The Plan
Books
The Family Book by Todd Parr
Hello Bicycle by Ella Boyd
I Love My Mommy by Giles Andreae & Emma Dodd
I’m Going to Grandma’s by Mary Ann Hoberman
The Baby Goes Beep by Rebecca O’Connell
Extension Activities
Fingerplay: “My Family”
This is mama, kind and dear. (point to thumb)
This is papa, standing near. (point to pointer finger)
This is brother, see how tall! (point to middle finger)
This is sister, not so tall. (point to ring finger)
This is baby, sweet and small. (point to pinky finger)
This is the family, one and all! (wiggle all fingers)
Credit: Kididdles
Fingerplay: “Where Is Family?”
Thumbkin; with family members
Credit: Childhood
Flannelboard: “Knock Knock”
Knock, knock, who’s there?
Grandpa!
[Repeat with Grandma, Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, Baby…Pizza? Pizza Party!)
Credit: Storytime Secrets
Flannelboard Song: “Five Little Ducks”
Credit: Childhood
Craft
Family Tree craft!
How It Went
Thursday morning
This was a pretty good storytime theme. My moms were thrilled by the book “I Love My Mommy” — it was a hit! I think the kids best responded to “The Family Book” because of the awesome bright colored illustrations. It was a great discussion book! The kids were very eager to say “Like my family!” when the pages applied to them. And the craft was just awesome. I had a great time visiting with each kid during craft time, and they were able to tell me about their families.
Friday morning
My daycare kids had a ton of fun with the craft, but I’m not sure that they grasped the “family tree” concept. Mostly I think they were just thrilled to glue the leaves on. Other than that, they were so confused by the “Pizza Party” at the end of “Knock, Knock” but once I explained it, they couldn’t stop giggling. Their favorite book was also “The Family Book.”
storytime katie 
I am planning on doing the Family Knock Knock for my 3 & 4 yr olds next week, how did you explain it afterwards? If you did it again, would you say anything at the beginning? (It’s my first storytime with these classes, so I am dreading the blank stare, you know?)
No, I don’t think I would ruin the surprise by explaining it before we started. I just stuck the pizza on the board and went, “Pizza?! Is pizza part of our family?” The kids were very quick to tell me no, and then I asked “What about a pizza party? Do you have pizza parties with your family?” The kids answered, “YEEES!” and that was pretty much it. Then we talked about other foods that we could eat with our families.
I hear you on the blank stare — it’s no fun! My Thursday morning group “got” the flannel better, I think because their parents were laughing. My daycare teachers on Friday were pretty quiet and I don’t think the kids picked up on the cue that it was supposed to be funny as well because of that.
Good luck! Everything will turn out just fine. 😀