Pets – Preschool Storytime

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Today’s preschool storytime was all about our best friends – Pets!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Excellent Ed by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach

MOVEMENT:
Ten Little Kittens
Ten little kittens standing in a row
(Palms facing forward, fingers extended)
They bow their heads to the children so
(bend fingers forward and back)
They run to the left, they run to the right
(move fingers to alternate sides, wiggling fingers)
The stretch up tall with all their might
(stretch hands over head)
Along comes a dog, looking for some fun
(fingers of one hand resting on thumb, move hand towards other hand)
“Meow!” Away those kittens run!
(As you meow, open both hands with fingers extended, “run” hands behind back)

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
Pet Voices and How Much is that Pet in the Window?

Flannelboard pattern, and altered story from Felt Board Fingerplays by Liz and Dick Wilmes.

Pet Voices
(take each of the animals out and put on the flannel board one by one)
This my pet _____.  S/He makes this sound ________.

Children fill in the blanks for the following animals:
This is my Fish.  He makes this sound, “Glub Glub”.
Mouse… squeak.
Rabbit…I don’t know what sound rabbits make, but let’s wiggle our noses like them!
Cat…Meow.
Bird…Tweet tweet.
Dog… Arf Arf.

How Much is that Pet in the Window?
(to the tune of: “How much is that Doggy in the Window?”)
For this, I just held up each of the animals as I took them off the flannelboard, and we sang the following:

How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof!
The one with the waggly tail?
How much is that doggy in the window? Woof woof!
I do hope that doggy’s for sale.

Other verses:
To do the different verses, I asked the audience what the animals did.  Here are ones we ended up with at this storytime:
Kitty…meow…long whiskers
Bird… tweet tweet…flappity wings
Rabbit…hop hop…hoppity legs 
Fish… glub glub… swimmy fins 

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

MOVEMENT:
Animals
Can you hop like a rabbit? (Hop)
Can you jump like frog? (Jump)
Can you waddle like a duck? (Waddle)
Can you run like a dog? (Run in place)

Can you squeak like a guinea pig? (Squeak)
Can you swim like a fish? (Pretend to swim)
Can you sit down now and listen (Sit down)
And be as still as this?

BOOK:

I Spy Pets by Edward Gibbs

VIDEO:

“Polly Parrot” from Peppa Pig: Muddy Puddles and Other Stories

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 
   

Book: Emma’s Pet by David McPhail
Book: Pet This Book by Jessica Young & Daniel Wiseman
Book: Some Pets words by Angela DiTerlizzi, pets by Brendan Wenzel
Book: The Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick, illustrated by Kevin O’Malley
Book: Rory the Dinosaur Wants a Pet by Liz Climo
DVD: “The Pet Competition” from Peppa Pig: Stars

HOW IT WENT:
I had planned this storytime for a 3-5 year old audience, but we ended up with a range from young toddlers to five-year olds.  I started with the book Excellent Ed because I love it and think the story is so sweet.  But I think it may have been a bit long for my audience.  The older kids and caregivers enjoyed it, though.  For the second book I used I Spy Pets because it was a little more interactive.  Speaking of interactive, all the kids seemed to enjoy the movements this time, even the Ten Little Kitties one, which I wasn’t sure would be a hit.  “Polly Parrot” was the first Peppa Pig video I ever saw, and I still love it.  Who isn’t entertained by an animated parrot who snorts like a piggy?

ATTENDANCE: 26 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, March 23, 2019 @ Children’s Room

*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

Manners – Signs ‘n Storytime

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Disclaimer: I am not bilingual in ASL. I took some courses in college (which seems like a million years ago now…)  I know I am not going to teach anyone to be fluent in ASL – as a fully formed language, there is no way I could do this.  But I view this program as a way to teach parents signs that they might find useful to use with their babies, as children can sign before they can speak.  I am teaching words, not grammar or culture.  I mean no disrespect to the Deaf community, and I welcome comments/ways to improve this service in a culturally respectful manner.

