J is for Jack-o-Lantern (Preschool and Two's)

Preschool Storytime:

*I was so excited for our crowd today, we had 45 kids!  Granted, city and county schools were on fall break, so that really made a difference in our crowd.  I really wish we could have this kind of attendance every week, it was fa-boo-lous!

Opening: Big Books

Book: Little Boo (Hold up sign to say “Boo”) 

*I look at this book every year, but never read it during storytime. This year is the first time I've done a storytime that focuses only on pumpkins, so of course I had to read "Little Boo". This book is lengthy, and I was a little apprehensive about reading it to the preschoolers. What I did was everytime Little Boo said "Boo" in the book I held up a sign. Each time I held up my sign that said "Boo" we all screamed BOO! The preschoolers loved screaming boo. This really helped move the book along and many of the preschoolers caught on that Little Boo was changing from a tiny seed to a pumpkin!

Fingerplay/Flannel: Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed

Book: Ten Orange Pumpkins

*For this book, I had ten orange pumpkin propped up behind me on the puppet stage. As I read this book, my volunteer would pull a pumpkin down behind me. The preschoolers really got excited seeing each pumpkin disappear behind me, it was so cute!

Action: Halloween Movement Cards

Flannel: Make Jack-O-Lantern

*We've had this story for years at my library, and I like to change it up each time I use it. I just start out with a plain pumpkin up on my flannelboard and ask the preschoolers what it needs to look like a jack-o-lantern. I never put up the traditional triangle eyes and nose first, I always put up something silly. A banana for a nose, or an umbrella! Usually the preschoolers will enjoy telling me I'm wrong but this time they went bonkers! That's what I love, you truly never know just what kind of reaction you will get!

Action: Scarf Dancing

Our craft today features Pete the Cat and what else? Five pumpkins, of course!

Credit: Glued To My Crafts

Extra Books:

Time for Two’s Storytime:

Opening: Big Books

Fingerplay: If You Want to Hear a Story

Book: Whooo’s That?

*This book is really cute, but I didn't open up all the flaps in storytime. Some of them were just a little too spooky for my two's.

Fingerplay/Flannel: Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed

Book: Ten Orange Pumpkins

*For this book, I had ten orange pumpkin propped up behind me on the puppet stage. As I read this book, my volunteer would pull a pumpkin down behind me. Normally the two's will get really excited and happy when things disappear behind me. Today they were very reserved and quiet all through storytime.

Action: Halloween Movement Cards

Fingerplay/Flannel: Pumpkin Hiding Game

Action: Scarf Dancing

*The two's did the same craft as the preschoolers, which is pictured above!

Extra Book: