Category: Family Storytime

Halloween Fun

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Our last fall storytime ended with a bang! Lots of Halloween fun… including kids previewing their cute costumes 🙂 We’re now on break until January 2015… I will miss everyone! Happy Holidays! Keep reading!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
*Flannel: Floppy Scarecrow
Song/Fingerplay: Hands Up High
Song/Fingerplay: Blackbirds
Read-aloud #2: Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
**Fingerplay: Once there was a pumpkin
***Flannel: Pumpkin, Pumpkin
****Flannel: Here is a Jack-o-lantern
Read-aloud #3: Shivery Shades of Halloween by Mary McKenna Siddals
Action Song: If You’re Wearing Red Today
*****Flannel: Five Little Witches
Read-aloud #4: What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? (flap book) by Nick Sharratt
Read-aloud #5: Brooms are for Flying by Michael Rex
Dancing Song: “Shake My Sillies Out” from Raffi’s More Singable Songs

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Floppy Scarecrow
The floppy, floppy scarecrow guards his field all day.
He waves his floppy ______ to scare the crows away!
(Have children do the action poem and listen for the different body parts.)

**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.)

****Here is a Jack-o-lantern
Here is a jack-o-lantern who’s happy
Here is a jack-o-lantern who sighs
Here is a jack-o-lantern who’s sleepy
Here is a jack-o-lantern who cries
Here is a jack-o-lantern who’s angry
Here is a jack-o-lantern who’s sad
Here is a jack-o-lantern who’s noisy
And, here is a jack-o-lantern who’s glad!!!

*****Five Little Witches
One little witch was fixing her shoe.
Another came along, and then there were two.
Two little witches climbed up high in the tree.
Another started climbing, and then there were three.
Three witched said, “More brooms. We need more!”
Another brought her broom, and then there were four.
Four little witches said, “Through the sky, let’s dive.”
Along came another, and then there were five.
Five little witches flying high in the sky,
“To the moon,” they said. “To the moon, let’s fly!”

Monsters don’t scare me (again)!

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Last week at pajama storytime and this week at my Randall Oaks storytime, I repeated my “Monsters don’t scare me!” storytime. I added in dancing with scarves to “Monster Mash” (from Kidz Bop: Halloween Party). It was a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit. Next week is our last week of the fall storytime session, and we’ll be doing a Halloween storytime. Kids are invited to preview their costumes 🙂 See you then!

Sloths Hang Out in the Rainforest

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It’s World Rainforest Week… and October 19 is Sloth International Day… so I found it appropriate to do a Sloth/Rainforest Storytime. Plus I had sloth socks and a sloth puppet that I wanted to show off! 😉

As the kids gathered for storytime, I showed them fun pictures of real sloths from A Little Book of Sloth by Lucy Cooke while my sloth puppet just hung around on my arm, snoozing. Later, I also showed them my cool rain stick!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1 (Big Book): Step Inside the Rain Forest by Meish Goldish
Fingerplay: Rain Is Falling Down
Action Song: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Read-aloud #2 (Nonfiction): The Sloth: World’s Slowest Mammal by Joy Paige
Song/Fingerplay: Hands Up High
Song/Fingerplay: Blackbirds (Only I changed it to “Two little parrots…” for our rainforest theme)
Read-aloud #3: “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth by Eric Carle
Flannel: 5 Little Sloths (Thank you, Storytiming blog for an awesome idea!)
Action Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (We sang the sloths a lullaby)
Read-aloud #3: The Very Sleepy Sloth by Andrew Murray
Flannel: Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Dancing Song: “B-Banana/Monkey See, Monkey Do” from Carole Peterson’s Stinky Cake

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

ADDITIONAL BOOKS: Had my group been slightly older, I would have liked to have shared Sparky! by Jenny Offhill. Another fun “general” rainforest book is Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck.

*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)

Bear Season

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Bears always win at storytime 😉

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Thank You Bear by Greg Foley
Flannel Song: Animals on the Bus
Fingerplay: 10 Little Fingers
Read-aloud #2: The Three Bears by Byron Barton
*Flannel: 5 Little Bears
**Fingerplay: The Beehive
Flannel: Fall Words riddles
Read-aloud #3: Leaves by David Ezra Stein
***Song/Fingerplay: Autumn Leaves
Storytelling Activity: Bear Hunt (based on Michael Rosen’s version)
****Action Rhyme: Thank You
Action Song: Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Dancing Song: “Jumping and Counting” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem

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

*5 Little Bears (Source unknown.)
There was a little bear whose name was Sue. Another came along, and then there were two!
Two little bears quickly climbed a tree to find another bear, and then there were three!
Three little bears were fishing from the shore. Then they met another, and now there were four!
Four little bears found a busy beehive. Another came along, and then there were five!
Five little bears eating honey in the sun. Out came the bees… Bzzzzzzzzzzz!… And the there were none!

