Category: Family Storytime

Story Sparklers V

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I hope that everyone had a fantastic 4th of July! I spent my holiday sharing farm stories at Crystal Lake’s annual Lakeside Festival. This was my FIFTH year bringing storytime to the fest. I had a really fun audience and a great turnout. Miss Illinois Teen, Rachel Hodson, also visited to say hello to the kids and to assist with the event. She’s a big supporter of reading and was great with the kids. So nice to have her there.

For anyone interested, I will be repeating this farm-themed storytime at the Streamwood Farmers Market on Friday, July 27th at 11:30 a.m. The Farmer’s Market will be located in the parking lot of the Poplar Creek Library (where I work!) at 1405 Park Avenue, Streamwood. It’s a drop-in outdoor storytime– no need to register; just show up for fun and stories!

OPENING:
*Opening Song: If You Want to Hear a Story

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1 (Big Book): Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Song with Puppets: Old MacDonald
Puppet Story: Who Said Meow? from the book by Maria Polushkin (See librarian Steven Englefried’s YouTube demonstration.)
**Fingerplay: The Beehive
Flannel Story: The Goat in the Chile Patch (from Multicultural Folktales: Stories to Tell Young Children edited by Judy Sierra)
***Action Song: Fun with Hands
Storytelling: “The Little Red Hen” (This is a traditional folktale, possibly of Russian-origin. Children dressed up and acted out the parts. I used a singing refrain from storyteller Heather Forest’s sound recording Sing Me a Story.)

CLOSING:
****Closing Rhyme: Thank You

*If You Want to Hear a Story (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
if you want to hear a story,
if you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
Other verses:
“nod your head,”
“rub your tummy,”
“sit real still,” etc.

**The Beehive
Here is a beehive
Make a fist.
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch as they come out of their hive—
One, two, three, four, five,
Extend fingers one at a time.
They’re alive! Buzzzzzz!
Wiggle your fingers.

***Fun With Hands
Suit actions to words.
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…

****Thank You
My hands say thank you
With a clap, clap, clap
Clap hands
My feet say thank you with a tap, tap, tap
Tap feet
Clap, clap, clap.
Tap, tap, tap.
Clap hands, then tap feet
Turn myself around and bow,
Thank you!
Turn around, bow, then smile

Storytime Music List

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Hey guys! I forgot to mention that I compiled a list of the (recorded) music I’ve used at storytime. It can be found as “Storytime Music” under “Storytime Extras” in the sidebar. Or here’s the direct link! I also have several songs I haven’t yet used at storytime but hope to in the future. I haven’t added them into the list yet, but I plan on editing this list as the days go by. Here’s also an opportunity for YOU to share with me YOUR favorite songs to use at storytime. For the present, I won’t be using much music since I’m mostly going into the classrooms to share stories. But I do plan on bringing an ipod and portable speaker for my kindergarten and preschool visits (for a little dance break). Happy Storytiming!

Rake-O Family Fall Festival

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Howdy, folks! Yesterday, I had a grand ole time doing mini-storytimes as part of the Rake-O Family Fall Festival at the Rakow Branch Library in Elgin. I did a mixture of cowboy, farms, animals, and fun. Yee-haw!

IN OTHER NEWS: I just started a new job over at the Poplar Creek Library in Streamwood! I’ll be focusing on outreach for PK-Grade 2 in the schools. I’m excited about this new challenge and look forward to being more active on this website.

RAKE-O FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL

BOOKS SHARED:
Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Clip Clop by Nicola Smee
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs

“FILLERS”:
Song: “Finger in the Air” from Miss Carole’s Baloney!
Song: Chicken Dance
Song: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Song: “Jumping and Counting” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem
Action Rhyme: Fun with Hands
Action Rhyme: Ten in a Bed
Action Rhyme: Hands Up High
Action Rhyme: Blackbirds
Flannel: The Enormous Turnip
Storytelling (with puppets): “Book! Book! Book!” (This is a well-loved librarian anecdote about a chicken that comes into the library. One version, “The Well-Read Frog” can be found in Margaret Read MacDonald’s Three Minute Tales.)

