Category: Family Storytime

Mail!

The Plan

Books

mail

Bunny Mail by Rosemary Wells
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Mail Carriers At Work by Karen Latchana Kenney
The Postman by Rosalinda Kightley

Extension Activities

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!”
Credit: Busy Crafting Mommy

Action Rhyme: “Early In the Morning”
Early in the morning at eight o’clock
You can hear the postman knock
Up jumps Ella to open the door
One letter, two letter, three letter, four
Credit: Jbrary

Action Song: Mailing Letters (Tune: “The Mulberry Bush”)
(Write a letter, stamp a letter, mail a letter)
This is the way we mail a letter,
Mail a letter, mail a letter.
This is the way we mail a letter,
So early in the morning.
Credit: A to Z Kids Stuff

Craft

This was another Oriental Trading craft kit. The mailboxes open and close and inside I had tucked the letter I had written and had translated for parents that I was leaving the library in two weeks. The storytime was planned months and months ago to coincide right around Valentine’s Day and it came to me as I was going through the job interview process that I needed to find a way to say goodbye — the mailbox was the perfect platform to start the conversation with my families.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I barely remember anything about this storytime since I was so, so nervous to start telling families that I was leaving. I was prepared for tears and angry words and…it was absolutely nothing like that. My families were sad, but happy for me. They had lots of questions about my new library and well wishes and made sure to let me know I’d be missed. That is always what I will remember from this storytime — that outpouring of love and support.

Friday morning
This storytime I remember much better since I didn’t have the jitters from the day before. “Bunny Mail” was the most successful book and they loved the “Early In the Morning” rhyme. As always, this group loves a guessing game and really enjoyed the flannelboard as well.

May 12, 2014 2 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Sports!

The Plan

Books

sports

Dino-Football by Lisa Wheeler
Dunk Skunk by Michael Rex
If I Were a Jungle Animal by Tom and Amanda Ellery
Sergio Saves the Game!

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Big, Bigger, Biggest”
A little ball, a bigger ball,
And a great big ball I see
Now help me count them,
One, two, three!
Credit: Debmonn PB Wiki

Fingerplay: “Five Little Footballs”
Five little footballs trying hard to score.
One makes a touchdown. (touchdown arms, put one finger down)
Hear the crowd roar! (cheer)
(countdown)
Credit: Storytime With Ms. Kelly

Song: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks
I don’t care if I ever get back
Let’s root, root, root for the home team
If they don’t win, it’s a shame
And it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out
At the old ballgame!
Credit: Childhood

Craft

I ordered both pennants and foam stickers from Oriental Trading and let the kids go crazy. Basically, it was the best kid day ever.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I did this storytime in-between the Super Bowl and the start of the Winter Olympics. The group really enjoyed “Sergio Saves the Game” since I work in a huge soccer fan area. We talked about how soccer is fútbol in the Spanish language, but in America football is a completely different sport.

Friday morning
The kids were SO EXCITED to try and guess the next word in “Dunk Skunk.” There was lots of enthusiastic shouting, which is just how I like my storytimes. This group had a great time playing along with “Five Footballs” and I also had a lot of loud singers during “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

May 5, 2014 2 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Cities!

The Plan

Books

citiessummer14

All Through My Town by Jean Reidy
Drum City by Thea Guidone
Subway by Anastasia Suen
Wow, City! by Robert Neubecker

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: Building Blocks

Flannelboard: “Wheels on the Bus”

Action Song: “Driving ‘Round”
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom
(Go through red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
Credit: Childhood

Song: “London Bridge”
London Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
My fair lady
Build it up with silver and gold
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Build it up with silver and gold
My fair lady
Credit: Childhood

Craft

This simple paper craft came from an amazing teen volunteer years ago who drew these shapes for me and then cut them out. The program there were originally intended for never happened and I saved them — this storytime was absolutely perfect! I added glitter to make stars and other designs in the night sky.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I was absolutely FLOORED that no child in this storytime had heard London Bridge before. Seriously! Their favorite book was definitely “Subway” — when we did the Building Blocks activity, they chose to build their own subway. They had a great time singing along to “Wheels on the Bus” with me and driving their cars around during “Drivin’ Round.”

