Tag: fall 2013

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

Circus!

The Plan

Books

circus

Circus by Lois Ehlert
Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer
Say Hola to Spanish at the Circus by Susan Middleton Elya
A Small Surprise by Louise Yates

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Little Kernels”
Five little kernels sizzling in the pot
All of a sudden, one went POP! (count down)

Flannelboard: “One Elephant Went Out to Play”
One elephant went out to play
Upon a spider’s web one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called another elephant to come (HEY ELEPHANT)

Action Rhyme: “Five Little Clowns”
Five little clowns all in a row (hold up five fingers)i
Wearing funny hats (tap head)
And polka dotted bows (fix pretend bow tie)
One little clown hopped away (hop)
Back to the circus to laugh and play (wave goodbye)
(Four little clowns, one twirled away; three little clowns, one tumbled away; two little clowns, one wiggled away; one little clown, he tiptoed away)
Credit: Perry Public Library

Action Song: “Funny Clowns”
Funny clowns, funny clowns,
Jump around, jump around
Sometimes making faces
Sometimes running races
Funny clowns, funny clowns
Funny clowns, funny clowns
Spin around, spin around
Sometimes with a big nose,
Sometimes with big toes
Funny clowns, funny clowns
Credit: Youth Literature

Craft

This craft kit came from Oriental Trading. It is smaller than it appears in the pictures! The kids enjoyed getting their fingers dirty and doing some fingerprint stamping. I did buy a few additional stamp pads since the craft kit Circus!only contains one small stamp pad per dozen. But we can use those for other projects, too!

How It Went

This was my last regular storytime for the fall session. Attendance has really dropped this year as the weather has gotten colder, so I made the decision to not do a winter session for this year. So, this storytime was bittersweet because I had several moms who would have new babies by the time we started up again! Nevertheless, the kids really enjoyed the theme and it was good to do it in November (when Chicagoland gets the circus). Their favorite book was “Olivia Saves the Circus,” but I also got a lot of compliments about reading “Say Hola to Spanish at the Circus!”

January 22, 2014 1 Comment Short URL, Family Storytime

Cake!

The Plan

Books

cake

Maisy Bakes a Cake by Lucy Cousins
Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton
The Red Hen by Rebecca & Ed Emberley
Who Made This Cake? by Chihiro Nakagawa

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Cake Numbers”
Credit: Anne’s Library Life

Flannelboard: “Down Around the Corner”
Down around the corner in the bakery shop
Were five yummy cupcakes with sprinkles on top
Along comes (puppet) with a dollar to pay
He/she buys a cupcake and takes it away
(continue with four, three, two, and one)
Credit: Mel’s Desk (for the original rhyme) & Anne’s Library Life for using cupcakes instead of cookies!

Flannelboard: “Five Candles”
Five candles on a birthday cake
Five, and not one more
You may blow on candle out,
And that leaves four!
(There for all to see / three; Standing straight and true / two; Helping us have fun / one; We know its task is done / none)

Fingerplay: “Pat-a-Cake”
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Roll it and pat it and mark it with a “B”
And put it in the oven for baby and me!
Credit: Childhood

Craft

I went ahead and purchased these cupcake stamps from Oriental Trading for craft. Their pictures were awesome — full of color and tons of stamps. Miss Katie’s paper, on the other hand, has too much grown-up restraint. They had a good time with the stamps.

How It Went

Thursday morning
This was a wonderful storytime plan that translated SO WELL in actual storytime. The kids got a kick out of all the flannelboards, and they especially love that I’ve started (more and more) to let them up to the board. Their favorite book was definitely “The Little Red Hen.”

Friday morning
My Friday morning group totally related to George in “Oh, No George!” They were on pins and needles waiting to see if George was going to be good or bad. They also really liked blowing out the candles on the birthday cake flannelboard.

January 13, 2014 2 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Squirrels!

The Plan

Books

squirrels

Acorns Everywhere by Kevin Sherry
Ol’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein
That Pup by Lindsay Barrett George
Who’s In the Forest? by Phillis Gershator

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Ouch”

Action Song: “Grey Squirrel” (Tune: Brother John)
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel
Swish your tail, Swish your tail
Wrinkle up your funny nose
Hold a nut between your toes
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel
Credit: Family! (Thanks, Bri!)

