STORYTIME: Penguins

If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor- What a great book. Everything about it from the vocab to the illustrations are wonderful. Great for a broad age group.

Playful Little Penguins by Tony Mitton-A nice read aloud book, very colorful

A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis

Penguin by Polly Dunbar

Some Things Change by Mary Murphy - A simple graphic illustrated book about a little penguin and his mom seeing things change around them.

Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers - A little bit longer story so use it as your opener. The text and story is simple enough for toddlers as well as pre-schoolers to enjoy. Little penguin wants to learn to fly but his wings really weren't built for it. He figures out a way to fulfill his dreams of flight but at he expense of losing his best friend, a little boy. Will he be able to reconnect with his friend, and will his first flight be a disaster? A cute story all around.

Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon- "When you give love, it grows" is the moral of this delightful storytime read. Adorable illustrations and simple heartwarming text makes this a sure bet for toddler storytime.

STORYTIME: Weather

Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray- Really lovely realist illustrations. The story is a little slow moving though. This is a great book to use to allow your kids to tell the story in the pictures first and then read the story with the text a second time around.

Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long- A great story with a tender plot. A tornado is heading for the farm, can Otis the tractor get all the animals out in time. This is a long book for storytime so use it as your opener. The plot is suspenseful though and the illustrations help build towards the tense climax of the book.

RainDrop Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison- A little girl goes out to play in the rain. A counting book as well.

STORYTIME: Opposites

Octopus Opposites by Stella Blackstone- Cute illustrations and has some great opposite concepts such as push and pull, hot and cold, and bold and shy.

A Garden of Opposites by Nancy Davis- Simple text so if you are doing this book with older readers have them make observations on the illustrations, or point out what makes the comparisons opposites. Can they think of other examples of big & small or Short and Long?

Cars! Cars! Cars! by Grace Maccarone: A short small read. Very cute though showing all the different kinds of cars such as old cars, big cars, red cars, etc. Simple one word text make this a good storytime book for younger toddlers.

Parachute Play

Up-Down: Slowly raise the chute up, as you do chant up, up, up. Lower and chant down, down, down

Fast-Slow: Hold taut, start walking in a circle chanting slow, slow, slow, then speed up and go fast, fast, fast

Loud-Quiet: Makes waves so it is loud and chant loud, loud, loud. Then make small quiet waves and chant quiet, quiet, quiet

In-Out: Hold taut, chant in, in ,in as you walk in. Then out, out, out as you walk out

Under-over: Have child hold chute with two hands, then say under and child places one hand under chute. Say over and they place that hand on top of chute.

-From the book Parachute Play for Indoor/ Outdoor Fun by Liz and Dick Wilmes, 1985

Parachute: Row Row Row Your Boat

Have the kids hold the parachute backwards and gently make waves while you sing

Row Row Row Your Boat Gently Down the Stream

Merrily merrily merrily merrily

Life is but a dream

-From the book Parachute Play for Indoor/ Outdoor Fun by Liz and Dick Wilmes, 1985

STORYTIME: 1/17/12 Dinosaurs

Brontorina by James Howe

How do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by JaneYolen

The Super Hungry Dinosaur by Martin Waddell

Storytime: 1/17/12: Numbers & Letters

Two at the Zoo by Danna Smith

5 Little Peas

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr

My Friendly Caterpillar

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

If your happy and you know it

The Johnny-Cake Feltboard and Storytelling

One Drowsy Dragon by Ethan Long

Roll Your Hands

Alligator Alphabet by Stella Blackstone

STORYTIME: 1/3/12 ME

What's Special About Me,Mama? by Kristina Evans

Roll Your Hands

Marching to the Drum

Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr

Where is Thumbkin

Glad Monster Sad Monster by Ed Emberly

Hickory Dickory Dock

I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

Open Them Shut Them

Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt

Yoga

STORYTIME: Owls

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na- Very interesting illustrations. An all around nice storytime read.

Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton- Really wonderful illustrations and a cute story. Similar in plot to "Are You My Mother?" but with a little more humor.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell- It is often hard to find a good storytime book that has a more traditional narrative (beginning, middle/climax, and a resolution). This story fills that niche very nicely. Wonderful bold and detailed illustrations.

Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood- An owl wakes up in the daytime and sees all the colors of the world. Story is nothing special but the illustrations are wonderful.

Who Said Coo? by Deborah Ruddell- Such a great book. A pig is woken up to a string of different sounds outside her window. The culprits are a pigeon and an owl!

"I'm Not Scared!" by Jonathan Allen- Ohhh I love this owl character from the previous book "I'm not cute." This is a really cute and pretty funny story your kids and parents will enjoy.

Storytime Performed On:

1/31/2012

STORYTIME: My Body

Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr- I am surprised I have not come across this book sooner. Simple big rhymes invite the audience to interact with their different body parts along with the story. "Here are my hands for catching and throwing."

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle- This book asks kids to participate by doing the various motions the animals in the book do. A great way to make children aware of the different parts of the body and what the names for certain movements are.

STORYTIME: Feelings

Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberly- Comes with different happy and sad masks in the back. Invite a few audience participants to come up and hold the appropriate masks in front of their face while you are reading the story.

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard- Super cute and funny. Bird wakes up grumpy and goes for a walk. As he travels more animals join him.

How Kind! by Mary Murphy- A very elemental lesson in Karma! One good deed leads to another until the book comes full circle at the end. A short read.

STORYTIME: All About Me

What's Special About Me,Mama? by Kristina Evans- A really sweet story with a boy asking his mother what is is about him that makes him special and different from everyone else. Younger kids may have a hard time sitting through. A change from the normally funny and fast paced books I tend to favor for storytime

I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont-Beaumont has a real gift for rhyme and this book is no exception. Kids will like the silly humor and make sure to read it with an emphasis on the rhyme.

Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt- Nobody is like you. You are the only one with your nose and those two feet. As goes the message of this fun little uplifting book about the uniqueness of you. Talk with your kids about what makes them different than everyone else in the room.

I'm Me! by Sara Sheridan- A little girl listens to suggestions from her auntie about what they can pretend to become for the day but finally settles on being herself. A bit on the longer side so do this book as your first for the program.

Storytime Performed on:

1/3/12

Mr. Lobster and Mrs. Crab

Mr. Lobster and Mrs. Crab pinch and snap all day
Mr. Lobster and Mrs. Crab pinch and snap all day
With a pinch, pinch here and a snap, snap there
Here a pinch, there a snap, everywhere a pinch, snap
Mr. Lobster and Mrs. Crab pinch and snap all day.

Credit: Everything Preschool
Via StoryTimeKatie

Zoo Song

Song: “You Can Hear” (Tune: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)

You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR ROAR!
You can hear the lions roaring, you can hear the lions roaring,
You can hear the lions roaring at the zoo, ROAR ROAR!
(Snakes hissing, bears growling, wolves howling, frogs croaking, zebras braying)

Perpetual Preschool
Via StoryTimeKatie

Fingerplay: “Wide-Eyed Owl”

There’s a wide-eyed owl (circle your eyes with your hands)
With a pointed nose (make a beak with your fingers)
Two pointed ears (make ears with your fingers)
And claws for toes (wiggle your “claws”)
He lives way up in the tree (point way up)
And when he looks at you (point to children)
He flaps his wings (flap your wings)
And says, “Whoo! Whoo!” (say “whoo whoo”)

Credit: Wilmette Public Library
Via StoryTimeKatie

Owl Hokey Pokey

Action Song: “Owl Hokey Pokey”
You put your right wing in
You put your right wing out
You put your right wing in
And you flap it all about
You do the owl pokey and you fly yourself around
That’s what it’s all about! Hoo, hoo!
(left wing, right claw, left claw, beak, whole self)

Credit: Ms. Hegna’s Storyroom
Via StoryTimeKatie

STORYTIME: 11/22/2011 It's a Zoosical

Storytime Host Puppet: Arthur The Painting Gorilla!

