storytime katie

The Plan

Books

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman
Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino
Junkyard by Mike Austin
Robots, Everywhere by Denny Hebson
Sometimes I Forget You’re a Robot by Sam Brown

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Five Noisy Robots”
Five noisy robots in the big toy shop,
Shiny and tall with antennae on the top.
Along came a girl with a penny one day.
Bought a noisy robot and took it away.
(continue with 4, 3, 2, 1 noisy robots)

App: “Toca Robot Lab”

Action Rhyme: “I Am a Robot”
I am a robot (march in place with ‘robot arms’)
I am a robot
Clank Clank (bend forward and back at waist)
Clank Clank (bend side-to-side at waist)
ZZZZZZZrt (Raise arms up while shaking them)
CRASH (Either fall, or ‘lose power’ or clap)
Credit: Future Librarian Superhero

Song: “If You’re a Robot”
If you’re a robot and you know it
Clank your coils (clap hands)
Clunk your gears (stomp feet)
Press your buttons (“Beep beep”)
Credit: Future Librarian Superhero

Craft

This was a craft kit from Michaels that I bought on clearance a few years back.

How It Went

Well, it didn’t! This was a planned storytime from before I left my old job. I thought since I did the work and made the plan that I would just go ahead and post it anyways.

The Plan

Books

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.

The Plan

Books

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.”