Category: Family Storytime

Froggy Fun

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The kids really loved this theme!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan (big book)
*Action Rhyme: Not Say a Single Word
Fingerplay: Ten Little Fingers
Read-aloud #2: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner (pop-up book)
**Fingerplay: Rain is Falling Down
Song/Fingerplay/Props: Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Read-aloud #3: Bad Frogs by Thacher Hurd
Song: Mmm Ahh Went the Little Green Frog (A great video of this song can be found here!)
Action Song: If You’re Wearing Read Today
***Action Rhyme: I Clap My Hands
Read-aloud #4: The Croaky Pokey! by Ethan Long
“Dancing” Song: “Hokey Pokey” from Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes

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

*Not Say a Single Word
(Suit actions to words.)
Can you hop, hop, hop like a bunny?
Can you run, run, run like a dog?
Can you walk, walk, walk like a elephant?
Can you jump, jump, jump like a frog?
Can you swim, swim, swim like a goldfish?
Can you fly, fly, fly like a bird?
Can you sit right down and fold your hands,
And not say a single word?

**Rain Is Falling Down
Rain is falling down,
(Raise hands up high and flutter fingers down)
Splash!
(Slap floor with gusto)
Rain is falling down,
(Raise hands up high and flutter fingers down)
Splash!
(Slap the floor)
Pitter patter, pitter patter,
(Quietly. Flutter fingers delicately.)
Rain is falling down,
(Flutter fingers down.)
Splash!
(Slap floor with gusto)

***I Clap My Hands
(Suit actions to words)
I clap my hands,
I touch my feet,
I jump up from the ground.
I clap my hands,
I touch my feet,
And turn myself around.

Pets are Fun!

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Panera AND Randall Oaks Storytimes today! I’m continuing to entertain over at the Panera in Elgin the first and third Mondays of each month at 9:30 am. I also started another 6 week session of FUN over at our Randall Oaks Branch Library today at 10:30 am. Today, we had extra FUN with a PETS storytime 🙂 Bark! Meow!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (Also: use swallowing “dog” puppet with various animal finger puppets inside)
Song (with finger puppets): Barnyard Gate [version available on Ed McCurdy: Children’s Songs: the Greatest Hits (I Had a Little Rooster)]
(Flannel: Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill)
Read-aloud #2: What Will Fat Cat Sit On? By Jan Thomas OR The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle
Fingerplay: Open, Shut Them
Read-aloud #3: I See Kitty by Yasmine Surovec
Flannel: The Three Little Kittens
Read-aloud #4: Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
*Flannel: Silly Dog
Song: Do Your Ears Hang Low? (Lyrics and Melody can be found here. Miss Jennifer made the song extra silly by wearing pantyhose on her head and pretending the “legs” were her ears! We only sang the first verse.)
(Read-aloud #5: Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown)
(“Dancing” Song: “Animal Action” from Greg and Steve’s Kids in Motion)

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

*Silly Dog flannel (Source unknown)
The dog is red,
His tail is yellow,
His nose is blue.
He’s a handsome fellow!
His ears are pink,
His feet are green.
He’s the silliest dog
I’ve ever seen!

Pumpkin Time!

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(Also: my nephew/godson Jackson’s FIRST storytime!) Hope everyone has a HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 🙂

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Van Rynbach OR Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
*Fingerplay: Once there was a pumpkin
Read-aloud #2: Pumpkin Heads! by Wendell Minor OR The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
Fingerplay: Fun with Hands
**Flannel: Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Flannel: Five Little Pumpkins
Read-aloud #3: Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo OR The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
Flannel: Pumpkin Pie Time
Read-aloud #4: Brooms are for Flying by Michael Rex OR What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? (flap book) by Nick Sharratt
Puppet Story: Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley (Puppet available here.)
(Read-aloud #5 (Pop-up): Little Monsters by Jan Pienkowski)
(“Dancing” Song: “Shake My Sillies Out” from Raffi’s More Singable Songs)

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Once there was a pumpkin
Once there was a pumpkin. (Make a circle with hands.)
And it grew, And grew, And grew. (With each “grew”, make imaginary pumpkin bigger.)
Now it’s a jack-o-lantern And smiles at you! (With a smile, point to each other.)

**Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Pumpkin, pumpkin, round and fat
Turned into a jack-o-lantern just like that!
(Two-sided flannel pieces can be purchased here.)

Princes and Princesses

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Hear ye! Hear ye! A Royalty Storytime! (Thank you, Princess Evelyn for coming to visit me…)

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: George, the Dragon and the Princess by Christopher Wormell
*Flannel: Little Mouse
Read-aloud #2: King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood
Storytelling (with finger puppets): Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley
Read-aloud #3: Snog the Frog by Tony Bonning
Song/Fingerplay/Props: Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Read-aloud #4: Foggy, Foggy Forest by Nick Sharratt
Flannel: Queen of Hearts (a shape story by Jean Warren)
Fingerplay: Open, Shut Them
(“Dancing” Song: “Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands” from Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes) (I wanted to use Nancy’s Stewart’s “Clapping in the Castle”, but I was having computer issues… Good thing I had a back-up song!)

