Daycare storytimes are back!

 This fall I was able to visit a daycare center for the first time since the pandemic began.  It was so much fun to be sharing books with young children again.      

In the toddler room (2.5 to 3.5 years old) I read a bunch of short books and sprinkled in a lot of fingerplays and action rhymes.  These guys were still getting used to the ideas of sitting as a group for stories.  

I started off by singing the "Animals Get Up In the Morning" song using my little red cloth barn full of small animals.  Then I read these books:

Cat by Matthew Van Fleet (pop-up and moving pieces)

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter

Maisy Drives the Bus by Lucy Cousins

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin and James Dean

Peekaboo, Blueberry! by Barney Saltzberg (lift-flaps)

Truck Jam by Paul Stickland (pop-up)

I also read stories in the preschool and pre-K rooms.  I was able try out a new book with these two classes.  I read these books:

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chin

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin and James Dean

Supertruck by Stephen Savage

What's Next Door? by Nicola O'Byrne

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Biscuit Is Thankful

Last year when the pandemic closed the library and all large gatherings, I created this video storytime series along with a coworker, who is a talented musician, to get young children moving around and singing.  It is filled with lots of favorite storytime songs and rhymes, and of course a book!  I really wanted the grown-ups watching along with the kiddos to learn the songs, so I used a split screen technique on the videos to display the words to the songs/rhymes while I am singing and acting them out.  

Opening song - Skinnamarink (https://youtu.be/95JkQfANW9M) 

Action song - Turkeys Come Marching (adaptation of the "Ants Go Marching" song)

The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one
Hoorah!  Hoorah!
The turkeys come marching one by one.
The little one stops to suck their thumb.
And they all go marching,
Down,
Around
The farm,
Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  

The turkeys come marching two by two...
The little one stops to tie its shoe...

The turkeys come marching three by three...
The little one stops to gobble at me...

The turkeys come marching four by four...
The little one's feather was stuck in the door...

Transition sit down song - Ten Fat Turkeys (not sure where I picked up this fingerplay)

(count fingers)

Ten fat turkeys standing in a row.

They spread their wings and tails just so.

They look to the left,

They look to the right,

When they strut their stuff, they're quite a sight!

But you won't see them on Thanksgiving Day,

'Cause one by one they'll run away.   

Book - Biscuit Is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories (read with permission by HarperCollins Children's Books)

 

Action song - I'm a Little Teapot (action song)

I’m a little teapot

Short and stout

Here is my handle

(one hand on hip)

Here is my spout

(other arm out straight)

When I get all steamed up

Hear me shout

“Tip me over

and pour me out!”

(lean over toward spout)

I’m a clever teapot,

Yes it’s true

Here let me show you

What I can do

I can change my handle

And my spout

(switch arm positions)

Just tip me over and pour me out!

(lean over toward spout)

Action song - Turkey Lurkey (to the tune of "Handy Spandy" performed with a ball)

Turkey Lurkey fine and dandy.
(ball on head)
Loves pumpkin pie and sugar candy.
(put down ball and sign language for "candy")
Bought it from a baker's shop,
(bounce ball)
And away did hop, hop, hop!
(toss ball into the air)

Closing song - excerpt from the Carpenter's song "Sing a Song" (also a classic Sesame Street song https://youtu.be/-nI7IfwLoBI)