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