Bikes – Preschool Storytime

Posted on September 6, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I’m trying to catch up on blogging about some of the storytimes I did this summer. Here’s one I presented on August 27 about bikes.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Everybody and Say Hello” by Kathy Reid-Naiman from Sally Go ‘Round the Sun: Songs and rhymes from the parent-child Mother Goose program

BOOK:

Bike on, Bear! written by Cynthea Liu, illustrated by Kristyna Litten

MOVEMENT: The Wheels on the Bike
(to the tune of: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The wheels on the bike go round and round (roll hands over each other)
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bike go round and round
All through the town.

Other Verses:
The pedals on the bike go up and down (move feet up and down)…
The streamers on the bike go swish, swoosh, swish (move hands in a swishing motion)…
The bell on the bike goes ding, ding, ding (pretend to ring a bell)…
The basket on the bike holds all the things (make arms into a circle like a basket in front of you)…
The handles on the bike go left and right (pretend hands on handlebar, steer left and right)….

Rhyme taken from: Scott, Barbara A. 1,000 Fingerplays & Action Rhymes: A Sourcebook and DVD. New York: Neal-Schuman. 2010.

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

FLANNELBOARD:
If You Have a Color Bike

Flannelboard idea taken from Storytime Katie.

I started with laminated bike images of different colors with velcro on the back in a container. Children came up and picked a bike. I told them to look at the bike, and then come up when I called the right color. So we sang this song:

If you have a red bike,
a red bike, a red bike,
If you have a red bike
bring it to the board.

Substitute different colors for red.

Then we counted the number of each color bike we had.

Katie says that she uses the tune of “The Muffin Man” when she sings this, but mine morphed a little into “Mary Wore Her Red Dress”.

BOOK:

New Red Bike! by James E. Ransome

VIDEO:

“Duck on a Bike” from The Story About Ping …and Other Fine Feather Friends. Based on the book by David Shannon

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka
Book: My Bike by Byron Barton
Book: Off We Go! A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand
Book: Froggy Rides a Bike by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Book: Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best, pictures by Christine Davenier (more suited to school-aged kids)
Book: A Big Boy Now by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Megan Lloyd
Book: Ben Rides On by Matt Davies (better for school-aged kids)

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Storytime Katie – Bikes!
The Best Kids Book Site – Bike Craft Idea
Sturgis Kids – Bicycle Storytime
Susan M. Dailey – Bicycles
Library Village – Preschool Story Time – Bikes

HOW IT WENT:

Bikes was a fun theme. I had tried a similar flannelboard asking kids to come up and put things on the board with toddlers, but it felt like it went much more smoothly with the preschoolers.

ATTENDANCE: 29 (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

Don’t & Never: Things You Shouldn’t Do – Preschool Storytime

Posted on July 20, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I was looking through our new books, and realized that it seemed like there were a lot of ones coming out about things that shouldn’t happen or you should never do. I decided to use this as inspiration and came up with a new theme that I was pretty excited about, and presented this storytime last week.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

BOOK:

When Your Elephant Comes to Play by Ale Barba

SONG/MOVEMENT: “Can’t Sit Still” by The Brian Waite Band from Can’t Sit Still

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

FLANNELBOARD:
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing

based on the book writte by Judi Barrett and drawn by Ron Barrett. Flannelboard inspired by Dana’s Hats Off to You Storytime on jbrary

I didn’t have time to make all the animals featured in the book, so I’m missing the pig and the sheep.

BOOK:

Don’t Copy Me! by Jonathan Allen

VIDEO:

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!” from Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!… and more stories by Mo Willems

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book:Don’t Squish the Sasquatch by Kent Redeker, illustrated by Bob Staake
Book (or DVD): Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Book: That is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
Book: Don’t Wake Up Mama! (also called Five Little Monkeys Bake a Cake) by Eileen Christelow
Book: Don’t Take Your Snake for a Stroll by Karin Ireland, illustrated by David Catrow
Book: Don’t by Litsa Trochatos, illustrated by Virginia Johnson (this one is a board book, but I think it’s large enough that it would work in a storytime)
Book: Buddy and the Bunnies in: Don’t Play with Your Food by Bob Shea
Book: Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks, illustrated by Sue Hendra
Book: Never Ask a Dinosaur to Dinner by Gareth Edwwards & Guy Parker-Rees
Book: Don’t Laugh, Joe! by Keiko Kasza
Book: Don’t Slam the Door! by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

HOW IT WENT:

This was a fun theme for a storytime, and I like that there are enough books to repeat the theme without using the same titles.