Friday morning
This group got really into “Drum City” and I would say that was their favorite book. They built a little city with their building blocks and had a really great cooperative experience doing that, lots of sharing and helping, which was so nice to see.

April 24, 2014 0 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Pajama Storytime (October)

After the library stopped hosting “Afternoon Storytime” and a trial program of “Starry Night Stories”, I made the decision to start a monthly “Pajama Storytime” session at the library. I wanted to give families the chance to enjoy hearing stories together — and especially wanted to try again to host an evening program. Our suggested age range is ages 0 to 7 and their families, which means I sometimes get a few older siblings. The goal in this program is simple: foster a love of reading and particularly of reading together as a family!

The Plan

Books

pajamastorytime-oct

Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem Fox
Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen
Tiger Can’t Sleep by S.J. Fore
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Jane Cabrera
Who Said Coo? by Deborah Ruddell

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Ten Teddy Bears”

Rhyme Wheel: “Five Little Ducks”

Nursery Rhyme: “Star Light, Star Bright”
Star light, star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight
Credit: Childhood

Song: “Ten In the Bed”
Credit: Childhood

Rhyme Card

20140109-215704.jpg

Each month will have a different rhyme that we do at storytime and then send parents home with the words. This is a picture of the rhyme cards after quite a few months. This month was “Moon Song.”

How It Went

The favorite books tonight were definitely “Who Said Coo?” — the kids really enjoyed the rhyming words — and “Itsy Mitsy Runs Away.” And I had a lot of enthusiastic participation during “Ten In the Bed” with very loud singing and actions.

April 21, 2014 0 Comments Short URLFamily Storytime

Superheroes!

The Plan

Books

superheroes

Kiki’s Blankie by Janie Bynum
Mighty Max by Harriet Ziefert
My Mom Has X-Ray Vision by Angela McAllister
Princess Super Kitty by Antoniette Portis
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Ten Little Heroes”
One little, two little, three little heroes
Four little, five little, six little heroes
Seven little, eight little, nine little heroes
Ten heroes ready to fly!
(count down)
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Action Rhyme: “Superman”
Put your hands way up high (raise arms up in air)
Like Superman flying across the sky (assume flying position)
Fly to the left, now fly to the right (lean to your right, then left)
Now show me your muscles with all your might,(make arm muscles)
Now Superman’s putting his suit away (bring arms down slowly)
So he can go flying another day (rest hands in lap)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Action Song with Applesauce!: “Did You Ever See a Hero?”
Did you ever see a hero, a hero, a hero,
Did you ever see a hero, flying in the sky?
Fly this way and that way and this way and that way
Did you ever see a hero, flying in the sky?
(putting on their cape, saving the day, going home)
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Fingerplay: “Five Superheroes”
Five superheroes ready to fly,
Here comes a villain. Stop that guy!
This superhero can save the day.
Off he/she flies – up, up, and away!
Credit: Jbrary

Craft

We had these leftovers masks from a long ago Halloween program and I just repurposed them to be superhero masks. I brought out a bunch of stickers and let the preschoolers go to town. They had a great time! My greatest compliment is one of my kids insists on wearing his mask any time his family comes to the library.

How It Went

Thursday morning
This was a smaller crowd on Thursday morning. And that meant that I wound up only reading two of the books: “Superhero ABC” and “Kiki’s Blankie” since I wasn’t getting a lot of participation during the books from the kids. They absolutely LOVED “Five Superheros” from Jbrary and my flannelboard song. I bought some clip art off of Etsy to make the flannelboard and I absolutely love how it turned out.

Friday morning
This storytime was dominated by 4 & 5 year-old boys. I’m sure you can imagine what a dream come true superhero storytime was for them. Their favorite book was “Mighty Max.” Since it was a mostly boy crowd, I did read “Princess Super Kitty” especially to show them that girls can be superheroes too. (It’s also why I bought clip art with girls and boys.) This group really enjoyed when I put a cape on Applesauce and sang “Did You Ever See a Hero?”

April 15, 2014 12 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Garden!

