storytime katie

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Dini Dinosaur by Karen Beaumont**
Get Out of My Bath! by Britta Teckentrup*
Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins
Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera***

Early Literacy Tip
All children need to learn how to stop what they’re doing. Playing games that incorporate the concept of stop gives the child an opportunity to practice and hone their stopping skills.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Songs for Wiggleworms***

Featured Track: #11 If All of the Raindrops

Flannelboard: “Five Clean and Dirty Pigs”**

Flannelboard: “Ten Little Raindrops”

Repeating Extension Activities

• Egg Shakers Up***
• Put Your Shaker On***
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Tick, Tock**

How It Went

Monday morning (9:30)
This was a really full group! My grown-ups were engaged with both of our books today: Dini Dinosaur and <emRow, Row, Row Your Boat. I’ve been having trouble using the flannelboard with all of my toddler groups this session, and that continued into the start of the third week. But I’ve really enjoyed handing out a different prop every week and using two extension activities with the prop. Today’s prop of egg shakers was a smashing success!

Thursday morning (9:30)
A fabulous storytime this morning! All of the toddlers were really engaged throughout the whole half hour. And I managed to talk a little bit about soft skills thanks to Mary’s great post! Their favorite book was Row, Row, Row Your Boat with lots of participation. I broke out of my flannelboard funk with this class! They LOVED jumping into the mud with “Five Clean and Squeaky Pigs” and then helping me to wash the piggies before we put them away.

Thursday morning (10:30)
Today was a day for running. Lots of toddlers were zooming in this class (it probably had to do with the yucky weather outside and our smaller class number — more room to run), but I had a toddler have a breakthrough today! The toddler had been having a hard time participating and sitting still in the previous two classes, but this class stood right in the middle of the rug and kept having the best reactions to the books. When I asked the toddler if I should turn the page to hear what happens next, toddler shouted, “YES!” enthusiastically and clapped when I turned the page. So rewarding!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Ah-Choo! by Lana Wayne Koehler & Gloria Adams
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell**
Here Comes Poppy and Max by Lindsey Gardiner**
Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun**

Early Literacy Tip
It takes longer for children who are just learning to talk to respond to our questions. We need to be patient and wait anywhere from 5-12 seconds for children to respond. That feels like a long time because adults usually respond in about 2 seconds.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Kids in the City***

Featured Track: #2 Kitty Cat (with puppets)***

Flannelboard: “Dog’s Colorful Day”

Repeating Extension Activities

• Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
• Roly Poly***
• These Are the Colors***
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Zoom, Zoom, Zoom***

How It Went

Monday morning (9:30)
This group absolutely loved the little puppet show I put on while singing our featured track: “Kitty Cat” by Laura Doherty. And I’m so proud of all the kiddos for doing a great job using the wrist ribbons and cleaning them up. Dear Zoo was the biggest book hit. I had several toddlers who kept wandering up to the edge of the blue carpet “no fly” zone to try and reach for the pop-ups!

Thursday morning (9:30)
My first class of Thursday morning toddlers was nice and full! Their favorite book was definitely Here Come Poppy and Max, which incorporates a lot of large animal movement. This group was very into using the wrist ribbons and I saw some great caregiver engagement during this activity; modeling for the toddlers that weren’t yet participating. During the first few weeks, I often have to remind caregivers that we’re still learning our new friends and the room.

Thursday morning (10:30)
Second group of toddlers also really enjoyed Here Come Poppy and Max for their favorite book. These kiddos were spellbound during “Zoom Zoom Zoom” and I almost did the rhyme a third time just to see their smiling faces again. I had a few extra people (visiting relatives and two drop-ins) and I was happy that everyone jumped in and participated.