**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.)

***Autumn Leaves
(Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
Autumn leaves are falling down, (Flutter fingers down)
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling on the ground.

Autumn leaves are whirling round, (Twirl in a circle)
Whirling round, whirling round.
Autumn leaves are whirling round,
All over town.

****Thank You
My hands say thank you
With a clap, clap, clap
Clap hands
My feet say thank you with a 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

October Stories

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I’ve started a new school year with Literacy Connection ESL families at Golfview! The families enjoy learning and practicing English by participating in these for-all-ages storytimes.

Opening Song: “Hands Are For Clapping” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Read-aloud #1: The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
*Fingerplay: Apples
Read-aloud #2: Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds
Song: Little Bunny Foo Foo (with finger puppets)(See a sample of me performing here.)
**Fingerplay: Scary Eyes
Read-aloud #3: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
***Song: “The Ghosts Go Gliding”
Storytelling: “Chickens!” (I learned this “boo baby” story from storyteller Priscilla Howe’s cd, Chickens! and Other Stories for Young Children)
Closing Song: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song

*Apples
Way up high in the apple tree,
(Stretch arms in the air.)
Two little apples smiled at me.
(Hold up two fists.)
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
(Shake fists in the air.)
Down came the apples.
(Drop fists to lap. Mime biting into “apples”.)
Mmm, were they good!
(Pat tummy.)

**Scary Eyes
See my big and scary eyes? (Form circles around eyes with fingers.)
Get ready for a big surprise. (Cover face with hands.)
Boo! (Uncover face peek-a-boo style.)

***“The Ghosts Go Gliding” (to the tune of “Ants Go Marching, from Jane Cobb’s I’m a Little Teapot book)
The ghosts gliding one by one, Woo! Woo!
The ghosts gliding one by one, Woo! Woo!
The ghosts gliding one by one,
The little one tripped on a skeleton.
And they all go gliding down the street to trick or treat.

The ghosts gliding two by two, Woo! Woo!…
The little one stopped when he heard a boo!…

The ghosts gliding three by three, Woo! Woo!…
The little one stopped when she saw me!…

Autumn leaves are falling down…

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It’s fall! My favorite season 🙂

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
*Fingerplay: Apples
Fingerplay: Open, Shut Them
Read-aloud #2: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
**Flannel: 5 Little Acorns
Action Song: Peanut Butter and Jelly
Read-aloud #3: We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
***Flannel: 4 Autumn Leaves
****Fingerplay: Autumn Leaves
Action Song: Fun with Hands
Read-aloud #4 (story cards): Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley
Action Song: Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Dancing Song: “Silly Dance Contest” from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Apples
Way up high in the apple tree,
(Stretch arms in the air.)
Two little apples smiled at me.
(Hold up two fists.)
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
(Shake fists in the air.)
Down came the apples.
(Drop fists to lap. Mime biting into “apples”.)
Mmm, were they good!
(Pat tummy.)

**5 Little Acorns (adapted from “5 Little Apples”)
(Chanted to Five Little Monkeys Teasing Mr. Crocodile)
Five little acorns hanging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Bushy Tail “you can’t eat me”,
Along comes Mr. Bushy Tail as hungry as can be…
and…CRUNCH!
(Chant with 4,3,2,1)
(Used tree flannel, 5 acorn flannels and a squirrel flannel or puppet)

***4 Autumn Leaves (source unknown)
Four Autumn leaves in a big old tree
One blew off, then there were three
Three little leaves with nothing to do
Another blew off, then there were two
Two little leaves in the Autumn sun
One blew off, then there was one
Being all alone wasn’t much fun
The last one blew off, then there was none

****Autumn Leaves
Leaves are floating softly down.
(Flutter fingers in downward motion.)
They make a carpet on the ground.
(Spread hands over ground.)
Then, swish, the wind comes whistling by
(Arms move side to side.)
And sends them dancing to the sky.
(Hands flutter into air.)

Let’s Clap Our Hands for Ice Cream!

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September 22 is National Ice Cream Cone Day! YUM!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
Flannel: Ice Cream Colors (by Susan M. Paprocki, in 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays, p. 198)
Action Song: If You’re Wearing Red Today
Read-aloud #2: Isaac the Ice Cream Truck by Scott Santoro
*Flannel: Parking Lot Rhyme
Song (with flannel pieces): The Wheels on the Bus
Read-aloud #3: Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by Margret Rey
Action Song: 5 Little Monkeys
Song (did only first verse, used flannel pieces and cow puppet): Twenty Eight Scoops of Ice Cream by Brent Holmes (super cute interpretation found on YouTube)
**Action Song: Let’s Clap Our Hands for Ice Cream
Dancing Song (with shakers): “Milkshake Song” from Songs for Wiggleworms

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Parking Lot Rhyme (Source unknown)
There are many machines to take us places.
Here they come to their parking spaces.
Here comes the fire truck, shiny and bright.
Here comes the ambulance, blinking its light.
Here comes the train; its whistle blows.
Here comes the bus; it stops and it goes.
Here comes the car with a family inside.
So many machines in which to ride.

