Airplanes – eStorytime

Posted on July 24, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

In the midst of Summer, with everyone taking vacations, I thought it would be fun to feature airplanes in today’s eStorytime!

Opening Slide on Keynote:
Airplanes eStorytime - 2015-07-24

SONG:

Come Along and Sing with Me

APP:

100 Planes from Michael Krynski ($2.99; iOS)

This simple app, part of the 100 things series, shows lots of pictures and has videos of all types of planes. I wanted to use this as a started for what the theme of storytime was going to be. I just showed a few different pictures from the app, and then played a short video clip.

APP:

Build and Play 3D from Croco Studio ($2.99 ; iOS, Android, Samsung app)

Before we read stories about planes, I thought we should build our own. Build and Play 3D is an app that includes a bunch of different toys (trucks, airplanes, robots, etc) and then you “assemble” the parts of the toy by touching and dragging on your tablet. It’s a fun way to build shape recognition and puzzle solving skills. I learned about this app at “Explore, Play and Imagine: Interactive Tech Time in Kids Library Programming” a presentation at ALA 2015 by staff from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburg.

eBook/APP:

Planes by Byron Barton from Oceanhouse Media ($1.99, iOS)

This book is what made me want to do a plane storytime. Based on the print book, it translates beautifully into a vibrant app. While the price above is for the single app, you can also buy the Bryon Barton Collection #1 from Oceanhouse Media which has Planes, Trains, Boats and Trucks for $4.99.

FINGERPLAY:

The Airplane
The airplane has great big wings (arms out at sides)
Its propeller spins around and sings (move arms in circle)
The airplane goes up (raise arms)
The airplane goes down (lower arms)
The airplane flies high (arms out at sides)
Over our town. (turn in a circle with arms out at sides)

APP:

Felt Board from Software Smoothie ($2.99; iOS)
I used felt board to do the song/rhyme “Five Little Airplanes” I found from pattyshukla on YouTube.

Five Little Airplanes
Five little airplanes flying around
Zoom…zoom…zomm
One decided to touch down …zoom
Leaving 4 little airplanes flying around.

Continue song with 4…3…2…1…

There were not little airplanes flying around
Then all 5 airplanes left the ground
Zooooooom!
All five airplanes flying around.

I started with five airplanes on a blue background. When we sang about them flying around I used my fingers to touch the screen and move the planes gently. When it was time for one of the planes to touch down, I just tapped on the trash can for the board, then on one of the planes so it would “zoom” away. When you get to the last verse of the song, just add five new planes to the screen. Fun!

PRINT BOOK:

My First Airplane Ride by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Nancy Speir

APP:

Plane Wash from Happy Touch Apps (FREE; iOS)

The title of this app explains it perfectly — you wash a plane. First, select which type of plane you’d like to clean. Next, go step by step to make sure that plane is sparkling – rinse it, scrub it, wipe it and dry it! For this app, I brought it down to the kids and we took turns doing the different cleaning activities.

MOVEMENT:

“Shake My Sillies Out” by Raffi from More Singable Songs

eBook/APP:

Around the World by James Carter and Anne Wilson from Collins Big Cat (FREE; iOS)

A brief story about children who travel around the world through sun and snow and visit Africa, India, and China. I just read the story part of the app, but one of the fun features of this (and all the free Collins Big Cat apps) is that they all come with a story creator section. You can use this to make your own stories using set backgrounds, objects, and characters from the story. Then add your own text. You can even record and listen to the stories you create.

SONG: “Storytime’s Over”*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

APP: Bamba Airport from, Mezmedia ($3.99; iOS): Similar to all the other Bamba apps, where you get to guide characters through all the steps of an airport or plane ride.
APP: Dr. Panda’s Airport from Dr. Panda ($3.99; iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows) Like Bamba Airport, take animals through the airport
APP: I Learn with Transportation from Dada Company ($2.99; iOS, Andriod, Amazon) Children learn shapes, colors, numbers and more by way of various methods of transportation.

THOUGHTS ON THIS eSTORYTIME:
This storytime went pretty well! I think I am getting the hang of eStorytimes! (Knock on wood.) I had a really small group of people today (as you can see from the numbers below), but the adults were really interested in the apps I was using, and took lots of photos so they could remember them. One caregiver was very effusive in her compliments to me as well, saying that she liked that I stuck with a theme and she was very impressed by me. That was very sweet. And ti’s a nice thing to look back on and remember for when my programs don’t go so well.

ATTENDANCE: 4 people (children and adults)

*To see the words to these movements and activities I use frequently, please visit my A-capella Movements Section on my Storytime Movements and Music Page

Please note: App prices were correct at the time of writing this blog, but may have changed since. All prices taken from the iOS app price. There may also be changes to available platforms for apps as well.

