Pajama Time: Asian Food

Well, I'm at a new library system now with all new programs! Every week I'm doing a nighttime "Pajama Time" storytime for all ages. I wear my robe and slippers and the kids are invited to come in their PJs. (Our thought being it's at 6:45, which is enough time to pick up the kids, have dinner and get ready for bed, then come to the library for bedtime stories and get home in time for actual bedtime.) This was the first week and here's what I did!

Opening: Where is Thumbkin

Book: Maggie's Chopsticks by Alan Woo, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

This is a great story about a young girl learning to use her chopsticks and getting conflicting advice from her family members. Each family member thinks Maggie should hold her chopsticks the same was they do, even though each family member has a highly personal style that reflects their personalities. Finally, her father tells her to not listen to any of them and find her own way, which she does.

Song:

to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man?"

Do you know the sushi man, the sushi man, the sushi man?
Do you know the sushi man who makes good maki rolls?

He rolls up yummy things to eat in sticky rice, in sticky rice
He rolls up yummy things to eat, into sticky rice.

Nori holds is all together, all together, all together
Nori holds it all together, to make a maki roll.

Do you know the sushi man, the sushi man, the sushi man?
Do you know the sushi man who makes good maki rolls?

Book: Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee

I love love love this rhyming story about a girl helping her mom make Bee Bim Bop. It is just SO FUN to read! (Hurry Mama hurry/ gotta chop chop chop/ Hungry, very hungry/ for some BEE BIM BOP!)

Rhymes:

Hickory Dickory Dock

Shui Jiao are dumplings
Boiling in the pot
Dunk them in some vinegar
And eat them up!

Book: Happy Belly, Happy Smile by Rachel Isadora

This one was a new title to me, but it's a great story about a boy who eats out with his Grandfather every week at his grandfather's Chinese restaurant.

Jiē tóu xiàng wěi mài yóu tiáo
Mài lái mài qù mài bú diào
Huā lā lā lā lā lā biàn chéng lăo yóu tiáo

Translation: Doughnuts for sale along the streets/All day he couldn’t sell them/Hua la la la la la, they all got stale. From Chinese and English Nursery Rhymes: Share and Sing in Two Languages by Faye-Lynn Wu.

Book: Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin

I'm a huge Grace Lin fan and I adore this simple text about a family out for dim sum brunch, couples with Lin's big, vibrant and colorful pictures.

Closing Songs:

to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"

If you're sleepy and you know it, great big yawn
If you're sleepy and you know it, great big yawn
If you're sleepy and you know it and you really want to show it
If you're sleepy and you know it, great big yawn.

If you're sleepy and you know it, say good night...

If you're sleepy and you know it, start to snore...

If you're sleepy and you know it, do all three...

to the tune of "Bye and bye"

Stars shining number, number 1, number 2, number 3
Good night, say good night

Stars shining number, number 4, number 5, number 6
Good night, say good night

Stars shining number, number 7, number 8, number 9
Good night, say good night
It's time to sleep, and say good night.