Storytime - My Body

Toddler

Books: Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and My Octopus Arms by Keith Baker

Songs / Rhymes: “Good Morning”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “Head and Shoulders”, “Open, Shut Them”, “Hi, My Name is Joe”, “I Wiggle My Fingers”, and “The More We Get Together”.

Craft: Xylophones. Materials: printout of the letter X, construction paper rectangles in red, yellow, orange, and blue, crayons, glue, and tape. The toddlers glued and taped their rectangles to their papers to make a xylophone. *I was trying to stick with an X theme, but when I couldn't find enough material for toddlers, I went with My Body. It was too late to change the craft, though. The idea came from The Measured Mom.

Preschool

Books: Here are My Hands by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Songs / Rhymes: “Welcome to the Library”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “Head and Shoulders”, “Open, Shut Them”, “Johnny Hammers One Hammer”, “Them Bones”, and “The More We Get Together”.

Special Activity: I explained to the group that under our skin we have bones. I used the overhead projector to show the preschoolers x-rays of body parts and the preschoolers tried to guess what part they were looking at. I used hand, foot, knee, shoulder, and chest x-rays taken by my husband when he was still in radiology tech school (don't worry, they're not of real people).

Craft: X-rays. Materials: black construction paper, cotton swabs, white construction paper crayons, tape, scissors, and glue. The preschoolers traced their hands and feet to the paper using the special crayon. When they were done, they filled in the outline with cotton swabs to make their very own x-rays! The idea came from Inspired Montessori.

Songs/Rhymes

Head and Shoulders

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,

Knees and toes

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,

Knees and toes

Eyes and ears and mouth and nose

Head and shoulders, knees and toes

Knees and toes!

-- Traditional

Hi, My Name is Joe

Hi, my name is Joe.

I work in a button factory.

One day, my boss comes up to me and says,

“Hey Joe, are you busy?”

I said, “No.”

“Then turn the button with your right hand.”

Continue with:

Left hand, feet, head, whole body

--Traditional

Johnny Hammers One Hammer

--Lapsit Services for the Very Young II by Linda L. Ernst. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc, 2001.

Move Them Bones

Your toe bone’s connected to your foot bone.

Your foot bone’s connected to your ankle bone.

Your ankle bone’s connected to your leg bone.

Let’s shake those bones, those bones.

Your leg’s connected to your knee bone.

Your knee bone’s connected to your hip bone.

Your hip bone’s connected to your back bone.

Let’s shake those bones, those bones.

Your back bone’s connected to your shoulder bone.

Your shoulder bone’s connected to your neck bone.

Your neck bone’s connected to your head bone.

Let’s shake those bones, those bones.

--Sticky Kids

Wee Read - Fly Away, Birdie!

Early Literacy Tip of the Week:

Using simple signs will help your baby express what she feels and will lead to less frustration. As she ages, she will abandon signs once she’s learned how to say the words.

Good Morning

Hello, How are You?

Good Morning, Mrs. Perky Bird (with crow puppet)

--Mother Goose on the Loose by Betsy Diamant-Cohen. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2006.

Open Shut Them

Book One

Have You Seen My Cat by Eric Carle

Three Crows

Three crows,

Sat upon a wall,

Sat upon a wall,

Sat upon a wall.

Three crows,

Sat upon a wall,

On a cold and frosty morning.

--via Library Quine

Two Little Blue Birds

Two little blue birds sitting on a hill.

One named Jack, the other named Jill.

Fly away Jack, fly away Jill.

Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Pretty Bird

--Babies in the Library by Jane Marino. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 2003.

I Wiggle My Fingers

Book Two

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Blue Bird, Blue Bird

Blue bird, blue bird

On my window,

Blue bird, blue bird

On my window.

Blue bird, blue bird

On my window,

Oh, Mommy, I’m tired.

--Jim Thomas

I’m a Little Cuckoo Clock!

