Owls- Toddler Storytime

Posted on December 14, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

Today was the last storytime for this session. My how time flies. Just like the animals I highlighted today — owls! This was actually the first time I did an owl storytime for infants and toddlers, it’s always been taken by other storytellers. Hooray for getting to try out new things.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT:“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman.

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

I’m Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen

MOVEMENT: “Reach for the Ceiling” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider*

COUNTING SONG:*

Owls

FLANNELBOARD:
One Night Owl

Pattern via Google Images Search

(to tune of “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)
There was one night owl in the tree:
Hoo! Hoo!
There was one night owl in the tree:
Hoo! Hoo!
Oh, he called up to the sky to an owl flying by,
And the owl came and joined him happily:
Hoo! Hoo!

Repeat with two night owls, three, and four.

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

10 am: Owlet’s First Flight by Mitra Modarressi
11 am: Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood

MOVEMENT: “Two Little Blackbirds” from Fingerplays and Footplays by Rosemary Hallum and Henry “Buzz” Glass

VIDEO:

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS IDEAS:

Hoot! Hoot! by Richard Powell
Good-Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins
Any of the other Owl books by Jonathan Allen
DVD: Any Little Bear video with Owl in it.

HOW IT WENT:
For my first time doing owls, this storytime wasn’t too bad. I like reading I’m Not Cute, but after doing so I wondered if maybe some of the other owl books by the same author might work better for a toddler audience. I wasn’t thrilled with Owlet’s First Flight at the first storytime, so I thought I would try a different option for the second. I think they both probably worked equally well.

Since this was my last storytime for the Fall 2012 session, there will be fewer infant toddler storytimes up on my blog, but I will keep updating it with the other age programs that I do.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 34 people 11 am: 26 people

* For these songs, please see my Storytime Movements & Music page

Owls – Infant Storytime

Posted on December 14, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

We finished up our Fall Infant Storytime with Owls!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: In the Toaster*

BOUNCE: Ride a Little Pony*

BOUNCE: Icky Bicky Soda Cracker*

BOOK:

Good-Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins

I skipped the page where you repeat all the bird noises again in this reading. I would have done that if I had an older audience.

MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD:
One Night Owl

Pattern via Google Images Search

Repeat with two night owls, three, and four.

BOUNCE: “Smooth Road to London Town” from A Smooth Road to London Town: Songs from the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program by Kathy Reid-Naiman

BOOK:

Wow! said the Owl by Tim Hopgood

TICKLE: Chicken in the Barnyard*

NURSERY RHYME:
Little Bo Peep

Pattern and rhyme from Mother Goose’s Playhouse: Toddler Tales and Nursery Rhymes with Patterns for Puppets and Feltboards by Judy Sierra

Little Bo Peep
has lost her sheep
and doesn’t know where
to find them.

Leave them alone
and they’ll come home.
Wagging their tails
behind them.

I do this as is suggested by Sierra in her book. I hide the sheep as they go up on the flannelboard behind bushes. We say the rhyme once through, then “look” for the sheep. Once the sheep are revealed we count them all together, and say the rhyme together once more.

MOVEMENT: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 3 from Walt Disney

MOVEMENT: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Owl Babies by Waddell
Book: Owelet’s First Flight by Modarressi
Book: Hoot! Hoot! by Powell

HOW IT WENT:

Since this was my last infant storytime for this session I decided to do a quick review of all the different bounces we had learned during the past ten weeks. It seemed a good way to keep those ideas fresh for parents. I could have done the same with the tickles, I suppose, but the children seem to enjoy the bounces more. I really need to make a flannelboard of Good-Night, Owl! because I think that would translate beautifully into that type of storytelling. Also, I could probably stand to find a few better, younger books for infants on owls for the next time I do this theme.

ATTENDANCE: 18 people

* For these songs, please see my page Storytime Movements & Music

Riddles and Folktales – 5th Grade

Posted on December 12, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

I always find doing the older class visits a welcome challenge. We get more frequent visits from the younger grades, so it’s nice to mix things up every now and then with an older audience. I found out I had to do this class visit just two days or so before it occurred – I think if I had more time to get things together I would have liked to do some booktalks of different things in addition to a folktale and video. However, since my time to prep was shorter, here’s what I went with.

BOOK:

A Huge Hog is a Big Pig: A Rhyming Word Game by Francis McCall & Patricia Keeler

BOOK SELECTIONS:

If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky

FLANNELBOARD:
Dewey Decimal 100s

For this flannelboard, I put the different Dewey 100s categories on the flannelboard with some space in between each of them.

Then I have a bunch of different topics that I created using Microsoft Word Clip Art, cut them out, laminated them, and glued felt to the back. I move around the room and each student picks out a different square. Then, one by one, they come up to the flannelboard and try to place the square under the correct Dewey 100s. Of course, advisement from the audience and me is encouraged and welcomed. We talk about why each one is put into each category.

