March Library Lady Visits

  This last March I went out to a local preschool for a special storytime.  This storytime was part of their “We Love Books Month” celebration.  The children were great listeners and loved the scarf activities we did after the stories.    

 

 

BOOKS:
Crash, Splash, and Moo! by Bob Shea (interactive)
Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won
The Magic Hat by Mem Fox, illustrated by Tricia Tusa
The Magic Rabbit by Richard Jesse Watson
Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee

 

SCARVES WITH MUSIC:

“Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

"Silly Dance Contest” action song from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song & Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill  

 

SCARF ACTION CHANT:

Fishing, Wishing Song (I learned from a PCLS Sharing Music with Young Children STARS class)

I’m going fishing, fishing, fishing;
And I’m wishing, wishing, wishing;
For a – jumpy fish!
(jump around or throw scarves into the air)

I’m going fishing, fishing, fishing;
And I’m wishing, wishing, wishing;
For a – spinning fish!
(spin scarves)

I’m going fishing, fishing, fishing;
And I’m wishing, wishing, wishing;
For a – hiding fish!
(hide scarf in your hand behind your back)

 

 

 

March Preschool Tours

This March I hosted another round of preschool tours for a nearby preschool. The children always squeel with delight when books come through the book drop!

  

 

For the Two's and Three's class I read:

Peekaboo, Blueberry! by Barney Saltzberg (lift-flap, board book)
Tails by Matthew Van Fleet (lift-flap, moving-parts, board book)
What’s Next Door? by Nicola O’Byrne (interactive)

 

For the Four's class I read:

The Magic Rabbit by Richard Jesse Watson
What’s Next Door? by Nicola O’Byrne (interactive)

 

 

March Preschool Tours

 I had a wonderful time this month giving library tours along with a storytime for a local preschool.  

For the Two's and Three's classes I read:

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter
Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey

For the Four's and Pre-K classes I read:

Crash, Splash, or Moo by Bob Shea
Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell, illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa 
The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat by Em Lynus, illustrated by Matt Hunt 

February Library Lady

  This month I did two short storytimes for a local preschool program.  The storytimes were followed by time to play with the big blue blocks alongside their caregivers.  

BOOKS:

Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb, illustrated by Erin Kraan 
Crash, Splash, and Moo! by Bob Shea
Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell, illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa
Supertruck by Stephen Savage 

SCARVES WITH MUSIC:

“Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

"Milkshake Song" action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music 

Giving Thanks Little Learners Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3- to 5-year-olds:

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

 

Color literacy activity – Turkey Feathers

Hand out one turkey feather to each child.  The children bring up their turkey feathers to place on the board when their color is called.  

            

  

Book #1 – Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories 

Stand-up activity – “If You’re Happy and You Know It” action song from Wee Sing Children’s Songs and Fingerplays

Sit down activity – 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 #2 – Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman 

Book #3 – Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland, illustrated by Sonja Lamut

Closing – “Jump Up, Turn Around” action song from Moving Rhymes for Modern Times by Jim Gill 

 

 

 

Substitute Storytime - Preschool Storytime

When my coworker wasn’t feeling well, I stepped up to do her preschool storytime for her. 

Opening #1: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” from Songs forWiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

Opening #2: When Animals Get Up in the Morning (adaptation of a traditional song)

When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
When pigs get up in the morning,
They always say “Good Day!”
They say, "Oink! Oink! Oink! Oink!"
that is what they say.
They say, "Oink! Oink! Oink! Oink!"
that is what they say.

(Repeat with other animals I pulled out of a cloth bag.)

 

Literacy activity: Ice Cream Colors (color rhyme flannelboard found at Step By Step blog at https://www.stepbystepcc.com/foods/icecream.html)

We have ice cream, the best in town,
Let us begin with chocolate brown.

Now, let us scoop us some bubble-gum pink,
It is sweet and yummy, the best, some think.

Here is ice cream minty and green,
It is the creamiest I have ever seen.

Yellow ice cream is lemony and tart,
We like its taste from the very start.

Scoops of blueberry would make my day,
Look at all this ice cream, hip, hip hurray!

Red ice cream is a strawberry delight,
All these scoops are a heavenly sight.

Vanilla white is a popular flavor,
It tastes very good to an ice-cream craver.

Purple ice cream really gives me a kick,
Good and yummy till the very last lick.

