Category: Family Storytime

Valentine’s Day!

The Plan

Books

The Biggest Kiss by Joanna Walsh and Judi Abbot
Mouse’s First Valentine by Lauren Thompson
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Sweethearts by Jan Carr
Valentine Surprise by Corinne Demas

Extension Activities

Flannelboard Song: “H-E-A-R-T”

Flannelboard: “Six Little Valentines”
Six little Valentines were sent to my house,
The first one said, “I love you, From Mouse.”
Five little Valentines in my mailbox,
The second one said, “Be mine, Love Fox.”
Four little Valentines full of love,
The third one said, “You are sweet, From Dove.”
Three little Valentines just for me,
The fourth one said, “Be my honey, Love Bee.”
Two little Valentine’s mailed with care,
The fifth one said, “Here’s a hug, From Bear.”
The last little Valentine, from my friend Jay,
This one said, “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Fingerplay: “Heart”
I put my hands together,
This is how I start
I curve my fingers right around,
And I can make a heart!
Credit: Everything Preschool

Craft

This was another kit from Oriental Trading. I was a bit frustrated when I opened the kit and it was not self-adhesive, like the website said. However, since I had such an older crowd at storytime it turned out to not be a problem, thank goodness!

How It Went

This was a bizarre, but really wonderful storytime. We had just hosted a Valentine’s Day party/card making event in our department and five of the eight-year-olds at the party really wanted to go to storytime when I called for line-ups. I said “yes” before I could really think about it and then suddenly we were downstairs, about to sing the welcome song. My preschoolers were clapping, waving, and singing and the eight-year-olds were frozen on the rug. I whispered, “Just go with it!” and minutes later, they were all stomping their feet gleefully. The rest of the storytime went AWESOME. Everyone participated in the flannels, stories, and fingerplay; and the craft went over much smoothly since the older kids helped the preschoolers around them. All in all, I was VERY glad that I said yes!

March 5, 2012 9 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Imagination!

The Plan

Books

Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli
I’m Me by Sara Sheridan
Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler
Something to Do by David Lucas
That’s How by Christoph Niemann

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “It Looked Like Spilt Milk”

Action Song: “The Pirate Song”
When I was one,
I banged my drum.
The day I went to sea.
I jumped aboard a pirate ship,
And the captain said to me.
We’re going, this way, that way,
Forwards and backwards,
Over the Irish Sea.
A bottle of rum, to warm my tum,
And that’s the life for me.
(When I was two, I buckled my shoe / When I was three, I banged my knee / When I was four, I knocked on the door / When I was five, I learned to dive)
Credit: Early Years Experience
(I changed “rum” to “milk” when I did this one, haha.)

Game: “Applesauce Says”
This was just a version of “Simon Says,” but I had our storytime mascot Applesauce whisper the instructions to me.

Craft

I actually did NOT have a craft for this storytime theme! Instead, I put out paper plates, toilet paper rolls, paper, cotton balls, foam stickers, tissue paper squares, glue, and crayons. And then I let the kids go at it! I had a lot of very creative kids who came up with some great art, but I did have a few that I had to whisper some inspiration to.

How It Went

This was a really funny storytime. I had some of my favorite little boys here and they just loved the “Peg Leg Peke.” Both “That’s How” and “Higher, Higher” were also great choices for this theme and I think the kids really responded to those books! I wasn’t sure how the word “imagination” was going to go, but I think that the kids understand what I meant when I talked about playing pretend. They certainly understood it during “Applesauce Says” when our storytime mascot asked everyone to pretend to be different animals!

February 27, 2012 12 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Sick & Get Well Soon!

The Plan

Books

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson
Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
If Beaver Had a Fever by Helen Ketteman
Llama Llama Home With Mama by Anna Dewdney

Extension Activities

Flannelboard Activity: “Bandaids”

Flannelboard: Doctor Bag

Puppets: “Ah-Choo! Ah-Choo!”
Farmer’s nose tingles (point to nose)
Farmer’s nose twitches (wiggle puppet)
And he is going to sneeze!
Ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo!
Ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo!
(Cow, moo-choo / pig, oink-choo / chicken, bawk-choo)
Credit: Modified from SurLaLune Storytime

Action Rhyme: “I’ve Got a Cold”
I’ve got a cold (point to yourself)
My nose can’t smell (point to your nose)
My eyes are red (point to your eyes)
I don’t feel well (hand on forehead)
So I’ll drink my juice (pretend to drink)
And go to bed… (fold hands under head)
My nose feels better (point to nose)
And so does my head! (point to head)
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

Craft

How It Went

We had a great time with this theme — lots of good books. The kids told me all about the different times they were sick; I heard a lot of stories about throwing up, so be prepared for those stories! The “Ah-Choo” rhyme that I modified to do with my farm finger puppet set was a really big hit. The kids loved making silly sneeze noises. The craft was a GIANT success. Every kid walked out with band-aids all over their project and a few walked out with band-aids mysteriously on themselves. As for their favorite book, it was definitely “Bear Feels Sick.”

