Monday, August 4, 2025

Storytime at Summer Day Camp, Week 1

 My weekly storytime at a local summer camp for 5- and 6-year-olds.  It is a short storytime with a simple art project, but sometimes when it is hot outside that is about all the children need.  


 


Books:

The Monster Mac and Cheese Party by Todd Parr
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex 



Craft activity:

Mac and cheese straw launchers - I copied some mac and cheese drawings from the book onto a paper.  Color the mac and cheese bowls.  Then fold the paper over, tape the sides, and slide a straw inside the simple envelope.  A puff of air into the straw will launch the mac and cheese into the air.  







Friday, August 1, 2025

Summer Reading presentations, 2025 edition


This year was a little light on elementary school summer reading presentations.  But that is alright by me because my summer looks very busy!  I tried out a new book with the kindergarten classes and they loved it.  Seriously, you should not trust fish...


  


Charlie Chick: A Pop-up Book by Nich Denchfield and Ant Parker

This Book Is Magic by Ashley Evanson 

Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat




Sunday, July 6, 2025

Boats Float - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book: Boats Float by Rebecca Glaser (board book)  

Themed activity: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” action song from Songs for Wiggleworms

Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Gregory Griggs (lap bounce rhyme I first saw as a Jbrary video at https://youtu.be/ntrcaKL_esA?si=twwqYr0wAanW2hrJ)

Gregory Griggs, Gregory Griggs,
Had 27 different wigs. 
He wore them up. (lift baby up)
He wore them down. (bring baby back down)
To please the people of the town.
He wore them east. (tip baby to one side)
He wore them west. (tip baby to the other side)
But which one did he love the best?
This one! (hug or tickle baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

***Literacy tip: Use multiple senses when counting objects for a bigger impact.  Whenever you are counting, reinforce the numbers by tapping on your child’s shoulder, leg, or arm.          

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

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.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

 

Letter of the day: "F” is for float

 

 

Flannelboard: This Little Boat Went (ordinal number chant I found at Anne’s Library Life blog at https://anneslibrarylife.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/boats/)

The first little boat went chug, chug, chug.
The second little boat went tug, tug, tug.
The third little boat went row, row, row.
The fourth little boat went oh sooo slooooow.
Here comes the sailboat, watch it go!

 

Closing song with scarves: “The Ponies Are Walking” from Baby’s Boat: The Best of Kathy Reid Naiman   



 

 

 

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Passive Craft Table: Decorate a Butterfly



For this passive program, I wanted to set up a craft table on a no school day.  I found these wood butterflies online at Baker Ross.  They were a little difficult to put together so that they stay together, but the children did not seem to mind.        

Supplies:

-         Wood butterfly craft kits

-         Coloring pens

-         White glue

-         Gem stickers

-         Googly eyes

-         Tablecloth






Saturday, June 28, 2025

Hedgehog Party #2

Our Hedgehog Party last year was so successful, we did it again!



Station #1 - Pet expert

A coworker found this hedgehog pet expert while working at a community event.  She works with a Hedgehog Rescue group to help pet hedgehogs that were not well cared for or kept illegally.  The pet expert brought in couple of her pets to show off.  There was no touching of these hedgehogs as they are very shy and can become sick easily.  The pet expert patiently answered all questions that came her way.  She was fabulous!




Station #2 - Craft table

I found a hedgehog craft kit online.  I added a gem stickers and glitter glue to what came in the kit.  Participants made some very creative hedgehogs.  


 


Station #3 - Games

I created a spikey ball toss game: I got a portable bean bag toss game, and switched out the bean bags for plastic spikey balls.

I also bought a children's board game where you place the spikes on the hedgehog after rolling a pair of dice.  



Station #4 - Scavenger hunt

One of my coworkers creates a scavenger hunt for the children every month.  This month, she created a hedgehog themed scavenger hunt to go along with my party theme.  The reward for finishing the hunt was a hedgehog sticker.



Station #5 - Building

I set out straw connector toys and a sign suggesting that participants create prototype hedgehog cages.  And they did!!!



Station #6 - Education boards

I set out two poster boards with information about hedgehogs.  One board listed what hedgehogs eat in the wild and as pets.  The other board was a map showing where hedgehogs can be found in the wild.  








Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Small Critters - Baby Toddler Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-2 years old.  

Opening #1: Skinnamarink (action song from Car Songs: Songs to Sing Anywhere by Dennis Buck from Kimbo)

Opening #2: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum (fingerplay)

Sticky, sticky bubblegum, bubblegum, bubblegum; 
Sticky, sticky bubblegum;
Stuck to your __________.
1, 2, 3, PULL!