Zoozical by Judy Sierrra

Where is Thumbkin Fingerplay

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort (one of my favorites!)

Parachute Games

The Painting Gorilla by Michael Rex

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Going to the Zoo by Tom Paxton

The Elephant

Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert

Parent Tip: Singing develops listening skills, and helps children remember things for a longer time. -Every Child Ready to Read, adopted by Mary Fellows of the Upper Hudson Library System

STORYTIME: 10/25/11 Monsters!

Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements
If You Ever See a Monster
My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck
I'm a Little Teapot
Monster's Don't Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks
Parachute: When the Parachute Goes Up
Parachute: The Grand Old Duke of York
Parachute: Popcorn Sizzle
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Peanut Butter Marmalade and Jam
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen

What do you make with apples game

This was a cute game leftover from the previous story time leader when I took my job. She cut out pictures of different things we eat that are made from apples and turned them into feltboard pieces. I ask the kids to list as many things as they can think of and I put the pieces on the feltboard as they mention them.

Here is the list of apple items I use:

• Candied apples
• Apple pie
• Apple sauce
• Apple jelly
• Apple cider
• Apple crisp
• Apple juice
• Apple turnover
  

Storytime: 10/11/11 Autumn

Ouch! by Ragnhild Scamell
Feltboard: 5 Little Leaves
Leaves Fingerplay
Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert
What do you make with apples game
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
Apple tasting- I will cut up 3 different kinds of apples before story time and we will taste test small pieces of all 3.
The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
Yoga stretches

5 Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said "Oh My! it's getting late."

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The forth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."

Whoooo went the wind,

Out went the lights,

And those five little pumpkins went rolling out of sight.

-Copyright 1990 Susan Pflug

Mr. Groundhog....

To the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Mr. Groundhog in the ground,

Pop your head up, look around,

Do you see your shadow?

Look up high and look down low.

Mr. groundhog in the ground,

Pop your head up, look around

I'm a Little Groundhog

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little groundhog (place hands on hips)

Short and brown

All Winter long, (rest head on hands and pretend to sleep)

I sleep underground.

On February 2nd (peek through cupped hands)

I peek out and then,

If I see my shadow (put hands over head as if hiding in a hole)

I go in my hole again!

Story Time 9/27/11 Silly Stories

Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and other things not to do) by Judi Barrett
Open Them Shut Them Fingerplay
5 Little Sloths Feltboard
Darkness Slipped In by Ella Burfoot
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes Standing-up
Stop Kissing Me! by Ethan Long
Tommy Thumbs Fingerplay
New Socks by Bob Shea
Zoom Zoom Zoom Standing Up
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems
Yoga

Leaves

The leaves are dropping from the trees, (flutter fingers up and down)
Yellow, brown, and red (flutter fingers up and down)
They patter softly like the rain (tap fingers on lap)
One landed on my head (tap head)

-Marmalade Days: Fall by Carol Taylor Bond, 1987, p. 209

STORYTIME: An Egg

Hunwick's Egg by Mem Fox- Has a pretty good story at it's core. The illustrations are perhaps best viewed closer up but this is a nice story to read aloud. Excellent use of the page with the illustrations and the text commingling.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger - A wonderful book about the contrast between the animal or plant before/after it hatches/blooms. Has cutouts in the book which add interest.

Guess What I'll Be by Anni Axworthy

The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett

Eggs All Around Feltboard

Oh, the grand old Duke of York

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill (raise the chute)
And he marched them down again (lower)
And when they're up, they're up (raise)
And when they're down, they're down (lower),
And when they're only half-way up, (raise half-way)
They're neither up nor down (raise, lower).

Keep it up!

Place a few balls on the parachute and have the kids move the parachute up and down trying to keep the balls from falling off the parachute.

