Little Ike Story Time

Check out the monthly schedule below and then click the links to register.

Click here to sign up for grades K-1 sessions.

Click here to sign up for grades 2-3 sessions.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
K-1st: I is for Ike
G is for General. P is for President. IKEducators will use this book to reinforce the alphabet and introduce our youngest historians to the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

2nd-3rd: Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President
In this biography, young readers are introduced to Eisenhower's early life, his achievements as a General of the U.S. Army, and many ways he impacted our country as President of the United States. Students will look closely at the elements of biographical writing and get creative as they study this world leader.
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OCTOBER 8, 2025
K-1st: The Dot
Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. Her teacher smiled, "Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” But Vashti thinks she can’t draw - she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable dot. "There!" she said. That one little dot marked the beginning of Vashti’s journey of self-discovery of her own creative spirit. Also claiming that he was not an artist, Dwight D. Eisenhower started painting in his 50’s when an artist encouraged him. Through painting, Ike found peace and a creative outlet that stayed with him for the rest of his life. Students will enjoy The Dot, learn about Ike’s painting hobby, and then tap into their own painting creativity.

2nd-3rd: The Marvelous Things That Came From a Spring
One day, a spring fell from the desk of Richard James, an engineer and a dreamer. Its coils took a walk…and so did Richard’s imagination. He knew right away that he had stumbled onto something marvelous. With the help of his wife, Betty, Richard took this ordinary spring and turned it into a plaything. But it wasn’t just any old trinket—it was a Slinky, and it would become one of the most popular toys in American history. Richard James was an engineer for the United States Navy in World War II. He was assigned to invent a device that would keep fragile ship equipment from vibrating in choppy seas. As he worked on that, he accidentally invented the Slinky. Students will use their engineering skills to invent a device that General Ike can use in his jeep to keep his supplies from bouncing all over the place as he is driven over rough roads.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2025
K-1st: Parachute
Toby doesn't like heights. That's why he always carries a parachute with him. His parachute makes him feel safe when he has to climb down from his bunk bed or when he's playing on the swings. But one day, Toby's cat gets stuck in a tree, and it's up to Toby to rescue him. With the help of his parachute, Toby reaches his cat and lowers him safely to the ground. But now Toby is stuck in the tree, unless he can conquer his fears. Under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, paratroopers of the 101st Airborne were among the first Allied troops to land in France in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. These men put their lives on the line as they jumped out of airplanes and into enemy territory. The bravery and courage they showed to restore freedom for others cannot be calculated. IKEducation introduces young historians to this bit of history as a springboard for the book, Parachute, by Danny Parker (Author) and Matt Ottley (Illustrator). It is a heartwarming story about facing one’s fears.

2nd-3rd: Magic Ramen
In Magic Ramen, protagonist Momofuku encounters people lined up in the bitter cold waiting for the smallest bit of food amid the rubble of Japan after World War II. “The world is peaceful only when everyone has enough to eat,” he thought. Haunted by this memory, Ando worked in a little shed in his backyard, experimenting and trying to create a new kind of noodle soup that was quick to make, nutritious, and tasty in order to feed the hungry: ramen noodles!
Ike witnessed the starvation faced by people in devastated post-World War II countries, as well as the Marshall Plan that helped provide food and resources for those people to rebuild. In fact, General Dwight Eisenhower spent his first Thanksgiving after World War II urging Congress to increase funding for United Nations’ hunger relief. He knew the mission of World War II was not complete until we defeated the enemy of hunger. This non-fiction children’s book envelopes the spirit of the Food for Peace program that President Eisenhower initiated as well as an appreciation for different cultural norms.
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DECEMBER 10, 2025
K-1st: The Night Before Christmas
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore has delighted generations as the perfect read as children eagerly anticipate Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. Students will explore the Christmas traditions celebrated by the Eisenhower family in the White House, then create a holiday ornament or card.