At the end, you end up with a listing of all the different categories in their 100s groupings.

I’ve only used this twice, so I’m still learning the best way to make it work with the group. I think I need to remember to pass out a bookmark with the Dewey categories, or some sort of cheat sheet ahead of time to boost confidence and accuracy. Also, I need to make sure that the squares I’ve created for the game are clear-cut topics. Although not having them be that easy probably shows the reality of the Dewey Decimal System more clearly.

BOOK:

Little Rooster’s Diamond Button by Margaret Read MacDonald

VIDEO:

“The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” from The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs … and More Animal Adventures

ATTENDANCE: 19 people

HOW IT WENT:
A Huge Hog is a Big Pig is a game of “hinky pinky” where you have two words that describe something (“huge hog”) and you have to find two synonyms for each of those words that rhyme (“big pig”). I love this idea and I keep thinking that it will be great to do with a group. However, I’ve had a hard time finding an audience to match it with. I know the book looks rather young, but I had tried it before with 3rd graders, to get them to guess the answers, and they didn’t really seem to get the concept. So I thought this time I would try it with fifth grade and see how it went with them. They participated with it, but some didn’t seem to grasp the fundamental concept of the game. Maybe I need to try spending a little more time prepping that before I read the book. Using If Not for the Cat as a guessing game is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while. You read the poem without showing the illustrations, and then the audience has to guess what creature the haiku represents. This worked a lot better than A Huge Hog.. and I think it is something I should return to during April for poetry month. I was also surprised by how well Little Rooster’s Diamond Button went over. Everything MacDonald does is wonderful. And, of course the kids would like it, since it involves sitting on a chicken who has just swallowed a bunch of bees!

Penguins – Preschool Storytime

Posted on December 8, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

Winter is a fine time to celebrate penguins! Though I’ve done a penguins theme with my infant and toddler groups, this was my first time doing a penguin storytime with the preschoolers. What took me so long — it went really well! I think this theme works better with this age group.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

MOVEMENT: “Can’t Wait to Celebrate” from Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem by Jim Gill

BOOK:

Turtle’s Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev

FLANNELBOARD:
Penguin Went Over the Iceberg

Idea Storytime Katie

(to tune of: “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”)

The penguin went over the iceberg
The penguin went over the iceberg
The penguin went over the iceberg
to see what he could see.
But all that he could see
But all that he could see
was
The other side of the iceberg
The other side of the iceberg
The other side of the iceberg
was all that he could see.

THEMED MOVEMENT:
Waddling Penguins
(to tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)
Penguins, penguins having fun
Wadding in the shining sun
Waddling fast and waddling slow
Waddling to and waddling fro.
Penguins, penguin having fun
Waddling in the shining sun.

BOOK:

Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon

MOVEMENT: “Shake My Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs for the Very Young by Raffi

FLANNELBOARD:
Pippa’s Penguin

Pattern and story from Susan M. Dailey. Find it here.

VIDEO:

“A Hatchling’s Song” through “Pengun’s First Swim” from Antarctic Antics on Antarctic Antics …and More Hilarious Animal Stories!

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Sergio Makes a Splash! by Edel Rodriguez
Book: Cuddly Dudley by Jez Alborough
Book: If You Were a Penguin by Wendell & Florence Minor
Book: Playful Little Penguins by Tony Mitton

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:

As I mentioned in my intro, I think the penguin theme worked a lot better with preschoolers than it has with a younger crowd. There are just better books for an older age range. Turtle’s Penguin Day worked really well, especially since I read that one first. Penguin and Pinecone inspired a lot of “awww”s from the audience. It really is a sweet story, and I love the illustrations for it. I feel like I could probably do more with my presentation to make “The Penguin Went Over the Mountain” flannelboard more interesting, but it’s a fun song and the kids and parents sing along when we do it twice in a row. “Pippa’s Penguin” was a really good one and the kids laughed a lot — I just need to remember not to drag my into to that story out for very long, so that I can get to putting up the penguins. I do need to outline my penguin in white though so that it shows up on our black flannelboard.

ATTENDANCE: 29 (adults and children)

Christmas – Kindergarten Storytime

Posted on December 5, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

Usually, I try to stay away from holiday themes, unless we have done specific publicity for a holiday program. But, I figure visits from the local Catholic school are a good time to break out the Christmas stories.

BOOK:

FLANNELBOARD:
The Toy Shop

Patterns and Rhyme from Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Will Love by Diana Briggs

Here is Santa’s toy shop,
and happy are we
for there are so many, many
toys here to see.

Wonderful toys,
all in a row
And bright-colored tops
That sing as they go.

And here in a box,
is a doll that can talk.
And here is a soft wooly dog
that can walk.

Just see this funny old
Jack in the box.
Watch him pop out.
Oh my, what a shock!

Here is the counter
Piled high with the toys,
For you little girls
And you little boys.

We hope, wonderful toys,
That some of you may
Come straight to us
On Christmas Day.

