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

Cats – Infant Storytime

Posted on June 21, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

Cats was the theme of my 5/24/16 storytime.

SONG: Now it’s Time to Say Hello*
taken from jbrary

MOVEMENT: Peek a Boo*

BOUNCE: The Grandfather Clock*
The grandfather clock goes
tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock (sway baby slowly from side to side)
The kitchen clock goes
tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock (sway or bounce baby a little faster)
And Mommy’s little watch goes
tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick (bounce baby quickly or tickle baby)
Stop!

SIGN LANGUAGE: sign for “CAT”

taken from Costello, Elaine Ph.D. Random House Webster’s American Sign Language Dictionary. 1994.

BOOK:

Cat and Mouse by Ian Schoenherr

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

FLANNELBOARD:

I had a Cat
taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book 2nd Edition by Judy Sierra

I had a cat,
My cat pleased me.
I fed my cat under yonder tree.
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.

I had a pig
My pig pleased me
I fed my pig under yonder tree.
Pig goes Oink Oink
Cat goes Fiddle-i-fee.

Other verses:
Rooster ……. Rooster goes Cock-a-doodle-do!
Donkey ……. Donkey goes Hee-haw!
Turkey …….. Turkey goes Gobble-gobble!

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

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake

BOOK:

How to Be a Cat by Nikki McClure

TICKLE: Round the World
Round the world, (spin finger in air closer and closer to baby)
Round the world, (spin finger in air closer and closer to baby)
Catch a big bear.
Where are we going to catch him?
Right in THERE! (tickle tummy)

NURSERY RHYME:

Hey Diddle Diddle
Flannelboard from Little Folk Visuals

Hey diddle diddle
The cat and the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed,
to see such a sight.
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

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: Now it’s Time to Say Goodbye
taken from jbrary

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Thumpy Feet by Betsy Lewin
Book: Meeow and the Little Chairs by Sebastien Braun (or any book in the Meeow series)

OTHER BLOG POSTS:
Cats – Infant Storytime – 10-15-2014

ATTENDANCE: 37 people (adults and kids)

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

Boats – Toddler Storytime

Posted on June 21, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I fell a bit behind in my blogging, so I’m publishing a few posts all at once. I presented this storytime on May 17, 2016.

SONG: Now it’s Time to Say Hello*
taken from jbrary

MOVEMENT: “Wake Up Toes” from Morning Magic by Joanie Bartels

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

SIGN: ASL sign for BOAT

taken from Costello, Elaine Ph.D. Random House Webster’s American Sign Language Dictionary. 1994.

BOOK:

Splish-Splash by Nicola Smee

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

COUNTING SONG:*

10 Boats

FLANNELBOARD:

Five Sailboats
taken from Felt Board Ideas
(to the tune of Five Little Ducks)

Five sailboats went out one day
Over the waves and far away
With the wind they began to rock
One sailboat returned to the dog.

Continue counting down until no sailboats are left.

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

BOOK:

I Love Boats by Flora McDonnell

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

VIDEO:

“My Boat!” from Baby’s First Word Stories: We Go!

MOVEMENT: Now it’s Time to Say Goodbye taken from jbrary

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw
Book: Pirate PiggyWiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox

GREAT RESOURCES FOR MORE IDEAS
Ready, Set, Story! – Big Blue Boat Flannelboard Story
Storytime Katie – Boats!
AnnesLibraryLife – Boats
Flannel Board Fun – Who Sank the Boat? Flannel
KizClub – Who Sank the Boat pattern

THOUGHTS ON THIS STORYTIME:
I just made the sailboat flannelboard I used yesterday, and once I took a photo of it, I realized that I need to re-apply the puffy paint so that you can read boats 3 and 5.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 42 people 11 am: 31 people

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

Boats – Infant Storytime

Posted on June 18, 2016 by jeninthelibrary

I feel like boats don’t always get as much love as some of the other vehicles do. But they make a great theme for infant storytime!