ATTENDANCE: 46 (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

Pandas – Preschool Storytime

Posted on June 21, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

A few weeks ago I did Infant and Toddler storytimes featuring pandas. While searching for books, I found that a lot of the ones featuring pandas were better suited for preschoolers. So why not recycle the theme, but with new books? I presented this storytime on 6/4/16.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

Birthday at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Doug Cushman

SONG/MOVEMENT:
Panda Bear, Panda Bear
Panda bear, panda bear turn around.
Panda bear, panda bear touch the ground.
Panda bear, panda bear show your shoe.
Panda bear, panda bear say “How do you do?”
Panda bear, panda bear turn off the light.
Panda bear, panda bear say “Good-night.”
Panda bear, panda bear wake up now.
Panda bear, panda bear take a bow.

FLANNELBOARD:
P-A-N-D-A

There is a bear that likes bamboo
and Panda is its name-o
P-A-N-D-A
P-A-N-D-A
P-A-N-D-A
and Panda is its name-o.

(Turn over the letter P so that the panda side is showing. Let everyone know when they see the Panda they should clap.)

There is a bear that likes bamboo
and Panda is its name-o
Clap-A-N-D-A
Clap-A-N-D-A
Clap-A-N-D-A
and Panda is its name-o.

Continue until all Pandas face out and you are clapping for the whole song.

MOVEMENT:
Panda Pokey
taken from Sturgis Kids – Panda Storytime

You put your snout in
You put your snout out
You put your snout in
And you shake it all about
You do the panda pokey and you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about.

Other verses:
Black ears…
White tummy…
Panda paws…
Black tail…

MOVEMENT: Grandma’s Spectacles*

BOOK:

Where My Feet Go by Birgitta Sif

VIDEO:

“Ruby’s Panda Prize” from Max and Ruby’s Halloween

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book:Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
Book: Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle
Book: If You Were a Panda Bear by Wendell and Florence Minor
Book:Panda and Polar Bear by Matthew J. Baek
Book: Chu’s Day by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Adam Rex
Book: Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Asleep by Barney Saltzberg
Book: Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Matt Phelan (This would probably work better with an older audience, but I wanted to include it so I don’t forget.)

ATTENDANCE: 43 (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

Flowers – Preschool Storytime

Posted on April 23, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

This weekend, my library is the site of our community’s Garden Club flower show! So, around the library we have lovely floral displays featured.

It seemed if ever there was a time to do a flowers theme, this was it.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Jump Jump” from I’m a Rock Star by Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

Fran’s Flower by Lisa Bruce, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

SONG/MOVEMENT:
The Gardener Plants the Seeds
(to the tune of: The Farmer in the Dell)

The gardener plants the seeds. (pretend to put a seed in the ground)
The gardener plants the seeds.
Heigh-ho, let’s watch it grow,
The gardener plants the seeds.

Other verses:
The rain begins to fall… (move your hands down & wiggle fingers like rain)
The sun begins to shine… (open and close hands to form finger “rays”)
The plant begins to grow… (hands together, move upwards)
The bud opens up… (hands, palms together, move palms apart a bit)
The flower smiles at me… (big smile)

FLANNELBOARD:
5 Pretty Flowers

(from FingerTales by Joan Hilyer Phelps)

5 (4, 3, 2, 1) pretty flowers
In the meadow grew.
“Hmmm,” I said
“I bet they smell pretty too!”
I bent down to sniff (sniff big)
But they ticked my nose!
Ah-CHOO! (sneeze really big)
Oh, no!
Away one flower blows. (Remove one flower.)

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

MOVEMENT: Grandma’s Spectacles*

BOOK:

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

SONG/MOVEMENT:
I’m a Little Green Weed
(to the tune of: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little green wee (crouch down)
growing fast! (stand up quickly)
I’m hiding in the garden (cover head)
but it won’t last. (shake head no)
Someone’s going to find me (hands over eyes, searching)
and give a SHOUT. (Cover hands over mouth on shout & say it louder)
Then bend right over (bend down)
and pluck me out. (Pretend to pull weed)

VIDEO:

“My Garden” based on the book by Kevin Henkes from 20 Stories for Spring

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
Book: No, No, Gnome! by Ashlyn Anstee
Book: Sunflower by Miela Ford and Sally Noll (good for toddlers, too)
Book:Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown (good for toddlers, too)
Book: What Does Bunny See? by Linda Sue Park, pictures by Maggie Smith (good for toddlers, too)
Flannelboard:
Movie: “The Curious Garden” from The Curious Garden …and More Stories About Nature.