The Plan

Books

gardensummer14

A Closer Look by Mary McCarthy
Maisy Grows a Garden by Lucy Cousins
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Rah Rah Radishes by April Pulley Sayre

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Lunch”

Finger Puppets: “Ten Little Flowers”
One little, two little, three little flowers
Four little, five little, six little flowers
Seven little, eight little, nine little flowers
Ten flowers in the garden
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Action Rhyme: “Dig a Little Hole”
Dig a little hole(dig)
Plant a little seed (drop seed)
Pour a little water (pour)
Pull a little weed (pull up and throw away)
Chase a little bug (chasing motion)
Heigh-ho, there he goes! (shade eyes)
Give a little sunshine (make a sun)
Grow a little rose (smell flower, eyes closed)
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

Puppets: “There’s Something In My Garden”
There’s something in my garden, now what can it be?
There’s something in my garden that I can’t really see
Hear its funny sound…
A [ANIMAL] is what I found!
Credit: SurLaLune Storytime

Craft

20140227-135247.jpg

This was a pre-packaged craft that I got at Michaels last summer. It had different kinds of flowers in it, but I chose the daisy since daisies are the friendliest flowers. (Points if you got that reference!) It was an okay craft, we did need to pull out glue dots since it wasn’t self-adhesive.

How It Went

Thursday morning
“Something In My Garden” is a magical, magical rhyme. The kids wait with baited breath until the animals come out and surprise them. This was a great theme for the CSLP 2013 Summer Reading theme, “Dig Into Reading!” and the kids this morning really enjoyed both “Planting a Rainbow” and “Maisy Grows a Garden.” Garden!

Friday morning
“Maisy Grows a Garden” was the hit of this group. They were so, so excited to watch me pull the tabs and let the pop-ups loose. I had the kids clap the beat of “Rah Rah Radishes” in this group as I read since they were pretty wiggly throughout the whole storytime. I’m not sure I would recommend that to everyone, as I have a super loud voice and it’s not a problem for me to talk over a group of thirty clapping along, but it was so fun!

April 14, 2014 5 Comments Short URL, , Family Storytime

Construction!

The Plan

Books

construction2014

Dig, Dogs, Dig by James Horvath
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Roadwork by Sally Sutton
Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “If You Have a Red Truck”
If you have a red truck, a red truck,
If you have a red truck, bring it to the board!

Flannelboard: “Red Crane, Red Crane, What Do You See?”

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

Song: “Dump Truck” (Tune: Ten Little Indians)
Bumpity-bumpity comes the dump truck,
Bumpity-bumpity comes the dump truck,
Bumpity-bumpity comes the dump truck,
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuump out the load.
Credit: Pre-K

Craft

20140227-135158.jpg

This is the same exact craft that I used in Road Work Ahead. I had a lot of extras from the program and felt like it would be a waste to recycle them. For storytime though, I had teen volunteers cut out the pieces and pre-assemble the construction trucks so that my little kids could just color.

How It Went

Thursday morning
The kids were pretty restless this morning. The “Construction Worker” song went on for a very long time to get those wiggles out. And thankfully, Anna’s idea of using scarves to act out “Tip Tip Dig Dig” worked really well at getting their Construction!energy out!

Friday morning
My Friday group was on the quieter side so titles like “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site” worked a lot better. They had a really good time with the “Red Crane, Red Crane, What Do You See?” flannelboard — tons of the kids knew the rhythm of the story and chanted along with me.

March 31, 2014 7 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Pajama Storytime (September)

After the library stopped hosting “Afternoon Storytime” and a trial program of “Starry Night Stories”, I made the decision to start a monthly “Pajama Storytime” session at the library. I wanted to give families the chance to enjoy hearing stories together — and especially wanted to try again to host an evening program. Our suggested age range is ages 0 to 7 and their families, which means I sometimes get a few older siblings. The goal in this program is simple: foster a love of reading and particularly of reading together as a family!

The Plan

Books

pajamastorytime-sept

Back to Bed, Ed by Sebastien Braun
A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
The Squeaky Door by Margaret Read MacDonald

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Papa, Please Get the Moon”

Rhyme Wheel: “Hey Diddle Diddle”

Rhyme: “Good Night”
One fluffy quilt on my bed,
Two little pillows on my head,
Three teddy bears to hold tight
Four kisses from Mom for a restful night,
Five hugs from Dad, and off goes my light!
Good night!
Credit: Canton Public Library

Rhyme Card

20140109-215704.jpg

Each month will have a different rhyme that we do at storytime and then send parents home with the words. This is a picture of the rhyme cards after quite a few months. This month was “Hey Diddle Diddle.”