**Let’s Clap Our Hands for Ice Cream (by Heather McPhail, seen here)
(Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)
Oh, let’s clap our hands for ice cream,
For ice cream, for ice cream.
Oh, let’s clap our hands for ice cream,
’Cause we love it so.
It’s cold and it’s sweet
And it’s our favorite treat.
Oh, let’s clap our hands for ice cream,
’Cause we love it so.

More verses: “Oh, let’s stomp our feet, Oh, let’s nod our heads,” and so forth.

Wedding Love

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Today is my seventh wedding anniversary! To celebrate, we did a wedding-themed storytime, Hokey Pokey and all! 😉

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Jake Baked the Cake by B.G. Hennessy
*Fingerplay: Make a Cake
Action Song: Tony Chestnut
Read-aloud #2: The Ring Bearer by Laura Godwin
Flannel: The Little Cockroach Martina (from The Flannel Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra)
**Fingerplay: The Love Bug
Read-aloud #3 (Story Cards): A Kiss from Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Flannel: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (Templates available here.)
Fingerplay: My Eyes Can See
Song (with dog puppet): Snuggle Puppy from Sandra Boynton: Philadelphia Chickens
Read-aloud #4: Stop Kissing Me! By Ethan Long
Dancing Song: “Hokey Pokey” from Carole Peterson: Sticky Bubble Gum and Other Tasty Tunes

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*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 Love Bug (source unknown)
It begins with a grin (smile Broadly)
It turns to giggle (put both hands on mouth and giggle)
You start to laugh (throw head back and laugh out loud)
Your legs start to wiggle (put feet in the air and shake)
You look all around for someone to hug (move eyes back and forth)
What can you do (shrug shoulders)
You’ve caught the love bug (hug another child or yourself)
ACHOOO!

***My Eyes Can See
(Suit actions to words.)
My eyes can see.
My mouth can talk.
My ears can hear.
My feet can walk.
My nose can sniff.
My teeth can chew.
My lids can flutter.
My arms hug you!

To the Moon!

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The fall storytime session has BLASTED OFF! We have seven more weeks of fun ahead of us 🙂

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Flannel: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw (Flannel pieces here.)
Action Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
*Flannel song: Aiken Drum
Read-aloud #2: Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I’m Off to the Moon! by Dan Yaccarino
Flannel: I Have a Rocket Ship
Fingerplay: 10 Little Fingers
Read-aloud #3: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Song/Fingerplay: Tommy Thumb
Song/Fingerplay (with finger puppets): Ten in the Bed
Read-aloud #4 (Big Book): Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Dancing Song: “Shake My Sillies Out” from Raffi’s More Singable Songs

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

ADDITIONAL BOOKS not used this time: Eight Days Gone by Linda McReynolds, Can’t Sleep by Chris Raschka

*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.)

A Zoo to You!

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In celebration of me going to the zoo last Saturday and of our upcoming A Zoo to You! program at the Dundee Library (Real live animals! At the library!), our last summer storytime (sniff sniff) was all about Zoo Animals 🙂

Our fall storytime schedule starts back up on Monday, September 8! Have a great rest of the summer!

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

PROGRAM:
Read-aloud #1: Zoo Animals 123 by Rebecca Fjelland Davis
*Flannel: Elephants in the Ring
**Action Song: This is the Way We Clap Our Hands
Read-aloud #2 (Big Book): Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Action Song: Silly Hat Song
Action Song: Fun with Hands
Read-aloud #3 Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett
Fingerplay: Open, Shut Them
Flannel: Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice
Read-aloud #4 (Big Book): Head to Toe by Eric Carle
*Action Rhyme: Not Say a Single Word
Dancing Song: “Animal Action” from Greg and Steve’s Kids in Motion

CLOSING:
Closing song: We Wave Goodbye

*Elephants in the Ring (Source unknown.)
Little elephant in the ring
standing on a piece of string
My, my! What a stunt!
Let’s all clap for the elephant!
(Continue with all 5 elephants)

**This is the Way We Clap Our Hands
(Tune: “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we clap our hands,
Clap our hands, clap our hands.
This is the way we clap our hands,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we tap our toes…
This is the way we touch our nose…
This is the way we stomp our feet…

***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?