February Library Lady

Due to some fierce snow storms, I only visited two classes this month. 

 

Don't Play with Your Food by Bob Shea
Fortune Cookies by Albert Bitterman, illustrated by Chris Raschka (moving pieces board book)

 

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won
What's Next Door? by Nicola O'Byrne

Wonderful Elephants Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening - "A Tooty Ta" from Dance Like This by Mr. Al

• Color literacy activity - Elephants in the Bathtub (rhyme I adapted from a counting rhyme I found on the KCLS website)

Lots of elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice),
splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!

Red elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice),
splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!

Green elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice),
splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!

Blue elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice),
splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!

Pink elephants in the bathtub,
Going for a swim,
Knock-knock (clap twice),
splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Come on in!

Until...Soooo many elephants in the bathtub
Going for a swim.
Knock-knock (clap twice),
splash-splash (slap knees twice),
Crack!
The tub breaks apart,
And they all fall out!

  

  

• Book #1 - Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes

• Stand-up activity - An Elephant (my notes do not say where I found this action rhyme)

An elephant goes like this and that.
(pat knees)
He's terribly big,
(hands up high)
And he's terribly fat.
(hands out wide)
He has no fingers,
(wiggle fingers)
And he has no toes,
(wiggle toes)
But goodness gracious, what a nose!
(make curling motion away from nose)

• Sit down activity - Elephant Trunk and Feet (fingerplay chant written by Carol Hopkins)

Trunk up high.

Trunk down low.

Swing it side to side - here we go!

Out comes one foot. (right hand pats leg)

Out comes another. (left hand pats leg)

Stomp them, stomp them,

Stomp, stomp, stomp!

• Book #2 - Snappy Little Jungle by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Derek Matthews (pop-up) 

• Book #3 - Tails by Matthew Van Fleet (moving parts) 

• Closing - Dance with scarves to the song "Silly Dance Contest" from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill

 

• Art experience - Color with metallic/glitter pens and cut out with scissors some elephant finger-puppets

Oreo Tasting Contest

Inspired by this post at the Programming Librarian blog, the teen librarian and I put together a teen/tween library event around the many flavors of Oreo cookies. 

When participants entered, they received a bottle of water and an answer sheet.  They were instructed to take their time tasting each of the 16 flavors available.  (Sneaky librarian: There were 19 flavors listed on the answer sheet but only 16 cookies to try.)  We had tables set up around the room for the participants to sit at.  Many of them teamed up with their table mates. 

Anyone who guessed with 0-1 incorrect answers, received a "super taster" button.  All participants got to choose one of the generic Oreo buttons.  The buttons were made by our teen volunteers a few weeks prior to the event. 

Reflection: This was a surprisingly easy program to put together.  Some of the attendees very much enjoyed themselves while others said they were feeling sick from so much sweet stuff.  It was fun to see the various levels of eating the participants used to figure out flavors.  Some would eat most of the cookie while others would just lick the cream filling.  We bought way too many cookies.  Many of our tweens had their parents nearby (which we anticipated).  Since we had so many cookies, we let the parents also participate.  These parents also enjoyed the tasting challenge.  The teen librarian and I are already thinking of a Kit Kat tasting event. 

Snack Food Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

 

• Book #1 – The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (big book)

• Stand-up Activity – "I'm a Little Teapot" action song from This Little Piggy: Lap Songs, Finger Plays, Clapping Games, and Pantomime Rhymes by Adam Stemple, Jane Yolen, et al. 

• 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 

• Flannelboard - Five Little Kernels (counting down rhyme I found on the Storytime Katie blog)

• Letter of the Day - "P" is for popcorn

• Book #2 – Maisy Cleans Up by Lucy Cousins 

• Activity – Alligator Pie (fingerplay I found somewhere many years ago, I have seen it on numerous websites)

Alligator, alligator, alligator pie
If I don't get some
I think I'm gonna cry
You can take away the grass
Take away the sky
But don't take away
My alligator pie!

• Closing - Scarves to the song "Popcorn Calling Me" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner 

 

• Art Experience – Crayons on a popcorn coloring sheet

Playing with Pets Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

   

 

• Book #1 – Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (lift-the-flap)

• Stand-up Activity – Some Dogs (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Some dogs run
Some dogs bark
Some dogs jump
Some dogs growl
Some dogs roll in the grass
Some dogs yip
Some dogs sniff
Some dogs howl
And some dogs just wag their tails all day.

• 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 

• Flannelboard - Playing Drums on the Mat (clapping rhyme found in the book Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A Year's Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming by Carol Garnett Hopkins) 

• Letter of the Day - "D" is for dog

• Book #2 – Cat by Matthew Van Fleet, photos by Brian Stanton

• Activity – Can You Walk On Tiptoe?  (action rhyme adapted by Carol Hopkins from a rhyme I found in the book I'm a Little Teapot! by Jane Cobb)

Can you Meow?

Can you Purr?

Can you walk on tiptoe as softly as a cat?

And can you stamp along the road, stamp, stamp just like that?

Can you take a really fast pace as if you are running a race?

Or can you walk so slowly?

As if you are a cat ready to curl up for a nap.

• Closing - Egg shakers to the song "I Know a Chicken" from The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by Laurie Berkner 

  

  

• Art Experience – Dot stickers and eye stickers on a paper plate "pet" snake