SONG: Now it’s Time to Say Hello*
taken from jbrary

MOVEMENT: Peek a Boo*

SIGN LANGUAGE: sign for “BOAT”

taken from Costello, Elaine Ph.D. Random House Webster’s American Sign Language Dictionary. 1994.

BOOK:

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

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

FLANNELBOARD:

Five Little Boats
taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book 2nd Edition by Judy Sierra

The first little boat went chug, chug, chug.
The second little boat went tug, tug, tug.
The third little boat went row, row, row.
The fourth little boat went oh so slow.
Here comes the sailboat – watch it go!

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

MOVEMENT: Patty Cake

BOOK:

Boats Go by Steve Light

NURSERY RHYME:

Rub a Dub Dub
(Pattern taken from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra)
Rub a dub dub,
Three men in a tub.
And who do you think they be?
The butcher.
The baker.
The candlestick maker.
Cast them out, knaves all three.

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: Now it’s Time to Say Goodbye
taken from jbrary

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Boats by Byron Barton
Book: Boasts by Anne Rockwell

HOW IT WENT:

Looking at the photo of my flannelboard, I’m realizing that I really need to outline the black or darker colors in a lighter color puffy paint so they stand out more. This is a useful note, because I used to use a blue backed flannelboard, so the black pieces were fine — on a black background, they blend it. So, puffy paint for maximum useability!

The Going to Bed Book wouldn’t be my first thought when planning a boat storytime, but it worked well with this group, especially because it is a larger lap-sized version.

ATTENDANCE: 37 people (adults and kids)

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

Airplanes – eStorytime

Posted on July 24, 2015 by jeninthelibrary

In the midst of Summer, with everyone taking vacations, I thought it would be fun to feature airplanes in today’s eStorytime!

Opening Slide on Keynote:
Airplanes eStorytime - 2015-07-24

SONG:

Come Along and Sing with Me

APP:

100 Planes from Michael Krynski ($2.99; iOS)

This simple app, part of the 100 things series, shows lots of pictures and has videos of all types of planes. I wanted to use this as a started for what the theme of storytime was going to be. I just showed a few different pictures from the app, and then played a short video clip.

APP:

Build and Play 3D from Croco Studio ($2.99 ; iOS, Android, Samsung app)

Before we read stories about planes, I thought we should build our own. Build and Play 3D is an app that includes a bunch of different toys (trucks, airplanes, robots, etc) and then you “assemble” the parts of the toy by touching and dragging on your tablet. It’s a fun way to build shape recognition and puzzle solving skills. I learned about this app at “Explore, Play and Imagine: Interactive Tech Time in Kids Library Programming” a presentation at ALA 2015 by staff from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburg.

eBook/APP:

Planes by Byron Barton from Oceanhouse Media ($1.99, iOS)

This book is what made me want to do a plane storytime. Based on the print book, it translates beautifully into a vibrant app. While the price above is for the single app, you can also buy the Bryon Barton Collection #1 from Oceanhouse Media which has Planes, Trains, Boats and Trucks for $4.99.

FINGERPLAY:

The Airplane
The airplane has great big wings (arms out at sides)
Its propeller spins around and sings (move arms in circle)
The airplane goes up (raise arms)
The airplane goes down (lower arms)
The airplane flies high (arms out at sides)
Over our town. (turn in a circle with arms out at sides)

APP:

Felt Board from Software Smoothie ($2.99; iOS)
I used felt board to do the song/rhyme “Five Little Airplanes” I found from pattyshukla on YouTube.

Five Little Airplanes
Five little airplanes flying around
Zoom…zoom…zomm
One decided to touch down …zoom
Leaving 4 little airplanes flying around.

Continue song with 4…3…2…1…

There were not little airplanes flying around
Then all 5 airplanes left the ground
Zooooooom!
All five airplanes flying around.