(Repeat with more body parts)

 

 

Book: Maisy Goes on a Nature Walk by Lucy Cousins  

Themed activity #1: Two Moths (fingerplay written by Carol Hopkins)

I see two moths flying toward the light
They fly around in circles
Sometimes they fly fast
Sometimes they fly slow
But never do they touch that light as they fly out of sight

 

Themed activity #2: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” traditional fingerplay

The itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout. Down came the rain, and washed the spider out. Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain, and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

The great big hairy spider crawled up the water spout. Down came the rain, and washed the spider out. Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain, and the great big hairy spider went up the spout again.


Lap rhyme #1: Tick Tock (lap bounce)

(bounce baby from leg to leg)

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock, now it is one o’clock… Cuckoo!
(raise baby up for each cuckoo)

(repeat for other times of day)
Now it is two o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Now it is three o’clock… Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 

Lap rhyme #2: Counting Bubbles (counting rhyme I learned during a BrainDance workshop)

One bubble, two bubbles, three bubbles, top.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then place hands on top of head)

Three bubbles, four bubbles, five bubbles, drop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then drop hands to lap)

Six bubbles, seven bubbles, nine bubbles, pop.
(pat legs with hands for each number chanted, then clap hands loudly in front of body)

Ten little bubbles floating down!
(twinkle hands down to floor)

Now let’s blow _____ bubbles.
(This is a breath exercise.  Pick a number and pretend to blow that number of bubbles through hand.  Don’t forget to pop the bubbles with a loud clap after blowing it up.  I count the bubble while I do the clap.) 

 

Lap rhyme #3: Gregory Griggs (lap bounce rhyme I first saw as a Jbrary video at https://youtu.be/ntrcaKL_esA?si=twwqYr0wAanW2hrJ)

Gregory Griggs, Gregory Griggs,
Had 27 different wigs. 
He wore them up. (lift baby up)
He wore them down. (bring baby back down)
To please the people of the town.
He wore them east. (tip baby to one side)
He wore them west. (tip baby to the other side)
But which one did he love the best?
This one! (hug or tickle baby)

 

Lap rhyme #4: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (traditional body parts action song)

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes and, ears and, mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

   

***Literacy tip: Repeat, repeat, repeat!  Children learn through repetition because it give them many chances to “figure things out”.        

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

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.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

 

Letter of the day: "B” is for bugs

 

 

Flannelboard: Bugs In a Rug (an ordinal order rhyme I adapted from a rhyme I found in Mailbox Preschool magazine, August/September 2007, page 6)

A bunch of little bugs sitting on a rug
First is the bee.  Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Second is the firefly.  Blink, blink, blink! 
Third is the ant.  Work, work, work!
Fourth is the grasshopper.  Hop, hop, hop!
Fifth is the butterfly.  Flap, flap, flap!
Now we have
(count the bugs)
Five bugs sitting all snug,
All rolled up in a rug!  

 

Closing song with scarves: “The Ponies Are Walking” from Baby’s Boat: The Best of Kathy Reid Naiman   



 

 

 

 

Friday, June 20, 2025

Bugs Go Marching - Family Storytime

A Tuesday morning storytime for ages 0-6 years old.  

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

Opening #2: Roly Poly Oh So Fast (hand rolling body part chant adapted by Carol Hopkins)

Roly poly, roly poly, oh so fast!
Roly poly, roly poly, oh so slowly.
Roly poly, roly poly, up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down.
Roly poly, roly poly, hands on your head.
Roly poly, roly poly, hand on your feet.

(Repeat with other body parts)

Roly poly, roly poly, hands in your lap.

 

 

Literacy activity flannelboard: “The Ants Go Marching” (traditional children’s counting song)

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three,
The little one stops to climb a tree
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four,
The little one stops to shut the door
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

 

  


Book #1: In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming (BIG BOOK)

Stand-up activity: "Baby Bumblebee" from Toddler Action Songs by Cedarmont Kids 

 Activity: “Itsy Bitsy Spider” traditional fingerplay

Transition: Tommy & Tammy Thumb (fingerplay)

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.

Dancing, dancing, dancing,
Dance them on your knees,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your shoulders,
Then tuck them into bed.

  

***Parent literacy tip:  Repeat, repeat, repeat!  Children learn through repetition because it gives them many chances to “figure things out”.       

Book #2: Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel  

Book #3: Butterfly, Butterfly: A Book ofColors by Petr Horáček (pop-up)

Closing music with bean bags: “Rocketship Run” from Rocketship Run by The Laurie Berkner Band  

  



Art activity: Bingo dabber markers and dot stickers on caterpillar cut outs

Optional other books:
Hustle Bustle Bugs by Catherine Bailey, illustrated by Lauren Eldridge
The Very Lazy Ladybug by Isobel Finn, illustrated by Jack Tickle