I thought some of these “Manners” signs would be useful for little ones to learn.

SONG: “Hello Friends” in ASL
taken from Jbrary
I changed this one a little so instead of doing it time to “say” Hello, I sing, “it’s time to Sign Hello” and use the ASL word for sign

SIGNS USED DURING THIS PROGRAM:

BOOK:

Suppose You Meet a Dinosaur: A First Book of Manners by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Tim Bowers

Signs used with the story:
Hello
Nice to Meet You
Excuse Me 
Thank You 
I’m Sorry 
Yes
Please 
No 
Goodbye

MOVEMENT: If You’re Happy and You Know It

I sung this one a capella, and when we clap our hands we do the ASL version of clapping, we stomp our feet, and we pound our chest.  Whenever there is clapping in this storytime (at the end of a book, etc) we always do it the ASL way.

BOOK:

Time to Say “Please”! by Mo Willems

Signs used with story:
Please
Excuse Me
I’m Sorry
Thank You 

BOOK:

Wave Hello, Wave Bye-Bye by Pamela Chanko

Signs used with story:
Hello
Goodbye

VIDEO:
4 Short Spots with Cookie Monster and Prairie Dawn from Sesame Street Monster Manners

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Penguin Says “Please” by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Oriol Vidal
(signs to use with story: hungry, thirsty, no, please)

Book: Give Please a Chance by Billy O’Reilly & James Patterson
(signs to use with story: please)
I wasn’t going to read this whole book, but just some pages.

Book: Mealtime by Elizabeth Verdick, illustrated by Marieka Heinlen
(signs to use with story: thank you, please, all done)
I didn’t get to see a copy of Manners Time from this book series, but I think that would work as well.

Book: Yes, Please! No, Thank You! by Valerie Wheeler, illustrated by Glin Dibley
(signs to use with story: yes, please, no, thank you)

Book: Please Say Please! Penguin’s Guide to Manners by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
(signs to use with story: no, hello, please, thank you)

HOW IT WENT: This was nice storytime for signing, because the books gave lots of opportunities for kids to use the same words again and again.  Plus, while manner books may be kind of didactic, I think these are the kinds of signs that parents want their little ones to learn. I really liked the Sierra book, that one was perfect for this.  The books go back and forth in age because I started this storytime with an older audience (closer to 3-5), then had some toddlers join in.  The older ones still had fun identifying the animals in the board book, but it was good for the littles too.

PRESENTED: Thursday, February 14 at LM Branch

ATTENDANCE:

Cookies – Preschool Storytime

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Today we shared stories about cookies.  Yum yum storytime fun!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall

MOVEMENT:
Making Cookies 
I am making cookie dough (point to self)
Round and round the beaters go (roll hands over hands)
Add some flour from a cup (pour from cup)
Stir and mix the batter up (pretend to self)

Roll them, cut them nice and neat (pretend to roll out with pin, then cookie cut)
Put them on a cookie sheet (pretend to lay out on cookie sheet)
Bake them, count them, 1, 2, 3 (count with fingers)
Then serve them to my friends for tea (pretend to eat cookies)

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
Cookies and Counting

Flannelboard set found in the Target dollar/three dollar section

For this one, I put the cookie sheet, oven, and then counted out ten cookies with the group.  I explained that each cookie had a different number of chocolate chips.  For the first example, we counted the chips together, and then I had the kids guide me as I placed the cookie in the correctly numbered space on the cookie sheet.  Since the group wasn’t very large, I had kids come up and place the rest of the remaining cookies.

Then I put the whole tray in the oven, and pulled the cookies out again.  When they were baked, I put the cookies only back on the flannelboard, and we did this rhyme together:

Ten Little Cookies
Ten little cookies laying on a plate
Mom eats two and then there are 8.

When Dad comes home, two cookies he picks
Leaving on the plate only 6.

