Receptive language, Expressive language
Toddlers participate in a book sharing that emphasizes unusual word sounds and how we learn from books.
Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom by Anna Dewdney
Self-Regulation
[Invite 3–4 toddlers to join you in sharing a book that includes some fun words.]
Hi my friends. Please come to share a fun book with me.
[Show the book cover.]
Our book is called Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom. Those are fun words. Llama Llama. Zippity-Zoom.
Do you think our book is going to be a silly book?
The pictures and words in our book will tell us what Llama Llama likes to do.
[Point to your eyes, ears, and mouth as you describe each below.]
Remember, we use our eyes to look at pictures in the book. We use our ears to listen to the words and to what other people say. We use our mouth to say things about the book and to ask questions about the book.
Let’s open the book to the first page. We will learn more about Llama Llama.
[Read the book text and use your own words to describe pictures and repeat key parts of the story. Use strategies, such as the following, to engage toddlers in the book:
Our book has some fun words and sounds. We said some of the fun words together, like zip and zoom and zippity-zoom. We used our eyes to look at the pictures. We use our ears to listen to the words. Our eyes and ears helped us learn about Llama Llama. Maybe we can zip, zoom, and whoosh, just like Llama Llama, when we play outside!
The plan emphasizes how we use our eyes and ears to learn things from a book. Note especially the plan’s suggestions that toddlers repeat the action words and consider connections between the book content and their own experiences.
Most likely toddlers will not correctly pronounce some words or sounds. At this age, it is not necessary to emphasize correct pronunciations, although it is important that you consistently offer correct, clear, and repeated pronunciations as a model.
Some toddlers may jump up to imitate the things Llama Llama does in the book. This can be a toddler’s way of expressing that he/she can do the same things as Llama Llama. It may be helpful to offer gentle reminders of waiting to talk or act.
Extra support
Enrichment
Receptive language, Expressive language
Toddlers describe and engage in actions with toy cars that are related to words and pictures in a book.
Self-Regulation
Provide toy cars and ramps in the block area. Sit on the floor and invite several toddlers to join you in play. Review the pictures and fun words in the book Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom. Talk with toddlers about the fun words and encourage them to use the provided materials and think about the words that describe sounds in the book. Examples: “Llama Llama goes zip, zoom on his scooter. I wonder how we can make the cars sound like the ‘zippity-zoom’ in our book?” “Your car is going fast down the ramp. Is it making the ‘swoosh’ sound that we heard in our book? What other sounds can your car make that are like sounds we heard in our book?” Describe each toddler’s actions and encourage experimentation with the cars, ramps, and blocks. Examples: “Devon, you are building a high ramp. I wonder if your car will go fast down your ramp?” “Jamar said ‘vroom!’ Jamar’s car is going ‘vroom’ down the ramp.”
Toddlers will probably interact with the cars and ramps in different ways. Some toddlers may focus on the cars, whereas others will be interested in building with the ramps and blocks. Some toddlers may readily connect silly sounds or words from the book to their toy cars while driving on the ramps. Acknowledge each type of participation. You may support a child’s interest by suggesting additional ways to interact with the materials. Example: “You are driving the car back and forth. Would you like to make a road for your car, Marcus? How can we make a road with our blocks?” Look for opportunities to connect toddlers’ play to words, sounds, and concepts offered in the book.
Extra support
Enrichment
Receptive language, Expressive language
A toddler participates in a book sharing that emphasizes connecting book words and information to his/her experiences.
Sit next to a toddler to share the book Llama Llama Nighty-Night. Give the toddler a teddy bear and encourage him/her to make the teddy bear do things done by Llama Llama in the book. Examples: brush teeth, take a bath, snuggle in. Use your own words to describe pictures. Encourage the toddler to talk about pictures. Some pictures may prompt a toddler to recognize similar routines at home.
Use questions that encourage more than a yes or no response. Examples: “I brush my teeth before bed just like Llama Llama. When do you brush your teeth, Jayden?” “Llama Llama is splishing and splashing with a rubber ducky in the tub! He is having fun. What toys do you (or would you like to) splish and splash with?”
Repeat and extend the toddler’s comments. Example:
Option 3 is designed to help a toddler connect book pictures and text in the book to his/her experiences. Some toddlers will enjoy enacting the bedtime routine with the teddy bear. Others may wish to hold the soft toy and listen. Look for opportunities to engage the toddler in conversations about the book and his/her experiences. This is a valuable way to enhance language skills. Watch also for ways to encourage back-and-forth conversations with the toddler that also promote and enhance communication and language skills. Careful listening and open-ended questions are powerful tools for you to use with a toddler.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom by Anna Dewdney, toy cars and trucks, other Llama Llama books, such as Llama Llama Hoppity-Hop and Llama Llama Wakey-Wake.
Place Llama Llama books on a low table or surface. Arrange toy cars and trucks near the books. Encourage toddlers to make the cars and trucks do some of the things Llama Llama does in a book. As toddlers play, use the action words from a book. Example: “Brook, your car is driving fast just like Llama Llama on his scooter. Zip! Zoom!”
Materials Needed: Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom by Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama Hoppity Hop by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom may be shared with a mixed-age group. An additional option with toddlers and older children is to stand in an open area to share the book Llama Llama Hoppity Hop by Anna Dewdney. Encourage toddlers and preschool-age children to repeat the action words and then try the action after you read it on a book page. Examples: hop, jump, clap, stretch, bow, hug. Infants will enjoy sitting comfortably and securely nearby to watch other children try different actions.
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