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Storytime Katie – Garden!
Mel’s Desk – Baby Storytime : Flower Garden
Literary Hoots – Flower Storytime
Literary Commentary – Storytime – Flowers
Miss Meg’s Storytime – Dig Into Reading: Gardening (Toddlers)

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:

Flowers were a really fun theme! Both books worked really well. Since a lot of the kids today were wiggly, it was also good to have the two songs with motions as well. I was surprised at how they seemed to like doing “I’m a Little Green Weed”. That one turned out to be more fun than I thought it would be. Also, the kids seemed to enjoy sneezing along with the flannelboard – one little boy laughed delightedly every time!

It was a large crowd today.

ATTENDANCE: 56 (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

Trains – Preschool Storytime

Posted on March 12, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

Today was my library’s One City, One Story day, with a lot of programming centered around Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train. Including a Lionel Train set-up and running, complete with sounds and lights, in our library’s main hall. Doing a train storytime seemed the only way to go. Also it gave me a great reason to use my train whistle!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Jump Jump” from I’m a Rock Star by Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

Whoosh and Chug! by Sebastien Braun

SONG:
The Wheels on the Train
(Taken from: Verona StoryTime)

(to the tune of: The Wheels on the Bus)
The wheels on the train go clickety-clack
Clickety-clack, clickety-clack
The wheels on the train go clickety-clack
All along the track

Other verses:
The whistle on the train goes toot, toot, toot…
The conductor on the train says, “Ticket, please!”…
The people on the train go bounce, bounce, bounce…
The engine on the train goes chug, chug, chug…

FLANNELBOARD:
Clickety Clack

(Pattern and Idea taken from Mel’s Desk)

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack,
Here comes the train on the railroad track!

Clickety-clunn, clickety-clunn,
Here comes ENGINE number one.

Clickety-clew, clickety-clew,
Here comes COAL CAR number two.

Clickety-clee, clickety-cluee,
Here comes BOX CAR number three.

Clickety-clore, clickety-clore,
Here comes TANK CAR number four.

Clickety-clunn, clickety-clunn,
Here comes ENGINE number one.

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack,
Here comes the train on the railroad track!

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

MOVEMENT: Grandma’s Spectacles*

BOOK:

Window Music by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Wade Zahares

VIDEO:

“Grandpa’s Little Train” from Peppa Pig: My Birthday Party

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis, illustrated by Daniel Kirk
Book: Trains Go by Steve Light (a good toddler pick)
Book: And the Train Goes by William Bee
Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews
Flannelboard: Rainbow Express
Movie: “Max’s Toy Train”, “Max’s Train Ride” or “Max and Ruby’s Train Trip” from Max & Ruby Sweet Siblings!

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Storytime Katie – Trains!
Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives: Trains Resource Guide
Never Shushed: Preschool: Trains

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
It was hard to compete with the real toy train set up in our library’s main hall. But, eventually we did get a good turnout for this storytime. I put it together in a short amount of time — I think I might have had a better selection of books if I had thought more ahead of time. But it went well, and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

I remembered my lesson after last storytime and did a calming down rhyme (Grandma’s Spectacles) after Shaking our Sillies out. It helped some, but I think I need to come up with more.

ATTENDANCE: 38 (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

Soup – Preschool Storytime

Posted on January 30, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

It’s January, so that means National Soup Month! Which in turn means, if there’s a storytime to do, I’ll probably do one about soup! Here’s this year’s:

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Jump Jump” from I’m a Rock Star by Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza

MOVEMENT:
Pea Soup
(hold hand up with all five fingers extended)
1 little pea jumped into the pot (fold one finger down)
And waited for the soup to get hot.
2 little peas jumped into the pot (fold one finger down)
And waited for the soup to get hot.
3 little peas jumped into the pot (fold one finger down)
And waited for the soup to get hot.
4 little peas jumped into the pot (fold one finger down)
And waited for the soup to get hot.
5 little peas jumped into the pot (fold one finger down)
And waited for the soup to get hot.
Finally the soup got so very hot
All the little peas jumped out of the pot. (quickly open hand and extend all fingers.)

SONG:
Vegetable Soup Song

(Song adapted from Harford County Public Library storytime handout. Veggies from Ikea play sets)

Before we started singing this song, I passed out a toy vegetable to each child at storytime. When we sang about the veggie they were holding, they came up and dropped it in the small pot I had.