February 13, 2012 18 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Nursery Rhymes!

The Plan

Books

Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker
Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale
1, 2, Buckle My Shoe by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Ten In the Bed by Jane Cabrera

Extension Activities

(I have known all of these since childhood, so I don’t have a source.)

Flannelboard: “Hey Diddle Diddle”
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle / The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed to see such sport / And the dish ran away with the spoon

Flannelboard: “Twinkle Twinkle”
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are?
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are?

Puppets: “Hey Diddle Diddle”

Puppets: “Hickory Dickory Dock”
Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one, the mouse ran down, hickory dickory dock

Action Rhyme: “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”
One, two, buckle my shoe / Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks / Seven, eight, open the gate
Nine, ten, a big fat hen!

Fingerplay: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again

Prop Song: “Baa Baa Black Sheep”
Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full
One for the farmer and one for the dame
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane
Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full

Craft

I got the idea for this craft from DLTK and I did modify it a bit (using a spider cut-out instead of an egg carton spider). My families had a lot of fun gluing cotton balls and tissue paper squares on the waterspout — I saw a lot of families singing the rhyme afterwards, so it definitely helped reinforce the theme. (Even though Itsy Bitsy isn’t a classic nursery rhyme, I went with it!)

How It Went

I was thrilled to have this storytime — my community definitely does not have a large grasp of nursery rhymes and being able to introduce them to the kids was a memorable experience. I did a lot of repetition (ie, we read “1, 2, Buckle My Shoe” and then did the rhyme with the motions) and I made sure to also add that repetition helps children learn and that hearing nursery rhymes helps with hearing how words are made and will help when their children begin to read. I think I made a lasting impression because all of our nursery rhyme books were checked out after this storytime. I think the most successful book was “Ten In the Bed” by Jane Cabrera. The one nursery rhyme that the kids knew, prior to storytime, was “Twinkle Twinkle.”

February 2, 2012 7 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Snow!

The Plan

Books

One Mitten by Kristine O’Connell George
Snow by Manya Stojic
Snow Happy! By Patricia Hubbell
Snow! Snow! Snow! By Lee Harper
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Flannelboards

Flannel Activity: “Matching Mittens”

Flannelboard: “Five Little Snowflakes”
One little snowflake with nothing to do,
Along came another and then there were…two!
Two little snowflakes laughing with me,
Along came another and then there were…three!
Three little snowflakes looking for some more,
Along came another and then there were…four!
Four little snowflakes dancing a jive,
Along came another and then there were…five!
Five little snowflakes, having so much fun!
Out came the sun, and then there were none!
Credit: DLTK

Extension Activities

Fingerplay: “Here’s a Hill”
Here’s a hill (tilt left arm so that it forms a hill)
And here’s a hill (tilt right arm so that it forms a hill)
All covered with snow (raise hands up, bring down in slow motion)
I’ll put on my coat (put coat on)
And jump on my sled (hold the rope of a sled)
And ZOOM, down the hill I will go! (clap hands, slid hands down)
Credit: The Holiday Zone

Action Song: “Winter Hokey Pokey”
You put your mittens in, you take your mittens out
You put your boots in, you take your boots out
You put your hat in, you put your hat out
You put your coat in, you put your coat out
Credit: Step By Step — Winter Theme

Craft

This was a craft that I got from KidsSoup. The kids had a ton of fun putting stickers all over their paper plates!

How It Went

This was a great storytime! I had a giant group since this was during Winter Break — so lots of siblings attended as well as a lot of families whose kids are now in preschool during my storytime! It was great to see a full rug; over forty people in attendance! (That is A LOT for my library.) The craft led to a lot of creativity and I was glad that I didn’t make an example so that parents forced their kids to make it “like Miss Katie’s!” Their favorite book was probably “Snow Happy!”

January 31, 2012 28 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Boxes!

The Plan

Books

Magic Box by Katie Cleminson
Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun
My Book Box by Will Hillenbrand
Not a Box by Antoniette Portis
Sitting In My Box by Dee Lillegard

Flannelboards

Flannel Activity: Boxes

Flannel: Dear Zoo

Extension Activities

Puppets: “Here Is a Box”
Here is a box where something is hid
I wonder whatever is under there
Could it be? Why, yes!
Without any doubt, it is a _______
Let it come out!
Credit: Perry Public Library

Action Rhyme: “I Like to Be a Jumping Jack”
I like to be a jumping jack
And jump out from a box
I like to be a rocking horse
And rock and rock and rock.
I like to be a spinning top
And spring around and round
I like to be a rubber ball
And bounce right to the ground
Credit: Perry Public Library