Story Sparklers IV

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I always look forward to performing at the Crystal Lake Lakeside Fest every year. Last Friday, I had fun sharing these stories, rhymes, and songs with families. It was also my nephew Carter’s first storytime! (And he loved it! It was so great seeing his giant grin in the audience.) I’m already excited about next year.

OPENING:

*Opening Song: If You Want to Hear a Story

PROGRAM:

Read-aloud #1 (Big Book): The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood
Action Song: Peanut Butter and Jelly
Flannel: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw (flannel pieces here)
**Fingerplay: Open, Shut Them
Storytelling: Bear Hunt (based on Michael Rosen’s version)
Flannel: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (Templates available here.)
Puppet Story: Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley (Puppet available here.)
Action Song: Hands Up High
***Action Song: Tommy Thumb
Storytelling: “At Midnight” (I learned this “boo baby” story from storyteller Priscilla Howe)

CLOSING:

****Closing Song: We Wave Good-bye Like This

*If You Want to Hear a Story (Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story, clap your hands!
If you want to hear a story,
if you want to hear a story,
if you want to hear a story, clap your hands!

Other verses:
“nod your head,”
“rub your tummy,”
“sit real still,” etc.

**Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them,
(Open and close hands in front of you)
Open, shut them,
(Open and close hands in front of you)
Give a little clap.
(Clap hands as you say “clap”)
Open, shut them,
(Open and close hands in front of you)
Open, shut them,
(Open and close hands in front of you)
Place them in your lap.
(Fold hands in lap)
Creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin.
(Fingers crawl up chest to chin)
Open wide your little mouth,
(Open mouth)
But do not let them in!
(Quickly put hands behind back)

***Tommy Thumb
(Suit actions to words.)
Tommy Thumb is up and
Tommy Thumb is down
Tommy Thumb is dancing
All around the town.
Dance him on your shoulders,
Dance him on your head,
Dance him on your knees,
Then tuck him into bed.

****We Wave Goodbye Like This (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends. We wave goodbye like this.
(Repeat once.)

Story Sparklers III

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Another fun year performing at the Lakeside Fest in Crystal Lake! I hope that everyone has a great holiday weekend 🙂

OPENING:
Opening Song: Let Everyone Clap Hands With Me (from Pete Seeger: American Folk, Game & Activity Songs for Children)

PROGRAM:

Storytelling (with puppets): “Book! Book! Book!” (This is a well-loved librarian anecdote about a chicken that comes into the library. One version, “The Well-Read Frog” can be found in Margaret Read MacDonald’s Three Minute Tales.)
Read-aloud #1 (Big Book): Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
*Action Song: Silly Hat Song
Read-aloud #2 (Big Book): Sitting in My Box by Dee Lillegard
**Fingerplay: Beehive
Flannel: Little Cockroach Martina (from The Flannel Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra)
Action Song: Hands Up High
Storytelling: “The Ghost with One Black Eye” (I learned this “boo baby” story from storyteller Priscilla Howe)
***Action Song: Fun with Hands

CLOSING:

****Closing Song: We Wave Good-bye Like This

*Silly Hat Song
Tune: “This Old Man”
On my head, I wear my hat.
It is such a silly hat
That my head will wiggle waggle to and fro.
Where else can my silly hat go?
Repeat using foot, elbow, knee, etc.
Put hat on appropriate body parts and wiggle!

**The Beehive
Here is a beehive
Make a fist.
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch as they come out of their hive—
One, two, three, four, five,
Extend fingers one at a time.
They’re alive! Buzzzzzz!
Wiggle your fingers.

***Fun With Hands
Suit actions to words.
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…

****We Wave Goodbye Like This
to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”
We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends. We wave goodbye like this.
Repeat once.

Happy Pig Day!

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Happy Pig Day!There are so many really fun pig stories out there!

