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
MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel
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.
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:
Now I am Big! by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Sara Gillingham
TICKLE: Slowly, Slowly, Very Slowly*
NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Little Miss Muffet
Flannelboard from Little Folk Visuals
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
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: Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Book: The Fairytale Cake made by Mark Sperring, decorated by Jonathan Langley
HOW IT WENT:
Since Now I Am Big! isn’t exactly about birthdays, I talked a little bit about how having birthdays makes us bigger before I read the story. I’m not sure if that was the best way to incorporate that book, but I think parents and infants both liked that story.
Also, I felt like I had some extra time during the storytime so I added in “Baby’s Little Self” by Caspar Babypants as a song that parents could listen to and interact with their little ones by touching the parts of their child’s body that the song mentions. It’s such a sweet little song, and I have used it in past storytimes, but it’s been a while.
ATTENDANCE: 38 people
* For these songs, please see my page Storytime Movements & Music
Jen in the Library 