Brother comes home, slamming the door.
He eats two cookies, then there are 4.

When sister comes home, there are still a few
She eats a couple, then there are 2.

Baby wakes up. His nape is done.
He eats a cookie, then there is 1.

The cat jumps on the table and eats the last one.
Poor dog!  He’s too late.  He only gets a crumb.

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

BOOK:

Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

MOVEMENT:
Patty Cake (Cookie Style)
Patty cake, patty cake, baker’s man (clap hands together)
Bake me a cookie as fast as you can
Roll it (make a rolling motion with hands)
And Pat it (pat hands on your lap)
And mark it with a “C” (for cookie!) (draw a letter C in the air)
And it in the oven (mime putting tray in oven)
for you (point out)
and me! (point to yourself)

VIDEO:


“The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?” from The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? …and More Stories by Mo Willems. Based on the book by Mo Willems

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 

Book: Cookiesaurus Rex written by Amy Fellner Dominy & Nate Evans, illustrated by AG Ford
Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie written by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
DVD: Some Sesame Street DVD with Cookie Monster

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:

HOW IT WENT:
This was a fun and tasty storytime!  I was glad I got to try out my set from Target – I hadn’t used that one before.  I realized I didn’t change that much from when I did this storytime back in 2012 (at least, I used a lot of the books I identified then too).  But it was still a fun theme, and I think long enough from when I did it the first time.

ATTENDANCE: 18 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, February 9, 2019 @ Children’s Room

*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

Zoo – Preschool Storytime

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It was raining today, so I don’t think it would be a good day to see animals at the zoo.  But in books, we can always visit the zoo!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

FLANNELBOARD:
Zoo Riddles

For this flannelboard, say the rhyme, then when the children guess put the correct animal up on the board.  Then you can make the animal sound.

They are big and they are gray,
And their trunks swing and sway.
What are they? ELEPHANT

Bananas are their favorite things,
And they like to chatter and like to swing.
What are they? MONKEY

These animals bark and are colored brown
They have flippers and swim all around.
What are they? SEAL

They have necks that are long, long, long.
If you guess a turtle, you are wrong, wrong, wrong!
What are they? GIRAFFE

They are sort of like a horse,
Except for their black and white stripes, of course.
What are they? ZEBRA

They are a kind of cat,
But they have a mane and Roar (ROAR) like that.
What are they? LION

These birds can’t fly and they look funny.
They’re black all over except for a white tummy.
What are they? PENGUIN

These animals like to hop around.
A tummy pouch is where their babies can be found.
What are they? KANGAROO

They don’t come in just one color or style
but they all like to giggle, laugh and smile.
What are they? CHILDREN

BOOK:

Stripes the Cat Tiger by Jean Leroy and Bérengère Delaporte, illustrated by Bérengère Delaporte

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

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
Dear Zoo
Based on the book by Rod Campbell.  Template for this story taken from KizClub

SONG / MOVEMENT:
The Animals at the Zoo
(to the tune of: “The Wheels on the Bus”)

The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar
Roar, roar, roar.  Roar, roar, roar.
The lions at the zoo go roar, roar, roar
All day long.

Other verses:
snakes … hiss, hiss, hiss
hyenas … ha ha ha
monkey … ooh ooh ooh

Also just ask the kids about animals at the zoo and make up your own verses.  Today we had penguins that went skate, skate, skate and a flamingo that went flap, flap, flap.