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Little Mouse
Little Mouse, Little Mouse, Are you in the [insert color] house?
(Underneath different colored flannel houses, I place different flannel animals. Using a cat puppet, we go in search of the mouse flannel…)

Yee-haw!

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My Cowboy/girl storytime on Monday was so much fun!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain by Jonathan Emmett
*Flannel: Five Little Cowgirls
Read-aloud #2: Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash (I shortened a bit…)
**Action Rhyme: I’m a Little Cowboy
Fingerplay: Ten Little Fingers
Read-aloud #3: Clip Clop by Nicola Smee
Flannel Song: Sally the Camel
Action Song: Fun with Hands
Read-aloud #4: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
(“Dancing” Song: “Hands Are For Clapping” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song)

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

**Five Little Cowgirls (Source unknown)
5 little cowgirls sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “This rodeo’s great.”
The second one said, “I love the clowns.”
The third one said, “I like the sounds.”
The fourth one said, “Can you ride a bull?”
The fifth one said, “No, but it sure looks cool!”
Then buzz went the bell, and the gate flew open–
And off went the cowgirls, ridin’ and ropin’

**I’m a Little Cowboy
I’m a little cowboy.
Here is my hat
(point to self, then to hat)
Here are my spurs
(point to your heels)
And here are my chaps
(pat legs)
As soon as I get up,
(stretch, pretend to wake up)
I work all day
(pretend to lasso a cow)
I get on my horse
(pretend to get on a horse)
And ride away.
(Pretend to gallop on a horse)

The Farmer in the Library

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Farming… always a well-received storytime theme…

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
Fingerplay: Way Up High in the Apple Tree
*Flannel: Five Little Apples
Read-aloud #2: I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs
**Flannel: Open Up the Barn Door
Read-aloud #3: When the Rooster Crowed by Patricia Lillie
Flannel Song: Old MacDonald
Read-aloud #4: The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
Action Rhyme: Hands Up High
(“Dancing” Song: “The Wiggle Song” from Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes)

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Five Little Apples
(Chanted to Five Little Monkeys Teasing Mr. Crocodile)
Five little apples hanging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Slinky Worm “you can’t eat me”,
Along comes Mr. Slinky Worm quiet as can be…
and…CRUNCH!
(Chant with 4,3,2,1)
(Used tree flannel, 5 apple flannels and a worm finger puppet)

**Open up the Barn Door (source unknown)
Open up the barn door, tra la la
There’s a sheep inside, he’s saying Baa
Open up the barn door, it’s a sunny day
There’s a horse inside, and she’s saying Neigh
Open up the barn door as fast as you know how
There’s a cat inside, and she’s saying Meow
Open up the barn door, keep it open now
There’s a dog inside who’s saying Bow-wow
Open up the barn door, we have a lot to do
There’s a cow inside, and she’s saying Moo
Open up the barn door, quick as you can point
There’s a pig inside, and he is saying Oink

Arrgh! Pirates!

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My FIRST Pirate Storytime, Mateys! Most of my plan was copied from Storytime Katie… Thanks Katie! 🙂

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler
*Flannel: Five Little Pirates (Counting)
**Flannel Song: Pirate Wore a Red Patch
Read-aloud #2: Pirate Nap by Danna Smith
Song/Fingerplay/Finger puppets: Ten in the Bed
**Fingerplay: 10 Little Pirates
Read-aloud #3: Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett J. Krosczka
Flannel: Five Elephants in the Bathtub
Read-aloud #4: Shiver Me Letters by June Sobel
Song: ABC
(“Dancing” Song: “Coconut Soap” from Frank Leto’s Time for Music)

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Five Little Pirates (Source unknown.)
Five little pirates hear the captain roar.
One raised the black flag, and then there were four.
Four little pirates, sailing on the sea,
One tumbled overboard, and then there were three.
Three little pirates, swam the ocean blue,
One swam away, and then there were two.
Two little pirates standing in the sun,
One felt too hot, and then there was one.
One little pirate liked to have fun,
He found a treasure chest, and then there were none.

