I hope that everyone had a fantastic 4th of July!

Once again, I had the honor of presenting at Crystal Lake’s annual Lakeside Festival. This was my SIXTH year bringing storytime to the fest. I had a great turnout and a really fun audience–including “kids” I used to babysit for… and THEIR KIDS! Wow, I’m getting old 😉

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud (Big Book): King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood
Flannel: Five Elephants in the Bathtub
Action Song: We Wiggle and Wiggle and Stop
Flannel Story: Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley
Action Song: Tommy Thumb
Puppet Story: The Napping House from the book by Audrey Wood (See librarian Steven Englefried’s YouTube demonstration.)
Rhyme (with finger puppets): Ten in the Bed
**Fingerplay: Rain Is Falling Down
Storytelling: Now I’ve Gotcha (I learned this “boo baby” story from storyteller Priscilla Howe)
Action Song: Let Everyone Clap Hands With Me (from Pete Seeger: American Folk, Game & Activity Songs for Children)

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.

**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)

***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