BOOK:

A Hippo in Our Yard by Liza Donnelly

VIDEO:
 
“Good Night, Gorilla” from Good Night Gorilla…and More Bedtime Stories. Based on the book by Peggy Rathmann

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
      

Book: Hungry Roscoe by David J. Plant (this might be a better pick for a slightly older group)
Book: Look by Fiona Woodcock (Would be a good choice for infant/toddler storytime)
Book: The Way to the Zoo by John Burningham
DVD: “Wild About Books” from Chicka Chick Boom Boom…and More Fun with Letters and Numbers.  Based on the book by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown
DVD: “The Happy Lion” from Tikki Tikki Tembo… and More Favorite Tales.  Based on the book by Louise Fatio Duvoisin, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

HOW IT WENT:
I just transferred positions, and this was my first storytime back in Youth Services!  It was a small group (people in Los Angeles don’t like coming out in the rain…), but it was a really fun storytime.  I think I need to remake my Dear Zoo flannelboard pieces though – I used the laminate and felt back method, and the box that is supposed to hide the animal kept sliding off, thus ruining the whole element of surprise.  Stripes the Tiger was a bit hit – I would use that one again in a moment.

ATTENDANCE: 9 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, January 12, 2019 @ Children’s Room

*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

Things That Go! – Signs ‘n Storytime

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Disclaimer: I am not bilingual in ASL. I took some courses in college (which seems like a million years ago now…)  I know I am not going to teach anyone to be fluent in ASL – as a fully formed language, there is no way I could do this.  But I view this program as a way to teach parents signs that they might find useful to use with their babies, as children can sign before they can speak.  I am teaching words, not grammar or culture.  I mean no disrespect to the Deaf community, and I welcome comments/ways to improve this service in a culturally respectful manner.

It seems like 2018 year just flew by!   And that is also what happens with the vehicles in this month’s theme for Signs n’ Storytime – Things that Go! (Ok, so some fly.  Some speed.  Some chugga chug.  You get what I meant though.)

SONG: “Hello Friends” in ASL

taken from Jbrary
I changed this one a little so instead of doing it time to “say” Hello, I sing, “it’s time to Sign Hello” and use the ASL word for sign

SONG: The Alphabet Song

We finger sign along to this one.  This was my second time adding this element in to the storytime, so I passed this handout out to the parents at storytime to help them follow along.

SIGNS USED DURING THIS PROGRAM:

Airplane 
Boat
Bus
Car 
Fast
Fire Truck
Friend 
Rocket 
Slow
Train 
Truck
Tunnel

BOOK:

Train by Judi Abbot

Signs used with the story:
Train
Airplane 
Car
Tunnel
Friend

FLANNELBOARD:
Fast or Slow

(Flannelboard pattern & rhyme from 2’s Experience Felt Board Fun by Liz & Dick Wilmes. Art by Janet McDonnell)

Have the vehicles behind the board.  Put one vehicle on the board at a time, and ask the audience if it goes fast or slow.  With each vehicle I put on the board, I grouped them together fast vehicles with fast vehicles, slow with slow, and mid-range in the middle. I didn’t use all the pieces shown for this one, but I have all those made.

Looking over a different blog post where I used this flannelboard, I forgot this time to move them across the board at the correct speed.  That would have made this a little more fun.

Signs used with this story:
Fast
Slow
Boat
Car
Fire Truck
Rocket 
Bus
Train
Airplane

MOVEMENT: If You’re Happy and You Know It

I sung this one acapella, and when we clap our hands we do the ASL version of clapping, we stomp our feet, and we pound our chest.  Whenever there is clapping in this storytime (at the end of a book, etc) we always do it the ASL way.

BOOK:

Zoom, Zoom, Baby! by Karen Katz

Signs used with story:
Boat
Bus
Airplane
Train
Truck
Car 

VIDEO:
 
“Four Friends Take a Trip” from Baby’s First-Word Stories: We Go!

Signs used with this story:
Airplane
Bus

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: My Bus by Byron Barton
(signs to use with story: car, drive, boat, train, plane)

Book: My Bike by Byron Barton
(signs to use with story: bike, truck, bus, car, unicycle)

Book: Old MacDonald’s Things That Go by Jane Clarke, illustrated by Migy Blanco
(signs to use with story: bike, truck, tractor, combine harvester, bus, boat, digger, fire truck, train, plane)

Book: Who is Driving? by Leo Timmers
(signs to use with story: fire truck, car, tractor, convertible, jeep, airplane)

Book: Bedtime Blastoff! by Luke Reynolds, illustrated by Mike Yamada
(signs to use with story: fire truck, car, tractor, convertible, jeep, airplane)

HOW IT WENT: This was a fun storytime.  The group was really small, but since I had no one for the December Signs ‘n Storytime, this seemed like a good turnout.  I’m not sure the flannelboard was the best choice for this group though — both the kids were younger infants, and since you need to interact with the flannelboard, it seemed like it might have been too much.