Dogs – Toddler Storytime

Posted on July 21, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

My last storytime for toddlers about dogs was in 2013, so I thought it was time to revisit that theme. Plus, I had found a few different books I wanted to try out.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands, Clap Your Hands” from Tickles and Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

My Dog is the Best by Laurie Ann Thompson, pictures by Paul Schmid

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

COUNTING SONG:*

10 Dogs

FLANNELBOARD:
Where, Oh Where has my Little Dog Gone?

Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?

Idea taken from Drake Community Library Story Tree blog

This is a fun hide-and-seek flannel board along the lines of “Little Mouse, Little Mouse”

Start by singing the song:

Where, oh where, has my little dog gone,
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his ear so short
And his tail so long.
Oh where, oh where can he be?

While you are singing the song, mix up the flannelboard shapes and hide the dog behind one of them. Towards the end of the song, place the pieces, one with the dog behind it, on the flannel board. Then go shape by shape to see if you can uncover the dog.

It’s fun to pretend you don’t know where the dog is, even if the kids can see it peeking out from behind the shape.

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

MOVEMENT: Grandma’s Spectacles*

BOOK:

Stick! by Andy Pritchett

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

VIDEO:

“Storytime with Spot” from Storytime with Spot

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George
Book: Time for Bed, Fred by Yasmeen Ismail
Book: Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd (or as a flannelboard)
Book: Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Donald Wu

HOW IT WENT:
It was a good time at toddler storytime today. My Dog is the Best got a lot of “awws” from the crowd, but I’m not sure if it might work better with a preschool audience, so they could get all the jokes in the illustrations. And Stick! was a lot of fun too.

The flannelboard was a big hit — I’m glad I tried something new for that.

Attendance today was lower than usual — maybe because the weather is so hot and muggy. I didn’t remember to go through guidelines this week (but it seems like I didn’t need to), but I will try to remember to do so again after I call more people on the waitlist.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 43 people 11 am: 30 people

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

Dogs – Infant Storytime

Posted on July 21, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

I hadn’t done a dog storytime for a while (you can see my last one here), so I thought it was time for a little puppy fun.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: In the Toaster*

BOOK:

Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill

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

FLANNELBOARD:
Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?

Idea taken from Drake Community Library Story Tree blog

This is a fun hide-and-seek flannel board along the lines of “Little Mouse, Little Mouse”

Start by singing the song:

Where, oh where, has my little dog gone,
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his ear so short
And his tail so long.
Oh where, oh where can he be?

The kids especially liked when the dog hid behind the triangle, which is a little too small for the dog.

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.

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake*

BOOK:

One Two That’s My Shoe! by Alison Murray

TICKLE: Chicken in the Barnyard*

SONG: “Babies Little Self” from the album Here I Am! by Caspar Babypants

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Hickory Dickory Dock

Flannelboard pattern taken from Mother Goose’s Playhouse by Judy Sierra.

Hickory Dickory Dock
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one – Ding-dong
The mouse ran down
Hickory Dickory Dock

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: I Love Dogs by Barney Saltzber
Book: Dogs by Emily Gravett

HOW IT WENT:
A fun storytime! Where’s Spot? is a classic and always works wonderfully. Each time I read that book, I try to channel my library school profession Virginia Walter who presented it to my class as an example of dialogic reading, and try to live up to that rendition.

Last time I did a dog storytime, I used Dog’s Colorful Day as my flannelboard of choice. I think this one worked better with infants, because it wasn’t so long.

ATTENDANCE: 36 people

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

Let’s Go for a Walk – Toddler Storytime

Posted on July 16, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

Come, take a stroll with me through the toddler storytime I presented this week.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands, Clap Your Hands” from Tickles and Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

On Our Way Home by Sebastien Braun

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

COUNTING SONG:*

10 Shoes

FLANNELBOARD:
I Went Walking

Based on the book of the same name by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas. Pattern from 2’s Experience Felt Board Fun written by Liz and Dick Wilmes, illustrated by Janet McDonnell

I went walking. What did I see? (place animal behind the boy)
I saw a black cat looking at me.

Continue with the following animals:
– brown horse
– red cow
– green duck
– pink pig
– yellow dog

You should end up with a parade of animals behind the child.

I went walking and I saw a lot of animals following me!

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

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles

BOOK:

Wiggle Waggle by Jonathan London, illustrated by Michael Rex

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

VIDEO:

“Rosie’s Walk” from Chicka Chick Boom Boom … and lots more learning fun!

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Baby Can by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss
Book: Duckie’s Rainbow by Frances Barry
Book: Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Christopher Denise
Book: Walking through the Jungle by Debbie Harter
Movie: “A Walk in the Woods” from Baby’s First Word Stories: Nighttime
Movie: “Spot’s First Walk” from Spot Goes to School
Song: “Walking, Walking” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School for Folk Music

HOW IT WENT:
This was a fun storytime theme, and I would use it again because there are so many other fun options to switch in and use.