When the Parachute Goes Up

When the parachute goes up, stomp your feet

When the parachute goes up, stomp your feet

When the parachute goes high, and lifts up toward the sky

When the parachute goes up, stomp your feet

(Repeat with: bend your knees, shake your head, shout hooray!)

Popcorn Chants

One little kernel, sleeping in the pot

Turn on the heat, and watch it pop!

(Add more "Popcorn" to bounce on parachute: Two little kernels sleeping in the pot…)

You put the oil in the pot and you let it get hot

You put the popcorn in and you start to grin.

Sizzle, sizzle

Sizzle, sizzle

Sizzle, sizzle

Sizzle, sizzle

Sizzle, sizzle

Sizzle, sizzle

POP!

(Children begin in a crouched position, knees bent, then s-l-o-w-l-y rise until the final POP! when we jump up in the air!)

Five little popcorns sitting in a pan

One got hot and it went…. BAM!

(Catch bouncing popcorn, one by one, and remove from parachute)

FELTBOARD: 10 Teddy Bears in aBed

“Ten Teddy Bears Sleeping in the Bed”

Ten little teddy bears sleeping in the bed,

Five at the foot and five at the head.

One little teddy said, “This bed is TOO full!”

So he grabbed the blanket and started to pull.

He pulled and he pulled and he pulled some more,

Until two little teddies went BOOM to the floor!

(Make pulling motions with PULL and clap with the BOOM)

(Count down until…)

One little teddy bear sleeping in the bed,

Zero at the foot and one at the head.

This little teddy said, “This is not right!

I don’t want to sleep alone tonight!”

So…

One little teddy bear sleeping in the bed,

Zero at the foot and one at the head.

This teddy said, “This bed is NOT full!”

So he put out his paw and started to pull.

He pulled and he pulled and he pulled some more,

Until four little teddies climbed up from the floor!

(Count up until…)

Ten little teddy bears sleeping in the bed,

Five at the foot and five at the head.

One little teddy said, “This is JUST right!”

So ten little teddy bears said, “Good Night!”

From the blog Storytime Katie

Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

FELTBOARD: 3 Little Kittens

Three little kittens,

They lost their mittens,

And they began to cry,

Oh, mother dear,

We sadly fear

Our mittens we have lost.

What! Lost your mittens,

You naughty kittens!

Then you shall have no pie.

Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.

You shall have no pie.

The three little kittens,

They found their mittens,

And they began to cry,

Oh, mother dear,

See here, see here,

Our mittens we have found.

What! Found your mittens,

You darling kittens!

Then you shall have some pie.

Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.

You shall have some pie.

FELTBOARD: 5 Little Sloths

Five little sloths snoozing in the trees.
One lost his grip and bumped his knees
Mama said, “a tree’s no place to catch your zzzzz’s
Let’s find a cozy bed for my sloth babies.”

Repeat with four, three, two, and one.

All the little sloths have climbed down down from the trees
Each one has a cozy bed for catching zzz’s
Mama said sleep well if you please
I’ll see you in the morning my sweet babies

-original poem by Story Timing. So darn cute! I love that this is about sloths, something I am sure our story time kids are not familiar with (well most of them.) Thanks for sharing this great idea.

FELTBOARD: Eggs All Around

This is a cute Springtime feltboard story which gets the kids involved. You cover each animal with an egg and read just the first 2 lines of each verse and pull away the egg just a tiny bit to reveal a small portion of the animal. Once they have guessed the animal read the last line of the verse. Have the kids chant the chorus with you each time you say it.

Eggs in the treetops

Eggs on the ground

Eggs in the water

Eggs all around

Eggs, eggs, lots of eggs

Who's inside the little one begs

This one hatches, and

I see a smile

It's a toothy crocodile

Eggs, eggs, lots of eggs

Who's inside the little one begs

Heres an egg

Way in the back,

Out comes a baby duck,

Quack, quack, quack

Eggs, eggs, lots of eggs

Who's inside the little one begs

Inside this egg

Who does dwell?