Ice cream, ice cream, what a cool sensation,
We love ice cream in any combination!

 

  

Book #1: Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey

Stand-up activity: “I’m a Little Teapot” action song from This Little Piggy by Adam Stemple, et al

I'm a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout
"Tip me over and pour me out!"

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
Just tip me over and pour me out!

 

Sit-down activity: Alligator Pie (an action rhyme I found many years ago that I have seen on many websites)

Alligator, alligator, alligator pie, 
(Open and close arms like the jaws of an alligator)

If I don't get some, I think I'm gonna cry.
(Rub eyes like you are crying)

You can take away the grass,
(Point to the ground)

You can take away the sky,
(Point to the sky above)

But don't take away my alligator pie!
(Open and close arms like an alligator)

 

Book #2: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

Book #3: Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer

Closing music with scarves: “Popcorn Calling Me” action song from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner

Optional activity: Playing with blocks and dinosaurs

Body Parts: a Little Learners Storytime

 Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

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

 

 

Body parts literacy activity – Got a Booboo

I used this song (that I found on the internet many years ago) along with some Body Part Picture Cards that I found from SLPreschool.  First, I passed out one body part picture card to each storytime participant.  Then, I sang the song and inserted a different body part into the blank spot. When their body part was called, the children were invited to tape their body part picture to my flannelboard.  At the end, we counted how many body parts were on the board. 

Body parts: Eye, nose, mouth, ear, arm, hand, leg, foot, stomach.

Got a booboo, 
Got a booboo, 
Got a booboo on my _______________.
(insert body part)
Got a booboo,
Need a band aide.
Kiss it better for me!

          

  

Book #1 – Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy! by TimHarrington

Stand-up activity – “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (traditional action song)

Sit down activity - "Finger Poppin’” (fingerplay song from Action Songsfor Preschoolers by Georgiana Stewart)

Book #2 – Hello Toes! Hello Feet! By Ann Whitford Paul, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

 Book #3 – Whose Knees Are These? by Jabari Asim, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (board book)

 Closing – “Jump Up, Turn Around” from Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times by Jim Gill 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Preschool Storytime: Putting Things Together

 Here is a virtual preschool storytime I put together for a special group.

 

Opening - A Rum Sum-Sum Welcome to Storytime (action song written by Carol Hopkins to the theme of the traditional "Rum Sum-Sum" song)

(Start off by teaching sign language for “storytime”) 

A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum, 
(slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
 Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
 (fists over fists, then switch)
 Rum sum-sum.
 (slap legs, clap, clap) 

 Hello! Hello!
 (wave hands)
 I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
 (sign language for storytime) 

 A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
 (slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
 Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
 (fists over fists, then switch) 
Rum sum-sum.
 (slap legs, clap, clap) 

I’m stretching! I’m stretching!
 (stretch arms out to side)
 I’m glad you’re here at storytime. 
 (hug self then sign language for storytime) 

 A rum sum-sum, a rum sum-sum,
 (slap legs, clap, clap, slap legs, clap, clap)
 Gooli-gooli, gooli-gooli,
 (fists over fists, then switch)
 Rum sum-sum.
 (slap legs, clap, clap)  

Blow a kiss! Blow a kiss!
 (blow kisses)
 I’m glad you’re here at storytime.
 (sign language for storytime) 

Math literacy flannel board - Ice cream scoop patterns

Directions: Start a simple pattern on the flannel board using an ice cream cone triangle and circles for the ice cream scoops. Ask the children what the next color in the pattern should be. Do this with two patterns.

Transition rhyme - Tommy and Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

(Start off by showing two thumbs) 

Tommy Thumb up, Tommy
Thumb down,
Tommy Thumb dancing all around town. 

 Tammy Thumb out,
 Tammy Thumb in,
 Tammy Thumb dancing all in a spin. 

 Dance them, dance them everywhere.
 Dance them on your knees.
 Dance them on your shoulders.
 Dance them on your head.
 Then tuck them into bed.
 (tuck hands under armpits)

Book #1 - My Pop Pop and Me by Irene Smalls, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson 

Stand-up activity - I'm a Little Teapot (traditional action song)

I’m a little teapot short and stout.
 Here is my handle.
Here is my spout.
 When I get all steamed up,
 Hear me shout.
 Tip me over and pour me out! 

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.
 Tip me over and pour me out! 

