Pets - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - Look Up, Look Down (sign language song from Pick Me Up!: Fun Songs for Learning Signs)
• Book #1 - Critter Sitter by Chuck Richards
  
• Book #2 - Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems (alternate book: Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton)
• 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.

• Flannelboard - Perfect Pet (song by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis)
  
• Book #3 - Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward, illustrated by Tomie DePaola (alternative book: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes)
  
• Activity - My Little Kitty (action rhyme)

Here comes my little cat with a pitter, patter, pitter, pat.
(tip toe)
First she stretches from here to there.
(hold hands as paws straight up in the air then bend over)
Then she jumps with her tail in the air.
(jump)
Gently she lands on my lap.
(sit down)
And settles down for a nice long nap.
(place hands together by cheek, resting head)
Prrrrrr!

• Closing - Scarves with the song "My Dog Rags" from Sing Along With Bob #1 by Bob McGrath)
  
• Family Math Activity - Make a pet playground with building blocks
  

Dog 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 – Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
• 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/Math Activity - In the House (song by Gail Benton and Trisha Waichulaitis)
• Sit-down Activity - Itsy Bitsy Doggie (a fingerplay rhyme some librarians made up at a workshop)

The itsy bitsy doggie was playing in the grass
Out came the cat and gave the dog some sass
Out came the mom and shooed the cat away
And the itsy bitsy doggie came out again to play

• Book #2 - Puppy Dogs! by Katie Kobble, illustrated by Danny Brooks Dalby (pop-up board book that I picked up somewhere for my son)
• Activity – Five Little Puppies (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

(show 5 fingers)
Five little puppies playing in the sun
(hands over head for sun)
This one saw a rabbit and began to run
(run)
This one saw a butterfly and began to fly
(fly with arms)
This one saw a kitty cat and began to jump
(jump)
This one tried to catch her tail and went round and round
(spin around)
This small one here, she was so quiet that she fell asleep
(hands together under head for sleep)

• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Color a white felt strip dog collar with color pens

Spring 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 – Hurray for Spring by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Taia Morley
• Stand-up Activity - Spring Is All Around Me (action song I found in Mailbox Preschool Magazine, April/May 2000)
• 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/Math Activity - Bluebird, Bluebird Through My Window (song)
• Sit-down Activity - 5 Spring Flowers (fingerplay adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Flowers tall, flowers small
(let fingers stand up)
Flowers planted by the wall
Blowing in the springtime breezes
(sway fingers and arm)
Not for little children sneezes
(sneeze)
Let us count the flowers alive
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
(touch each finger as you count)
Five little fingers thrive in the springtime sun!

• Book #2 - In the Spring by Craig Brown
• Activity – A Springtime Rhyme (action rhyme I found in Mailbox Preschool Magazine, Feb/Mar 2006 page 33)
• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Create a muffin cup flower

Bugs - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - Look Up, Look Down (sign language song from Pick Me Up!: Fun Songs for Learning Signs)
• Book #1 - Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin
• Book #2 - The Not So Itsy-Bitsy Spider by Yumi Heo (pop-up) (alternative book: The Thing That Bothered Farmer Brown by Teri Sloat, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott)
  
• Stand up activity - Flick A Fly (action song from Walter the Waltzing Worm by Hap Palmer)
• Flannelboard - There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly
  
• Book #3 - The Flea's Sneeze by Lynne Downey, illustrated by Karla Firehammer (alternative book: In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming)
  
• Activity - Here Is a Beehive (fingerplay)

Here is a beehive
(show fist)
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees
Here they come creeping out of the hive
(count fingers one at a time)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Bzzzzzzzz!
(tickle)

• Closing - Tambourines to Shoo Fly (Dancing Feet by Carole Peterson)
  
• Family Math Activity - Paper plate spider webs
  

Bedtime 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 – How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
• Stand-up Activity - Shake My Sillies Out (action song from More Singable Songs by Raffi)
• 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/Math Activity - 5 Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed (counting down rhyme)
• Sit-down Activity - This Is a Baby Ready for a Nap (fingerplay I first found in I'm a Little Teapot by Jane Cobb, but I have also found it in many other places)

This is a baby ready for a nap
(hold up one finger)
Lay her down in her mother's lap
(place in palm of other hand)
Cover her up so she won't peep
(wrap fingers around it)
Rock her till she's fast asleep
(rock hands together back and forth)