Rock babies gently back and forth on your lap as you say the verse. Then lift them up in the air for each “Cuckoo!”

Tick tock, tick tock

I’m a little cuckoo clock

Tick tock, tick tock

It’s one o’clock!

CUCKOO!

Tick tock, tick tock

I’m a little cuckoo clock

Tick tock, tick tock

It’s two o’clock!

CUCKOO! CUCKOO!

--Mel’s Desk

Read Together

Baby Says Peekaboo by Dawn Sirett

The More We Get Together

Storytime - Eric Carle Day

Toddler

Books: From Head to Toe and Little Cloud by Eric Carle

Songs / Rhymes: “Good Morning”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “Open, Shut Them”, “Johnny Hammers One Hammer”, “Who’s That Knocking at My Door?” game on the felt board, “I Wiggle My Fingers”, and “The More We Get Together”.

Craft: Tissue Paper Collages. Materials: tissue paper squares, dark blue construction paper, and glue. The toddlers collaborated with each other to make a collage in the style of Eric Carle. When they were finished, I used their creations as artwork in the meeting room.

Preschool

Books: My Apron; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (written by Bill Martin, Jr.) on the felt board; and The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. All written and/or illustrated by Eric Carle. The felt board template came from Kiz Club.

Songs / Rhymes: “Welcome to the Library”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, “Open, Shut Them”, “Johnny Hammers One Hammer”, and “The More We Get Together”.

Special Note: Many of the children already knew the words to Brown Bear, Brown Bear. I explained to the caregivers that even though it can be tiresome to read the same book repeatedly, repetition can be extremely helpful to children. It creates pathways in their brains that will help them read on their own when the time comes.

Craft: Tissue Paper Collages. Materials: tissue paper squares, dark blue construction paper, and glue. The preschoolers collaborated with each other to make a collage in the style of Eric Carle. When they were finished, I used their creations as artwork in the meeting room.

Songs/Rhymes

Johnny Hammers One Hammer

--Lapsit Services for the Very Young II by Linda L. Ernst. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc, 2001.

Who’s That Knocking? Felt board

Who’s that knocking at my door?

make knocking motion

Who’s that knocking at my door?

Let’s guess who is out there!

KNOCK, KNOCK!

clap in rhythm

WHO’S THERE?

MEOW!

MEOW WHO ?

IT’S A CAT!

(Repeat with other animals, singing the song between the chants and prompting children for the answer to the riddle.)

--Children’s Programming Monthly v. 1 no. 12 pg. 27 by Judy Nichols

Wee Read - Autumn Once Again

Early Literacy Tip of the Week:

Reading the same book repeatedly to your baby will help develop strong memories. As a result your baby will be able to decode words faster when he’s ready to read. --KT Paxton

Good Morning

Hello, How are You?

Roll Roll Sugarbabies

Roll, roll sugarbabies (arms roll)

Roll, roll sugarbabies.

Push, pull,

Clap, clap, clap!

--Rain Makes Applesauce

Open Shut Them

Book One

Who Loves the Fall? by Bob Raczka

Way Up High in the Apple Tree

--Lapsit Services for the Very Young II by Linda L. Ernst. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc, 2001.

Little Leaves

Sung to: "London Bridge"

--Babies in the Library by Jane Marino. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 2003.

The Leaves are Falling Down

Sung to: "The Farmer in the Dell"

The leaves are falling down

The leaves are falling down

Red, yellow, green, and brown

The leaves are falling down

--PreschoolEducation

I Wiggle My Fingers

Book Two

Baby Loves Fall! by Karen Katz

Tall as a Tree

--I’m a Little Teapot: Presenting Preschool Storytime by Jane Cobb. Vancouver, BC: Black Sheep Press, 1996.

Criss Cross Applesauce

--from Lapsit Services for the Very Young by Linda L. Ernst. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc, 2001.

