Conejito!

Books Shared or Recommended:

Brown                    The Golden Egg Book

Brown                    Home For a Bunny
Brown                    The Runaway Bunny
Gag                         The ABC Bunny
Henkes                   The Little White Rabbit
MacDonald            Conejito
Wells                      Bunny Cakes
Willems                  Knuffle Bunny

 



We found bunny finger puppets in the storytime apron pockets during the month of April.  At first I just had five bunnies because that's all the fingers I have on one hand, but the children were bothered by the two empty apron pockets, so I added two more as the month went along.  I put the bunnies on my fingers and recited:

 

Five little bunnies sitting by the door,

One hopped away and then there were four.

Four little bunnies moved under a tree.

One hopped away and then there were three.

Three little rabbits drinking morning dew.

One hopped away and then there were two.

Two little rabbits resting in the sun.

One happed away and then there was one.

One little bunny alone isn't any fun.

He hopped to join the others and

then there were none!

Then, I read Conejito, a folktale from the country of Panama.  The children love the singing included in this story:  Oh lala!  And all of the hispanic children at my pre-schools loved hearing a story which included spanish words:  "Gordito!  Gordito!  Gordito!"
 

 

Little Peter Rabbit

Music:  Battle Hymn of the republic

Little Peter Rabbit has a fly upon his nose.

Little Peter Rabbit has a fly upon his nose.

Little Peter Rabbit has a fly upon his nose

And he PHHTH and it flew away.

Ask children to name other body parts

Of the rabbit and repeat the song.

We sang this song with our rabbit ears up on our head (two hands) and used 'conejito' instead of 'Peter Rabbit'.  The kids liked picking where the fly lands on conejito...his tail, his nose, his shoulder.

 

Then, it's time for our visitor:  a bunny puppet.

I use the bunny to tell the story of the Golden Egg:

 

 

 

Once there was a little bunny.  He was all alone.  One day he found an egg.  He could hear something moving inside the egg.  What was it?

 

Maybe it was a little boy, maybe another bunny, maybe an elephant, maybe a mouse.

The bunny pushed the egg with his foot.  He jumped on top of the egg.  He climbed a tree and threw nuts at it.

Pick.  Pick.  Pick.  Something was trying to get out of that egg.  The bunny sat very still and watched through his shining eyes.  He sat very still and listened with his big soft ears…Pick.  Pick.  Pick.

Then the little bunny began to yawn.  And he yawned.  And he yawned.  The egg was very quiet.  He curled up all sleepy and warm close to the egg and went to sleep.  He went to sleep because he was so sleepy.

Pick.  Pick.  Pick.  And Peek!  Peek!  Peek!   And crackety CRACK!  Out jumped a little yellow duck!

“Well, what is this?”  said the little duck when he saw the bunny.   “What could this little fur thing be?”

The bunny was very sleepy, so he was still asleep and didn’t’ wake up.

“Inside the egg,” said the duck,” I thought I was all alone in a small dark world.  Now I find myself alone with a bunny in a big bright world.  And the bunny won’t wake up.”

So the duck pushed the bunny with his foot.  And jumped on top of him.  And threw a little rock at him.  And rolled him down a hill.

And the bunny woke up.  “Where is my egg?” said the bunny.  “And where did you some from?” 

“Never mind that,” said the duck.  “Here I am.”  So the bunny and the duck were friends.  And no one was ever alone again.



Go Away Monsters!

Monsters!

Books Shared or Recommended:

Bear Feels Scared by Wilson

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Yolen

Go Away Big Green Monster by Emberley

Good Night Little Monster by Ketteman

If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Emberley

Leonardo The Terrible Monster by Willems

Monster Hug! By Stein

Squeeky Door by MacDonald

Where the Wild Things Are by Sendak

Oh no!  We found some monsters in the storytime apron this month!  Here they are:

I then talk about how sometimes I get scared when I see a scary thing on television or a scary picture.  What can we do if we're afraid?  I read The Squeaky Door by Margaret Read MacDonald and explain that here's a book about a little boy who is afraid.  What is he afraid of?  Who helps him?  It is a wonderful read aloud.  The children really get into the rhythm of grandma tip-toeing out of the room, turning out the light (click), and closing the door (Squeak).  I love reading excellent books like this one because it looks like I'll be reading this one about 37 times this month!  Needless to say, I have it memorized.