PRESENTED: Thursday, January 10 at LM Branch

ATTENDANCE: 4 people (adults and children)

Thanksgiving – Infant & Toddler Storytime

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Since this was my second time doing Infant Toddler Storytime at one of my new branches, and since I was just filling in for my Technician in the middle of a session, I tried to stick as closely to her storytime format as possible.  I figured our patrons were already comfortable with that, and it allowed me to try out some new songs and rhymes.

SONG: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: If You’re Happy and You Know It (a capella)

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

MOVEMENT: The Itsy Bitsy Spider (a capella)

MOVEMENT:  Head Shoulders Knees and Toes (a capella)

BOOK:

Over the River and Through the Wood: A Song for Thanksgiving by Lydia Marie Child, Nadine Bernard Westcott

MOVEMENT: Roly Poly
(to tune of Frere Jacques) – taken from jbrary

Roly poly, roly poly
up up up,
up up up
Roly roly poly roly roly poly
down down down,
down down down.

Other verses:
out / in
fast / slow

As you sing, do the motions with your arms for the verses, or you can do it with your little one’s legs.

MOVEMENT: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them

FLANNELBOARD:
Turkey Feathers

Pattern from Felt Board Fingerplays by Liz and Dick Wilmes
Song from Everything Preschool

Here’s a turkey. (Place the turkey on the flannelboard.)
But he’s missing something!  What is he missing? (wait for audience to answer)
Feathers!
What color is this feather? (Bring out the red feather)
Red!  That’s right!  Let’s put it on the turkey.  (Place the feather on the turkey.)
(now sing, to tune of Mary Wore Her Red Dress)
Turkey wore his red feather, red feather, red feather.
Turkey wore his red feather all day long.

(Continue adding color feathers and singing)

Let’s see, what color feathers does turkey have?  (rename all the colors)
And what does that make?
A rainbow!

(Sing)
Turkey wore his rainbow feathers, rainbow feathers, rainbow feathers.
Turkey wore his rainbow feathers all day long.

MOVEMENT: 10 Little Fingers on My Hands

I have 1 little, 2 little, 3 little fingers
4 little, 5 little, 6 little fingers
7 little, 8 little, 9 little fingers
10 little fingers on my hands.

They wiggle and the wiggle
All together
They wiggle and they wiggle
all together
They wiggle and they wiggle
all together
10 little fingers on my hands.

They clap and they clap
and they keep on clapping.
They clap and they clap
and they keep on clapping.
They clap and they clap
and they keep on clapping.
10 little fingers on my hands.

BOUNCE: “A Bouncing We Will Go”

A bouncing we will go
A bouncing we will go
High-ho the derry-o a bouncing we will go

Other verses:
– A rocking we will go…
– A hugging we will go…
– A tickling we will go…

BOOK:

Where is Baby’s Turkey? by Karen Katz

SHAKER SONGS: For this portion, I used some songs from a cd my library tech had, and we shook our shakers all to the beat.

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
   

Book: The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
Book: Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney
Book: Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette
Book: Over the River and Through the Wood illustrated by Emma Randall  (I wasn’t able to get a copy of this one in time, but I am putting it on here as reminder to check it out next time!)

HOW IT WENT:  It went well.  I really relied on some of my Thanksgiving standards, since I didn’t have a lot of time to prep for this one.  It’s also fun trying out and learning some new storytime songs.  I like being able to keep things fresh.