I started with five airplanes on a blue background. When we sang about them flying around I used my fingers to touch the screen and move the planes gently. When it was time for one of the planes to touch down, I just tapped on the trash can for the board, then on one of the planes so it would “zoom” away. When you get to the last verse of the song, just add five new planes to the screen. Fun!

PRINT BOOK:

My First Airplane Ride by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Nancy Speir

APP:

Plane Wash from Happy Touch Apps (FREE; iOS)

The title of this app explains it perfectly — you wash a plane. First, select which type of plane you’d like to clean. Next, go step by step to make sure that plane is sparkling – rinse it, scrub it, wipe it and dry it! For this app, I brought it down to the kids and we took turns doing the different cleaning activities.

MOVEMENT:

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

eBook/APP:

Around the World by James Carter and Anne Wilson from Collins Big Cat (FREE; iOS)

A brief story about children who travel around the world through sun and snow and visit Africa, India, and China. I just read the story part of the app, but one of the fun features of this (and all the free Collins Big Cat apps) is that they all come with a story creator section. You can use this to make your own stories using set backgrounds, objects, and characters from the story. Then add your own text. You can even record and listen to the stories you create.

SONG: “Storytime’s Over”*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

APP: Bamba Airport from, Mezmedia ($3.99; iOS): Similar to all the other Bamba apps, where you get to guide characters through all the steps of an airport or plane ride.
APP: Dr. Panda’s Airport from Dr. Panda ($3.99; iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows) Like Bamba Airport, take animals through the airport
APP: I Learn with Transportation from Dada Company ($2.99; iOS, Andriod, Amazon) Children learn shapes, colors, numbers and more by way of various methods of transportation.

THOUGHTS ON THIS eSTORYTIME:
This storytime went pretty well! I think I am getting the hang of eStorytimes! (Knock on wood.) I had a really small group of people today (as you can see from the numbers below), but the adults were really interested in the apps I was using, and took lots of photos so they could remember them. One caregiver was very effusive in her compliments to me as well, saying that she liked that I stuck with a theme and she was very impressed by me. That was very sweet. And ti’s a nice thing to look back on and remember for when my programs don’t go so well.

ATTENDANCE: 4 people (children and adults)

*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

Please note: App prices were correct at the time of writing this blog, but may have changed since. All prices taken from the iOS app price. There may also be changes to available platforms for apps as well.

Fast & Slow – Toddler Storytime

Posted on November 11, 2014 by jeninthelibrary

I think I did a slow storytime for preschoolers a while ago, and I thought it might be fun to use with toddlers. I didn’t have enough good slow stories to round things out, so I decided to make it a fast & slow storytime.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: “Clap Your Hands, Clap Your Hands” from Tickles and Tunes by Kathy Reid-Naiman

MOVEMENT: Open Shut Them*

BOOK:

“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth by Eric Carle

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

MOVEMENT: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

COUNTING SONG:*

10 Turtles

FLANNELBOARD:
Fast and 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. When they answers, move the vehicle across the board at the correct speed. You can also make the noises the vehicle makes as you move it. Take this piece of the board, and then repeat with the next vehicle. This is nice one because you can lengthen it or shorten it depending on your audience. Those are all the flannel pieces I have for this pictured on the board – I didn’t actually use them all.

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

MOVEMENT: Itsy Bitsy Spider

BOOK:

Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee

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

VIDEO:

“The Balloon Ride” from Peppa Pig: The Balloon Ride

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IDEAS:

Book: Faster! Faster! by Leslie Patricelli
Book: Mini Racer by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Bridget Strevens-Marzo
Book: Late Nate in a Race by Emily Arnold McCully
Flannelboard: The Giant Carrot (it has a snail!)