Sit-down activity - Can You? (action chant adapted by Carol Hopkins from one I found at Roving Fiddlehead KidLit)

Can you stretch your neck like a tall, tall giraffe?
Can you hop like a frog?
Can you bark like a dog?
Can you slither like a snake? 
Can you fly like a parrot?
Can you wiggle your nose like a rabbit?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you stretch like a cat?
Can you sit like a kid at storytime?  

Book #2 - Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani 

Closing - Skinnamarink (action song with scarf)

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do, I love you!
Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do, I love you! 

I love you in the morning,
And in the afternoon
I love you in the evening,
Underneath the moon…

Skinnamarinky dinky dink
Skinnamarinky do, I love you! 

Art activity - Stacking ice cream cones

Directions: Grown-ups, please be sure to print out this make at home art activity. You will need scissors, glue, and coloring crayons/pencils/pens. There is one sheet with ice cream cones on it. There is another sheet with ice cream scoops on it. First, color the ice cream cones and the ice cream scoops. Next, cut out the ice cream scoops only. Then, glue the ice cream scoops stacked on top of the cones (show example). If you want to make this into a math activity, roll a 6-sided die. Let your child count the number of pips, or dots, that come up. Then glue on this number of ice cream scoops onto the page. 

Fire Safety Month Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

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

• Color and counting literacy activity - Firefighters in Their Color Coats  (adapted by Carol Hopkins from a rhyme I found at http://www.preschooleducation.com/sfire.shtml)

I used clip art images I found with firefighters in red, yellow, and black coats.  I then handed each child a firefighter image.  The children placed their firefighter on the board after I said their color in the rhyme.

Lots of little fire fighters sleeping in their beds. 
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" went the bell.
And out come the {red} coats.
They race to the fire and put out the flames.
Then the _____ (count the firefighters on the board) little firefighters went back to bed again.

(repeat for as many colored firefighter coats you have on hand, then move on to this last bit of rhyme.)

The morning has come,
The firefighters finally got some sleep.  
They are all ready now to start a brand new day!

          

  

  

• Book #1 - Flashing Fire Engines by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker 

• Stand-up activity - I'm a Little Firefighter (action song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" written by Carol Garnett Hopkins found in the book Artsy Toddler Storytimes)

I'm a little firefighter off I go
Here is my helmet
Here is my truck
When my clothes catch on fire I know what to do
I stop, drop, and roll to put the fire out

• Sit down activity - "Drive the Fire Truck" action song from Songs for Wiggleworms by Old Town School of Folk Music

• Book #2 - Fire Safety in Action by Mari Schuh 

• Book #3 - Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Andy Robert Davies

• Closing - Tambourines to the song "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)" from Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner 

• Art experience - Cut out fire engine shape, then glue it to a white paper, color the fire engine with metallic pens for details like wheels, also glue on a yellow rectangle for the ladder on the side. I found a wonderful fire engine shape at busybeekidscrafts.com.  

Rabbit Adventures Preschool Storytime

Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

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

• Color literacy activity - Little Bunnies In a Field of Clover (flannelboard rhyme written by Carol Hopkins)

{Blue} little bunnies hopping onto a field

Finding lots of yummy clover to eat

They eat and they eat until they are full

And they call for more bunnies to join the fun

{Yellow} little bunnies hopping onto a field

Finding lots of yummy clover to eat

They eat and they eat until they are full

And they call for more bunnies to join the fun

(repeat as many times as you wish)

  

  

• Book #1 - Scuba Bunnies by Christine Loomis, illustrated by Ora Eitan

• Stand-up activity - "Little Rabbit Foo Foo" from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck (Kimbo)

• Sit down activity - Here's a Bunny (fingerplay)

Here's a bunny with ears so funny
(bend two fingers over thumb)
Here is his hole in the ground
(make hole with other arm at side of body)
When a noise he hears
(clap hands)
He pricks up his ears
(straighten fingers)
And jumps in his hole in the ground
(bunny ears jump into hole at side of body)

• Book #2 - Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

• Book #3 - What Does Bunny See? by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Maggie Smith

• 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 - Paper plate rabbit faces

1 paper plate for face

1 paper plate cut in half for the two ears

2 googly eyes

1 button for the nose

scrape paper to cut up for the whiskers

scissors

white glue

staplers (for attaching the ears to the face)

crayons