  Then I take two of the monsters off of the flannel board and do "Five Hairy Monsters".

Five Hairy Monsters (Count on fingers)

Five hairy monsters howling out a roar,

One ran away and then there were four.

Four hairy monsters hiding in a tree,

One fell out and then there were three.

Three hairy monsters eating spider stew,

One got full and then there were two.

Two hairy monsters having lots of fun

One ran away and then there was one.
One hairy monster, afraid to be the hero.
He ran off and then there were zero.

Then it's time for Go Away Big Green Monster.   Here's the flannel board version:

The children practice using their words:  "Go away big green monster!"

If it's fidgety time, we go on a:

Monster Hunt

We’re going on a monster hunt.

We’re going to find a big one!

We’re not afraid, but…

What if he’s under the bed? (Peek under)

Better go over it, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

(Walk fingers over legs)

What if he’s in the closet? (Open door)

Better close it, SLAM! (Clap hands loudly)

What if he’s behind the curtains? (Peek hands)

Better open them, SWISH! (Fly hands apart)

What if he’s in the hallway?  (Shade eyes)

Better tiptoe down it (Tiptoe)

What if he’s in the garage?  (Shade eyes)

Better stomp through it  (Stomp feet)

SHHH!  (Put fingers to lips)  What’s that?

AHHH!  It’s a monster!  (Scream and wave arms)

Stomp thru garage (Stomp feet)

Tiptoe thru the hallway (Tiptoe)

Close the curtains (Fly hands together)

Open the closet (Pretend to open door)

Turn on the lights (Snap fingers)

And jump into bed (Jump)  PHEW!! (brush brow)

We’re not going on a monster hunt again! (NO)

We can sing Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed:

Or sing these songs:

SONGS

Monster Song

Sung to If You Ever See a Lassie

If you ever see a monster, a monster, a monster,

If you ever see a monster, here’s what you do.

Make this face and that face

And this face and that face

If you ever see a monster…Be sure to shout BOO!

Monster, Monster

Monster, monster, turn around.

Monster, monster, touch the ground.

Monster, monster, reach up high.

Monster, monster, squint your eye.

Monster, monster, show your teeth,

Monster, monster, stamp your feet.

Monster, monster, make a frown,

Monster, monster, sit right down!

Ten Little Monsters

(Sing to ten little Indians)

1 little, 2 little, 3 little monster

4 little, 5 little, 6 little monsters

7 little, 8 little, 9 little monsters

10 little monsters roaring at me!

10 little, 9 little, 8 little monsters

7 little, 6 little, 5 little monsters

4 little, 3 little, 2 little monsters

1 little monster can’t scare me!

If You’re a Monster…(If You’re Happy)

If you’re a monster and you know it,

wave your arms!

If you’re a monster and you know it,

Wave your arms!

If you’re a monster and you know it,

Then your growl will surely show it,

If you’re a monster and you know it,

Wave your arms!  (Other verses)

Show your claws, gnash your teeth,

stomp your feet, growl like me!

Monsters Galore

Monsters galore, can you roar?  (ROAR)

Monster galore, can you soar?  (Flying motion)

Monsters galore, please shut the door.  (Clap)

Monsters galore, fall on the floor!  (Sit down)

Action Rhyme:  Monster Stomp

If you want to be a monster, now’s your chance.

“Cauce everybody’s doing the monster dance.

You just stomp your feet, wave your arms around.

Stretch ‘em up, stretch ‘em up!  (Stretch arms)

Then put them on the ground.(Hands on floor)

‘Cause you’re doing the monster stomp.

(Feet stomp)

That’s right!  You’re doing the monster stomp.

(Stomp Feet)

Music:

“Looking for Dracula” song from Ten Carrot Diamond CD by Charlotte Diamond

“Monster” song on Can You Sound Like Me CD  by Red  Grammer

Finally, it's time for the special visitors from the library:  a little boy named Max who is dressed up in a wolf suit.  I tell his story of Where the Wild Things Are.    "The night Max wore his wolf suit..."

Max gets to tell the children the bookmobile rules and he also gets to sing the goodbye song!

Go away scary monsters!  Our family can help us, we can use our words, or we can be King of the Wild Things (Monsters!).  YAY!

Apples! Apples! Apples!

Books Recommended or shared:

All of Pie, Pie for All by Martin

Apple Farmer Annie by Wellington

Apple Pie Tree by Hall

Apples Here! by Hubbell

The Farmer’s Wife by Shah

So this is what we find in the storytime apron this month:

An apple tree!

We use the tree to tell the story of The Farmer's Wife which is a cumulative tale involving an apple.

Here are the flannel board pieces:

A-P-P-L-E (Sung to the tune of  B-I-N-G-O-)

(Remove the first letter of the word and clap in its place, repeat until no letters remain)

I know a fruit that grows on trees, and apple is its name, oh!

A-P-P-L-E!  A-P-P-L-E!  A-P-P-L-E!  And apple is its name, oh!

Farmer Brown had Five Green Apples

Farmer Brown had five green apples hanging on a tree.  (Hold up five fingers)

Farmer Brown had five green apples hanging on a tree.

He plucked one apple, and ate it eagerly,

(Mime picking and eating an apple)

Leaving four apples hanging on a tree.

(Hold up four fingers)

(Continue song until last verse):

He plucked that apple and gave it right to me.

Leaving no more apples hanging on the tree.

Or use flannel apples and turn an apple over each time you 'eat' one:

Way Up High in the Apple Tree

Way up high in an apple tree, (mime looking up)

Five red apples smiled at me (Hold up five fingers)

I shook that tree as hard as I could (shake tree)

Down fell an apple, mmmm, mmmm, good.

(Eat apple and rub belly)

Continue counting down to no more apples.

2.  Whispered (sing softly and shush with finger)

3.  Got Angry (Sing grumpily and frown)

4.  Cried (Sing while sniffling, wipe eyes and sob)

5.  Yawned (Sing and continue yawning)

Make these apples by putting colored paper through a copier, cutting them out, and then laminating them and adding flannel to the backs.  Make enough for each child to have one and bring them up at the appropriate moment.

The Apple Basket

The first apple in the basket was bright and shiny red.

The second apple in the basket said, "My, what a cozy bed!"

The third apple in the basket said, "Make room for me you pair!"

The fourth apple in the basket said, "Please move over there!"

The fifth apple in the basket said, "Oh dear, oh me, oh my! 

This basket looks like pastry.  I think we're in a pie!"

Five Red Apples

Five red apples hanging in a tree,

The juiciest apples you ever did see.

The wind came by and gave an angry frown,

And one little apple came tumbling down.

Four red apples…..etc.

A Little Apple Seed

(To the tune of “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

Once a little apple seed,

(Hold fingers together to show a small seed)

Was planted in the ground

(Place on ground)

Down came the raindrops

(Wiggle fingers to show rain)

Falling all around.

Out came the big sun

(Form a circle with arms overhead)

Bright as bright could be.

And that little apple seed,

Grew up to be a tree!

(Raise arms to make a tree).

Apple Roll

Five little apples in the bowl

One fell out and started to roll

It bumped the table and hit my feet

How many apples left to eat?

(Count down)

Beach and Ocean Storytime

Oceans, Beaches, Seaside!

Read or Recommended Books:

 

All You Need for a Beach by Schertle

Beach Day! By Larkin

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Sherry

Deep Blue Sea by Wood

Hooray for Fish! By Cousins

Rattletrap Car by Root

Sammy the Seal by hoff

Seal in the Family by Coffey

Ten Little Fish by Wood

Here is what we found in the storytime apron:

I start out with Sammy the Seal. 

 I say this poem about seals:

The Seal (Use with a puppet)

I could squeal about the seal!

He’s sleek and swift and wet.

He can bounce a ball if it doesn’t fall

And sing if he doesn’t forget!

He’s soft to feel, the lovely seal,

And just as black as jet.

His favorite dish is a wiggly fish.

Oh, what a charming pet!

Sammy gets to pick the books out today!  Sammy usually picks Hooray for Fish! to start because, of course, he LOVES fish!

 

Fish in the Sea  (Flannel Board Song)

Pass out one flannel fish per child.  They bring up their fish when their color is called.  This is hard for toddlers, but perfect for pre-schoolers.

There are so many fish in the deep blue sea,

What is the color of the fish you see?