Sadly, I only have one more storytime left this summer (that I know of), and that is on THIS FRIDAY, July 1 at 12:30pm at the Lakeside Fest in Crystal Lake. Two storytimes in one week! Lucky me 🙂

OPENING:

Opening Song: If You Want to Hear a Story

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Happy Pig Day! by Mo Willems
Song (sung with a puppet on my head): Pig on Her Head (from Laurie Berkner: Buzz Buzz)
Read-aloud #2 (Big Book): If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
*Action Song: Fun with Hands
Flannel/Storytelling: The Three Little Pigs
**Fingerplay: Two Mother Pigs
Read-aloud #3: Ten Pigs: an Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson
Song/Fingerplay: Hands Up High
Read-aloud #4: Z-Z-ZOINK! by Bernard Most
“Dancing” Song: “Jumping and Counting” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

CLOSING:
Closing Song: We Wave Good-bye Like This

*Fun With Hands
Suit actions to words.
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…

**Two Mother Pigs

Two mother pigs lived in a pen, (two thumbs up) Each had four babies and that made ten. (Wiggle four fingers on each hand)
These four babies were black and white. (Wiggle four fingers on one hand)
These four babies were black as night. (Wiggle four fingers on the other hand)
All eight babies loved to play. (Wiggle eight fingers)
And the rolled and they rolled in the mud all day. (Roll hands)
At night, with their mother,
They curled up in a heap, (Make fists, palms up)
And squealed and squealed
‘Til they went to sleep. (Tuck thumbs under fingers)

I Know a Chicken!

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I had SO MUC0-698-11374-8H FUN at storytime today! I really need to start thinking about finding a steady storytime home. Today, we did one of my favorite themes: Chickens!

OPENING:
Opening Song: If You Want to Hear a Story

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1 (Big Book): Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
*Fingerplay: Beehive
Storytelling (with puppets): “Book! Book! Book!” (This is a well-loved librarian anecdote about a chicken that comes into the library. One version, “The Well-Read Frog” can be found in Margaret Read MacDonald’s Three Minute Tales.)
Read-aloud #2: The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
Flannel: The Little Red Hen (I used a singing refrain from storyteller Heather Forest’s sound recording Sing Me a Story.)
**Fingerplay: Chook-Chook-Chook
Read-aloud #3: Most Wonderful Egg in the World by Helme Heine
Dancing Song (with shakers!): “I Know a Chicken” from Laurie Berkner’s Whaddaya Think of That?

CLOSING:

Closing Song: We Wave Good-bye Like This

*The Beehive
Here is a beehive
(Make a fist.)
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch as they come out of their hive—
One, two, three, four, five,
(Extend fingers one at a time.)
They’re alive! Buzzzzzz!
(Wiggle your fingers.)

**“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.

MY NEXT STORYTIME: Wednesday, June 29, 10:30 am @ Rakow Branch Library in Elgin

December Stories

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More Golfview Family Literacy Fun! Happy Holidays, everyone 🙂

Opening Song: “Put Your Finger in the Air” from Pete Seeger: Children’s Concert at Town Hall (live version)
Read-aloud #1: You Make Me Smile by Layn Marlow
Flannel: Rudolph! Rudolph!
Read-aloud #2 (Sung): Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, version illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
Storytell: The Mitten (You can use beautiful visuals as props from Jan Brett’s website here.) (I also used Heather Forest’s musical refrain from her version on her Tales Around the Hearth cd.)
Read-aloud #3: Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Closing Song: “Jingle Bells” from The Wiggles: Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas (with bells, of course!)
Craft: Make holiday cards

Bad Wolf?…or…Good Wolf?

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More storytime fun with the Family Literacy crowd at Golfview Elementary! Today, we played around with the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood, and other wolf stories. And, the wolf wasn’t always the bad guy!

Opening Song: Let Everyone Clap Hands With Me
Read-aloud #1: Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf by Rachael Mortimer
Storytelling Activity: The Gunniwolf
Read-aloud #2: Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya
Dancing Song: “Jump Up, Turn Around” from Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times
Read-aloud #3: The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza

Craft: Wolf Leaf Craft (I used Ellison die cut leafs rather than real ones)