Making Storytime Fun: A Furniture-Themed Adventure for Toddlers

As parents, we’re always looking for fresh and engaging ways to encourage our little ones to love books, language, and interactive play. After years of doing storytimes for toddlers and families, I recently had a fun realization—I’ve never done a furniture-themed storytime! With so many wonderful picture books featuring chairs, couches, and tables, I thought, why not give it a try?

It all started when I came across The Little Red Chair by Cathy Stefanec Ogren. It reminded me of other fantastic books featuring furniture, like I Am Not a Chair! by Ross Burach, A Couch for Llama by Leah Gilbert, and Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill. These books explore humor, problem-solving, and family traditions, making them perfect for young children.

To make storytime even more interactive, I created a fun activity using laminated pictures of different pieces of furniture—chairs, couches, and tables. Each child will get a picture, and we’ll play a chant:

"Who has a chair? Who has a chair?
If you have a chair, come put it right there!" 

I’ll draw a simple house on our magnetic board, and the kids will take turns placing their furniture inside. This hands-on approach builds vocabulary, strengthens fine motor skills, and helps kids make connections between books and real-life objects.

Of course, no storytime is complete without a song! I’ll pair this activity with a fun, familiar tune (The Farmer in the Dell) to reinforce the theme and encourage movement.  Hmm maybe something like:

The couch is big and soft,
The couch is big and soft,
Jump right in and snuggle up,
The couch is big and soft!

This just goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere! A simple theme, like furniture, can turn into a creative and enriching literacy experience. Try it at home—your child will love the chance to play, learn, and sing with you!