a love of reading deep within them. A love that will continue to grow and thrive as they develop into lifelong readers/writers. Who knows, you may just have a future New York Time’s bestselling author on your hands (and yes, fully aware I’m dreaming big here). 🤗🙌🏼📚 ✏️

If we can get out of the house by 10am on a Friday, the boys and I love going to our town library for story time. Books, songs, finger plays, felt board activities and a simple craft. Right up my ally. But unfortunately for us, life usually gets in the way and someone’s shoe is missing…and we never make it. So instead, we end up having our own story time/craft at home.

Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd is a story time staple at our house. A fun and playful children’s book about a little dog and his very messy adventure with colors and counting.  We’ve read this book more times than I’d like to admit, but it never gets old. My three year old LOVES listening to the story and hearing all about Dog’s day and the silly messes he gets himself into.

My #teachermom self usually comes out whenever I’m reading to my kids and before long everyone is asking questions, making personal connections, and building upon prior knowledge. This book in particular is perfect for this because my older son can count along, and name familiar colors while I read. In my teaching days, I’d call this an “interactive read aloud”, but in my current, SAHM days, it’s just “reading with mom”.

I’ve always been a fan of connecting children’s literature to different enrichment/extension activities and projects, and this book is no exception. I also can’t resist a good literacy/art connection, so here’s what I came up with.📚🎨

 To prep the activity I cut 10 spots out of construction paper (one for each color mentioned in the book, including Dog’s original black spot) , and then I drew my very own copy of Dog on white paper. Super easy.

My son enjoyed interacting with the story and putting the colorful spots onto Dog’s body after each messy encounter. A green stain here, a purple smudge there. Oh, Dog. You sure are a mess, but we love your colors!

We used a glue stick on the spots this time around, but Velcro stickers would be so awesome. That way you and your little one can do the activity over and over (and over) again. 😬Have fun and happy reading! 📖

Time for a bath, Dog! 🐶