My library system has one central location and 9 branches.  To make storytime programming easier for all involved, we use storyboxes.  These are “storytimes in a box”.  They contain everything a storyteller would need for a successful storytime including books, videos, fingerplays and crafts.  Ideally, there should be enough variety that the box can be used for infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and lower elementary ages.   The boxes are routed from branch to branch so that each week a branch has a different storytime ready to go.  You don’t have to use the storyboxes, but they are there as an option when you need them.  Here’s the my latest storybox.

Bedtime – “You won’t want to catch any Zzzzs while listening to these great stories!”

BOOKS:

  
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!  by Mo Willems
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to Sleep? by Bill Martin Jr.
The Prince Won’t Go to Bed! by Dayle Ann Dodds

  

The Woods by Paul Hoppe
No Sleep for the Sheep! by Karen Beaumont
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

  

Mother, Mother, I Want Another by Maria Polushkin Robbins
Baby Can’t Sleep by Lisa Schroeder
Back to Bed, Ed! by Sebastien Braun

 

CREAK! Said the Bed by Phyllis Root
Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed? by Barney Saltzberg
Froggy Goes to Bed by Jonathan London

 

Time for Bed by Mem Fox
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massey

FLANNELBOARDS:

5 in the Bed

Pattern from: Making Learning Fun

There were five in the bed,
and the little one said,
“It’s crowded!
Roll Over!”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out.

There were four in the bed…

**Continue counting down until…

There was one in the bed
and the little one said

Ending Option 1:
“I’m Lonely!”
So all the others climbed back into bed.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
And everyone drifted off to sleep.
Goodnight!

Ending Option 2:
“Ahhh… Just Right!
Goodnight!”

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Pattern and Song from Felt Board Fingerplays by Liz and Dick Wilmes

Five little monkeys
jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

 Continue counting down until no monkeys are left.

(Since the storybox travels from place to place, flannelboard pieces often get lost.  That’s why I used a pellon version of this story, instead of my felt version seen here.)

MOVEMENT, SONGS, AND FINGERPLAYS:

Time for Bed
Time for bed, time for bed
Fluff your pillow(make fluffing motion with hands)
Lay down your head (palms together, place side of face on palms)
Tuck in tight (pull blanket up to chin)
Close your eyes (close eyes)
And sleep all night (snore).

Good Night
Two little hands go clap, clap, clap
Two little hands lie in my lap
Two little feet go bump, bump, bump
Two little legs give one last jump
Two little eyes are shut up tight
One little voice whispers low,
“Goodnight.”

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (Short Version)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach up high
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the sky
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch your knees
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, sit down please

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (Long Version)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, show your shoe.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, that will do!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, go upstairs.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn off the light.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good-night!

There Were Five in the Bed
There were five in the bed (hold up 5 fingers)
And the little one said, “Roll over, Roll over!”  (twirl both hands around each other)
So they all rolled over and one fell out (hold up 1 finger)
There were four in the bed (hold up four fingers)

**Continue the rhyme counting down until**

There was one in the bed  (hold up one finger)
And the little one said
I’ve got so much room! (spread arms out wide)
Goodnight!    (lay head on hands)

The Goodnight Song
(Tune of: “London Bridge is Falling Down”)
Now it’s time to say goodnight,
Say goodnight, say goodnight.
Now it’s time to say goodnight,
It’s time for home and sleep.

This Little Boy
This little boy is ready for bed (hold up index finger)
Down on the pillow he lays his head (place index finger in the palm of other hand)
Wraps himself in his covers tight (hand wrapped around finger)
And here he sleeps all the night (rock hands back and forth)

Diddle, Diddle Dumpling
Diddle, diddle dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his stockings on;
One shoe off and one shoe on,
Diddle, diddle dumpling, my son John.

Big Yellow Moon
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (Arms above head in circle shape.)
Glides across the starry night, (Arms move from left to right.)
Looks down at me (Hand shades eyes.)
Asleep in bed, (Hands together at side of face.)
Whispers, “Good night, sleepyhead.” (Forefinger in front of mouth.)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done. (Arms above head move down in front of body.)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun. (Arms move above head in circle shape.)
I wake up. (Arms stretch out.)
You go to bed. (Hands together at side of face.)
“Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead.” (Forefinger in front of mouth.)

Sleeping Time
Down comes the sun
And up comes the moon.
It will be sleeping time soon.
Birds are quiet in their trees.
Cows and horses rest on their knees.
Sleepy children are tucked into beds,
With good night kisses upon their heads.

Are You Sleepy?
(tune: Frere Jaques)
Are you sleepy? Are you sleepy? (rub eyes)
Yes I am. Yes I am. (nod head)
Take your cozy blanket (pull hands up to neck)
And your teddy bear (hug self)
Close your eyes (close eyes)
Go to sleep. (put hands under head)

Going to Bed
This little child is going to bed.
Down on the pillow he lays his head (rest head on hands)
He wraps himself in covers tight (wrap hands across body)
And this is the way he sleeps all night. (close eyes, nod head)

 Morning comes, he opens his eyes, (raise head, eyes open wide)
Off with a toss the covers fly.  (fling arms wide)
Soon he is up and dressed and awake,  (jump up)
Ready for fun and play all day. (clap hands and turn in a circle)

CRAFTS:

Pajama Coloring Page

Decorate the pajamas however you want to make a truly unique pair!

Paper Plate Moon & Star

Materials Needed:
–        Paper Plate Moon Template (I just made my own by drawing the moon shape I wanted on a paper plate, then cutting  away the part that I didn’t need for the moon.  I used this as my template to trace for the others)
–        Stars Template
–        Paper Plate
–        Small Strand of Ribbon or Yarn
–        Paper Star
–        Crayons
–        Scissors
–        Single Hole Punch

Using the Moon Paper Plate template trace the shape of the moon on the paper plate.  Cut the plate so that it looks like a crescent moon. Decorate the moon as desired.  Cut out the paper star and decorate both sides.  Punch a hole in the top of the moon and one in the top of the star.  String the ribbon or yarn through the holes to attach the star to the moon.  Tie the ribbon in a knot to secure it.

Adapted from a craft featured on Confessions of a Real Librarian

Tuck-Me-In Teddy
   
 Materials Needed:
–        Copy of Teddy Bear in Pajamas
–        Piece of construction paper
–        Crayons, Markers, Etc.
–        Glue stick
–        Scissors

To prep the bed, fold a piece of construction paper in half so that it is 8.5”x 5.5”.  On the top page, cut out half of the page – first along the folded edge, then across the middle of the paper in a wavy line.  Color and cut out the teddy bear.  Glue this to the larger of the halves of the construction paper, so that the top paper covers the bear up to its chin.

*To save paper, you can make this craft smaller and only use ½ a piece of construction paper for the bed.  Make sure you make your teddy bear smaller too, then!

Adapted from a craft found on Read it Again!

Teddy bear in pajamas found here via a Google Images search for “pajama coloring page”.  Edited a bit to suit my purposes.