PRESENTED: Thursday, November 15 at LM Branch

ATTENDANCE: 45 (adults and children)

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

Feelings & Emotions – Signs ‘n Storytime

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It’s been a bit since I’ve posted a Signs n’ Storytime, because I had someone cover for me for last month’s program.

Disclaimer: I am not bilingual in ASL. I took some courses in college (which seems like a million years ago now…)  I know I am not going to teach anyone to be fluent in ASL – as a fully formed language, there is no way I could do this.  But I view this program as a way to teach parents signs that they might find useful to use with their babies, as children can sign before they can speak.  I am teaching words, not grammar or culture.  I mean no disrespect to the Deaf community, and I welcome comments/ways to improve this service in a culturally respectful manner.

This month, we focused on feelings.  In keeping what I did with my colors themed storytime, we reviewed a lot of the same signs over and over again with each story for lots of practice.

SONG: “Hello Friends” in ASL

taken from Jbrary
I changed this one a little so instead of doing it time to “say” Hello, I sing, “it’s time to Sign Hello” and use the ASL word for sign

SIGNS USED DURING THIS PROGRAM:
Happy
Brave
Mad 
Calm
Sad
Afraid
Proud
Friend 
Angry

BOOK:

In My Heart by Jo Witek, illustrated by Christine Roussey

Signs used with the story:
Happy
Brave
Mad 
Calm
Sad
Afraid
Proud
Grumpy
Silly

(Because this book felt a little long for the audience, I used the paper-clip trick to skip over some pages, and only used those ones for the signs above)


MOVEMENT: Hokey Pokey

FLANNELBOARD:
Old MacDonald Felt So Glad

I’ve done this flannelboard before, and you can see the original words to the rhyme here. But, it felt strange to be making the sounds at a storytime that is all about sign language, so I changed the words a little to work better.

(to tune of “Old MacDonald had a farm”)
Old MacDonald felt so glad (Happy)
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA
And when he’s glad we sign it like this:
Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy
With a Happy Happy here and a Happy Happy there
Here a Happy, there a Happy everywhere a Happy Happy
Old MacDonald felt so glad.
Happy Happy

Repeat this, substituting the following emotions and signs:
Grumpy = Grumpy
Sad = Sad
Silly = Silly


MOVEMENT: If You’re Happy and You Know It

I sung this one a capella, and when we clap our hands we do the ASL version of clapping, we stomp our feet, and we pound our chest.  Whenever there is clapping in this storytime (at the end of a book, etc) we always do it the ASL way.

BOOK:

My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems

Signs used with story:
Friend 
Sad
Happy

VIDEO:
  
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” from Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!…and more stories by Mo Willems: The Mo Willes Cartoon Collection Vol. 1 based on the book by Mo Willems.

Signs used with this story:
Sad
Angry

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
    

Book: How Does Baby Feel? by Karen Katz
(signs to use with story: hungry, happy, sleepy, sad, silly, love)

Book: Places to Be by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Renata Liwska
(signs to use with story: happy, mad, thirsty, brave, bored, sleepy, scared)

Book: The Pigeon has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems
(signs to use with story: happy, no, angry, sad, happy)

Book: How Do You Feel? by Anthony Browne
(signs to use with story: bored, lonely, happy, sad, angry, guilty, curious, surprised, confident, shy, worried, silly, hungry, full, sleepy)

HOW IT WENT: I had a good turnout at this storytime, so that was nice.  Originally, I thought I would use How Does Baby Feel? with the group as my second book, but I had some older siblings in the group, so I thought the Elephant and Piggie book was a better fit.  Also, I realized after showing Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! I should have prepped the story by having the kids learn the sign for no and then they could have signed along with the film.

PRESENTED: Thursday, November 8, 2018

ATTENDANCE: 12 people (adults and children)

Rivers and Streams – Preschool (But also Infant/Toddler) Storytime

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This is another adapted from one of our system storyboxes.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

PUPPET:

Before starting into the storytime, kids could pet and say hello to a beaver puppet.

