Tag Archives: monkeys

Snow – Toddler Storytime

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For our last storytime of the Fall session, we celebrated the start of a new season with stories of snow (even it was a little early for that.).

SONG: Welcome Song

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

LETTER FLANNELBOARD:
S is for Snow
Letter-Flannelboard-S-jeninthelibrary

Today we reviewed the sound the letter S makes, drew it with our fingers, and talked about a smile, a sun, a star and a snowflake.  (I left out the stegosaurus and the sheep for this round of S.)

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Snow”

BOOK:
Gravett-Bear_and_Hare_Snow
Bear & Hare: Snow! by Emily Gravett

MOVEMENT: “Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel

COUNTING FLANNELBOARD:
Snowflakes
8_Snowflakes_FB
We counted 7 snowflakes.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count while I put these in a line.

Then we count the whatevers as they go up.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count as they go bye-bye

FLANNELBOARD:
5 Little Snowpals
Five_Little-Snowpals_FB
Pattern and rhyme from Felt Board Fingerplays by Liz and Dick Wilmes

Five little snowpals, standing in a row
Each has a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it shown all day
One little snowpal melted away.

Repeat using 4… 3… 2… 1…

 

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: The Itsy Bitsy Spider*

BOOK:
Root-Snowy_Sunday
Snowy Sunday by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Craig

MOVEMENT: Two Little Blackbirds*

VIDEO:
Ezra_Jack_Keats_Collection_DVD Keats-Snowy_Day
“The Snowy Day” from The Ezra Jack Keats Collection, based on the book by Ezra Jack Keats

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
George-One_Mitten Thompson-Mouses_First_Snow Sayre-Best_In_Snow Savage-Supertruck Hubbell-Snow_Happy Heiligman-Snow_Dog_Go_Dog Baby's First Word Stories Get Dressed DVD

Book: One Mitten by Kristine O’Connell George, illustrated by Maggie Smith
Book: Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan
Book: Best In Snow by April Pulley Sayre
Book: Supertruck by Stephen Savage
Book: Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrations by Hiroe Nakata
Book: Snow Dog, Go Dog story by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by Tim Bowers
DVD: “Let’s Play in the Snow” from Baby’s First-Word Stories: Get Dressed

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
I’m not sure that The Snowy Day worked well as a toddler video.  It might be better for a preschool audience.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 28, 2017

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  43 people      11 am: 43 people

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

Thanksgiving – Toddler Storytime

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Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone!  We celebrated last week at our toddler storytime, and here’s what we did.

SONG: Welcome Song

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

LETTER FLANNELBOARD:
T is for Turkey (and Thanksgiving)
Letter-Flannelboard-T-jeninthelibrary

Today we reviewed the sound the letter T makes, drew it with our fingers, and talked about a tree, a teddy bear, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a train, and a turkey!

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Turkey” and “Thank You”

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

MOVEMENT: “Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel

COUNTING FLANNELBOARD:
Turkeys
8-Turkeys-jeninthelibrary
We counted 8 turkeys.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count while I put these in a line.

Then we count the whatevers as they go up.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count as they go bye-bye

FLANNELBOARD:
Turkey Feathers
Turkey-Feathers-Flannelboard-jeninthelibrary
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!

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: The Itsy Bitsy Spider*

BOOK:
Hill-Spot's_Thanksgiving
Spot’s Thanksgiving by Eric Hill

MOVEMENT: Two Little Blackbirds*

VIDEO:
Max and Ruby's Halloween DVD
“Max’s Thanksgiving” from Max & Ruby’s Halloween

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
where-is-babys-turkey-9781534400894_lg Levine-This_is_the_Turkey Dewdney-Llama_Llama_Gives_Thanks All for Pie and Pie for All Thankful Book by Parr