(to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)
The soup is boiling up
The soup is boiling up
Stir slow — around we go
The soup is boiling up.

First we add the broth
First we add the broth
Stir slow – around we go
The soup is boiling up.

Next we add the tomatoes
Next we add the tomatoes
Stir slow – around we go
The soup is boiling up.

Continue adding different veggies, and substitute for tomatoes: zucchini, mushrooms, garlic, cabbage leaves, carrots, eggplant, green onion, pasta, etc…

It’s time to eat it up
it’s time to eat it up
Sip slow – but with gusto!
It’s time to eat it up.

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

BOOK:

Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic

VIDEO:

“Birthday Soup” from Little Bear Season 1, Episode 2

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Community Soup by Alma Fullerton
Book: Soup Day by Melissa Iwai
Book: Chicken Soup by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by David Gavril
Book: Gazpacho for Nacho by Tracey Kyle, illustrated by Carolina Farías (this one might be better for audiences a little older. Plus I’d need to brush up on Spanish pronunciation before I read it to a group.)
Book: 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel (I also want to make this one into a flannelboard)
Book: Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Flannelboard: Stone Soup
Movie: “Chicken Soup with Rice” from Where the Wild Things Are… and other Maurice Sendak Stories

My other soup storytimes:
Preschool Storytime 1/18/2014
Class Visits1/24/2014

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
This was a squirrelly storytime, I don’t think I did a very good job today of getting a handle on it. I think I should have swapped the books around, since Duck Soup is a little bit longer. Or told a different, shorter story, because this storytime ran a bit long. Also, I really like doing the song where the kids bring up the veggies, but the squirrelly-ness seemed to happen a lot after that. So after “Shake My Sillies Out” I should have done a different calm down rhyme to help the transition into the story.

I wanted to do something a little different with the movie this time, since I showed “Chicken Soup with Rice”. I found that Little Bear has some episodes for free with Amazon Prime, and since I’m a Prime subscriber, I have an iPad, and our storyroom has AppleTV, I just played it through my iPad. I hadn’t done that before, but that turned out just fine. Yay for innovation in techniques.

ATTENDANCE: 33 (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

Snow – Preschool Storytime

Posted on January 28, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

So, I did this storytime back on December 5, but I forgot to post it! Better late than never…

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: My Wiggles*

BOOK:

If It’s Snow and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! by Kim Norman, illustrated by Liza Woodruff

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

MOVEMENT:

FLANNELBOARD: Snowball, Snowball

(Idea from So Tomorrow)

Snowball, snowball
cold and round!
Behind which mitten
can you be found?
Are you behind the color mitten?

MOVEMENT:
Cute Little Snowman
Cute little snowman (hold up left fist for snowman)
had a carrot nose. (stick out one finger of left fist to be the nose)
Along came a rabbit, (hold up 2 fingers of right hand for rabbit ears)
and what do you suppose?
That hungry rabbit (move right hand back and forth.)
looking for his lunch,
ate that snowman’s carrot nose. (lightly pinch left finger with right hand)
Nibble, nibble, crunch.

MOVEMENT:
These are Grandma’s Spectacles
These are Grandma’s spectacles (make circles with hands, place over eyes)
And this is Grandma’s hat (make hands into a hat on top of head)
And this is the way she folds her hands (fold hands)
And places them in her lap. (put hands in lap)

BOOK:

Supertruck by Stephen Savage

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

VIDEO:

“Hello Snow” from Little Bear Winter Games

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: A Perfect Day by Carin Berger
Book: Big Snow by Jonathan Bean
Book: Outside by Deirdre Gill
Book: A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
Book: You Make Me Smile by Layn Marlow
Book: Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
DVD: “Snow” from Peppa Pig: Muddy Puddles and other stories

ATTENDANCE: 22 (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

Clouds – Preschool Storytime

Posted on October 27, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky on Saturday, but that didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time at our cloud-themed storytime.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: Grandma’s Spectacles*

BOOK:

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw

FLANNELBOARD:
“C-L-O-U-D-Y”

idea taken from PreSchool Express

(to the tune of “BINGO”)
Today the clouds are in the sky
and cloudy is the weather
C-L-O-U-D-Y
C-L-O-U-D-Y
C-L-O-U-D-Y
and cloudy is the weather

(turn over one of the clouds so the letter is no longer showing)
Today the clouds are in the sky
and cloudy is the weather
clap-L-O-U-D-Y
clap-L-O-U-D-Y
clap-L-O-U-D-Y
and cloudy is the weather.