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Apples and Robins by Lucie Felix
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert**
Go, Shapes, Go! by Denise Fleming***
Round is a Mooncake by Roseanne Thong*

Early Literacy Tip
Identify the shapes you see and talk about them with your child. Circles and triangles are often parts of letters. Being able to see shapes will help children later recognize letters.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rockin’ Red***

Featured Track: #19 Moving in a Circles (scarves)*

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”**

Flannelboard: “The Shape Story”

Repeating Extension Activities

• Elevator Song**
• Everyone Can March
• Popcorn Kernels***
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• We Wave Our Scarves Together***

How It Went

Monday morning (9:30)
This is the toddler class most in demand this session and it was a very full group to start! I had some great, involved caregivers that were champs chiming in on songs that they were just learning. Both books in this group (Go, Shapes, Go! and Color Zoo) went over well. Many of the toddlers were friends of mine from our Shake, Shimmy, and Dance classes so they were glad to get up and move during Go, Shapes, Go. Also, “Popcorn Kernels” got a ton of smiles and we sang it three times!

Thursday morning (9:30)
I had a great time this morning getting to know so many new faces. My co-worker took over toddlers last winter, so it’s been a year since my toddler times and the kids have mostly transitioned over. I shortened Go, Shapes, Go! in this class; I stopped once the monkey was formed and didn’t read the rest of the book. It worked much better than Monday’s class and I continued it for the second Thursday session. I also used my edit as an extra early literacy tip to empower caregivers to end a book when their toddler is ready vs. when the book actually ends.

Thursday morning (10:30)
The 10:30 class was my most wiggly class. We only got through three animals in Color Zoo, and that’s okay! It did mean that I got to not only do the featured CD track — “Moving in a Circle” by The Learning Groove, but also got to teach everyone “The Elevator Song”. I saw a ton of great smiles from the kids as we sang the song twice. It truly is a magical trick for every storytime presenter’s bag!

To read more about how I plan and prepare my Toddler Storytimes, please visit this post.

Each session, I pick some extension activities to repeat from week to week. Most of the time these have nothing to do with my theme of the day and just allow me to add more movement or songs if that’s what the toddlers need that week. Of course, I don’t use every activity every week. I’ll note in the individual theme summaries which activities I used. These are the activities that I had planned for Fall.

This session, I’m trying to use a different manipulative (scarf, shaker, or wrist ribbon) in each storytime and I’ve tied different songs and rhymes to these props.

Action Rhyme: “Everyone Can March”
Everyone can march, march, march
Everyone can march, march, march
Everyone can march, march, march
And now let’s make a stop.
Verses: clap, jump, tap, etc.
Credit: Jbrary

Action Rhyme: “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes”
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes
Eyes and ears, a mouth and a nose
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes
Credit: Childhood

Action Rhyme: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your knees
Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down please
Credit: Childhood

Action Rhyme: “This Is Big”
This is big, big, big (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Action Rhyme: “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom”
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship,
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we’re going to the moon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!
Credit: Jbrary

Lift/Song: “The Elevator Song”
Oh the city is great and the city is grand
There’s a whole lot of people
on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the 57th floor
and this is what we do when we open the door.
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
And we turn around.
Credit: Jbrary

Lift/Rhyme: “Tick, Tock”
Tick, tock, tick, tock
I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick, tock, tick, tock
Now I’m chiming one o’clock
Cuckoo!
(Count up to three o’clock)
Credit: My co-worker Jane

Props

Scarf Song: “Popcorn Kernels”
Popcorn Kernels, popcorn kernels
In the pot, in the post
Shake them, shake them, shake them
Shake them, shake them, shake them
Till they pop!
Till they pop!
Credit: Guerrilla Storytime (originally from Jbrary)

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together
We wave our scarves together
because it’s fun to do.
Wave them up high
Wave them down low
Wave them in the middle
Because it’s fun to do.
Credit: Jbrary

Shaker Eggs: “Egg Shakers Up”
Egg shakers up
Egg shakers down
Egg shakers dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees
And tuck them into bed
Credit: Jbrary

Shaker Eggs: “Put Your Shaker On”
Put your shaker on your head, on your head
Put your shaker on your head, on your head
Put your shaker on your head, put your shaker on your head
Put your shaker on your head, on your head
Credit: Modified from co-worker