Book: Where is Baby’s Turkey? by Karen Katz
Book: This is the Turkey by Abby Levine, illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye
Book: Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney
Book: All for Pie, Pie for All by David Martin, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
Book: The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Jen in the Library – Thanksgiving – Toddler – November 25, 2014
Jen in the Library – Thanksgiving – Toddler – November 20, 2012

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
I thought that by singing the book Over the River and Through the Wood that might keep the toddler’s attention a little better than just reading.  I think maybe I should have just chosen a shorter book, which is why I picked Spot’s Thanksgiving for my second read.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 21, 2017

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  27 people      11 am: 24 people

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

Thanksgiving – Infant Storytime

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Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving early in our storytimes!  (Sorry I didn’t get this posted before Turkey Day!)

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: In the Toaster*

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Turkey” and “Thank You”

BOOK:
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Markes
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette

MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD:
Turkey Feathers
Turkey Feathers Flannelboard
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!

BOUNCE: “Ladies Ride” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake*

BOOK:
where-is-babys-turkey-9781534400894_lg
Where is Baby’s Turkey by Karen Katz

TICKLE: Chicken in the Barnyard*

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
This Little Piggy
This Little Piggy Flannelboard

This little piggy went to market (wiggle baby’s first finger or toe)
This little piggy stayed home (wiggle baby’s second finger or toe)
This little piggy ate roast beef (wiggle baby’s third finger or toe)
This little piggy ate none (wiggle baby’s fourth finger or toe)
And this little piggy went “wee, wee, wee” all the way home.
(wiggle baby’s last finger or toe)

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:

Hill-Spot's_Thanksgiving Dewdney-Llama_Llama_Gives_Thanks

Book: Spot’s Thanksgiving by Eric Hill
Book: Llama Llama Gives Thanks

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Jen in the Library – Thanksgiving – Infant Storytime (November 25, 2014)
Jen in the Library – Thanksgiving – Infant Storytime (November 20, 2012)

HOW IT WENT:
Whenever I have storytime the week of Thanksgiving I use this theme.  It hasn’t changed much from year to year (as you can see if you click on the links to my other Thanksgiving theme).

When I read Thanks for Thanksgiving with the infants, I always skip over a couple of the rhyming couplets to make it shorter.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 21, 2017

ATTENDANCE: 29 people (adults and children)

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

Monkeys – Preschool Storytime

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When it’s my rotation for infant toddler storytime, I’ll often just use the same theme for preschool storytime that week.  It saves time, and helps me by just looking for one theme even if it’s across a slightly longer age range.  So, this week’s Preschool theme was Monkeys!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

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

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Monkey” 
Since this sign looks like something you may see a monkey do, I did the sign first, and then asked the kids to see if they could figure out what our storytime was going to be about.  I added in other things about monkeys to clue them in more, too.

BOOK:

Be Quiet, Mike! by Leslie Patricelli

MOVEMENT:
Itsy Bitsy Monkey
The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up a palm tree (pretend to climb up tree)
Down came a coconut, and hit him on his knee – OUCH!
(“hit” knee with hand, say ouch loudly)
Out came a lion shaking his mighty mane (ROAR!)
And the itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again
(pretend to climb tree, faster this time)

FLANNELBOARD STORY:
Three Little Monkeys

Three little monkeys, swinging in a tree (hold up three fingers)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “Can’t catch me!” (shake pointer finger in tsk, tsk, tsk manner)
Along came Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as could be (palms together, wiggle hands back and forth)
and SNAP! (clap hands on “Snap!”)

Remove a monkey from the board, and continue counting down until no monkeys are left.

Two little monkeys…

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

BOOK:

Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Brian Won

MOVEMENT:
Monkeys Swinging
(to the tune of “Skip to My Lou”)
Monkeys swinging, swinging all day
Monkeys swinging, swinging all day
Monkeys swinging, swinging all day
Swinging til I saaaaaaay —- STOP!