Fingerplay: “This Little Squirrel”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s run and play!”
This little squirrel said, “Let’s hunt nuts today!”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, nuts are good.”
This little squirrel said, “Yes, my favorite food.”
This little squirrel said, “Come climb this tree.” (run fingers up other arm, quickly)
And crack these nuts: one, two, three! (clap hands three times)
Credit: Sunflower Storytime

Fingerplay: “Two Little Squirrels”
Two little squirrels sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Run away Jack, run away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
(Cloud/quiet & loud; Pole/fast & slow; Sky/Low & High)
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Craft

I got this idea from a Pinterest pin that eventually led me back to La-La’s Home Daycare. The kids enjoyed ripping their paper apart, but I definitely had more than one who froze when I said it was all right to rip the paper.

How It Went

Thursday morning
I had a fantastic group of interactive parents this morning. They kept repeating words and sounds to their little ones as I turned the page and the kids loved it — especially during “Ol’ Mama Squirrel!”

Friday morning
This group really responded to the “Two Little Squirrels” rhyme. They had a lot of fun with the opposites! Their favorite book was “That Pup” since it was a search-and-find, kind of.

November 25, 2013 5 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Firefighters!

The Plan

Books

firefighters

Firefighter Frank by Monica Wellington
Firefighters! Speeding! Spraying! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell
Firefighter Ted by Andrea Beaty
I Love Trucks! by Philemon Sturges

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Calling All”
Fire! Fire! Emergency!
Someone is in trouble.
Calling all *blue fire trucks
Come on the double!
Spray the water,
Now the fire is out!
“Everyone is safe!”
We all shout.
Credit: Fun With Friends at Storytime

Action Song: “Hurry, Hurry Drive the Fire Truck”
Action Rhyme: “Hurry, Hurry”
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck (pretend to turn wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck (pretend to turn wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck (pretend to turn wheel)
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (ring bell)
(Turn the corner (lean over to one side, then the other), climb the ladder (pretend to climb), spray the water (pretend to spray a hose).)
Credit: Childhood

Fingerplay: “Five Brave Firefighters”
Five brave firefighters
Sleeping in a row
Ring goes the bell
And down one goes….
Credit: Read, Rhyme, and Sing

Craft

This template came from KidsSoup! I am lucky enough that I took pictures as most of the families arrived and had a co-worker print up their pictures, ready for crafts after all the stories! The kids loved having their photos on their firefighters and gleefully danced around with them.

How It Went

Thursday morning & Friday morning
I bought Fire Chief hats for them. Do I really have to say what they thought of this theme? THEY GOT FIRE CHIEF HATS. Both groups really enjoyed “Firefighter Frank” which is a classic. (And I love Monica Wellington books something fierce.) And besides fire hats, the only thing that compares is firetrucks, which we have a lot of stuff about. All in all, I highly recommend doing this storytime!

November 13, 2013 4 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Crayons!

The Plan

Books

crayons

A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch
Go to Bed, Monster by Natasha Wing
Monsters Love Colors by Mike Austin
My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
What Happens at a Crayon Factory? by Lisa M. Guidone

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Harold and the Purple Crayon”

Flannelboard: “I Have a Crayon”
I have a crayon, I’ll give it to you.
Here is my crayon, my crayon of blue.
I have a crayon, a lovely little fellow.
Here is my crayon, my crayon of yellow.
I have a crayon, it’s here on my head.
Here is my crayon, my crayon of red.
I have a crayon, we can draw a circle.
Here is my crayon, my crayon of purple.
I have a crayon, what do I see?
Here is my crayon, an orange one for me.
I have a crayon, the best ever seen.
Here is my crayon, my crayon of green
Credit: Anne’s Library Life

Action Rhyme: “Crayons”
Put your Blue crayon in the air hold it high and leave it there.
Put your Blue crayon on your back
Now please lay it in your lap.
Hold your Blue crayon in your hand
Now everyone please stand.
Wave your Blue crayon at the door
Now please lay it on the floor.
Hold your Blue crayon and jump, jump, jump.
Hold your Blue crayon way, way up!
(Repeat with Green and Red)
Credit: Anne’s Library Life

Fingerplay: “Five Little Crayons
Five little crayons, waiting in a row.
The first one said, “I’m red, you know!”
The second one said, “I’m green like a tree.”
The third one said, “I’m blue like the sea.”
The fourth one said, “I’m yellow as the sun.”
The fifth one said, “Being purple is fun!”
Five little crayons, happy as can be,
Coloring pictures with you and me!
Credit: Hubpages

Craft

The kids did crayon rubbings with our rubbing plates. I totally didn’t take any pictures and feel awful about it!