Wrist Ribbons: “Roly, Poly”
Roly poly, roly poly,
Roly poly, up and down
Roly poly, roly poly,
Roly poly, up and down
(other verses: in and out, left and right)
Credit: Modified from Jbrary

Wrist Ribbons: “These are the Colors”
Red and yellow, green and blue
These are the colors over you
Red as a flower, blue as the sea
Yellow as the sun, green as a tree
Red and yellow, green and blue
These are the colors over you
Credit: Read Sing Play

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Hide and Seek by Il Sung Na
Peek-a-Zoo by Marie Cimarusti Torres**
Where’s Lenny? by Ken Wilson-Max**
Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill**

Early Literacy Tip
By developing an awareness of the designs and shapes that bodies can make as well as where the bodies are in space, children also gain an awareness of others and the world around them.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Wiggleworms Love You***

Featured Track: #29 Peek-a-Boo (twice with scarves)***

Flannelboard: “Dear Zoo”***

Flannelboard: “The Shape Game”**

Repeating Extension Activities

• Elevator Song***
• Everyone Can March*
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Thumbkin*
• Wiggle Your Fingers & Stomp Your Feet*

How It Went

Tuesday morning
This group couldn’t get enough of Where’s Spot?. It was like there were watching live news coverage and couldn’t turn off the TV until Spot was found. (Okay, that might have been a really bad analogy, but there you have it.) They also really enjoyed when I hid the dog from my “Dear Zoo” flannelboard under the shapes and let them guess where it was!

Thursday morning (9:30)
I did this storytime with Where’s Lenny? and Peek-a-Zoo. I loved watching their reactions and hearing their animal noises during Peek-a-Zoo! This class has several patrons with multiple kids under age two and they were SO EXCITED to hear that I will be doing a new storytime this winter for siblings since our baby and toddler programs are marked “no siblings, please” for fire code.

Thursday morning (10:30)
Oh, “Elevator Song”, I pledge my undying and never fading love to you. You magically bring every toddler to their caregiver in under two seconds and then reward me with excited squeals, happy faces, and tons of laughter. May I never forget the words to you, oh “Elevator Song.” This group also loved Where’s Spot? and I might need to add it to my personal storytime collection!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli***
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw***
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson

Early Literacy Tip
Early experiences help to form the architecture of the brain and lay a strong foundation for both social and emotional development. We’re practicing sharing today with our stars.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Zoom Zoom Cuddle & Croon by Kathy Reid-Naiman***

Featured Track: #1 I Like to Rise (with foam stars)***

Flannelboard: “Four Little Stars”

Flannelboard: “What’s the Weather?”***

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands*
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Wiggle Your Fingers & Stomp Your Feet*
• Zoom, Zoom, Zoom**

How It Went

Tuesday morning
Originally, I only had planned three books: It Looked Like Spilt Milk, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me and Touch the Brightest Star. That was before I did my average age for the classes and realized I had a lot more younger toddlers than I planned for. I added Higher, Higher and I’m so glad that I did. I use it a lift/book and ask parents to lift their children/children’s arms up higher as we go. Also: foam stars while the kids danced was adorable. We also sang a surprise “Twinkle Twinkle” since it was requested!

Thursday morning (9:30)
I had the best group of dancers this morning. Shaking their little squirrel tails during It Looked Like Spilt Milk and jumping like crazy during “I Like to Rise”. I didn’t really deviate from my Tuesday line-up in terms of books and songs and extensions because Tuesday worked so well. I feel like this has been my favorite session of toddlers since I’ve started here and it’s just been an absolute joy to do it. I’m starting to dread that I’m not doing the toddler classes in our winter session!

