My co-worker and I visited one of the local preschools [ages 3-5] on the 28th and 29th and each did three Halloween storytimes! Together, we found books, a flannel, a puppet, and some action rhymes/songs and went out to do our thing!
For each of my three storytimes, I started off with “Where’s My Mummy?” by Carolyn Crimi.
This was universally a great way to start off storytime. A longer story, but with its repetitive nature, the kids were easily engaged in what I was reading. And I apparently have a pretty good Drac voice, which the kids LOVED.
Next up, “Pumpkin Eye” by Denise Fleming.
My first group didn’t dig this one, but my next two groups did! They had a great time guessing why all these spooky creatures were on the street, and I was very pleased that it took us until the end of the book to hear the first few choruses of “It’s Halloween, Miss Katie!”
An easy segue from pumpkin book to pumpkin flannelboard.
“Five Little Pumpkins”
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, “My, it’s getting late.”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said, “I don’t care!”
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.”
The fifth one said, “It’s all Halloween fun!”
Then oooooh went the wind, and out went the lights!
And the five little pumpkins rolled clear out of sight.
And then, into an action rhyme!
“Pumpkin, Pumpkin”
Pumpkin, pumpkin, big and round, (Make big circle with hands)
Sitting on the cold, hard ground. (Touch the ground)
Soon I’ll pick you off the vine, (Pretend to pick a pumpkin)
Give you a name, and make you mine (Hug pumpkin tightly)
Carve a face for all to see, (Point to face)
Add a candle for Halloween glee! (Clap your hands)
And I absolutely mixed this “Pumpkin, Pumpkin” up with the one that I did for Fall Storytime in my second group. Luckily, no one cared. (And then never notice, so yay!)
Our planned book of “Mouse’s First Halloween” by Lauren Thompson was a no-go because the kids apparently knew the book by heart, as my co-worker found out. So, I grabbed “Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin” by Mary Serfozo off the reshelf cart on my way to storytime.
This was a great choice — I really enjoyed this one, and the kids really enjoyed guessing why Peter was getting a pumpkin! I followed this winner up with a song:
Song & Puppet: “Flutter, Flutter Little Bat”
Flutter, flutter little bat
How I wonder where you’re at
Up above the midnight sky
Peeking down with yellow eyes
Flutter, flutter little bat
How I wonder where you’re at
I’m not sure where my co-worker got this one, but it was obviously written by someone in the Midwest, given the preposition at the end! Recently, we just purchased tons of puppets using our Target Early Literacy Reading grant, and we got the Folkmanis bat finger puppet. It’s such a great puppet — I am in LOVE with it!
Finally, the book to end all storytimes forever more: “If You’re a Monster and You Know It” by Ed & Rebecca Emberley.
Yep, I again sang, action rhymed, and told this book. The kids could not get enough of it! Truly, this is probably my favorite new book of the year. A quick action rhyme before saying goodbye, to hopefully settle them down for their teachers!
Action Rhyme: “Monster, Monster”
Monster, monster, turn around
Monster, monster, touch the ground
Monster, monster, reach up high
Monster, monster, touch the sky
Monster, monster, touch your nose
Monster, monster, grab your toes
Monster, monster, touch your knees
Monster, monster, sit down please
Followed by the return of Batty, to let everyone give a kiss or a pat before I left.
Well, these storytimes were energetic and fun and scary for me! My first outreach storytimes! Well, they didn’t scar me too bad, I’ve already emailed the preschool asking when we can be back.
storytime katie 
Thanks for sharing. I was a little put off by your comment about folks from the Midwest – I don’t think it was necessary. And yes, I’m from Nebraska.
I’m also from the Midwest, born and raised. I didn’t mean a comment about dialect tendency to sound offensive. I apologize.
I don’t get the Midwest ending w/ a preposition comment? You should probably just remove it. It’s offensive.
Again, it’s a comment on a dialect tendency that was written six years ago. I stand by it.
It is indeed grammatically correct to end a sentence with a preposition. It’s also okay to perform the split infinitive thang.
Well, that’s a relief considering I do the first one often!
Do you have a craft planned?
I didn’t since this was a daycare storytime and a craft wasn’t requested.
The flutter flutter little bat seems to be a variation of twinkle twinkle little bat from disneys alice in wonderland (animated version). the little poem that the mouse says before he falls back to sleep in the teapot
It certainly does! Thanks for letting me know!
I am going to use the “Monster, Monster” rhyme in an upcoming storytime! Thanks for sharing. An easy and simple craft to go with this theme (and the first book): 1. Cut out black human shapes. 2. Glue googly eyes on them. 3. Take to storytime and have kids put white masking tape on them to wrap them like a Mummy!
Thanks for the idea!
Hi Katie! Did you use any movements for the book “If you’re a monster and you know it”? If so, what movement did you use for “wiggle your warts”?
I have them wiggle there nose back and forth. I do it and they just follow.
Hi Katie! What action/movement did you use for “If you’re a monster and you know it, WIGGLE YOUR WARTS?”