A tiny turtle in it's shell

Eggs, eggs, lots of eggs

Who's inside the little one begs

Eggs in the water

Make a wish

When they pop open, there'll be a fish

Of all the eggs,

I like the best

The robin's eggs in her nest

* If you have a portion of a blue robins egg bring it in to share with the kids. Ask them if they have ever seen blue eggshells on the ground at their house or in the park.

FELTBOARD: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

This is a fun, well know story. I have a story apron version of this too, plus I also do a version where I am just using my body and storytelling. I have the kids help act out the story along with me. As the story goes on you repeat the same bits and the repetition makes it easy for most kids to learn on the spot.

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she''l die

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider

That wiggled and jiggles and tickled inside her

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she''l die

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird

How absurd she swallowed a bird

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider she swallowed the spider to catch the fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she''l die

There was a an old lady who swallowed a cat

Imagine that she swallowed a cat

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider she swallowed the spider to catch the fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she''l die

There was an old lady who swallowed a dog

She went whole hog to swallow the dog

She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider she swallowed the spider to catch the fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she''l die

I know an old lady who swallowed a cow

I don't know how she swallowed a cow

She swallowed the cow to catch the dog, She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider she swallowed the spider to catch the fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she''l die

I know an old lady who swallowed a horse

She dies of course!

Feltboard: Where Has My Little Dog Gone

Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone
Oh where, oh where can he be
With his ears cut short and his tail cut long
Oh where, oh where can he be?

For the feltboard clip art I used click here

-Content from Sarah at Read Rabbit Read

Storytime 9/20/2011 Dogs

Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
Ten Little Doggies Fingerplay

Yip! Snap! Yap! by Charles Fuge

Where has my Little Dog Gone Feltboard

Stretch by Doreen Cronin
I Stretch up High Standing-up Song
Dogs by Emily Gravett
Open Them Shut Them Fingerplay

The Cat Barked? by Lydia Monks
Storytime Yoga

I Stretch Up High

I Stretch My Hands

I stretch my hands way up high
Until they nearly reach the sky.

Then I stretch them way down low
To see how very far they’ll go.

I bend my knees, cross my feet
Lower my bum, and take a seat.

Storytiming

STORTIME: Down at the Pond

Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell- Amazing collage illustrations. Age appropriate introduction to pond ecology.

The Croaky Pokey! by Ethan Long- To the tune of the Hokey Pokey. Get your kids up and moving with this funny twist on the original song. The repetition will make it easy for kids and parents to sing along.

One Frog Sang by Shirley Parenteau- A counting book where you get to make all different species of frog sounds!

The Croaky Pokey! by Ethan Long- A funny and original spin on the Hokey Pokey. Of course your kids will want to be up and dancing during this book so encourage it.

STORYTIME: Taking a Trip

It's Vacation Time by Lerryn Korda- Simple and sweet story about friends who overpack for their trip.

Alistair and Kip's Great Adventure by John Segal-Story with a linear narrative. Cute story and a nice change from my usual storytime selections.

STORYTIME: AHHHHHH CHOOOOOO

Books:
My Cold Went on Vacation by Molly Rausch- Funny illustrations as a young child wonders where their cold came from as they very literally believe a cold is a little being that travels around. A fun way to introduce what a cold is to kids.



If Beaver Had a Fever by Helen Ketteman- A little long so you may want to paperclip some pages but overall a decent book for the theme.

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson-Our friend bear is back but this time his friends have to help take care of him while he is sick.

Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard- Bird gets bonked on the head and all the forest animals try to comfort him in their own way.

10 Little Doggies

Ten little doggies went out one day
(hold 10 fingers up)
To dig in the dirt and play, play, play.
(Pretend to dig like a dog with both hands)
Five were spotted, and five were not,
(Hold up one hand at a time)
and at dinner time they ate a lot!
(Pretend to eat)

-From the blog Silly Librarian

Chook, chook, chook

Chook, chook, chook
Good morning, Mrs. Hen. (Hold up both thumbs)
How many chickens have you got?
Madam, I’ve got ten. (Show ten fingers)
Four of them are yellow. (Show four fingers on one hand)
And four of them are brown (Show four fingers on the other hand)
And two of them are speckled red (Show two fingers)
The nicest in the town.