• Book #2 - Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont, pictures by Jennifer Plecas (lift-flap)
• Activity – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (fingerplay from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck at Kimbo)
• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Make a moon bed

Green for St. Patrick's Day - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - Look Up, Look Down (sign language song from Pick Me Up!: Fun Songs for Learning Signs)
• Book #1 - Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie DePaola
• Book #2 - Hooray for St. Patrick's Day by Joan Holub, illustrated by Paul Meisel (lift-flap) (alternative book: The Little Green Pea by Alison Barber, illustrated by Paige Keiser)
• Stand up activity - Leprechaun, Leprechaun (action rhyme similar to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around")

Leprechaun, leprechaun turn around
Leprechaun, leprechaun touch the ground
Leprechaun, leprechaun dance on your toes
Leprechaun, leprechaun touch your nose
Leprechaun, leprechaun reach up high
Leprechaun, leprechaun jump to the sky
Leprechaun, leprechaun find your feet
Leprechaun, leprechaun have a seat

• Flannelboard - 5 green and speckled frogs (counting down song)
• Book #3 - Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood, illustrated Claudine Gevry (pop-up) (alternative book: Way Up High In a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck, illustrated by Valeria Patrone)
• Activity - If You're Happy and You Know It (action song from Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays)
• Closing - Flitter-Flutter (scarf song from The Second Line by Johnette Downing)
• Family Math Activity - Count and sort scoops of Lucky Charms cereal

Bugs 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 – Very Bus Spider by Eric Carle
• Stand-up Activity - Spider Spins a Web (action rhyme to the tune of "Farmer In the Dell")

The spider spins a web
The spider spins a web
Round and round and up and down
The spider spins a web

She spins it in and out...
She spins it back and forth...
She spins it good and strong...

• 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/Math Activity - One Little Elephant Went Out to Play Upon a Spiderweb One Day (counting rhyme)
• Sit-down Activity - Eensy Weensy Spider (fingerplay found on Toddler Tunes by Cedarmont Kids)
• Book #2 - Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
• Activity – Baby Bumblebee (action song from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids)
• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Make a spider leg headband

Green 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 – Little Green by Keith Baker
• Stand-up Activity - Little Bird (action rhyme I first found in Toddle On Over by Robin Works Davis, but I have also seen it on a number of websites)

I saw a little bird go hop, hop, hop
(jump)
I told the little bird to stop, stop, stop
(hold up hand, palm out)
I went to the window to say, "How do you do?"
(bow)
He wagged his little tail and flew away
(make flying motion with arms)

• 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/Math Activity -5 Green and Speckled Frogs (counting down song)
• Sit-down Activity - Fee Fi Fo Fum (fingerplay)

Fee fi fo fum
(clap)
See my fingers
(wiggle fingers)
See my thumbs
(wiggle thumbs)
Fee fi fo fum
(clap)
Good-bye fingers
(put one hand behind back)
Good-bye thumbs
(put other hand behind back)

• Book #2 - Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
• Activity – 5 Little Sheep (fingerplay)

This little sheep eats grass.
This little sheep eats clover.
This little sheep drinks water.
This little sheep jumps away.
This little sheep does nothing at all, but lies around all day and sleep.

• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Chalk coloring on construction paper shamrocks

Sleep - Family Storytime

This is for an all ages, whole family storytime:

• Opening - Look Up, Look Down (sign language song from Pick Me Up!: Fun Songs for Learning Signs)
• Book #1 - Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale, illustrated by Howard Fine
• Book #2 - Napping House Wakes Up by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood (pop-up - alternative book was Bedtime At the Swamp by Kristyn Crow, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan)
• Stand up activity - Peter Hammers (action song from Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays)
• Flannelboard - 5 Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed
  
• Book #3 - Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman (alternative book was Sweet Dreams Maisy by Lucy Cousins)
  
• Activity - Before I Jump Into Bed (action rhyme I first found in I'm a Little Teapot by Jane Cobb)

Before I jump into bed at night
(jump)
Before I dim the light
(switch out the light)
I put my shoes together
(hands together)
So they can talk at night
(hands talk)
I'm sure they would be lonesome if I tossed them here and there
(toss hands left and right)
So I put them close together
(place hands together)
For they are a friendly pair.

• Closing - Use tambourines for the bells in the song Frere Jacques (Toddler Tunes from Cedarmont Kids)
  
• Family Math Activity - Pattern cubes