Counting Storytime

Storytime for 1-1/2 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum
• Book #1 – The Ants Go Marching edited by Ann Owen, illustrated by Sandra D'Antonio
• Activity – Hickory Dickory Dock (fingerplay)

Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
(run fingers up arm to high overhead)
The clock struck one.
(clap once)
The mouse ran down.
(run fingers down arm and down body)
Hickory dickory dock.

Repeat with:
...the clock struck two, the mouse said boo!
...the clock struck three, the mouse said whee!
...the clock struck four, there is no more.

• Book #2 – Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
• Activity – Two Little Hands (action rhyme)

Two little hands go clap, clap, clap.
Two little feet go tap, tap, tap.
Two little fists go thump, thump, thump.
Two little legs go jump, jump, jump.
One little body turns around.
And everyone sits quietly down.

• Closing - Rhythm sticks using "Goin' On a Bear Hunt" from Kids In Action by Greg and Steve
• Craft – Make a count to 5 book with stapled pieces of paper

Artsy Toddler Storytime at the Sumner Public Library

Here is a special storytime I did at a local library.  It started off with a short storytime in which I told the parents about the different skills their children will be practicing at the four art tables.

Short storytime:

Opening - "Clap your Hands" from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids

Book #1 - The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Activity - Clippity Clippity Clop (action rhyme I adjusted from another rhyme I found many years ago)

Clippity, clippity clop,
The horses go clip clop.
They gallop to the right.
They gallop to the left.
They gallop all around...
And they come to a stop.
Clippity, clippity clop.

Transition - Open, Shut Them (well known fingerplay)

Book #2 - Charlie Chick: A Pop-up Book by Nick Denchfield and Ant Parker

Ending - "Very, Very Tall" from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

Art tables:

a) Glue feathers on a baby chick.  Skill: Impulse control

b) Apply dot stickers to a cow picture.  Skill: Exercise small muscles in hands

c) Color a sheep with crayons.  Skill: Coloring, holding a pencil/crayon

d) Paint brown "mud" paint onto a pig.  Skill: Following directions

Mom 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 – Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino, illustrated by Steve Kellogg
• Stand-up Activity - Do It for Your Mother (action song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be
Do it now let me see
Do it for your mother

Clap, clap, clap your hands
As fast as fast can be
Do it now let me see
Do it for your mother

(use other body motions such as stomp your feet, jump your legs, etc.)

• 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 - That's My Mommy! by Ann Hodgman, illustrated by Laura Logan (board book)
• Activity – Come A'Look A' See (fingerplay found on The Baby Record by Bob McGrath and Katharine Smithrim)

• Closing - Use scarves to the song "Water, Wind and World" from The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs by Johnette Downing
• Craft – Glue together a paper daisy with a pink circle center and white paper strips for petals