-From the blog Silly Librarian

Blue is the Lake

Blue is the lake
Hold arms out in a circle in front of you
Yellow is the sun
Move arms, still in circle, overhead
Silver are the stars when the day is done
Wiggle fingers overhead
Red is the apple
Make a round ball with your fingers in front of you
Green is the tree
Hold arms up like branches
Brown is a cookie for you and me
Rub tummy!

-From the blog Mel's desk

STORYTIME: Goats

Books:
Scapegoat by Dean Hale- A little boys keeps doings some pretty naughty things at home and blames the poor pet goat. But things change when the goats meets up with a neighbor who can actually speak goat! Great rhyming scheme and funny for older kids too.

Let's Count Goats by Mem Fox - What a fun book with big bold Jan Thomas illustrations. I finally have a reason to bust out my new goat puppet at story time. Not as humorous as Thomas's hilarious Dust Bunny books but a great read none the less.

STORYTIME: Bears!

Books:
Bears! Bears! Bears! by Bob Berner- A cute small book that has a nice rhyming scheme. The book features all kinds of bears and a little bit of information about them. Great collage art and could be a fun follow up craft.

Have the kids use bits of scrap paper to make a collage bear of their choosing.

Bear Flies High by Michael Rosen- Great story with some repeated phrases that can be used as call and response.

Bears on Chairs by Shirley Parenteau-AAAAdorable! Teaches a nice little lesson about sharing and 'making it work.'

A Very Curious Bear by Tony Mitton-Parents will appreciate the little bear who is always asking questions about the world around him. These questions tell the story as little bear goes through his day in the forest

Something to Do by David Lucas- Cute line drawings. 2 bears use their imagination and a crayon to make something to do when they are bored. Could also be used during an imagination themed storytime.

The Bear Snores On by Jane Chapman- Animals wander into a bears cave while he is hibernating and cook a feast.

Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson- Awesome, atypical illustrations. Monochromatic color scheme really sets the mood for this arctic tale.

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett-Such a fun, creative book! You have to see it to understand.

STORYTIME: Shape Up!

Books:
Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier - Bright colors and a good introduction to the circle shape. It can be found anywhere from the buttons on your shirt to the stars in the sky. Have the kids find as many dots in the room as they can after you read the book.

Press Here by Herve Tullet- Clever and fun read aloud. The audience helps you by pressing, blowing, on and shaking the book to create a fun interactive journey filled with colorful dots.

Perfect Square by Michael Hall- Think "Press Here." A square gets torn up into all sorts of shapes that are turned into flowers, parks, and oceans. A very creative book that can show kids how a square can be broken down and turned into anything...with a little imagination. A great craft activity to accompany is right from the book. Give each child a square of tissue paper, have them rip it up into 6-8 pieces. Glue those pieces onto a piece of paper. Give them crayons and let them draw flower stems and leaves to make the bits of tissue paper the flowers.

Shape by Shape by Suse Macdonald- Can also be used in a shape themed storytime. By using cutouts and naming the different shapes we finally get to find out what the animal featured in this book is by the last page.

STORYTIME: 4/5/11

Song: The More We Get Together
Book: Mouse Mess byLinnea Riley
Fingerplay: Hickory Dickory Dock using mouse finger puppet
Book: Have Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
Fingerplay:The Wheels on the Bus
Book: Black Meets White by Geoff Waring
Rhyme: If Your Wearing Red Today
Book: Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie H Harris
Yoga: Sunrise/sunset, moonflower, gorilla, cobra/updog, lion breathe

Musical instruments: Shaker Hokey Pokey

You shake your egg up, you shake your egg down
You shake your egg up, and you shake it all around
You do the hokey pokey, and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about!
(more verses can include: left/right, front/back, etc.)