How It Went

The Squeaky Door. Holy cats, THE SQUEAKY DOOR. I saw this performed live last spring and this book captured my heart. It is funny. It has animal noises. It’s repetitive. It’s great for an older crowd or mixed audience. And it absolutely won this storytime. Hands down, favorite book.

March 26, 2014 4 Comments Short URLFamily Storytime

Tools!

The Plan

Books

toolssummer14

Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop by Lisa Shulman
Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia
The Toolbox by Anne Rockwell
Toolbox Twins by Lola Schaefer

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Toolbox Match-Up”

Fingerplay: “Five Little Nails”
Five little nails, standing straight and steady
Here I come with my hammer ready!
Bam, bam, bam! That nail goes down.
Now there’s just four nails left to pound.
(count down)
Credit: Mel’s Desk

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

Craft

20140227-135215.jpg

This was another Oriental Trading kit — a photo frame that came ready to be decorated with foam tool stickers. The kids love sticker crafts and a lot of them covered up the photo part with more tool stickers!

How It Went

Thursday morningTools!
“Five Little Nails” is storytime gold if you haven’t used it before. The kids love shouting along with me and pounding down their nails, and are very enthusiastic about the fingerplay. Definitely add it to your to-learn list. Also, Emma Garcia books. Add those to your lists if you haven’t used them.

Friday morning
This group loved, loved, loved “Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop.” I had a lot of kids who quickly picked it up and sang along with me. They also went nuts for “Five Little Nails” as well. Seriously, add it to your list!

March 25, 2014 3 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Dirt, Sand, & Mud!

The Plan

Books

sandmuddirt14

Bebe Goes to the Beach by Susan Middleton Elya
Dini Dinosaur by Karen Beamont
Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car by John Burningham
Sea, Sand, and Me! by Patricia Hubbell
Underground by Denise Fleming

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Clean and Dirty Pigs”

Flannelboard: “Five Pretty Sandcastles”
Five pretty sandcastles standing on the shore,
The tide came in (whoosh!) and then there were four.
Four pretty sandcastles standing by the sea,
The tide came in (whoosh!) and then there were three.
Three pretty sandcastles standing by the ocean blue,
The tide came in (whoosh!) and then there were two.
Two pretty sandcastles standing in the sun,
The tide came in (whoosh!) and then there was one.
One pretty sandcastle just out of reach,
The tide came in (whoosh!) but it stayed on the beach!
Credit: Storytime Secrets

Song: “We’re Going to the Beach”
We’re going to the beach,
We’re going to the beach.
I think we’ll see some sand there!
We’re going to the beach.
(water, fish, towels, whatever else they said!)
Credit: Storytime Secrets

Craft

20140227-135302.jpg

Yes, I attempted sand art at storytime! And I have to say, even to my surprise, it was a success! Three things that made this a remarkable joy: spoons + funnels + Tacky Glue. I put the sand in bowls for the kids to spoon into their funnels. I did have to buy additional funnels since the kit only came with two — but I would have had to do that anyways since this wasn’t the only sand art program we did last summer. And, of course, the caregivers were game to help their kiddos out which made it possible for me to man the finishing station where I put Tacky Glue inside the cap to permanently close the necklace.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I did this storytime on my birthday and it was a great theme given how much I love the beach! The kids had a great time with the flannelboards, which I left out for them to play with after storytime. My parents really enjoyed “Bebe Goes to the Beach” since it has some Spanish vocabulary in it. The kids were very fascinated with “Underground”, which was the book that inspired this whole storytime!

Friday morning
My Friday group loved all the mud activities today: “Mr. Gumpy” and “Five Clean and Dirty Pigs.” I had a lot of very excited kids when I flipped each pig — they weren’t expecting the mud to suddenly appear!

March 17, 2014 1 Comment Short URL, Family Storytime

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