MOVEMENT: The Reindeer Pokey

(to the tune of The Hokey-Pokey)
You put your hooves in
You put your hooves out
You put your hooves in
And you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Pokey
and you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about.

You put your antlers in…
You put your shaggy tail in…
You put your reindeer self in….

BOOK:

Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea

VIDEO:

“Max’s Christmas” from Max and Ruby’s Christmas

ATTENDANCE: 31 people

HOW IT WENT:
I thought this was a pretty good storytime. The kids loved The Reindeer Pokey, so I would use that one again in a heartbeat. I’m not sure about the flannelboard story I chose this time — I think it would have been more fun to do something a bit more interactive. But, it worked in a pinch.

Safari – Toddler Storytime

Posted on December 4, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

Today we took a trip to see lots of different animals. We went on safari!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT:“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman.

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen

MOVEMENT: “Reach for the Ceiling” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider*

COUNTING SONG:*

Elephants

FLANNELBOARD:
One Little Lion (filed under Lions – Count Up Rhymes)

Rhyme from ABC Literacy Storytimes: Storytimes to Promote Literacy and Learning by Marilyn Lohnes

One little lion, roaring at the zoo,
Called for another: ROAR!
Then there were two.

Two little lions, underneath a tree,
Called for another: ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were three.

Three little lions, who heard a distant roar,
Called for another: ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were four.

Four little lions, happy and alive,
called for another: ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Then there were five.

Five little lions.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Ran off to play
And then there were no more.

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Splash! by Flora McDonnell
MOVEMENT: “Two Little Blackbirds” from Fingerplays and Footplays by Rosemary Hallum and Henry “Buzz” Glass

VIDEO:

“Mouse in the House” from The Poky Little Puppy and Friends

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS IDEAS:

When the Elephant Walks by Keiko Kasza
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Do Crocs Kiss? by Salina Yoon
Little Elephant by Miela Ford
Watch Us Play by Miela Ford

Flannelboard: 10 Lions (for Counting)

HOW IT WENT:
This storytime came about because I really wanted to try reading Tiny Little Fly to a group. I had put it on my good books list a while back, but hadn’t gotten around to using it, so I thought it was time. I think I want to try it again with a preschool audience to see how it works there. It was fine with these groups, but I think I either need to try it with a different age group or practice a bit more to get the most out of it. Splash! worked well as it always does.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 36 people 11 am: 33 people

* For these songs, please see my Storytime Movements & Music page

Safari – Infant Storytime

Posted on December 4, 2012 by jeninthelibrary

Today was an adventure in African animals

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: Icky Bicky Soda Cracker*

BOOK:

Do Crocs Kiss? by Salina Yoon

I skipped the bear page and the owl page this time in this book.

MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD:
One Fierce Lion (filed with flannelboards under Lions – Count Up Rhymes)

Rhyme adapted from ABC Literacy Storytimes: Storytimes to Promote Literacy and Learning by Marilyn Lohnes
Pattern via Google Images Search

(to tune of Frere Jacques)
One fierce lion, one fierce lion —
Hear him roar, hear him roar
Calling for another, calling for another
There’s one more, There’s one more.

Continue counting for 2, 3

Four fierce lions, four fierce lions.
There’s no more, there’s no more.
Hear them ROAR!

I do this as a call and response song where I sing the first line and then the audience repeats it back to me. It seems to work well that way. And even though I have five lions featured in the picture, I only do this rhyme up to four.

BOUNCE: “Smooth Road to London Town” from A Smooth Road to London Town: Songs from the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program by Kathy Reid-Naiman

BOOK:

Whose Tail? by Sam Lloyd

TICKLE: Chicken in the Barnyard*

NURSERY RHYME:
Jack Be Nimble

Flannelboard from Little Folk Visuals

Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jumped over the candlestick.

I do this rhyme as a bounce as well. First we say the rhyme just on its own. Then I explain that the parents and “jump” their baby from one leg to the other when Jack jumps over the candlestick. We do it together this way a few times.

MOVEMENT: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 3 from Walt Disney

MOVEMENT: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Little Elephant by Miela Ford
When the Elephant Walks by Keiko Kasza
Splash! by Flora McDonnell

Flannelboard: Five Elephants in the Bathtub

HOW IT WENT:
This storytime went well. I’m trying to find some good larger size board books to use with the infants and toddlers, and Whose Tail? seemed to be a good choice. It isn’t the largest format size, but the pictures are bright and colorful, so it seemed to work well.

ATTENDANCE: 24 people

* For these songs, please see my page Storytime Movements & Music

Jen in the Library

Storytimes, Programs and Library Thoughts

Monthly Archives: December 2012

Owls- Toddler Storytime

Owls – Infant Storytime

Riddles and Folktales – 5th Grade

Penguins – Preschool Storytime

Christmas – Kindergarten Storytime

Safari – Toddler Storytime

Safari – Infant Storytime