Fingerplay: “Little Turtle”
I had a little turtle (hands on top of each other, move thumbs)
Who lived in a box (make box)
He swam in the puddles and climbed on the rocks (with hands swim, climb)
He snapped at a mosquito (clap), he snapped at a flea (clap)
He snapped at a minnow (clap), and he snapped at me (clap)
He caught the mosquito (cup hands), he caught the flea (cup hands),
He caught the minnow (cup hands), but he didn’t catch me! (wag finger)
Credit: Childhood/Library School

Craft

This idea came from Sarah at Awesome Storytime. She did it for her tools storytime. I tried to stick with mostly box shapes, but I threw in some half-circles and triangles so that the kids could really get creative! The kids made castles, boats, spaceships, and houses.

How It Went

This was a great storytime to have — the kids loved the interactive flannelboard and as always, “Dear Zoo” was a smash hit. Their favorite book was probably “Magic Box.” The kids were just fascinated by the different things that were conjured up (and of course, the polar bear pet is a great wish for every child!) and the colorful spreads. They especially had fun pointing out all of the food in the birthday party food spread.

January 16, 2012 15 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Winter Animals!

The Plan

Books

I Am Small by Emma Dodd
In the Snow by Sharon Phillips Denslow
No Two Alike by Keith Baker
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Red Sled by Lita Judge

Extension Activities

Action Rhyme: “Marco the Polar Bear”
Marco the Polar Bear, (make circle in front of body with arms)
White as the snow, (extend out arms proudly)
Sat down on the ice (sit down)
Near the cold water’s flow (shiver)
“Lunch! I need lunch,” he said (rub stomach)
“I’ll make a wish.” (rub hands together)
He stuck in his paw (put right hand down)
And came up with a fish! (hold up right hand and smile)
Credit: KidsSoup

Rhyme & Puppets: “There’s Something In the Snow”
There’s something in the snow, now what can it be?
There’s something in the snow that I can’t really see.
Hear its funny sound…HOWL HOWL HOWL
A wolf is what I found! HOWL HOWL HOWL
(CAW CAW CAW, A cardinal is what I found! / GRR GRR GRR, A bear is what I found! / WADDLE WADDLE WADDLE, A penguin is what I found!)
Credit: Modified from “There’s Something In My Garden” originally found at SurLaLune Storytime

Song & Puppet: “Sleepy Bear” (Tune: Thumbkin)
Where is bear? Where is bear?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you this winter?
Very tired, thank you.
Go to sleep. Go to sleep.
(Have kids shout “WAKE UP BEAR” to do the song again.)
Credit: Preschool Education Music & Songs : Animals > Winter

Craft

This came from KidsSoup, which does have a membership requirement to view.

How It Went

We had a great time with this theme — the kids loved the extension activities and variety of puppets that I used! Their favorite book of the day was “Red Sled” and they had the best time talking about what was happening on the page. My storytime moms loved “I Am Small,” which came as no surprise to me — the ending is definitely geared for the mom “awww.” Our craft was a big success; we had a lot of creative hibernation caves!

January 10, 2012 8 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Fairy Tales!

The Plan

Books

The Foggy Foggy Forest by Nick Sharratt
Over at the Castle by Boni Ashburn
The Sunflower Sword by Mark Sperring and Miriam Latimer
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Knights In Shining Armor”
Five knights in shining armor, fearless and brave,
Went dragon hunting deep in a cave
The dragon started breathing fire,
The knights’ knees were all aquiver,
So one little knight went off to the river!

Song: “Curtsy Like a Princess” (Skip to My Lou)
Curtsy like a princess just like so
Curtsy like a princess just like so
Curtsy like a princess just like so
Curtsy like a princess!
(Bow like a prince, juggle like a jester, fly like a fairy, roar like a dragon)
Credit: Story Time Secrets

Puppets: “Here Is…”
Here is the knight with his feathered cap (take off hat, bow)
Here are his boots which go tap, tap, tap (tap feet)
Here is the dragon, listen to him roar (roar)
Here are his wings to help him soar (soar)
Here is the princess with her golden crown (four fingers over head)
Here is her lovely blue ball gown (curtsy)
Adapted from: Hummingbird Educational Resources

Song: “There Was a Princess” (repeat every line twice)
There was a princess long ago, long ago, long ago (curtsy)
And she lived in a big high tower, big high tower, big high tower (hands above head in triangle)
A wicked fairy cast a spell, cast a spell, cast a spell (wiggle fingers, cackle)
The princess slept for a hundred years, a hundred years, a hundred years (head on hands)
A great big forest grew around, grew around, grew around (spin)
A handsome prince came riding by, riding by, riding by (gallop)
He took his sword and cut the trees, cut the trees, cut the trees (make chopping motions)
He woke the princess with a kiss, with a kiss, with a kiss (blow kisses)
And everybody is happy now, happy now, happy now! (shoot “hooray!”)
Modified from Perpetual Preschool (I know I got the words from there, but I watched several YouTube videos to learn the song and wound up mashing some of the versions together.)