Red.  Red, this one’s red.  This little fishie is red.

Continue with all of the colors of fish!

Flannel Board Story:  The Deep Blue Sea by Wood

Then Sammy picks another book.  It's always nice to have a pop-up book in your back pocket if the children get antsy.  Here's one called the Pop-Up Ocean.

 

Ocean Shell

I found a great big shell one day upon the ocean shore. (Cup hands, pick up)

I held it close up to my ear and heard the ocean roar.  (Listen)

I found a tiny shell one day upon the ocean sand. (Roll shell in fingers)

The waves had worn it nice and smooth.

It felt nice in my hand.

Songs:

Row, Row, Row Your Boat!  Use this fabulous idea from Delectable Dabbling for this song.

Down by the Bay by Raffi

Five Little Fish from Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs

Octopus’ Garden by the Beattles

Here Is the Sea

(Teach children to make a wavy sea motion and how to do a boat before you start)

Here is the sea, the wavy sea. 

(Small waves with hands)

Here is the boat and here is me.

(Cup one hand for boat and stick one finger up from below)

All the fishes down below

(Put hands down low, point to the floor)

Wriggle their tails and away they go!

(Wiggle fingers behind your back then push hands up and away)

Then Sammy sings the good-bye song:

Now it's time to say good-bye, say good-bye, say good-bye!
Now it's time to say good-bye!  I'll see you in the Bookmobile!

Basic Baby and Me Storytime

The general format is always the same:

Two Opening Songs
A book. (Hip, Hip, Hooray!  We read one book today!)
A Finger Play
A Second Book (Hip, Hip Hooray!  We read two books today!)
An Action Rhyme or Song
A Third Book  (Hip, Hip, Hooray!  We read three books today!)
A Lap Bounce
Two Ending Songs

Always repeat the songs, rhymes, and bounces at least twice, if not three times!

Opening Songs:

Who Is Sitting Next To You?
Good Morning, <Baby's Name>
How are you?
And who is sitting next to you?
(Go around the circle and repeat for each child)

Welcome Song
Welcome, welcome everyone.
Now we're here, let's have some fun.
First we'll clap our hands just so.
Then we'll bend and touch our toes.
Welcome, welcome everyone.
Now we're here, let's have some fun!

Fingers, Hands, and Arms:

Come A-Look A-See
Come a-look a-see, here's my Mama.  (thumb)
Come a-look a-see, here's my Papa.  (pointer)
Come a-look a-see, my brother tall!  (middle)
Sister, Baby...(ring finger, pinky, then pause)
MMmmmmmm-a!  (Kiss all fingertips together)
.....I love them all!

Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?  Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am!  Here I am!  (pop out each thumb)
How are you today sir?  (nod one thumb)
Very well I thank you!  (nod the other thumb)
Run away, run away.  (hide each thumb)

Open and Shut Them
Open, shut them, open, shut them.  Give a little clap-clap-clap!
Open, shut them, open, shut them.  Put them in your lap-lap-lap!
Creep them crawl them, creep them, crawl them.  Right up to your chin-chin-chin!
Open wide your little mouth, but do not let them in-in-in!

Tickle Rhymes
This Little Piggie
This little piggie went to market, This little piggie stayed home,
This little piggie had roast beef (or tofu) And this little piggie had none.
And this little piggie went "We-we-we-we", all the way home!

Baby's Bellybutton
These are Baby's fingers, these are Baby's toes,
This is Baby's bellybutton, round and round it goes.
These are baby's eyes, this is Baby's nose. 
This is baby's bellybutton,
Right where Mommy (or Daddy) blows!

Lap Bounces

Acka Backa
Acka backa soda cracker, Acka backa boo!  Acka Backa soda cracker, I love you!
Acka Backa soda cracker, Acka backa boo!  Acka Backa soda cracker, up goes you!

A Smooth road
A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road.  (slide side to side)
A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road!  (gentle bounces)
A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road.  (faster bounces)
Watch out!  A hole!  (falls through knees)  Whee!

Action Rhymes

Shake and Count (with rattles)
One, two shake it on your shoe.  Three, four shake it on the floor.
Five, six stir and mix.  Seven eight stand up straight.
Nine, ten wave to all your friends!

Patty-Cake
Patty-cake, patty cake, baker's man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, pat it, and mark it with a "B"!
And put it in the oven for Baby and me!