BOOK:

I Know the River Loves Me / Yo sé que el río me ama by Maya Christina Gonzalez

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

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

FLANNELBOARD:


Five Little Boats (on the River)
Pattern taken from taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book 2nd Edition by Judy Sierra
Words adapted from Felt Board Ideas Five Little Sailboats Felt Board Poem

(to the tune of: “5 Little Ducks”)

Five little boats went out one day
Out on the river and far away
When the waves began to rock
One little boat returned to the dock.

Other verses:
4 little boats…

MOVEMENT: Row Row Row Your Boat

BOOK:

A Brave Bear by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Emily Hughes

MOVEMENT: Twinkle Twinkle

VIDEO:

“River, River, River Run” from A Kid for The Wild: Music Videos Featuring Scenic Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park Animals and Locations

CRAFT: Fish Puppet in a River

Have the kids color in the river scene and the fish puppet.  Tape or glue the fish onto a popsicle stick.  Cut a slit into the river scene where the dotted line is.  Insert puppet into line, and have the fish “frolic” in the river!

The templates for this craft are below:
Fish Puppet Template
River Template

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 

DVD: “Scruffy the Tugboat: Big River Rescue” from The Poky Little Puppy and Friends
Book: Tugboat Bill and the River Rescue by Calista Brill, illustrated by Tad Carpenter
Book: Splash! by Flora McDonnell (they just say that the animals go down to the “water”, so I think you could say “river” instead.)
Book: Solomon Crocodile by Catherine Rayner
Book: The Crocodile and the Scorpion by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

HOW IT WENT:
I wasn’t sure how Rivers would be as a theme for storytime, but I was pleasantly surprised!  The DVD worked really well too.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, October 9 at LM branch

ATTENDANCE: 16 people (adults and children)

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

Moon – Preschool (But also Infant/Toddler) Storytime

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This is another adapted from one of our system storyboxes.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:
 
Come Back, Moon by David Kherdian, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian

MOVEMENT:
Climb Aboard the Spaceship
(to the tune of “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

Climb aboard the spaceship, (pretend to climb ladder into spaceship)
We’re going to the moon.
Hurry and get ready,
We’re going to blast off soon.
Put on your helmets (pretend to put on helmet)
And buckle up real tight. (pretend to put on seatbelt)
Here comes the countdown (squat down low to the ground)
Let’s count with all our might:
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
BLAST OFF! (jump up into the air)

The group had so much fun with this one, we did the countdown/blast off part twice.

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

MOVEMENT: “Two Little Blackbirds” from Music Together

BOOK:
 
The Moon is Going to Addy’s House by Ida Pearle

MOVEMENT:
We’re Flying to the Moon
(to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

We’re flying to the moon
We’re flying to the moon
Blast off, away we go
We’re flying to the moon

We’re landing on the moon
We’re landing on the moon
Here we go, we’re on the moon
We’re landing on the moon

We’re collecting moon rocks
We’re collecting moon rocks
Here we go, we’re on the moon
We’re collecting moon rocks

At this point, I asked the kids what else we could do on the moon, here are some of their suggestions:

jumping up and down…
hear a bird…
are searching for a kitty…
saying “hi” to aliens…

Then we resumed with:

We’re flying back to Earth
We’re flying back to Earth
Blast off, away we go
We’re flying back to Earth

We;re landing on the Earth
We’re landing on the Earth
Here we go, we’ve come home
We’re landing on the Earth

MOVEMENT: “Two Little Blackbirds” from Music Together

VIDEO:
 
“Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me” from The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other stories, based on the book by Eric Carle

CRAFT: Plane Paper Craft
idea taken from Mommy’s Bundle

Materials:
– Black construction paper
– scissors
– yellow paper
– aluminum foil
– star stickers
– glue

Cut a circle out of aluminum foil. This will be the moon.  Create a quarter circle out of the yellow paper to represent the sun.  Have kids glue the sun in one of the top corners of the black construction paper.  Have them (gently) crumple up the aluminum foil to make craters and texture on the moon.  Smooth the moon out, glue onto the black paper.  Embellish with star stickers.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
  

Book: One Moon, Two Cats by Laura Godwin, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka
Book: The Moon’s Almost Here by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
DVD: “Happy Birthday Moon” from Good Night, Gorilla…and more Bedtime Stories, based on the book by Frank Asch

HOW IT WENT:
I loved how much the kids got into our space-themed movements at this storytime.