2nd-3rd: Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas. Students will hear a special memory about an Eisenhower family Christmas pageant in the White House and create a holiday ornament of their own.
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JANUARY 14, 2026
K-1st: Ruby Bridges
The Eisenhower Era marked the beginning of the modern civil rights movement and a growing federal commitment to the cause of civil rights. In 1954, the Supreme Court declared that the doctrine of separate but equal schools was unconstitutional.  For years after the ruling, the South simply refused to integrate and in 1957, President Eisenhower ordered federal troops to enforce the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. Integration was still an issue when, in 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked through an angry crowd and into a school where she changed history. This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who helped shape our country when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. This book and its correlating art activity connects students to the courage of a young girl who changed history, and explores the terms “equality,” “civil rights," and “justice for all.” 

2nd-3rd: Human Computer
When Mary Jackson was growing up, she thought being an engineer was impossible for her. Why? After all, she was fantastic at math and science. She worked really hard to learn all she could in school. Why did this smart little girl think she couldn’t be an engineer? In Human Computer: Mary Jackson, students explore the life of Mary Jackson, who overcame the challenges of segregation and sexism to become the first female African American engineer at NASA! President Eisenhower was an advocate for both civil rights and space exploration. During his two-term presidency, he passed the first federal civil rights legislation since the Civil War, enforced the Supreme Court’s ruling to desegregate U.S. schools, and signed into law the creation of NASA! Therefore, this book is a wonderful glimpse into the effects President Eisenhower’s actions had on one boy’s life.  After reading and discussing this wonderful book, students will create and launch a straw rocket of their own.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2026
K-1st: Pete the Cat & the Family Road Trip
Pete the Cat and his family are ready explore all the many wonderful American landmarks on their fun family road trip! They visit many famous sights, including Niagara Falls, New Orleans, Savannah, and more. The Eisenhower Interstate Highway System makes family road trips like Pete’s a memorable possibility. Students will be introduced to many landmarks of America as they enjoy this book and the correlating map activity.

2nd-3rd: The Relatives Came
In a rainbow-colored station wagon that smelled like a real car, the relatives came. When they arrived, they hugged and hugged from the kitchen to the front room. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars. When they finally had to leave, they were sad, but not for long. They all knew they would be together next summer. Today it is difficult to imagine our country without the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. It was not until 1956, when President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act, that interstate highways began to meet the challenge of the growing number of automobiles on the nation’s highways. That growth spurred more growth that completely transformed the United States. Students will be introduced to map reading skills and take their own road trips across America.
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MARCH 11, 2026
K-1st: Mousetronaut
Astronaut Mark Kelly flew with “mice-tronauts” on his first spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2001. Mousetronaut tells the story of a small mouse that wants nothing more than to travel to outer space. The little mouse works as hard as the bigger mice to show readiness for the mission . . . and is chosen for the flight! While in space, the astronauts are busy with their mission when disaster strikes—and only the smallest member of the crew can save the day. With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C. F. Payne, Mousetronaut is a charming tale of perseverance, courage, and the importance of the small!

2nd-3rd: Samuel Morse, That’s Who
Back in the 1800s, information traveled slowly. Who would dream of instant messages? Who imagined a system that would use electric pulses to instantly carry coded messages between two machines, rain or shine? Long before the first telephone, emails, or tweets, who changed communication forever? Samuel Morse, that’s who! All soldiers, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, learned Morse code during Army training. It was key to communication across distances during World War I. Rather than taking weeks to be delivered by mail, critical pieces of news could be exchanged almost instantly. Students will be introduced to this great ancestor of today’s communication technologies and try their hand at Morse Code.
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APRIL 8, 2026
K-1st: Heidi @ the White House
Ever wonder what it would be like to live at the White House?  Heidi will show you where President Eisenhower worked and how he traveled.  You will meet members of the President's family at a party in the residence.  Who was Heidi?  Heidi was a much-valued member of the Eisenhower family, even though she was a dog! Using primary source photographs and activities, students will explore President Eisenhower's White House.

2nd-3rd: Sophia Valdez, Future Prez
Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill, and he can no longer do so. Sofia misses her Abuelo and wonders what she can do about the dangerous Mount Trashmore. Through the story of Sofia, this book imparts essential lessons about community involvement, civic responsibility, and the democratic process.
Children will learn that they can not only help their community, but even one day become President of the United States!

PLEASE USE THE LINKS ABOVE TO REGISTER FOR THESE PROGRAMS (DO NOT use the Book Experience button below).