Monday, March 31, 2014

Springtime Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 
  • Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)
Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 
  • Book #2 - Hurray for Spring! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Taia Morley
  • Activity – Five Spring Flowers (fingerplay adpated by Carol Hopkins)
Flowers tall, flowers small
Flowers planted by the wall
Blowing in the springtime breezes
Not for little children sneezes
Let us count the flowers alive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Five little flowers thrive in the springtime sun
  • Closing - Use scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing
  • Craft – Glue crepe paper streamers to a toilet paper tube windsock

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Bugs Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 
I saw a pretty butterfly flying through my garden
It landed on my shoe
And then it fluttered to my head
It flew to the right
And it flew to the left
Now the pretty butterfly is dancing round and round
  • Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)
Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 
  • Book #2 - I Love Bugs by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Shari Halpern
  • Activity – "Baby Bumblebee" action song from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

Monday, March 17, 2014

Lego My Library - Royalty

A fun Lego building block storytime intended for children 4 to 9 years old.

Book: The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett and Poly Bernatene

Lego challenge: Create something Priscilla (the royal pig) might use

Monday, March 3, 2014

Royal Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds: 
  • Opening - Skinnamarink (from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo), Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
  • Book #1 – The Missing Tarts by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson
  • Stand-up Activity - Not Much Different (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)
A prince has a crown, and he bows to say, "Hello."
A princess has a crown and she curtseys to say, "How do you do."
They can run
They can dance
They can jump
They can sit
They are not much different from you or me
  • Bridge - Open Shut Them (fingerplay)
Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 
  • Book #2 - Princess Baby by Karen Katz
  • Activity – Lord and Ladies In a Row (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)
Five ladies in waiting, standing in a row
They bow their heads to honor the queen
Five noble lords, standing in a row
They bow their heads to honor the king
They stand in two straight lines and politely applaud
Then they come together and dance at the ball