Action Songs

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head. shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!
(repeat three times, faster each time)

Row, Row, Row Your boat
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.
Rock, rock, rock your boat, gently down the stream.
If you see an alligator, don't forget to scream!
Row, row, row your boat, quickly to the shore.
If you see a lion, don't forget to roar!  Roar!

Ending Songs

I'm a Book Baby!
I'm a book, baby, book baby, I like to read, I like to read, i like to read!
I'm a book baby, book bay, I like to read.  Read at the library!
I like to clap...
I like to dance...
I like to wave...
I like to shake... (rattle)

Good-bye Babies
Good-bye babies, good-bye babies, good-bye babies, it's time for you to play.
Hope you had a happy time, happy time, happy time. 
Hope you had a happy time, I had a good time too!

Then it's time to get out the toy tub (which has been hidden) and let the babies play and the parents visit.

Dinosaur R-O-A-R-!

Book:  How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen

Then use five dinosaurs and a bed with a big, big 'D' (for dinosaur) for jumping up and down with the children:

Five little dinosaurs jumping on the bed.  One fell off and broke his head!
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:  "No more dinosaurs jumping on the bed!"                
Work your way down until the doctor says, "Put those dinosaurs back in bed!"

Of course, you know the actions that match the words to this song:  jumping up and down, banging on your head, calling on the telephone, and shaking your finger like you're a doctor.
Take a dinosaur off the flannel board with each round and hide them on the back of the board.

Then we try this action rhyme:

Dinosaurs Lived Long Ago

Dinosaurs lived long ago.

Some walked.  (Walk in place.)

Some swam.  (Swimming motions)

Some flew you know.  (Flying motions)

Some were big.  (Be big.)

And some were very small.  (Be tiny.)

Some were gigantic.  (Arms wide.)

Very, very tall.  (Be tall.)

Then it's time to settle the children down with this song:

   Dinosaur, Dinosaur

Dinosaur, Dinosaur turn around!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, touch the ground!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Reach up high!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, wink your eye!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, touch your nose!
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, touch your toes!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, slap your knees!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, sit down please!

I find it effective to point to a different child each time we sing 'dinosaur, dinosaur'.

Then it's time for the special visitor from the library.  I pull Bob the T Rex out of the bag and talk for him. 

 "Hi!  I'm Bob!"  Then I explain to the children that Bob has a problem.  He came to school today without eating breakfast.  Bob's hungry!  Do they know what Bob eats?  Dinosaur bones!  We have to sing a song to help Bob find Dinosaur bones and it goes like this:

Bob’s Song:

Dinosaur Bones!  Dinosaur Bones!

I’m gonna get me some dinosaur bones!

Bob's tiny little hands clap in rhythmn to the song.  At the end of the song, Bob dives into my library bag. 

 This is where it's important to pause because for some reason, the children think that it is hilarious to see Bob's tail wiggling around in the air while he tries to find bones in the bag.  Of course, Bob finds all sorts of crazy things in the bag.  First he could pull out pizza.  "Oh, Bob!  That's not a dinosaur bone!  That's pizza!"  Big laugh.  Then, we must sing the song again.  Bob pulls out a baby bottle.  "Oh Bob!  Baby bottle starts with B like bones, but Bob!  That's a baby bottle!"  

So after several mishaps (lemon, or whatever you may have laying around), Bob finally pulls out a PRESENT!  I have to help him open it because his little arms are so tiny. 

It's a bone!  Success!

Bob says, "Happy!  Happy!" and sings a celebratory song:

Dinosaur Song:

Oh, I’m a Dinosaur!

Just listen to me roar!  ROAR!

I’m not so neat whenever I eat

I always want more and more!  SLURP!

Special thanks to my friend and fellow librarian Joy Feldman who taught me this dinosaur puppet fun.

Then Bob explains the bookmobile rules to the children:
1.  "You have very long arms!  You can hold onto the railings, but I can't because my arms are so small.  Use your big arms!"
2.  "If you pull a book off the shelf that you don't want, give it to her!  (Bob points to me).  She can put it back for you!"
3.  "Don't climb on the benches.  You could fall and hurt yourself."

Then it's time to Say goodbye, Say goodbye, and I see them out in the Bookmobile.