-From the blog Storytime Katie

Dinosaur, Dinosaur

Dinosaur, dinosaur, turn around
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch the ground
Dinosaur, dinosaur, reach up high
Dinosaur, dinosaur, wink one eye
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch your nose
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch your toes
Dinosaur, dinosaur, slap your knees
Dinosaur, dinosaur, sit down please

-Courtesy of the blog Storytime Katie

The Alphabet Beat

First clap your hands. Then stomp your feet.
Everybody do the alphabet beat.
Apple, Apple, Apple – a – a – a,
Apple, Apple, Apple – a – a – a,
Wave your arms high. Swing your arms low.
The alphabet beat is the way to go.
Blue, Blue, Blue – b – b – b
Blue, Blue, Blue – b – b – b
Move to the left. Move to the right.
The alphabet beat is way out of sight.
Car, Car, Car – c – c – c
Car, Car, Car – c – c – c
Now give a high five to a nearby friend.
The alphabet beat has come to the end!

-From the blog Storytime Katie

Rhyme: The Airplane

The airplane has great big wings (arms outstretched)
Its propeller spins around and sings “vvvvvv!” (make one arm go round)
The airplane goes up (lift arms)
The airplane goes down (lower arms)
The airplane flies high (arms outstretched, turn body around)
Over the town! (fly around)

-From the blog Storytime Katie

FELTBOARD: 5 little Leaves

Five little leaves on the tree next door
One fell off and then there were four
Four little leaves all over the tree
One fell off and then there were three
Three little leaves where the wind blew
One fell off and then there were two
Two little leaves sitting in the sun
One fell off and then there was one
One little leaf in the tree all alone
The wind blew and blew now there are none!

-From the blog Storytime Katie

FELTBOARD: Five Little Ocean Friends

Five little ocean friends on the ocean floor,
The starfish walks away and now there are four
Four little ocean friends living in the sea
The crab slides away now there are three
Three little ocean friends looking for a clue
“Glub, glub,” said the lobster now there are two
Two little ocean friends not having much fun
Off swam the sea horse now there is one
One little octopus sad and all alone
Back swims the starfish, back swims the crab,
Back swims the lobster, back swims the sea horse
And they played in the sea foam, safe in their home.

-From the blog Storytime Katie

Musical Instruments: Shake it Baby

Shake it, shake it baby
Shake it , shake it mama
Shake it , shake it baby
Shake it, shake it mama
Shake it to the East, shake it to the West
Shake it to the North, shake it to the South
Shake it to the East, shake it to the West
Shake it to the North, shake it to the South
Shake it, shake it baby
Shake it , shake it mama

STORYTIME: 3/29/11 Baby Invasion!

Song: The More We Get Together
Book: Boss Baby byMarla Frazee
Fingerplay: Where are the Baby Mice?
Book: Have You Got My Purr? by Judy West
Egg Rattles: We Shake Our Rattles Together
Egg Rattles: We're Going to Kentucky
Egg Rattles: Pop Pop Pop
Egg Rattles: Rattle Hokey Pokey
Book: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont
Rhyme: 5 Little Monkeys in a Tree
Book: Overboard by Sarah Weeks
Yoga: Sunrise/sunset, chair, side stretch, butterfly, lion breathe

STORTIME: Zzzzzzzzzzz

Where to Sleep by Kandy Radzinski - CUTE! A little kitten tries to find a comfy place to sleep. A tale as old as time so while the story lacks the illustrations are bold and fun to explore.


Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin- Great story to read-sing with the kids singing along.

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na- Very interesting illustrations. An all around nice storytime read.

Are You Ready for Bed? by Jane Johnson-A sweet little story. A little uneventful and vanilla though but could work if you skip some pages.