**Found these gems on Storytime Katie’s site.

My Name is (Jennifer)

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New storytime session. New kids. New names…

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Mommy Doesn’t Know My Name by Suzanne Williams
*Flannel song: “Aiken Drum”
Read-aloud #2: My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee
**Song (with actions): “Hi, My Name is Joe”
Read-aloud #3: No, David by David Shannon
***Song: Tony Chestnut
Read-aloud #4: Catalina Magdelena… by Tedd Arnold
Action Rhyme: Hands up High
Fingerplay: Two Little Blackbirds
Read-aloud #5: Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
Song: Fun with Hands
(Dancing Song: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song)

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

* Aiken Drum
There was a man lived in the moon,
lived in the moon, lived in the moon,
There was a man lived in the moon,
and his name was Aiken Drum.
And he played upon a ladle,
a ladle, a ladle,
He played upon a ladle,
and his name was Aiken Drum.
And his eyes were made of gum drops…
And his nose was a banana…
And his mouth was a watermelon…
And is hair was made of green beans…
(Templates can be found in the book 52 Programs for Preschoolers: The Librarian’s Year-Round Planner by Diane Briggs.)

** “Hi, My Name is Joe”(I learned this from Sharon, Lois and Bram when I was a kid.)
(Have kids join you in movements.)

Hi. My name is Joe and I work in a button factory..
I got a wife and a dog and a family.
One day, my boss comes up to me. He says,
“Hi Joe, are you busy?”
I say “No”
He says,
“Okay, turn the button with your right hand.””
(make the motion with your right hand)

You repeat this with…
…turn the button with your left hand.
…turn the button with your right foot.
…turn the button with your left foot.
…turn the button with your head.

And then the next time he says…
”Joe, are you busy?”
You shout – “YES!”

*** Tony Chestnut
(Point to appropriate parts of the body>)
Toe Knee Chest Nut (head)
Nose Eye Love (heart)
You (point to others)
Toe Knee Nose, Toe Knee Nose
Toe Knee Chest Nut (head)
Nose Eye Love (heart)
You (point to others)
That’s what Toe Knee Nose.

Happy Birthday to Meeeeeeeeeee!

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Tomorrow (Thursday) is my birthday, so I threw myself a little birthday party storytime on Monday. All of my little “guests” were happy to get bubbles party favors 🙂 What was extra funny was that TWO of the moms had their birthday on Monday!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Little Gorilla by Ruth Bornstein
*Fingerplay: Make a Cake
Read-aloud #2: A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas
Flannel: The Enormous Turnip
**Fingerplay: The Quiet Mouse
Read Aloud #3 (Story Cards): Mouse’s Birthday by Jane Yolen
Fingerplay: Birthday Cake
(Read Aloud #4: If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff)
Action Song: Fun with Hands
(Fingerplay: Ten Little Fingers)
Read Aloud #5: Don’t Spill the Beans! by Ian Schoenherr (I had the kids whisper, “It’s Ms. Jennifer’s birthday!” every time the bear whispered the secret to a friend.)
Song: Happy Birthday
Activity: Present kids with a colorfully wrapped box. Open up the present (be dramatic and throw the paper everywhere while shaking the box). Inside there are bubbles for everyone! (In the past, I wrapped up stickers.) Hand out the favors at the end of storytime.
(“Dancing” Song: “The Freeze Dance” from Music for Little People: Birthday Party! Singalong)

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

*Make a Cake
Mix the batter, stir the batter
(make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Shake some flour in
(make a shaking motion with one arm/hand)
Mix the batter, stir the batter
(make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Place it in a tin
(pretend to pour)
Sprinkle some candy in
(pretend to sprinkle)
Pop it in the oven
(open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)
Open wide the oven door
(pretend to open door)
And out comes the cake!
(open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)

**The Quiet Mouse
Once there lived a quiet mouse
(Hold out fist with index finger extended)
In a quiet little house.
(Insert index finger into other fist)
When all was quiet as can be,
Out Popped He!!
(Throw arms and hands apart)

***Birthday Cake
Ten candles on a birthday cake
(hold up hands with palms facing out and fingers extended)
All lit up for me
(wiggle fingers)
I’ll make a wish and blow them out
Watch and you will see.
(blow and bend fingers down)

Additional “Birthday” Books: Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack, Not Last Night But the Night Before by Colin McNaughton, Who Made This Cake? by Chihiro Nakagawa, Birthday Zoo by Deborah Lee Rose, Happy Birthday Bunny! by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon, The Fairytale Cake by Mark Sperring, and The Birthday Queen by Audrey Wood

Festival Fun!

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I had a blast today at the first Larsen Park Storytelling Festival! It was great seeing the other storytellers perform. I have some new stories that I want to learn now!!! The audience was wonderful, too 🙂 I hope that I can participate in more events like this! (Have I used enough exclamation marks?!)

Stories told:
–“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.)
–“The Little Red Hen” (This is a traditional folktale, possibly of Russian-origin. I used a singing refrain from storyteller Heather Forest’s sound recording Sing Me a Story. I wore this crazy chicken hat.)
–“Chickens!” (I learned this “boo baby” story from storyteller Priscilla Howe’s cd, Chickens! and Other Stories for Young Children)
–“At Midnight” (Another story from Priscilla Howe’s cd, Chickens! and Other Stories for Young Children)
–“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” (My telling is based on Michael Rosen’s picture book version.)