Other verses:
Monkeys tickling, tickling all day… (this one was an audience suggestion!)
Monkeys eating, eating all day…
Monkeys scratching, scratching all day…
Monkeys chatter, chatter all day…

BOOK:

VIDEO:
 
“Caps for Sale” from Antarctic Antics …and more hilarious animal stories! Based on the book by Esphyr Slobodkina

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
 
Book: Where’s My Mom? by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Book: Mo’s Stinky Sweater by David Bedford, illustrated by Edward Eaves
Book: Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett and Kevin Cornell

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Libraryann – Monkey See, monkey… Do this storytime!
Never Shushed – Preschool: Monkeys

HOW IT WENT:
Monkeys is a fun and silly theme.  And I think the families had fun with all the different monkey-themed movements!

ATTENDANCE: 22 (adults and children)

DATE PRESENTED: Saturday, November 18, 2017

*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

Monkeys – Toddler Storytime

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This was another storytime theme inspired by a single book.  I saw Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Brian Won, and just KNEW I needed a toddler storytime with it.

SONG: Welcome Song

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

LETTER FLANNELBOARD:
M is for Monkey

Today we reviewed the sound the letter M makes, drew it with our fingers, and talked about a magnifying glass, a mouse, the moon, and a monkey!

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Monkey”

BOOK:

Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Brian Won

MOVEMENT: “Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett & Elaine Bueffel

COUNTING FLANNELBOARD:
Monkeys

We counted 7 monkeys

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count while I put these in a line.

Then we count the whatevers as they go up.

Sing:
It’s counting time, it’s counting time
so let’s all count as they go bye-bye

FLANNELBOARD:
Five Yellow Bananas

Rhyme and idea taken from one little librarian.  Template found via Google image search.

5 yellow bananas, and not one more.
The monkey ate one, & then there were 4
4 yellow bananas, so yummy to see.
The monkey ate one, & then there were 3
3 yellow bananas, & he knew what to do.
The monkey ate one, & then there were 2
2 yellow bananas, hanging in the sun.
The monkey ate one, & then there as 1
1 yellow banana, well for goodness sake.
The monkey ate that one, & he got a tummyache
Now there are no little bananas hanging on the tree
Monkey, your tummy wouldn’t hurt if you shared them with me!

Have a monkey puppet “eat” the bananas as you take them off the board

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: The Itsy Bitsy Spider*

BOOK:

Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Oriol Vidal

MOVEMENT: Two Little Blackbirds*

VIDEO:

“Mitzi’s Mess” from Little Bear: Rainy Day Tales

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:
    

Book: Two Little Monkeys by Mem Fox, illustrated by Jill Barton
Book: Monkey See, Look at Me! by Lorena Siminovich
Book: Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett
Book: Banana by Ed Vere
Book: Swing Otto Swing! story and pictures by David Milgrim

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
the librariann – Monkey See, monkey… Do this storytime!
Library Village – Toddler Story Time – Monkeys!
one little librarian – toddler time: monkey business
storytime katie – Monkeys!
sunflower storytime – monkey business!
Verona Story Time – Money Story Time – Toddler

Jen in the Library – Monkeys & Apes: Wonderful Primates – Toddler Storytime (November 7, 2012)

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
I loved Spunky Little Monkey just as much as I thought it was.  I did add a repetition of the moves a few more times though, so the toddlers could get the hang of it.

I wasn’t originally planning on doing Little Monkey Calms Down as my second book, but attention spans had started wandering and I liked how short it was, while still having a story.  I was surprised at how well it went over!  Sometimes I think I have to have fun, goofy, loud books for toddlers to keep them engaged, but softer, quiet books can work as well.  It was interesting how quiet I could be when reading this and kids were still paying attention.

For the DVD, I remembered that Mitzi was some sort of primate, and I did some research online and everything said she was a monkey.  But watching the DVD again, I think she’s more of an ape.  I’ll have to find a different DVD for the next time I do monkeys only.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 14, 2017

ATTENDANCE:  10 am:  37 people      11 am: 46 people

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

Monkeys – Infant Storytime

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Today was all about monkey fun!

