First Friday: A Story. A Song. An Activity.
January 2025: Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It)
Children, parents, and providers, join us for our first First Fridays story of 2025! Gather your little ones and read, Don’t Hug Doug by Carrie Finison, with us. This story helps both adults and children think about the boundaries we want to hold when it comes to physical greetings and interactions with the people we love and people new to us. Read with us then head over to our activity that discusses boundaries in a fun, very visual manner.
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November 2024: The Day You Begin
Join us in reading, The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. This month’s story is about reflecting on our personal story and what is important to each child. We often measure ourselves, our belongings, our experiences to others. Around the holidays and school breaks, that can be wonderful or sad for children. We hope this First Fridays edition helps each child find their voice on what is important, special, and wonderful to them.
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October 2024: Not a Box
Children, parents, and providers, join us for the October 2024 Global Cardboard Challenge! Join us in reading, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis. This story takes us on a journey of imagination and inspiration. Read, then watch as your children transform household items into the most fun creations!
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July 2024: “Paletero Man”
Beat the heat with a cool treat! Join us on a journey through a hot Los Angeles day looking for Paletero Jose! Our July story is written by Lucky Diaz and focuses on the diversity in our communities and what we do to cool ourselves on a hot summer day!
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June 2024: “Just Ask!”
This month we join a young Sonia, and her friends on sharing their super powers and special abilities in “Just Ask!” a story written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Open a discussion on different abilities among children and being accepting of who others are with our June 2024 story, song and activity!
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May 2024: “Llama Llama Red Pajama”
Enjoy May with our reading of “Llama Llama Red Pajama” and the activity and song inspired by this emotional story! Take this month as an opportunity to focus on emotions and how to help manage a child’s stress and fear.
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April 2024: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”
Happy April everyone. This month we follow the story of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, hatching as the hungriest little caterpillar and eats his way through a journey of becoming a big, beautiful butterfly!
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March 2024: “Read Across Crystal Stairs”
Beginning on March 2nd, it is Read Across America week and here at Crystal Stairs, we want to take the week of reading celebration further with “Read Across Crystal Stairs” when we’ll celebrate books and reading ALL MONTH LONG!
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February 2024: “Change Sings”
It’s Black History Month and we’d like to invite you to join us on a read-along, sing-along, and learning journey inspired by the book “Change Sings” by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman.
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January 2024: “The Rainbow Fish”
It’s an exciting First Friday of January at Crystal Stairs, Inc.! Today, we are thrilled to release our Read Along video of “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, along with a special musical treat and a creative activity that’s sure to delight your children.
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