Preschool field trips return!

 After an absence of two years, the opportunity to conduct preschool field trips at my library presented itself.  I worked with one of the local preschools to create a socially distant field trip experience inside the library building.  

The group sizes were smaller, we couldn't go into the staff area, and masks were worn.  Otherwise, I was still able to show these three, four, and five year olds fun things about the library.  We ended each field trip with two book readings and a chance to play in the children's area.  

I found these two cow books in my cubicle as I was preparing for the field trips.  So I went with a cow theme for my storybook readings.  

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall

Crash, Splash, or Moo! by Bob Shea

In order to fit in all of the classes at this particular preschool it took dividing the classes into 12 different groups.  I think it was a very positive experience for everyone involved.  

Sing-a-Song Storytime: Biscuit's Valentine's Day

   With the pandemic closing the library and all large gatherings last year, my library offered virtual storytimes.  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 video 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 - Valentine's Day Is Here to Stay (action song to the tune of "Jingle Bells" written by Carol Hopkins)

Hug a friend, hug a friend, hug a friend today

Valentine's Day is here to stay

Let's celebrate all day!

Blow a kiss, blow a kiss, blow a kiss today

Valentin'es Day is here to stay

Let's celebrate all day!

(repeat with more actions)

Transition sit down song - 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 music CD The Baby Record by Bob McGrath)

Come a'look a'see,
Here's my mama, (point to thumb)
Come a'look a'see,
Here's my papa, (point to index finger)
Come a'look a'see,
My brother tall, (point to tall finger)
Sister, baby, (point to ring, then baby finger) 
I love them all. (kiss the fingertips of your finger family) 

 

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

 

Action song - I Have a Little Heart (action chant I picked up someplace, I have seen different adaptations of it in many places)

I have a little heart
(hand over heart)
And it goes thump, thump, thump
(pat chest with fingers)
It keeps right on beating when I jump, jump, jump
(jump)
I get a special felling when I look at you
(point to children)
It makes me want to blow a kiss or two
(blow kisses)

Action song - Hi Ho a Valentine (action song to the tune of "The Farmer In the Dell" written by Carol Hopkins)

A walking we will go,
A walking we will go,
Hi ho a Valentine,
A walking we will go.

A jumping we will go...

A running we will go...

A stomping we will go...

A sitting we will go...

Closing song - Down By the Bay (traditional rhyming camp song)

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say
"Did you ever you ever see a goose kissing a moose?"
Down by the bay!

..."Did you ever see a whale with a polka dot tail?"...

..."Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?"...

..."Did you ever see a fairy inside a library?"... 

Miss Carol's Favorite Book Finds of 2021

 Every year I spend the last few weeks of the year compiling my favorite book finds of the year.  They are not always new books.  Just books I discovered for the first time and really, really liked.  The pandemic along with the lack of a in-person storytimes, made for a sporadic book reading year.  

PICTURE BOOKS: 

The Three Billy Goats Buenos by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez
A rhyming twist on the classic tale in which the goats help fix what is making the troll so grumpy in order to cross the bridge.

Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson
Kai, a merboy, loves to share hugs with his mother, but learns that some friends prefer fin bumps, tail claps, tentacle shakes, or claw pinches.

One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read
An illustrated counting book in which one famished fox finds five snug eggs but must face three plump hens to get them.

NON-FICTION BOOKS:

 

Facts Vs. Opinions Vs. Robots by Michael Rex
Robots try to figure out the difference between facts and opinions.

Seeds by Carme Lemniscates
Seeds harbor immense potential. They defy their size by sprouting and growing into plants. And these plants develop beautiful flowers and delicious fruits and vegetables. Even in the most unlikely environments, seeds manage to thrive. Like seeds, we can cultivate and nurture something wonderful. There is much we can learn from seeds. 

December Daycare Stories

This month, I had the privilege to visit my favorite daycare center to read stories.  I was surprised by how many of the older preschool students remembered the books I read to them 2 months ago!

In the toddler room (ages 2.5 to 3.5 years old):

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:

Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda (pop-up)

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton (lift-flaps, moving pieces)

Do Sharks Bark? by Salina Yoon (lift-flaps)

What Can Rabbit Hear? by Lucy Cousins (lift-flaps)

Where is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz (board book)

Wrapping Paper Romp by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas (board book)

In the Tracker room (ages 3.5 to 4.5 years old):

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton (lift-flaps, moving pieces)

Grandma's Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

There's an Alien in Your Book by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott

In the Pre-K room:

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda (pop-up)

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet, photography by Brian Stanton (lift-flaps, moving pieces)

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Linda Davick

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. 

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)