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock*

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE SIGN: “Monkey”

BOOK:

More and More by Emma Dodd

MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD:
Four Yellow Bananas

Idea taken from one little librarian

4 yellow bananas, so yummy to see.
The monkey ate one, & then there were 3
3 yellow bananas, & he knew what to do.
The monkey ate one, & then there were 2
2 yellow bananas, hanging in the sun.
The monkey ate one, & then there as 1
1 yellow banana, well for goodness sake.
The monkey ate that one, & he got a tummyache
Now there are no little bananas hanging on the tree
Monkey, your tummy wouldn’t hurt if you shared them with me!

BOUNCE: “Ladies Ride” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake*

BOOK:

Little Monkey Calms Down written by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Oriol Vidal

TICKLE: These are Baby’s Fingers*

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Pop! Goes the Weasel

Song and patterns from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra.

All around the cobbler’s bench
The monkey chased the weasel
The monkey thought it was all in fun
POP! Goes the weasel.
 
A penny for a spool of thread
A penny for a needle
That’s the way the money goes
POP! Goes the weasel.

Make the weasel two-sided, with a different bright color on each.  When you say POP! flip the weasel from one side to the other.

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: Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS:
Jen in the Library – Monkey and Apes: Wonderful Primates! – Infant Storytime (November 7, 2012)

HOW IT WENT:
A good theme.  A few years ago I did a primates theme, which seemed to offer more variety for books for this theme, because you could use both apes and monkeys in that theme.

PRESENTED: Tuesday, November 14, 2017

ATTENDANCE: 36 people (adults and children)

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

Monkeys & Apes: Wonderful Primates! – Toddler Storytime

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MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

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

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them

BOOK:

Two Little Monkeys by Mem Fox

MOVEMENT: “Reach for the Ceiling” from Toddlers on Parade by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

COUNTING SONG:

FLANNELBOARD:
5 Little Monkeys

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

Five little monkeys
jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Continue counting down until no monkeys are left.

MOVEMENT: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

BOOK:

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

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

VIDEO:

“Good Night, Gorilla” from Good Night, Gorilla …and More Bedtime Stories

MOVEMENT:  Storytime’s Over

HOW IT WENT:
This was a nice storytime.  I wanted to do a monkey themed storytime since I first saw Two Little Monkeys, because I thought it would work well with the toddlers.  It did, but I’m wondering if there is something I can do motions-wise to make it more interactive.  Must remember that for next time.  I also love Monkey and Me – I think that’s one of my favorite reads for this age.

ATTENDANCE:   10 am: 39 people     11 am: 35 people

Monkeys & Apes: Wonderful Primates! – Infant Storytime

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I was originally planning on just a monkey themed storytime, but there are a lot of good ones about there about gorillas too, so I had to throw those in.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo

BOUNCE: Ride a Little Pony

BOOK:

Little Gorilla by Ruth Bornstein

MOVEMENT: “Clap, Tap and Bend” from It’s Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

FLANNELBOARD:
Five Little Monkeys

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

Five little monkeys
jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Continue counting down until no monkeys are left.

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

BOOK:

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

TICKLE: Slowly, Slowly Very Slowly

NURSERY RHYME:
Pop Goes the Weasel

Song and patters from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra.

All around the cobbler’s bench
The monkey chased the weasel
The monkey thought it was all in fun
POP! Goes the weasel.

A penny for a spool of thread
A penny for a needle
That’s the way the money goes
POP! Goes the weasel.

Make the weasel two-sided, with a different bright color on each.  When you say POP! flip the weasel from one side to the other.

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

HOW IT WENT:
This was a nice storytime.  While Little Gorilla is rather long, it’s such a sweet story, and the illustrations are wonderful.  When I did the flannelboard with this age, I actually only used 4 monkeys instead of the full 5 to make things a little bit shorter. 

ATTENDANCE: 27 people