Continue until all clouds are turned over and you are clapping six times in a row.

This rhyme is slightly more awkward than a regular BINGO adaptation since there are 6 letters instead of 5. I just sped up a bit for the O-U part and that worked ok. Just remember the correct rhythm so you can clap to it as well. I messed that up a bit.

MOVEMENT: I’m a Little Cloud
Rhyme by Jean Warren, taken from Preschool Express

(to the tune of: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little cloud, in the sky (have fingertips meet in circle above head)
You can find me way up high (stretch arms up high and stand on tippy toes)
Sometimes I’m puffy (put hands on hips to make you “puffy”)
sometimes stretched out. (hands out at your sides)
I just love to float about. (move side to side with hands still stretched out)

BOOK:

The Police Cloud by Christoph Niemann

FLANNELBOARD:
“5 Little Clouds”

Idea adapted from Mrs. Andre’s Library

5 little clouds up in the sky
Drifting, floating way up high.
When a big gust of wind came blowing through
(everyone blows big, wave hands back and forth)
One disappeared from the sky so blue. (remove cloud from flannelboard)

Continue counting down until 0 clouds are left.

VIDEO:

“Little Black Rain Cloud” from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

BOOK: Once Upon a Cloud written by Rob D. Walker, illustrated by Matt Mahurin (This one wonders what exactly a cloud is, so it might be fun to pair with a nonfiction title that explains the science of clouds after.)
BOOK: Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
BOOK: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
BOOK: Thirsty Thursday by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Craig (This would also make a cute flannelboard.
FLANNELBOARD: Try It Looked Like Spilt Milk the way that Busy Crafting Mama suggests: Using flannelboard/puzzle pieces and the book.

FLANNELBOARD: “Five Little Clouds” Version 2

taken from Abby the Librarian

5 little clouds, so white and plain
The first one said, “I want to make it rain!”
The second one said, “Where are we?”
The third one said, “In the sky, don’t you see?”
The fourth one said, “Let’s go, go, go!”
The fifth one said, “Look out below!”
The out came the stars, and out came the moon
And the clouds rolled away, but they’ll be back soon.

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
It was fun, but a loud storytime! I actually had to stop in the middle of reading It Looked Liked Spilt Milk because the kids were getting to loud! I love it when they join in and interact with me, but just screams. They quieted down a bit after that, but you’ll notice I threw Grandma’s Spectacles in there at the beginning because after the movements they were a bit rambunctious.

ATTENDANCE: 36 (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

Breakfast – Preschool Storytime

Posted on September 18, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

I don’t suggest this delicious theme if you haven’t eaten recently. It will leave you hungry for both breakfast and more good stories. I actually took a break while writing this to go have some breakfast for lunch.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

MOVEMENT: Bread and Butter
(taken from Preschool Storytime Outlines)

Throughout this rhyme, pat your lap and clap your hands in time as you chant, except for when you are saying “Hello”.

Bread and butter
Marmalade and jam
Let’s say Hello
as _quietly__ as we can.
Hello.

Other verses:
loudly, slowly, fast, high, low

BOOK:

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

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

MOVEMENT: Five Fat Sausages
Five fat sausages frying in a pan (hold up 5 fingers)
All of a sudden one went BANG! (clap hands)
Four fat sausages…
Three…
Two…
One fat sausage frying in a pan (hold up 1 finger)
All of a sudden, it went BANG! (clap hands)
There were NO sausages left.

FLANNELBOARD:
Eggs for Breakfast

(pattern and story from Ready-to-Go Storytimes by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis)

One morning I woke up early and no one was up yet. I was hungry, so I decided to make myself some eggs. I got out the griddle (point to flannelboard). I got out the eggs. I picked up one egg and:

Give it a whack, (clap hands)
hear it crack, (hand behind ear)
Drop it in the middle, (pat hands on your lap)
One egg frying on the griddle. (place egg on flannelboard)

That egg smelled so good. Soon, my sister came into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She said, “I want one too!” I picked up one egg and:

Give it a whack, (clap hands)
hear it crack, (hand behind ear)
Drop it in the middle, (pat hands on your lap)
Two eggs frying on the griddle. (place egg on flannelboard)

Here comes dad, nodding his head. He likes his on toasted bread. I picked up one egg and:

Give it a whack, (clap hands)
hear it crack, (hand behind ear)
Drop it in the middle, (pat hands on your lap)
Three eggs frying on the griddle. (place egg on flannelboard)

Last up was one. She gave me a wink and said, “Looks good, I’ll have one too!” I picked up one egg and:

Give it a whack, (clap hands)
hear it crack, (hand behind ear)
Drop it in the middle, (pat hands on your lap)
Four eggs frying on the griddle. (place egg on flannelboard)

Now my family’s all here and it’s time to eat together. So we ate 1, 2, 3, 4 eggs! (Take eggs off flannelboard).

