This one time...at storytime!: December 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Snow Birds

Opening: Big Books

Book: How to Catch a Snowman

Flannel: Birdhouse Matching

*For this I have three different colored birdhouses and the matching birds to each one. I will start out with the birds in the wrong colored house and ask the preschoolers tell me where each one belongs.

Book: Once Upon a Winter Day

Action: Snowman Shuffle

*There is an adorable board book called Snowman Shuffle. Instead of reading it, I said the actions aloud and used my scarf to dance around.

Book: Bunny Slopes

Extra Books:

Milk and Cookies

Opening: Big Books

Book: Cookiesaurus Rex

Action: Cupcake Dancing

*Instead of saying cupcake, I said cookie since that's what our stories are about today.

Credit: http://onelittlelibrarian.blogspot.com/2014/10/toddler-time-im-little-cupcake.html

Book: Angry Cookie

Action: Jello on the Plate (Use scarf)

Credit: http://www.adventuresinstorytime.com/2016/12/food.html

Book: Dixie and the Class Treat

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Merry Christmas!

From my house to yours, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

This year has been unprecedented for us all and made me realize just how much I value the blessings around me. I could never name them all, but my health, family, church, job, my savior. Please, if you don't know him then give yourself the best present of all and accept Jesus into your heart.

As we enter 2021 let us all treasure those around us and look out with a new perspective. One of gratitude and thankfulness.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Opening: Big Books

Book: Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Fingerplay/Flannel: Five Little Reindeer Jumping on the Bed

Book: Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

Fingerplay/Flannel: Rudolph's Nose

Book: How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Peppermint Post

I really didn't think I'd find any books I like relating to mail and letters, but I did! I definitely want to repeat this theme again, it was a lot of fun.

Opening: Big Books

Book: What Dogs Want for Christmas

Fingerplay: Lovely Letters

(Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)

Oh, I got a lovely letter in the mail (clap, clap)

Getting mail is so much fun

Let's see who sent this one

Oh, I got a lovely letter in the mail (clap, clap)

*I have this cute miniature mailbox that I use for this. I have my letters inside the mailbox to pull out. Sometimes I'll have my puppets "deliver" my mail to me.

Credit: Jenn in the Library

Book: Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type

*I highly recommend using the app "Novel Effect" while you read this book. This app is completely free and as you read the book the app will play delightful sounds corresponding with the book. Its wonderful!

Action Song: If You're a Drawing and You Know It (Scarf Dancing)

Credit: Storytime Hooligans

Book: Construction Site on Christmas Night

Extra Books:

Monday, December 7, 2020

Reindeer Games

Opening: Big Books

Book: Vegetables in Holiday Underwear

Fingerplay: Winter Action Cards

Book: There's an Elf in Your Book

Fingerplay/Flannel: 5 Reindeer Jumping on the Bed

Book: The Twelve Unicorns of Christmas

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Penguin Parade

Opening: Big Books

Action: Mitten Matching

*For this I will hold up one mitten and tell the preschoolers I need to find the matching mitten. Of course, this takes me several tries before I find the matching mitten.

Book: Little Penguin Stays Awake

Fingerplay/Flannel: Make a Snowman

*For this I start out with a snowman on my flannelboard, but he is missing his arms and hat. Then I will ask the preschoolers what he needs. I have a cowboy hat, a bonnet and the black tophat. After the hat I have a pair of muscle arms, wings and the traditional sticks. The possibilities are endless on this one, that's why I enjoy it so much!

Book: Up and Down

Fingerplay: Scarf Dancing

Book: Perfectly Polite Penguins

Christmas Books for Storytime

Here are just a few of the Christmas books that I like to use for storytime. Remember the reason for the season!

Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho!

Opening: Big Books

Book: Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho!

Fingerplay: Christmas Action Cards

Book: Jack and Santa

Fingerplay/Flannel: Rudolph's Nose

*This fingerplay is a really cute one to use, you change out the nose of Rudolph and each color has corresponding actions to it. I'll be happy to share this, just leave a comment!

Book: Santa Bruce

Due to the virus, all of our crafts are being picked up, pre-made and ready to go. Today's craft I am very excited about because it's Santa's bag! The bag opens up to reveal the toys inside. This one has proved very popular because we've already run out of them!