RECIPE: Pickle Things by Marc Brown

Pickle Potato People

Materials:
Variety of large and small pickles
Large Whole Potatoes
Plastic Toothpicks
Various Spices (optional)

Directions:
Create your own pickle potato people using toothpicks to attach various pickles to potatoes.  Use small gherkins for ears, hair, arms, and legs.  Use small, sliced dill pickles for eyes, mouth, and buttons. Vary the creatures by adding items such as cinnamon sticks.

-From the book Storybook Stew by Suzanne Barchers & Peter Rauen, 1996. p. 4

STORYTIME: Spooky Storytime

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman - Follows the format of the Russian Folktale "The Turnip."

Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks - A little spider wants to show a family that he would be the best pet ever. But the family really ain't hearing it!

Boo, Bunny by Kathryn O. Galbraith - Really wonderful illustrations and artful use of text. Lots of sound effects that can be used, a fun read aloud.

Boo to You by Lois Ehlert- I just love her style. A funny book featuring 2 mice who don't want a black cat around. The collage art in this book features all autumn colors, sometimes using pictures of different gourds and pumpkins. Have the kids look a the images and see if they can identify some of the vegetables and objects she uses in the collage. Possible follow up craft could be make a collage using leaves and other outdoor materials. Bring some of the gourds featured int he book and let the kids handle them.

Wave High, Wave Low

Wave High, wave low.
I think it's time, we gotta go.
Wave your elbows, wave your toes.
Wave your tongue, and wave your nose.
Wave your knees, wave your lips.
Blow a kiss with fingertips.
Wave your ears, wave your hair.
Wave your belly in the air.
Wave your chin, wave your eye,
Wave your hand and say good-bye.

STORYTIME: Just for Fun

Great stories for all!

Books:

Can You Growl Like a Bear by  John Butler
Tiger Can't Sleep by S.J. Fore
If I Were a Jungle Animal by Tom and Amanda Ellery
A Good Day by Kevin Henkes
Mama, Is it Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure
Push Button by Aliki
Alfred Zector Book Collector by Kelly DiPucchio

STORYTIME: Easter Animals

Books:
Where is Green Sheep by Mem Fox
Race You to Bed by Bob Shea
Overboard! by Sarah Weeks
Whose Chick Are You? by Nancy Tafuri
I am Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen

The Dinosaurs

The dinosaurs lived long ago, when life on earth began.
   (gesture palm up wave over your shoulder)
Some were tall (gesture high).
Some were small (gesture low).
Some liked water (gesture swimming).
Some liked land (gesture walking by alternating palms on your knees).
Pteranadons had leathery wings (gesture flying).
Brontausaurs, long necks (gesture to neck).
But the meanest dinosaur of all (gesture mean face).
Was Tyranosaurus Rex (gesture heavy stomping by alternating
  palms on your knees).

Five Little Snowmen

 A great audience participation, you can get kids to stand up in front and melt away at different points in the rhyme.  Repeat to include as many kids as you can.

Five little snowmen standing in a row
Each had a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shone all day
One little snowman melted away

Four little snowmen standing in a row
Each had a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shone all day
One little snowman melted away

Three little snowmen standing in a row
Each had a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shone all day
One little snowman melted away

Two little snowmen standing in a row
Each had a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shone all day
One little snowman melted away

One little snowmen standing in a row
Each had a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shone all day
One little snowman melted away