MOVEMENT: If You Like Your Eggs Scrambled
(taken from Storytime Source Page)

If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands
Yes, they’re yummy and they’re yellow
So you’ll be a happy fellow
If you like your eggs scrambled, clap your hands

Other verses:
If you like your eggs fried, jump up high…
If you want bacon with your eggs, wiggle your legs…
If you want toast instead, nod your head (mmm-hmmm)

MOVEMENT: These are Grandma’s Spectacles

These are Grandma’s spectacles (make circles with hands, place over eyes)
And this is Grandma’s hat (make hands into a hat on top of head)
And this is the way she folds her hands (fold hands)
And places them in her lap. (put hands in lap)

BOOK:

Everyone Loves Bacon words by Kelly DiPucchio, pictures by Eric Wight

VIDEO:

“Spot’s Breakfast” from Spot Goes to School

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book:If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Book: Sausages by Jessica Souhami
Book: We’re Making Breakfast for Mother by Shirley Neitzel, pictures by Nancy Winslow Parker
Flannelboard: Flip-Flack Jack (from Ready-to-Go Storytimes by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaiti
Movie: “Breakfast at Farzzle’s” from Farzzle’s World: Breakfast at Farzzle’s

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
Before I came up with this theme for storytime, I was feeling a little blah about having to do storytime for the week. But once I looked through some books, and realized I hadn’t used Please, Mr. Panda yet, and that we had just gotten Everyone Loves Bacon I knew I had a theme on my hands I was looking forward to. (You know, I think I do A LOT of storytimes about food.) I was a little worried about finding a video, but the Spot one worked just fine.

I think there are probably a few other great breakfast themed books I could have used, but since I was putting this together last minute I didn’t have time to request books from the branches. Do you have a favorite first-meal-of-the-day story?

If I were to do this again, I think I would switch the order I read the stories and do Everyone Loves Bacon as my first book, since it’s a little long. Also, as I was reading Please Mr. Panda I realized I should probably do a black and white themed storytime sometime.

ATTENDANCE: 36 (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

Beach – Preschool Storytime

Posted on August 4, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

This week I was presenting infant, toddler, and preschool storytimes. I decided to use the same theme – the beach – for each one. I tried to keep things fresh with the preschool storytime by choosing some different books.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

BOOK:

Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon

MOVEMENT:
Sand Castle
Sand castle on the beach,
I built you big and strong (raise arms high)
A wave washed in upon the sand.
Whoosh! You were gone (swing hands down, then up)
(taken from PreK Fun)

FLANNELBOARD:
Fish with the Deep Sea Smile

(poem by Margaret Wise Brown, patterns and poem taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra.)

MOVEMENT: “This is the Way We Play at the Beach”
(to tune of: “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

This is the way we play at the beach
Play at the beach, play at the beach
This is the way we play at the beach
On a hot sunny day.

Other verses:
This is the way we dig in the sand…
This is the way we play in the surf…
This is the way we lie in the sun…
Any other activity that your audience comes up with!
(taken from PreK Fun)

BOOK:

Beach Day! by Patricia Lakin, pictures by Scott Nash

MOVEMENT: “If You’re Happy and You Know It” from Walt Disney’s Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 3

VIDEO:

“Getting Crabby at the Beach” from Max and Ruby: Perfect Pumpkin

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach by Alison Lester
Book: Sea, Sand, Me by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Flannelboard: The Waves at the Beach

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
I was worried that since I was planning this a little last minute I wouldn’t find enough good beach books for preschoolers. But everything turned out fine. Yay!

ATTENDANCE: 28 (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

Jen in the Library

Storytimes, Programs and Library Thoughts

Category Archives: Preschool

Bikes – Preschool Storytime

Don’t & Never: Things You Shouldn’t Do – Preschool Storytime

Pandas – Preschool Storytime

Flowers – Preschool Storytime

Trains – Preschool Storytime

Soup – Preschool Storytime

Snow – Preschool Storytime

Clouds – Preschool Storytime

Breakfast – Preschool Storytime

Beach – Preschool Storytime