HOW IT WENT:
Storytime went so much better this week! Yay! You know how when you talk to someone but you’re not sure if it made any difference? That’s how I was left feeling at the end of last week, but SOMETHING must have happened, because everyone sat with their child and participated today. Yay! We are even handing out balloons as a promotion for a future event, and even with those, the kids were awesome. I did start by telling the parents since I knew balloons could be a distraction that I would need their help today. Maybe I just need to use that approach more. It’s a helping environment. Whatever it was that happened, it was a nicer storytime.

When I was picking materials for this storytime I wasn’t sure that “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly” said the Sloth would work with toddlers. I did skip over a few of the animals asking Sloth about his habits, but on the whole it seemed to work really well. I think I would use that again.

ATTENDANCE: 10 am: 31 people 11 am: 38 people

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

Fast & Slow – Infant Storytime

Posted on November 11, 2014 by jeninthelibrary

Today’s storytime focused on things that are fast or slow.

MOVEMENT: Welcome Song*

MOVEMENT: Peek-a-Boo*

BOUNCE: I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock*

BOOK:

Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee

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

FLANNELBOARD:

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

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

BOOK:

Slow Snail by Mary Murphy

TICKLE: Round and Round the Garden*

NURSERY RHYME FLANNELBOARD:
Little Miss Muffet

(Felt pieces from Little Folk Visuals)

Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her.
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

MOVEMENT: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” from Songs for Wiggleworms by the Old Town School of Folk Music

MOVEMENT: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Children’s Favorite Songs Volume 3 from Walt Disney

MOVEMENT: Storytime’s Over*

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:

Book: Quick Duck by Mary Murphy (board book)
Book: How Fast can You Go? by Kate Riggs, illustrated by Nate Williams (board book. I also thing this one would make a good flannelboard.)
Book: Faster! Faster! by Leslie Patricelli

HOW IT WENT:
This was a good storytime. I like “I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock” as a bounce. We did it three times in a row, and that didn’t seem like overkill. Slow Snail is a regular sized board book, but I thought the pictures were simple enough to carry across the room and still be seen. I love Mary Murphy’s books. I picked Little Miss Muffet as today’s nursery rhyme because if I had a spider sit next to me during my breakfast, I would probably move pretty quickly away.

ATTENDANCE: 44 people

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

Flannel Friday: I Saw a Giraffe Drive By

Posted on February 1, 2013 by jeninthelibrary

When I was in library school, we had an assginment to make a booklist centered around a theme — any theme we wanted. My theme was “Animals and Their Vehicles”. Ever since that booklist, I’ve had a soft spot for animals taking a spin, and I’ve used it as a storytime theme a few times. Here’s a great flannelboard that goes with it.

I Saw a Giraffe Drive By
May be sung to the tune of “Down by the Bay”

Poem and Patterns from Toddler Storytime Programs by Diane Briggs

One sunny day I saw a giraffe drive by,
In a shiny car and a big bow tie.
Then I saw a sheep,
Riding in a jeep.
Then I saw a duck,
Driving a truck.
One sunny day.

One sunny day I saw a platypus,
He was going for a ride on a little orange school bus.
Then I saw a goat,
She was rowing a boat.
Then I saw a bear,
Flying through the air,
One sunny day.

Oh, me, oh, my,
What a lot of funny animals went by!

I’ve mentioned before that I got a lot of flannelboards from my mom when she retired. This is another one of those, and I think it’s among my favorite. My mom somehow cajoled my dad into making her flannelboards for her, so when I use them it’s like using a small piece of family history as well.

Today’s Flannel Friday roundup is hosted by Anne at so tomorrow. For more information on Flannel Friday, visit the Flannel Friday blog or Pinterest page.

Jen in the Library

Storytimes, Programs and Library Thoughts

Tag Archives: transportation

Bikes – Preschool Storytime

Cats – Infant Storytime

Boats – Toddler Storytime

Boats – Infant Storytime

Airplanes – eStorytime

Fast & Slow – Toddler Storytime

Fast & Slow – Infant Storytime

Flannel Friday: I Saw a Giraffe Drive By