Thursday morning (10:30)
When you have a new family sign-up and after storytime they rave about you/your class to your co-worker? Yeah, that was this class. I don’t really have anything else to say!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker**
Charlie Chick by Nick Denchfield & Ant Parker***
Early Bird by Toni Yuly***
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Early Literacy Tip
We often want to build on our children’s curiosity but don’t always know the answer to their questions. We can often discover the answers together in books.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rise & Shine by Caspar Babypants***

Featured Track: #3 Silly Bird (with shaker eggs)***

Flannelboard: “Five Little Birds”***
One little, two little, three little, four little,
Five little birds so small;
One little, two little, three little, four little,
Five little birds on the wall.
Kitty Cat came from a nearby bush…..MEOW!
Gave the garden gate a push……SQUEEEEAK!
And one little, two little, three little, four little,
Five little birds went WHOOSH!
Credit: Lyrics Nursery Rhymes

Puppets: “Two Little Birds”***
Two little birds sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
(Other verses: cloud/quiet & loud; pole/fast & slow)
Credit: Modified from childhood

Repeating Extension Activities

• My Thumbs Are Starting to Wiggle
• Open, Shut Them*
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Tick, Tock**
• Wiggle Your Fingers & Stomp Your Feet*

How It Went

Tuesday morning
I was prepared for a frustrating storytime since it was only twenty-four hours since we rolled the clocks back for daylight saving time. Poor kiddos don’t know why their stomachs say it’s lunch time and we’re still in storytime! I planned a pop-up book and shaker eggs to make storytime more fun than usual. And this group was angelic. No crying/screaming, no zooming around the room, full of participation from kids and parents, and we barely used any extension activities since the group was doing the best job of sitting. We got through THREE books! So good!!

Thursday morning (9:30)
This class was also really good. I read Early Bird with them and the parents acted out the prepositions in the story and it was so nice to see the parents really engaging with their kiddos. I brought the cat puppet around after our flannelboard rhyme to greet every child. This was a really great way to get the kids to rejoin with their caregivers because the kitty waited until they were together before nuzzling them or accepting a hug. We launched straight into a book after that!

Thursday morning (10:30)
I don’t know what’s going on with my 10:30 Thursday morning. I have a full twenty kids registered for class and I’m only seeing half of them each week. And it’s different kids each time! This group needed to move some more and I didn’t think we would get to read Charlie Chick because of their wandering attentions. But our shaker song saved us and pulled up back together. Thanks, Caspar Babypants!

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Freight Train by Donald Crews***
I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturges***
I’m Fast! by Kate and Jim McMullan
Trains by Byron Barton*

Early Literacy Tip
Be sure to share factual books with your children. Follow their interests, whether in a particular animal, in how things work, in trains, or in anything else the piques their curiosity.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Anna and the Cupcakes***

Featured Track: #3 Train Song***

Flannelboard: “Clickety-Clack”***

Repeating Extension Activities

• Clap Your Hands***
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Wiggle Your Finger & Stomp Your Feet**
• Zoom, Zoom, Zoom**

How It Went

Tuesday morning
My favorite thing about this morning is a toss-up between TWO things actually. One is a little boy who was so sad that his grandpa didn’t come in storytime and then found out our theme was trains and cheered up immediately! The second thing is leading a train around the room to the TRAIN SONG wearing a conductor hat, scarf, and blowing a train whistle. Also: getting toddlers up to move around and settling down with “Zoom Zoom Zoom” is perfection!

Thursday morning (9:30)
One of my newer toddlers high-fived me on the way into the storytime room — caregiver informed me that means I’m in the club. I consider that my proudest accomplishment this week! This group was more reserved, but that meant that I read through three books with them. Also in toddler news: we have a new big sister in the class and she was very proud to announce it during our “Name…Oops” fingerplay.

Thursday morning (10:30)
In this group, I only have three returning toddlers from last session. That meant that TODAY was the first time many of them had ever done “Zoom Zoom Zoom”. That, of course, meant that we repeated it three times to the delight of toddlers everywhere. This grouped absolutely needed to get up and move and TRAIN SONG was the perfect opportunity.