I did have some trouble today with parents chatting all through the storytime. I think next week I am going to try doing a reminder of storytime guidelines, using the excuse that since I’ve added some people on the waitlist we all need a refresher.

Also, there is one child in my storytime who loves to come up and take things off the flannelboard. This child also reaches into the places where I store my pieces and pulls them out. At this storytime, I gave him a flannelboard piece that I wasn’t using in hopes that he would play with that, but of course he wanted to put it on the flannelboard (I mean, that’s what it’s for, right?) I thinking next week I am going to try bringing along a tangle toy or something similar to see if that will work as a distraction.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 43 people 11 am: 42 people

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

Go for a Walk! – Infant Storytime

Posted on July 16, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

I feel like some of my best storytimes come out of wanting to read one particular book, and then building the rest of the storytime around a theme that works for that book. This was one of those storytimes.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: In the Toaster*

BOOK:

Wiggle Waggle by Jonathan London, illustrated by Michael Rex.

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

I went walking. What did I see? (place animal behind the boy)
I saw a black cat looking at me.

Continue with the following animals:
– brown horse
– red cow
– green duck
– pink pig
– yellow dog

You should end up with a parade of animals behind the child.

I went walking and I saw a lot of animals following me!

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.

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake*

BOOK:

Duckie’s Rainbow by Frances Barry

TICKLE: Slowly, Slowly, Very Slowly*

SONG: “Babies Little Self” from the album Here I Am! by Caspar Babypants

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Jack and Jill

Flannelboard from Little Folk Visuals

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down
and broke his crown!
And Jill came tumbling after.

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: I Went Walking by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas

HOW IT WENT:
Baby’s Little Self was fun last week, so I decided that I would continue it in this week’s storytime. Maybe I’ll use it a couple more times, and then see if I can find another similar type song to use instead. Any suggestions?

I wasn’t sure if Wiggle Waggle would work for infants, since the book invites mimicking, and infants are not walkers. So, I shortened the book a little. I skipped the first page, and just began the book with “How does a duck walk?” Then I ended the book at the kangaroo hopping, thus not including the part that talks about kids walking like the animals. It seemed to work pretty well this way!

ATTENDANCE: 35 people

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

Birthdays – Toddler Storytime

Posted on July 14, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

I presented this storytime near our nation’s birthday on July 7, 2015. It’s also near my birthday. That merits a celebration. And it sure is easier to find toddler books on birthdays than about the Fourth of July.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands, Clap Your Hands” from Tickles and Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

10 am: The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
11am: Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

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

COUNTING SONG:*

10 Birthday Cakes

FLANNELBOARD:
5 Birthday Candles

Idea taken from Storytime Katie.

5 Birthday Candles
wish there were more
Blew out one,
then there were 4.

4 birthday candles,
pretty as can be.
Blow one out,
then there are 3.

3 birthday candles,
Hope my wish comes true.
Blow one out,
then there are 2.

2 birthday candles
Birthday cakes are fun
Blow one out,
Then there is 1.

1 birthday candle,
the party’s almost done.
Blow out one,
Then there are none.

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

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

10am: Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
11am: A Birthday for Cow! by Jan Thomas

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

VIDEO:

“Birthday” from Maisy’s Birthday section of Play Time Maisy

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: The Fairytale Cake made by Mark Sperring, decorated by Jonathan Langley
Book: I Love Birthdays by Anna Walker
Book: Bears and a Birthday by Shirley Parenteau, illustrated by David Walker
Book: Mouse Birthday by Jane Yolen and Bruce Degen
Book: Pip & Squeak by Ian Schoenherr
Movie: “My Birthday Party” from Peppa Pig: My Birthday Party

HOW IT WENT:
I began the 10am storytime with a book I love and have used before, The Birthday Box. But for some reason, that, paired with my second choice of book Happy Birthday, Bunny! didn’t seem to go over very well with the group. I wanted to read Happy Birthday, Bunny! since it was a newer title, so I decided I would seeing if maybe changing things up a bit would make the book work better. For the 11am storytime I tried it as the first book at storytime, and then used the shorter, more interactive A Birthday for Cow! later in the storytime. This seemed to work better, at least for this group.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 40 people 11 am: 40 people

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

Birthdays – Infant Storytime

Posted on July 14, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

I always like to do a birthday-themed storytime around my birthday. I realized this year it might be a silly theme for infants, since most of have only had their actual BIRTH day. But then I figured that we do storytimes about snow which they may not have experienced yet, and so why not birthdays too?

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: In the Toaster*

BOOK:

I Love Birthdays by Anna Walker