Craft

I bought the crowns from Oriental Trading and we used whatever foam stickers were around to decorate them. The squares were left-overs from an Earth Day program and the stars were left-overs from this summer. We also had letters so the kids could put their names on their crowns.

How It Went

This storytime skewed WAY older than I anticipated — right around the eight/nine year old mark (which is out of the suggested age range, but I had so many older siblings attend with their younger ones). Basically it meant that I had some very enthusiastic kids who sang and participated and I had some who didn’t. Somehow this still managed to work. All of the kids were very good listeners during the stories. Their favorite books were “The Sunflower Sword” and “The Foggy Foggy Forest.”

January 2, 2012 13 Comments Short URL, , Family Storytime

Monkeys!

The Plan

Books

Banana by Ed Vere
Be Quiet, Mike! by Leslie Patricelli
Kiki’s Blanket by Janie Bynum
Tall by Jez Alborough

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”
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!”
Credit: Childhood

Puppets: “Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree”
Five little monkeys swinging in the tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me; no you can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be…
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
(count down)
Credit: Childhood

Action Rhyme: “Little Monkeys Swinging In the Tree”
Little monkeys swinging in the tree,
All hold hands and swing with me
Swing up high and swing down low
Swing in the tree, now don’t let go!
Swing, swing, like I do
Swing like the monkeys in the zoo
Credit: Perry Public Library

Action Rhyme: “Monkey See, Monkey Do”
Monkey see, monkey do
Little monkey in the zoo
Monkey, monkey, in the tree
Can you jump around like me?
(swing tail, clap hands, nod head, sit down)
Credit: Perry Public Library

Craft

This was another Oriental Trading craft kit. I think it kind of looks a bit like a bear instead of a monkey though…

How It Went

This was an energetic group of kids. Definitely a lot of monkey business. I would say that they had the most fun with “Be Quiet, Mike” — though it wound up riling them up, which made it difficult for the next book. (Which was “Tall” — most of the kids were bouncing around and not “reading/guessing” if the monkey was tall or small.) The craft was a huge hit with parents and kids; everyone was definitely tired by the time they left — I heard a few meltdowns on the stairs as everyone was leaving.

December 28, 2011 25 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Tools!

The Plan

Books

I Love Tools! by Philemon Sturges
The Magic Toolbox by Mie Araki
Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop by Lisa Shulman
Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia
Whose Tools Are These? by Sharon Katz Cooper

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Toolbox Match-Up”

Song: “Construction Worker Song”
This is the way we pound our nails, pound our nails, pound our nails
This is the way we pound our nails, so early in the morning
(Saw the wood, turn the screwdriver, drill a hole, stack the bricks, stir the paint, paint the walls)
Credit: Everything Preschool

Action Rhyme: “Dump Truck”
Dump truck, dump truck, bumpin’ down the road (bounce throughout)
Spillin’ gravel as you travel with your heavy load
Bumpety bumpety bump
Dump truck, dump truck, dump truck, DUMP! (tip)
Credit: Perry Public Library

Action Rhyme: “Johnny Works With One Hammer”
Johnny works with one hammer, one hammer, one hammer
Johnny works with one hammer, and then he works with two
(Two hammers – both fists on legs; Three hammers – both fists on legs and one foot on the floor; Four hammers – both fists on legs and both feet on the floor; Five hammers – both fists on legs, both feet on floor and nod head up and down; “And then he goes to sleep!”)
Credit: Mrs. Hegna’s Storyroom

Fingerplay: “Noisy Nails”
I use my hammer and five nails (hold up five fingers)
That’s too noisy, my neighbor yells (yell)
I’ll hammer them now before it’s night (pretend to hammer)
And to my neighbor, I’ll be polite! (bow)
Credit: Everything Preschool

Craft

This idea came from Mrs. Hegna’s Storyroom and the pattern came from the book: “Ready-To-Go Storytimes.” My teens cut out the tools and tool belts; kids decorated with crayons and foam stickers.

How It Went

This was a very funny storytime. I picked the theme after several friends had done it because I’m still a mostly boys storytime group (though the demographics are changing a bit as of very recent storytimes!). I knew that the kids would really respond to this theme and I was right. Their favorite book was “I Love Tools,” although the parents thought “Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop” was hysterical — mostly because I sung it and somehow remembered all the sounds for all the tools correctly while they kept tripping up. Craft went over just as well and many of the kids walked out wearing their tool belts!

December 21, 2011 7 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Newer Entries
Older Entries