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.***
Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
Meeow and the Blue Table by Sebastien Braun
Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia***

Early Literacy Tip
You don’t actually need to read books aloud to your children in order for them to benefit. Simply looking at and talking about the illustrations in books help children develop appreciation for the visual arts.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Ralph’s World***

Featured Track: #8 All My Colors

Flannelboard: Lots of Cars***

Props: Green Says Go***

Repeating Extension Activities

• Elevator Song***
• Everyone Can March*
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Thumbkin**
• Wiggle Your Finger & Stomp Your Feet*

How It Went

Tuesday morning
What an excellent storytime! (I am so happy it went perfectly today because I had a neighboring librarian observing. Toddler time can be so unpredictable.) Parents and caregivers were really into both books today Toot Toot Beep Beep and Brown Bear, Brown Bear since they provided so many opportunities for participation. As always, the “Elevator Song” is always a crowd pleaser. On the way out, a parent told me that I’m a “rock star” in their house.

Thursday morning (9:30)
I’m noticing for whatever reason that this session, I can basically stick to the same plan for each group. It’s some kind of MAGIC that’s going on, but it makes my life so much easier in terms of book selection and knowing what comes next. I had a full crowd this morning and some more reluctant movers, so “Thumbkin” and “Elevator Song” were great. This group really liked leaving their parents to sit in front of me to hear the books today!

Thursday morning (10:30)
This was a super quiet group of kiddos. We only had twelve toddlers (out of a possible twenty) which makes the whole dynamic of the group shift. I had one toddler who just wanted to zoom around the whole time, but had a great involved caregiver who was engaging and staying with their toddler’s energy. Their favorite moment was definitely reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear all together.

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee***
I Went Walking by Sue Williams*
Peek-a-Moo by Marie Cimarusti*
Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson and Jennifer Rofe*

Early Literacy Tip
By joyfully watching other children follow directions and applauding their success, you are teaching your children an important social skill — how to appreciate other people.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: Rocketship Run***

Featured Track: #20 Farm (That’s What I Did)*

Flannelboard: “Open Up the Barn Door”***
Open up the barn door, the spring goes “Boink.”
There’s a pig in the barn, saying, “Oink, oink, oink.”
Open up the barn door before the clock strikes two.
There’s a cow in the barn, saying, “Moo, moo, moo.”
Open up the barn door, it’s a sunny day.
There’s a horse in the barn, saying, “Neigh, neigh, neigh.”
Open up the barn door, singing, “Tra-la-la.”
There’s a sheep in the barn, saying, “Baa, baa, baa.”
Open up the barn door, while the sky is blue.
There’s a rooster in the barn, saying, “Cock-a-doodle-do!”
Open up the barn door and don’t get off the track.
There’s a duck in the barn, saying, “Quack, quack, quack.”
Credit: Addison Public Library

Puppet Song: “When Cows Get Up in the Morning”**
When cows get up in the morning, they always say hello
When cows get up in the morning, they always say hello
And what do they say? Mooooooo
And that is what they say.
Credit: Jbrary

Repeating Extension Activities

• My Thumbs Are Starting to Wiggle
• Open, Shut Them*
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Tick, Tock**
• Wiggle Your Finger & Stomp Your Feet*

How It Went

Tuesday morning
Week two always sees us adding a few new faces as people get moved up from the waitlist. This group was probably the most affected by those changes; they stuck pretty close to their caregivers because of all the new faces. That made Clip-Clop work SO GOOD as a bounce and a book that I almost cried from joy. I used the CD recording and because the group was so tentative, no one really got up and danced. I passed on the song for the next two groups.

Thursday morning (9:30)
I forgot my puppets for “When Cows Get Up in the Morning” for the Tuesday class. I remembered them for this class! When in doubt, hide things from toddlers and slowly pull them out. It’s magic! This was also reinforced by the flannelboard this week and I know the parents really got into that activity as well.

Thursday morning (10:30)
This class was another group that really enjoyed hiding things. I decided that Peek-a-Moo would be a natural choice and we spent the better part of storytime looking for hidden objects. 😀 I have some really great, involved parents in this group and several dads which I *love* seeing in storytime!

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