I can’t wait for storytimes – it’s one of the best parts of being a children’s librarian.  But today, our storytime was all about waiting!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

BOOK:

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

MOVEMENT: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
The Mouse and the Apple
 
Idea and pattern taken from Mel’s Desk.
Based on the book by Stephen Butler, which we don’t have in our collection, so I found the words to the story thanks to this YouTube video from sheelahdog323.

It’s the story of a mouse, who waits for the apple to fall, while all his other animal friends lack the patience.

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

BOOK:

Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

VIDEO:
 
“Leo the Late Bloomer” from Splat the Cat… and Other Furry Friends. Based on the book by Robert Kraus, illustrated by Jose Aruego

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 

Book: Mervin the Sloth is About to Do the Best Thing in the World by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Ruth Chan
Book: Wait by Antoinette Portis
Book: Wait! Wait! by Hatsue Nakawaki, illustrated by Komako Sakai
Book: If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, pictures by Erin E. Stead
Book: I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
DVD/Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Pleasingly Patient
taken from Hartford County Public Library
(tune: Are You Sleeping?)
I am patient.
I am patient.
Watch me wait.
Watch me wait. One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
I can wait.
I am great!
The Mailbox Magazine, Preschool edition Aug/Sep 2010

HOW IT WENT:
I really liked this as a theme.  Originally I think I thought waiting would be a fun one because of I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda, and then the Henkes book.  But I thought I would try reading an Elephant and Piggie book in storytime, which (surprisingly) I hadn’t done before.  Of course it went over well and everyone loved it (How could they not?).

For preschool storytimes, I usually like my movements to be focused around my theme, but I didn’t find too many movements that worked with waiting or patience.  Since I’m in the thick of infant and toddler storytime, I used a few of my standbys from there, and they still seemed to work well with the preschool crowd.

I also like that there are enough books that I really like that I didn’t use, so I can repeat this theme, but use different materials.

ATTENDANCE: 49 (adults and children)

*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