Magic 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 – The Magic Rabbit by Richard Jesse Watson
• Stand-up Activity -I Saw a Little Rabbit (action rhyme)

I saw a little rabbit go hop, hop, hop
(jump)
I saw his ears go flop, flop, flop
(flop hands on head)
I saw his eyes go blink, blink, blink
(point to eyes and blink)
I saw his nose go twink, twink, twink
(wiggle nose)
I said, "Little rabbit, won't you stay?"
(beckon with hand)
He looked at me and hopped away
(jump)

• 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 - Five Magic Rabbits (counting backwards rhyme, I first found at the Harris County Public Library website, but have since seen on several other websites)

Five magic rabbits in a tall black hat.
Along comes a magician who gives each a pat.
She waves her magic wand high above their ears,
Abracadabra, poof!
One rabbit disappears.
(count down to zero)

• Sit-down Activity - This Is the Boat, the Magic Boat (fingerplay, I first heard this at a workshop by Jane Cobb)

This is the boat, the golden boat,
(Cup hands together palms down)
That sails on the silvery sea,
(Undulate hands like waves)
And these are the oars, the ivory oars,
(Interlace fingers with thumbs sticking out to the sides)
That lift and dip, that lift and dip.
(Lower and raise fingers)
And here are the ten little Ferrymen
(Show 10 fingers up high)
Running along, running along,
(Make fingers run)
To take the oars, the ivory oars
(Interlace fingers with thumbs sticking out to the sides)
That lift and dip, that lift and dip,
(Lower and raise fingers)
That move the boat, the golden boat,
(Move cupped hands gently back & forth)
Over the silvery sea.
(Undulate hands like waves)

• Book #2 - The Magic Hat by Mem Fox, illustrated by Tricia Tusa
• Activity – Suzy Had a Little Hat (action song to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" written by Carol Hopkins)

Suzy had a little hat, little hat, little hat
(hold hands together in the shape of a hat)
Suzy had a little hat, she wore right up here!
(put hat on top of head)

Suzy went jump, jump, jump,
Jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump,
Suzy went jump, jump, jump,
With her hat right up here!

Suzy went running...
Suzy went spinning...
Suzy went bend her knees...
Suzy went sitting...

• Closing - Goin' On a Bear Hunt (rhythm stick song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve)
• Craft – Decorate white felt in the shape of a hat with color pens

Magic Storytime - Preschool

Preschool storytime for 3 to 5 year olds:

• Opening – Do Your Ears Hang Low? (action song from Six Little Ducks by Kimbo)
  
• Alphabet activity - Letters in the hat
  
• Book #1 - Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (this book was a tad too long, even after I shortened it)
  
• Activity - A Walking We Will Go (action song to the tune of "Farmer In the Dell")

A walking we will go
A walking we will go
Hi ho the derry oh
A walking we will go
(repeat with more action words, such as jumping, running, stomping, etc.)

• Book #2 -My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
• Book #3 -Snappy Little Fairy Tales by Beth Harwood, illustrated by Derek Matthews
  
• Activity – Fairies In the Yard (action song to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus")

The fairies in the yard are twirling around, twirling around, twirling around,
The fairies in the yard are twirling around, all around the yard.
(repeat with more action words, such as flying, jumping, running, etc.)

• Closing – Round of Applause (action rhyme adapted from one told by Rob Reid)
• Craft - Decorate a rock to be a "magic pebble" with cloth pens and Sharpies

Bears 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 – My Bear and Me by Barbara Maitland, pictures by Lisa Flather
• Stand-up Activity - Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (action chant)

Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground
Teddy bear, teddy bear dance on your toes
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch your nose
Teddy bear, teddy bear reach up high
Teddy bear, teddy bear jump to the sky
Teddy bear, teddy bear find your feet
Teddy bear, teddy bear find your seat

• 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 - All Types of Bears written by Carol Hopkins (to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb")

Grizzly bears are big and brown.
Big and brown, big and brown.
Grizzly bears are big and brown.
And live in the woods.

Polar bears are soft and white.
Soft and white, soft and white.
Polar bears are soft and white.
And live where it is cold.

Panda bears are black and white,
Black and white, black and white
Panda bears are black and white.
And live with bamboo.

Koala bears have great big ears,
Great big ears, great big ears,
Koala bears have great big ears,
And live high in a tree.

Teddy bears are just my size.
Just my size, just my size.
Teddy bears are just my size.
To cuddle with at night.