Read Together

Rokko by Paola Opal

The More We Get Together

Storytime - Dragons

Toddlers

Books: Waking Dragons by Jane Yolen and Who Wants a Dragon? by James Mayhew.

Songs / Rhymes: “Good Morning”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “Open, Shut Them”, “If You’re a Dragon and You Know It”, “Three Little Knights” on the felt board, “I Wiggle My Fingers”, “and “The More We Get Together”.

Craft: Crowns. Materials: die cut construction paper crowns, foam shapes, yarn, crayons, glue, and tape. The toddlers glued the shapes to their crowns. Their caregivers used the yarn to fit the crowns to the toddlers’ heads.

Preschool

Books: Me and My Dragon by David Biedrzycki and The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann (If I had to do this storytime again, I wouldn't pick The Pet Dragon. It didn't have quite the appeal factor my kids needed to pay attention.)

Songs / Rhymes: “Welcome to the Library”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “Head and Shoulders”, “Open, Shut Them”, “If You’re a Dragon and You Know It”, “Three Little Knights” on the felt board, “I Wiggle My Fingers”, and “The More We Get Together”.

Craft: Crowns. Materials: die cut construction paper crowns, jewel stickers, yarn, crayons, glue, and tape. The preschoolers stuck their jewels to the crowns. Their caregivers used the yarn to fit the crowns to the preschoolers’ heads.

Songs/Rhymes

If You’re a Dragon and You Know It

Sung to: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you’re a dragon and you know it,

Show your claws.

If you’re a dragon and you know it,

Show your claws.

If you’re a dragon and you know it,

And you really want to show it,

If you’re a dragon and you know it,

Show your claws.

--Miss Mollie

Three Knights in Shining Armor

Three knights in shining armor,

Fearless and brave,

Went dragon hunting

Deep in a cave.

The dragon started breathing fire,

The knights’ knees were all aquiver,

And one little knight

Took off running for the river!

...

One little knight in shining armor….

So the last little knight

Took off running for the river!

--JPL

*I did this rhyme using the felt board. I used this dragon and this knight.

Wee Read - Woof Woof!

Early Literacy Tip of the Week:

Babies love books with pictures of other babies, with textures, or with animal sounds!

Good Morning

Hello, How are You?

Do Your Ears Hang Low

Do your ears hang low?

Do they wobble to and fro?

Can you tie them in a knot?

Can you tie them in a bow?

Can you throw them over your shoulder like a Continental soldier?

Do your ears hang low?

--Traditional

Open Shut Them

Book One

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

How much is that doggie in the window?

The one with the waggly tail?

How much is that doggie in the window?

I do hope that doggie’s for sale.

--Traditional

Where is Puppy?

Sung to: "Where is Thumbkin"

Where is puppy?

Where is puppy?

Here I am.

(reveal stuffed puppy)

Here I am.

How are you today sir?

Very well I thank you.

Run Away.

(hide Puppy behind you)

Run Away.

--HCPL

If You’re a Doggie and You Know It

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

Say, “Woof, woof”.

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

Say, “Woof, woof”.

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

And you really want to show it,

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

Say, “Woof, woof”.

Repeat with give a lick, scratch your ears.

--Miss Mollie

I Wiggle My Fingers

Book Two

Eli, No! by Katie Kirk

After My Bath

After my bath…I try, try, try

To rub myself till I’m dry, dry, dry (pretend to rub body with a towel)

Hands to dry and fingers and toes (point to body parts)

Two wet legs and one shiny nose (point to body parts)

Just think how much less time it would take

If I were a dog and could shake, shake, shake! (shake whole body)

--SurLaLune Storytime

This is the Way We Bounce

This is the way we

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

This is the way we bounce, bounce, bounce

Early in the morning.  Wheeee!

--Manly Library

Read Together

Puppy Love illustrated by Patti Jennings

The More We Get Together

Storytime - It's My Favorite!

