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Each year, the Kansas State Library selects a book to feature as a way to promote the importance of reading with young children. The event, called Kansas Reads to Preschoolers, is celebrated throughout November. This year, the featured book is “My Heart Fills With Happiness” written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett. With simple rhyming text, colorful illustrations, and a powerful message, this book provides an excellent opportunity to discuss activities that bring happiness through family and cultural connections. Try some of the following activities as extensions to the book.
Scavenger Hunt: Make a scavenger hunt over different things that make your children happy (favorite color, what you’re thankful for, smells good, feels soft, fun to play, etc.) Click Here for an example.
Thankful Turkey Craft: Make a turkey craft with the feathers representing something we are thankful for. Click Here for instructions.
Share Cultural Traditions: Share family traditions with your children and encourage them to talk about those traditions. With the holidays coming up, now is a great time to share!
Sing a Song:
My Happy Song
This is my happy song.
I like to sing it all day long.
I’ll teach you the words.
Then you can sing along.
Happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Great! Let’s try it again!
This is my happy song.
I like to sing it all day long.
I’ll teach you the words.
Then you can sing along.
Let’s try a high voice.
Happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Nice job!
This is my happy song.
I like to sing it all day long.
I’ll teach you the words.
Then you can sing along.
Let’s try a LOW voice!
Happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Great!
Let’s sing it again!
This is my happy song.
I like to sing it all day long.
I’ll teach you the words.
Then you can sing along.
Let’s sing it underwater.
Happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Here we go again!
This is my happy song.
I like to sing it all day long.
I’ll teach you the words.
Then you can sing along.
Let’s sing it fast!
Happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Faster?!
Happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
This is my happy song!
Here is another fun song that celebrates diversity to share with your children!
Contact your local library to learn if they have copies of the featured book or will be celebrating this event.
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