How It Went

Thursday morning
I made the kids die-cuts of each color for our action rhyme Crayons and they had a great time waving them around. Afterwards, I let them keep their crayons if they wanted to and you would not believe what a treasure paper crayon shapes are! This group’s favorite book was “Monsters Love Colors.”

Friday morning
My Friday morning group loved the flannelboard rhyme best. Afterwards, I turned the board around and took a color off, letting them guess what I had taken. There was a lot of gleeful screaming. Their favorite book was “Go to Bed, Monster” since I had perfected my monster voice by the second storytime!

November 6, 2013 7 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Berries!

The Plan

Books

berries

The Berry Book by Gail Gibbons
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Strawberries”
Five red strawberries, sweet to the core.
Bear came and ate one and then there were four.
Four red strawberries, growing near a tree.
Bear came and ate one and then there were three.
Three red strawberries, for you and you and you.
Bear came and ate one and then there were two.
Two red strawberries, sitting in the sun.
Bear came and ate one and then there was one.
One red strawberry, left all alone.
Bear came and ate it and then there were none.
Credit: Abby the Librarian

Action Song: Pop Goes the Berry (Tune: Pop Goes the Weasel)
All around the strawberry fields,
We picked some juicy berries
We brought them home and washed them off,
Pop! Go the berries! (have kids jump up on “pop”)
Credit: Jbrary

Fingerplay: At the Cottage Door
One, two, three four,
(Insert child’s name) at the cottage door.
Five, six, seven, eight,
Counting cherries on her plate.
Credit: Childhood

Puppets: “The Mouse & the Red, Ripe Strawberry”

Craft

20131002-104530.jpg

I Pinterested up strawberry crafts and kept seeing adorable ones with buttons like this one and this one. We didn’t have any black buttons, but we did have a MESS of leftover self-adhesive jewels and buttons, so I decided to go ahead and use them up!

How It Went

The kids had a great time, and LOVED the puppet show of “The Mouse & the Red, Ripe Strawberry.” As for books, I think that “The Berry Book” was the favorite — even though I paperclipped some of the pages since it was long and non-fiction for older readers. Craft was highly successful! I had two little girls who completely covered their strawberries in buttons and jewels.

October 9, 2013 2 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime

Bikes!

The Plan

Books

bicylces

Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bike by Chris Raschka
Hello, Bicycle by Ella Boyd
Max on His Tricycle by Guido Van Genechten
New Red Bike by James E. Ransome

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “If You Have a Red Bike” (Tune: Muffin Man)
If you have a red bike, a red bike, a red bike
If you have a red bike, put it on the board
(repeat with other colors)
Credit: Modified from Color Bears felt set

Action Rhyme: “Bicycle”
I have a little bicycle (hold hands together for little)
I ride it to and fro (rolls hands)
And when I see that big green light
I know it’s time to go! (pedal in air fast)
I have a little bicycle (hold hands together for little)
I took it to the shop (rolls hands)
And when I see that big red light
I know it’s time to STOP! (freeze)
Credit: First Steps Ann Arbor

Action Rhyme: “Riding”
(roll hands) Riding on my bike today
Pedal, pedal all the way
Pedal fast and pedal slow
Riding on my bike I go
(fly around room) In an airplane I fly
Up, up, up into the sky
Up, up, up so very high
In an airplane I fly
(rock side to side) Riding in a car I go
Rocking, rocking, to and fro
Side to side and to and fro
Riding in a car I go.
Modified from: Youth Literature

Song: “Wheels on the Bike”
The wheels on the bike go round and round, round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bike go round and round, all through the town
(Pedals on the bike go up and down, streamers on the bike go swish swish swish, bell on the bike goes ding-ding-ding)
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Craft

20131002-104510.jpg

I got these transportation stickers from Oriental Trading and let the kids go nuts putting them down.

How It Went

This was the beginning of our “fall” session, it started in September. I did this storytime for two groups. For the first group, they were a little restless — I had a lot of new faces in storytime. They weren’t having the whole story of “Max on His Tricycle,” so we went ahead and waved to Max’s friends and tooted for his bike. Since I had to shorten my book, I changed my literacy tip on the fly to: “Parents, you don’t have to read every word on the page. Keep reading with a young child positive! You don’t have to finish the book as written.” (That is likely more well-articulated than it was in storytime on the fly, but there you go!) My second group LOVED “Hello, Bicycle” the most.

Both groups really enjoyed the foam stickers that I bought and they worked hard to create their city traffic scenes.

October 2, 2013 9 Comments Short URL, Family Storytime