storytime katie

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

Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
No Go Sleep! by Kate Feiffer
The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra
Ten In the Bed by Jane Cabrera

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Counting Sheep” (AKA, Ten Little Sheep)

Rhyme Wheel: “Baa Baa Black Sheep”

Nursery Rhyme: Twinkle, Twinkle

Fingerplay: “Dance Your Fingers”
Dance your fingers up,
Dance your fingers down,
Dance your fingers side to side,
Then dance them all around.
Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your knees,
Then put them straight to bed.

Rhyme Card

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 “Twinkle Twinkle.”

How It Went

Since “Ten In the Bed” worked so well as an action song last time, I decided to use the book this time. The kids LOVED the book and it was definitely the favorite of the night. A very, very, very close second was “Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime” since it allowed them to be very loud right before bed. I had the cutest family this month who brought not only their favorite stuffies, but pillows and slippers and blankets and they curled up on the rug together.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

 
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

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by
Go to Bed, Monster by Natasha Wing
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Tiger Can’t Sleep by S.J. Fore

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Four Little Stars”

Rhyme Wheel: “Baa Baa Black Sheep”

Action Rhyme: “Big Yellow Moon”
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (circle overhead)
Glides across the starry night (arms left to right)
Looks down at me (hand shades eyes)
Asleep in bed, (head on hands)
Whispers, “Good night sleepyhead.” (shh)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done (move arms down)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun (circle overhead)
I wake up. (arms stretch out)
You go to bed. (head on hands)
“Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead.” (shh)
Credit: King County Library System

Rhyme Card

Since we don’t do a craft at Pajama Storytime, I decided to create a little something for my families to take home and I came up with the idea of rhyme cards on a laminated ring. 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 first month, I did Baa Baa Black Sheep.

How It Went

The absolute, hands-down favorite book was “Tiger Can’t Sleep.” The kids thought it was hysterical that Tiger was having such difficultly sleeping. This session was a good deal of older kids (6s and 7s), so they really appreciated the humor. All in all, it was a good launch to the program!