Story Time
Enjoy story time at home and connect with The Huntington's collections through a storybook, brought to life by Huntington staff members. Read along with the video, discuss key concepts after the reading, and create follow-up art projects. These activities are suitable for bookworms of any age and include all the instructions you need!
Awesomely Emma by Amy Webb
Amy Webb's Awesomely Emma tells the story of Emma, a young girl with a disability who takes a field trip to her local art museum, only to find that there is no front ramp to the building. Emma ultimately teaches museum staff that "all bodies are right" and that everyone has the right to equal access to museums. Suitable for book worms of all ages.
Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
In Jessica Love’s Julián is a Mermaid, listeners meet a young child, Julián, who wants to be a mermaid after becoming inspired by the mermaid costumes he sees on the subway one day.
And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
This book, based on a true story, teaches listeners about two penguins in the Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo, and their love for one another.
Awesome Asian Americans by Oliver Chin
Oliver Chin's Awesome Asian Americans teaches us about influential members of the Asian American community, like Dr. Jane Luu and her work discovering and characterizing the Kuiper Belt, a circumstellar disc around the outer solar system.
Paper Son: The Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung
Julie Leung's Paper Son: The Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist teaches us about the life of artist Tyrus Wong, whose animations brought Disney's Bambi to the big screen.
Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre
April Pulley Sayre’s Thank You, Earth teaches us to be grateful for all the living things on our planet, our only home.
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach is about Cassie Louise Lightfoot, a young Black girl who is grappling with racism and classism and learning how to become empowered and free.
*Please be advised that this Story Time contains offensive language.
Year of the Ox: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac by Oliver Chin
In Oliver Chin's Year of the Ox: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac we meet Olivia the Ox, a young, headstrong ox who is discovering who she is, and what she is capable of.
Greta and the Giants by Zoë Tucker
In Zoë Tucker’s Greta and the Giants, inspired by real-life environmental activist Greta Thunberg, we learn about Greta’s quest to save the forest from greedy giants.
Encounter by Brittany Luby
Brittany Luby’s Encounter teaches us about multiple points of view, as the story of an imagined encounter between Sailor–a French sailor– and Fisher–a Stadaconan (Indigenous) fisher–unfolds.
Dodsworth in London by Tim Egan
Tim Egan’s Dodsworth in London reminds us about the joys of traveling through the comedic tale of a duck’s mistaken identity.
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers' How to Catch a Star teaches us about the importance of perseverance and hope, through the quest of one child's journey to catch a star.
Gracias, Thanks by Pat Mora
In Pat Mora’s Gracias, Thanks, we learn about being grateful for all kinds of things in life, from soft pajamas to nighttime crickets.
Butterflies Belong Here by Deborah Hopkinson
Deborah Hopkinson’s Butterflies Belong Here teaches us about what kids can do to help support monarch butterflies in their communities. Learn about how monarchs are dependent on their host plant, milkweed, for their survival, and how to create a monarch way station at school.
Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman
Deborah Freedman’s Carl and the Meaning of Life teaches listeners about the important role of earthworms in our ecosystem, prompted by a worm named Carl’s crisis to find meaning in life.
Skin Again by bell hooks
In bell hooks' Skin Again, we learn that the skin we’re in is just a covering; just one aspect of personal identity. Hooks teaches us that If we want to know each other for real, we need to go inside one another and open our hearts way wide.
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug teaches listeners about the importance of sharing, and how we can all learn to be better bugs, or people.
Home Base: A Mother-Daughter Story by Nikki Tate
In Nikki Tate’s Home Base: A Mother-Daughter Story, we learn about a day in the life of a mother and daughter, who are both challenging themselves in different ways.
How Do You Dance? by Thyra Heder
Thyra Heder’s How Do You Dance? teaches listeners about all the different ways that we can move our bodies and find joy in dance, whether we’re dancing together or by ourselves.
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
Andrea Beaty’s Ada Twist, Scientist teaches us about the scientific method of hypothesis and experimentation, through the insatiable curiosity of Ada Twist, Scientist.
Henry Builds A Cabin by D.B. Johnson
In D.B. Johnson’s Henry Builds A Cabin, Henry the bear builds a cabin in the woods that is just right for him. Inspired by the life of writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau, Henry the bear reminds listeners of the importance of simplifying our lives and reconnecting with nature.
Love Is by Diane Adams and Claire Keane
Love Is tells the story about a little girl and a duckling. The book teaches listeners about the nature of love, the challenges of caring for a living thing, and learning when to let go.
Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri
Robo-Sauce takes listeners on a sci-fi journey where a good dose of imagination, a bit of magic, and a big helping of silliness can transform anything into a robot.
If... by Sarah Perry
Sarah Perry’s If... teaches listeners about the power of our own imaginations and empowers us to think up incredible creations of our own.
Tiny, Perfect Things by M.H. Clark
M.H. Clark’s Tiny, Perfect Things inspires listeners to look for and appreciate the tiny, perfect things that are all around us.
The Yummy Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
The Yummy Alphabet Book teaches listeners about the many uses of plants while Head Gardener Kelly Fernandez introduces us to the herbs in the book that are growing at The Huntington.
Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson
Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson teaches listeners about the magic that is watching a plant grow from the earth.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The Lorax teaches listeners about the importance of “speaking for the trees,” as well as taking care of the living things in our environment.
Mouse Paint by Ellen Walsh
Mouse Paint by George Rodrigue has listeners following three mischievous mice as they discover the fun of color mixing and painting.
How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow by Monica Sweeney
How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow reminds listeners about the importance of friendship and how working together makes the world a more beautiful place.
Why Is Blue Dog Blue? by George Rodrigue
Why Is Blue Dog Blue? takes listeners on a colorful journey through the artistic imagination of the book's author, George Rodrigue.
The Little Hummingbird by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas
Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’s The Little Hummingbird teaches listeners about courage and persistence and that you are never too small to make a difference.
Hug Me by Simona Ciraolo
Simona Ciraola’s Hug Me inspires listeners to be grateful for our friends, to learn more about cactus, and to make our own cactus friends.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree inspires listeners to think about the importance of trees and then make colorful fruit prints.