PRESENTED: Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at SR Branch

ATTENDANCE: 28 people (adults and children)

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

Colors – Signs ‘n Storytime

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This was my third Signs n’ Storytime.  As I’ve mentioned before, I approach this storytime as a way for parents to get exposed to some signs that they can use with their little ones.

Disclaimer: I am not bilingual in ASL. I took some courses in college (which seems like a million years ago now…)

This month, we focused on colors.  So instead of learning completely different signs with each book, we had a lot of time to review the same signs.

SONG: “Hello Friends” in ASL

taken from Jbrary
I changed this one a little so instead of doing it time to “say” Hello, I sing, “it’s time to Sign Hello” and use the ASL word for sign

SIGNS USED DURING THIS PROGRAM:
Color
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple
Pink
Brown
Black
White
Gray
Rainbow

This video from ASL That is a quick introduction to a bunch of color signs:

BOOK:

Knock! Knock!  by Anna-Clara Tidholm.

Signs used with the story:
Flash Lights (We used this sign when the Knock! Knock! sound happened, as doorbells are often connected to lights to signal their “ring” to a deaf person)
Blue
Red
Green
Yellow (thought the kids in storytime thought the Yellow door in this story was Orange, so we actually signed that instead…  It does look orange-y in the illustrations)
White 

MOVEMENT: Hokey Pokey

FLANNELBOARD:
I Went Walking
 
Based on the book by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas

Signs used with story:
Black
Brown
Red 
Green
Pink (the pig is a light pink, even though it looks white in the photo)
Yellow

MOVEMENT: If You’re Happy and You Know It

I sung this one a capella, and when we clap our hands we do the ASL version of clapping, we stomp our feet, and we pound our chest.  Whenever there is clapping in this storytime (at the end of a book, etc) we always do it the ASL way.

BOOK:

Cat’s Colors by Airlie Anderson

Signs used with story:
Gray
Green 
Red 
Blue
Purple
Orange
Black
Yellow

VIDEO:
  
“Planting a Rainbow” from 20 Stories for Spring based on the book by Lois Ehlert.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

      

Book: Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
(signs to use with story: white, black, red, blue, green, brown, yellow, pink, gray,             orange, purple)
Book: Butterfly Butterfly by Petr Horácek
(signs to use with story: pink, brown, green, red, orange, purple, blue, yellow, 
Book: Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
(signs to use with story: blue, red, yellow, green, brown)
Book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes story by Eric Litwin, art by James Dean
(signs to use with story: white, red, blue, brown)
Book: Meeow and the Little Chairs by Sebastien Braun.
(signs to use with story: black, orange, green, blue, red, yellow)
Book: Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett
(signs to use with story: blue, yellow, pink, brown, gold, green, gray, white)
Book: See the Colors: Sign Language for Colors by Dawn Babb Porochovnic, illustrated by Stephanie Bauer

HOW IT WENT: This was a nice theme, because it was easy to find good books to use.  I had a much smaller group this time.  I also learned that some of the handshapes (“g”, “p”, “k”) seemed to be hard for the little ones to make.  I need to do some research into how to explain them better.  I was ok with “g” (make a fist, point your pointer finger out, and point your thumb out too), but describing the others caught me off guard.  If anyone has a good resource for this, please share!

PRESENTED: Thursday, September 13, 2018

ATTENDANCE: 4 people (adults and children)