Toddler

Books: Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea

Songs / Rhymes: “Good Morning”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “The Hokey Pokey”, “Open, Shut Them”, “Five Little Monkeys Swinging from a Tree” on the felt board, “Come Under My Umbrella” with parachute, “Ring Around the Rosie” with parachute, “London Bridge” with parachute, “Row Boat, Row Boat” with parachute, and “The More We Get Together”.

Craft: There was no craft today. The toddlers played with the parachute instead.

Preschool

Books: That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems and Crankenstein by Samantha Berger

Songs / Rhymes: “Welcome to the Library”, “Hello, How Are You?”, “The Hokey Pokey”, “Open, Shut Them”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, and “The More We Get Together”.

Craft: There was no craft today. The preschoolers helped make a rain circle instead.

Special Activities: The preschoolers helped me make a rain circle to celebrate the rainstorms outside. They stood in a circle around me, and copied the actions I made when I turned to them. They snapped their fingers, rubbed their hands together, tapped their legs, clapped their hands, and stomped their feet. When it was all put together, they sounded just like a rainstorm!

Songs/Rhymes

The Hokey Pokey

You put one arm in,

You take one arm out.

You put one arm in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about!

Substitute different body parts. For more advanced children, use left and right.

--Traditional

Five Little Monkeys Swinging From a Tree

Five little monkeys swinging from a tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me!”

When along comes Mr. Crocodile annnnd SNAP!

-- Traditional

Come Under My Umbrella

with parachute

Come under my umbrella,

Umbrella, umbrella.

Gently wave the parachute up and down.

Come under my umbrella,

It’s starting to storm.

Move parachute faster.

There’s thunder and lightning

And wind and rain.

Come under my umbrella,

It’s starting to storm.

--MCLS Kids

Ring Around the Rosie

with parachute

Ring around the rosie

A pocket full of posie

Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!

--Traditional

London Bridge

with parachute

London Bridge is falling down.

Falling down, falling down.

London Bridge is falling down,

My fair lady.

--Traditional

Row Boat, Row Boat

Row boat, row boat go so slow (wave the chute slowly).

Row boat, row boat go so fast (shake the chute fast).

Row boat, row boat the waves are getting worse (shake fast again).

Row boat, row boat put it in reverse (stop the chute by pulling towards you).

--Read, Sing, Play

If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it,

Clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it,

Clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it,

And you really want to show it,

If you’re happy and you know it,

Clap your hands.

Repeat with stomp your feet, shout hooray, do all three.

--Traditional

Wee Read - Can You?

Early Literacy Tip of the Week:

By 6 months, babies can recognize the sounds of their language. Rhymes help introduce different forms of the sounds. --Library Bonanza

Good Morning

Hello, How are You?

Early in the Morning

Sung to: "Mulberry Bush"

This is the way we get out of bed

Get out of bed, get out of bed.

This is the way we get out of bed

So early in the morning.

Repeat with brush our teeth, comb our hair, eat our breakfast

--Traditional

Open Shut Them

Book One

I See by Rachel Isadora

Can You Kick with Two Feet?

Sung to: “Mary Wore a Red Dress”

-- Mother Goose on the Loose by Betsy Diamant-Cohen. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2006.

Fingers Like to Wiggle Waggle

--Mother Goose on the Loose by Betsy Diamant-Cohen. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2006.

Repeat with: way down low, on my knee.

They’re a Part of Me

Sung to: “The Wheels on the Bus”

-- Babies in the Library by Jane Marino. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 2003.

I Wiggle My Fingers

Book Two

Babies on the Go by Linda Ashman

Fi, Fi, Fo, Fum

--Babies in the Library by Jane Marino. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 2003.

Let's Go Riding

Sung to: "Are You Sleeping?"

Let’s go riding, let’s go riding,

Saddle up. Saddle up.

Everybody ready? Everybody ready?

Giddyup! Giddyup!

--PreschoolEducation

Read Together

Toes, Ears, & Nose by Marion Dane Bauer

The More We Get Together