STORYTIME: Home Sweet Home

This Is The House That Jack Built by Simms Taback - Following a similar format to his book "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" Taback's story starts out with a house and in that house is some cheese..... that was eaten by a rat. The cast of characters that eat each other, kill each other and kiss each other grows as the book goes on. I created a story apron to go along with this tale as I read it to help the kids follow the silly yet morbid tale.

STORYTIME: First Day of School

Books:
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick - Swap Buffalo for child and this is a kids into to their first few days of Kindergarten. A little on the long side but if you save it for your last storytime of the season before school starts your pre-preschoolers are better at sitting still for longer stories. Pretty humorous and possibly useful content.

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin- Fun sing along chorus in this book will be a great opportunity for some audience participation.

Roll Your Hands

Tune: “Row, Row, Row your boat”

Roll, roll, roll your hands,

As slowly as can be.

Roll, roll, roll your hands,

Do it now with me.

Roll, roll, roll your hands,

As fast, as fast can be.

Roll, roll, roll your hands,

Do it now with me.

Clap, clap, clap your hands…

Shake, shake, shake your hands…

Stamp, stamp, stamp your feet…

STORYTIME: 3/22/11

Our host Bunny!

Opening Song: The More We Get Together
Book: Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers
Standing Up: Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Book: Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na
Fingerplay: Bunny
Book: The Apple Tree by Zoe Hall

Flannel companions to "A Frog in the Bog"

Game: What can you make with apples? Flannel board pieces with images of things you can make out of apples. Have the kids list off as many as they can. Ones I included are: Apple Crisp, Ripe Apples, Candied Apple, Apple Sauce, Apple Cider, Apple Pie, Apple Juice, Apple Jelly/Butter, Apple Turnover

Fingerplay: My Friendly Caterpillar
Book: A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson- Created a flannel board companion of the frogs stomach and add the flannel critters as he eats them in the book.
Yoga: Rain storm, sun flower, tree, shoulder shrugs, lion breathe

FELTBOARD: 5 Red Apples

Five red apples, sweet to the core.
Bear came and ate one and then there were four.

Four red apples, sitting in a tree. 
Bear came and ate one and then there were three. 

Three red apples, one for you and you and you.
Bear came and ate one and then there were two. 

Two red apples, shining in the sun.
Bear came and ate one and then there was one. 

One red apple, left all alone. 
Bear came and ate one and then there was none.

STORYTIME 3/1/2011

 Welcome Song "The more we get together"

 Book: Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott

 Rhyme: If you ever see a monster

Book:Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh

 Rhyme:  Hickory Dickory Dock using little mouse finger puppet
 Feltboard: Mrs. Wishy Washy

Book:What Did You Put in your Pocket? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Rhyme: Bread and Butter

Book: Z-Z-Zoink! by Bernard Most

Yoga

Taking a Break

I am taking a break from story time in February.  See you all in March!

-Leah

STORYTIME: 1/25/11

1. Welcome Song "The more we get together"

2. Book: The Problem with Chickens by Bruce McMillan

3. Rhyme: Itsy Bitsy Spider

4. Book: Chalk by Bill Thomson

5. Standing Up: I'm a Little Teapot

6. Book: There are Cats in this Book by Viviane Schwarz

7. Standing-up: Zoom Zoom Zoom 

8. Book: The Boy Who Cried Wolf by B.G. Hennessy

9. Yoga

STORYTIME: 1/11/2011

1. Welcome Song "The more we get together"

2. Book: The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) by Philemon Sturges

3. Rhyme: Peanut Butter & Jelly

4. Book: Dinos in the Snow by Karma Wilson

5. Standing Up: Beep Beep Honk Honk

6. Book: Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson 

7. Rhyme: Two Little Black Birds

8. Book: Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

9. Rhyme: The Beehive

10. Book: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle 

11. Yoga

STORYTIME: 1/4/2011

1. Welcome Song "The more we get together"

2. Book: The Best Place to Read by Debbie Bertram

3. Rhyme: The Wheels on the Bus

4. Book: Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett

8. Standing-up: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

9. Book: The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

10. Standing-up: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

11. Book: A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom

13. Yoga