• Sit-down Activity -Bears Eat Honey (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

A bear,
(sign language for "bear")
Eats honey.
(pretend to eat)
He thinks it's yummy in his tummy.
(rub tummy)
But the bees don't think it's funny!
(put fingers of hands to together for the bee)
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

• Book #2 - Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., pictures by Eric Carle
• Activity – Great Big Bear (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

The great big bear,
(sing language for bear)
Gives a warning with a soft little growl.
(growl)
Waves its paws in the air.
(move hands like claws)
Shakes its great big head
(shake head)
Rubs its furry little ears
(rub ears)
Gives a great big roar
(loud roar)
Then goes to sleep in its lair.
(hands to side of face for sleep)

• Closing - Goin' On a Bear Hunt (rhythm stick song from Kids In Action by Greg & Steve)
• Craft – Decorate teddy bear stick puppet

Ladybug Release Party

Help spread ladybugs in the park, and make ladybugs to take home. A library program for children ages 4 to 12 years old.

Children listened to stories about ladybugs then went outside to the park to release a bag full of ladybugs. It was fun watching the children squeal with delight and fright as the ladybugs landed on them.

After the ladybug release, the children came back inside to work on two craft projects:

LADYBUG PET ROCK -
1. Choose a special rock.
2. Using the pens or paint provided, color your rock red.
3. Using a pen or paint, add a black head an dots.
4. Now take very good care of your new pet rock!

PAPER PLATE LADYBUG PUPPET -
1. Staple or tape two red paper plates together (put the eating surfaces of the plates on the inside facing each other). Be sure to leave one end of the ladybug open to put your hand in the puppet!
2. Cut off the rim of the plates where they were not staples or taped - this is where you will put your hand to move the puppet.
3. Using black paper, cut out six legs. Attach the legs to the ladybug.
4. Using black paper, cut out a head. Glue the head to the ladybug.
5. Use the colored paper to give your ladybug eyes.
6. Use the black pens or black paper to give your ladybug spots.
7. Now you have a great ladybug puppet!

The Bees Are A Buzzin'

A library program for children ages 4 to 12 years old.

A member of a local honey bee keeper group talked for 20 minutes about working with bees and gathering honey. Then we broke into stations:

Station #1 - Bee keeper equipment
Children got to look at and touch the equipment that the bee keeper brought.

Station #2 - Wind flying honeybee
(a) Draw stripes onto the yellow paper plate body.
(b) Cut out the head using the yellow paper. Decorate the head with button eyes and pipe-cleaner antennae. Glue or tape the head to the body.
(c) Cut out two wings using the tissue paper. Glue or tape the wings to the body.
(d) Glue or tape a black crepe paper stinger to the body.
(e) Use the hole puncher once on the paper plate body. Use yarn to create a loop to hang your honeybee. Now let it dance in the wind!

Station #3 - Fingerprint bumblebees
(a) Stamp your thumb in the yellow paint.
(b) Press your thumb onto the paper to make the bee's body.
(c) Stamp your pinkie finger into the black paint.
(d) Press your pinkie onto the tip of the yellow body to make a head.
(e) Stamp your index finger into the black paint.
(f) Press your index finger twice next to the yellow body to make 2 wings.
(g) Help the paint dry by gently blowing on the bee. When the paint is dry, use the Sharpie pens to draw in stripes and a stinger.

Station #4 - Design your own honeycomb
Use the pattern blocks to create your honeycomb design.

Mothers 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 Steven Kellogg (big book)
• Stand-up Activity - If You're Happy and You Know It (action song from Songs for Wiggleworms)
• 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 Ducks (counting backwards song)
• Sit-down Activity - Come A' Look A' See (fingerplay song I first picked up at a workshop conducted by Jane Cobb but can also be found on the cd The Baby Redord by Bob McGrath)
• Book #2 - My Mom Is Fantastic by Nick Butterworth
• 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 loud as loud can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your mother.
Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet
As hard as hard can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your mother.
Jump, jump, jump your feet
As high as high can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your mother.
Roll, roll, roll your hands
As fast as fast can be.
Do it now, let me see,
Do it for your mother.

• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Make paper strip daisy flowers

Rabbits 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 – What Can Rabbit See? by Lucy Cousins (lift-flap)
• Stand-up Activity - I Saw a Little Rabbit (action rhyme)

I saw a little rabbit go hop, hop, hop
(jump)
I saw his ears go flop, flop, flop
(flop hands on head)
I saw his eyes go blink, blink, blink
(point to eyes and blink)
I saw his nose go twink, twink, twink
(wiggle nose)
I said, "Little rabbit, won't you stay?"
(beckon with hand)
He looked at me and hopped away
(jump)

• 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 -This Little Bunny (I'm not sure which website I found this rhyme on)

This little bunny has two pink eyes.
This little bunny is very wise.
This little bunny is soft as silk.
This little bunny is white as milk.
This little bunny nibbles away at cabbages and carrots the livelong day!

• 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 - Peekaboo, Blueberry! by Barney Saltzberg (lift-flap)
• Activity – See the Birdie Flying (sign language song from Pick Me Up! by Sign2Me)
• Closing - Popcorn Calling Me (scarf song found in Buzz Buzz by Laurie Berkner)
• Craft – Decorate rabbit ear headbands