New Books for May 2018

We've gotten a few new books this month, check them out!


*This book hopped right into my heart!  This is perfect for a rain, frog or hopping storytime!  The adorable little frog hops around and meets all kinds of friends.  The best part to me?  Everything rhymes, which seems to do nothing but make this that much cuter!


*I love books that are repetitive, and this book is exactly that!  You start out with the adorable robin, building her nest.  Along come her friends to help build!  A beautifully illustrated book that shows all that goes into an intricately built nest.

Build a Better World (SRP-Preschool and Two's)

Happy summer reading! This is the first storytime of the summer. Below are my group and normal storytime plans. We are having Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning storytimes. We have five storytimes a week, weather permitting the groups being able to walk to the library. Yeah for summer reading!!!

Group & Preschool Storytime

Opening: Big Books

Fingerplay: Things That Go

*This was such a fun flannelboard to do, and the kids loved telling me how I had my items in the wrong place. I found this delightful flannelboard here.

Book: Pete the Cat and the Five Little Ducks

*I tend to forget how much the kids love Pete the Cat! For this story, I had five ducks that I taped to rulers, and my volunteer propped them behind me, on our puppet stage. As I read the story, a little duck would disappear behind me. The kids went crazy hollering and squealing when the ducks disappeared! I had so much fun with this story, and am so happy that the kids really got into the story with me!

Fingerplay: Five Frogs

*The kids loved this! I've used this once before, and the kids went crazy over it, so I had to pull it out again. To see this hopping good fingerplay, visit this website.

Book/Puppet Show: It’s A Beautiful World  

*A couple of years ago, a puppet show was made for the song "What a Wonderful World." Every time I hear this song, I want to cry, it's just so gorgeous. I only did this with the group at 9:30, and they were just so excited to see things pop up over the puppet stage, that it was hard for us to hear the music! But overall, it's a great thing to do for your group.

Fingerplay: Clifford, clifford, where’s your bone?   

*Usually when I play hiding games on the flannelboard, I only hide the one item we are looking for. When I found this fingerplay, I loved the idea of hiding something different under each item. I used a dog and doghouses that I had made previously. Usually we just look for the dog bone. I didn't tell the kids there would be other items hidden. The kids loved seeing different items under the doghouses. We ended up finding a heart, pumpkin, and a cat! I found this wonderful idea here.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

*As you can tell, Pete the Cat is a big favorite of mine. What really made this book fun was the wonderful activity cards I found on this website. After I read the story, I held up more of the cards and asked the kids what color Pete's shoes would turn if he stepped in the different items. We had lots of fun naming the colors.

Fingerplay: Birdhouse and Bird Matching Game

*I love having the kids tell me what I have wrong on my flannelboard, and I found a great birdhouse flannel on this website. I decided to make my own version, so I made red, yellow, green and blue birdhouses and the birds to match. I mixed them all up and showed the kids. Right away the kids told me that my birds were in the wrong house, and it took me a few tries before I got every bird in the correct house.

Action: Animal Dancing

Book: Achoo! By Morgand

*I am heads over heels in love with this book, and the kids are too! Probably because I throw paper pieces out onto them as I read, but that's okay! All the animals in this book sneeze and loose their ears or eyes. I have the kids help me sneeze, and after I do that, I have the shape "rain" down onto the kids. They go crazy grabbing for the pieces as they fall down. It's organized chaos, but so much fun!

Our craft today was a paper tree. The kids glued down everything but the brown paper.

Time for Two’s Storytime

Opening: Big Books

Fingerplay: If You Want to Hear a Story

Book: Book: Pete the Cat and the Five Little Ducks

*I tend to forget how much the kids love Pete the Cat! For this story, I had five ducks that I taped to rulers, and my volunteer propped them behind me, on our puppet stage. As I read the story, a little duck would disappear behind me. The kids went crazy hollering and squealing when the ducks disappeared! I had so much fun with this story, and am so happy that the kids really got into the story with me!

Fingerplay: Five frogs from Splish Splash storytime

*The kids loved this! I've used this once before, and the kids went crazy over it, so I had to pull it out again. To see this hopping good fingerplay, visit this website.

Book: Bottoms Up! (Board Book)

*I love the little pig butt on the front of this book! I switched out my book at the last minute, and I'm so glad I did! The two's loved guessing the animal hiding in the book. It really helped that this is a lift-the-flap book. The next time that I use this book, I will use puppets.

Fingerplay: Clifford, clifford, where’s your bone?   

*Usually when I play hiding games on the flannelboard, I only hide the one item we are looking for. When I found this fingerplay, I loved the idea of hiding something different under each item. I used a dog and doghouses that I had made previously. Usually we just look for the dog bone. I didn't tell the kids there would be other items hidden. The kids loved seeing different items under the doghouses. We ended up finding a heart, pumpkin, and a cat! I found this wonderful idea here.

Book: Achoo! By Morgand

*I am heads over heels in love with this book, and the kids are too! Probably because I throw paper pieces out onto them as I read, but that's okay! All the animals in this book sneeze and loose their ears or eyes. I have the kids help me sneeze, and after I do that, I have the shape "rain" down onto the kids. They go crazy grabbing for the pieces as they fall down. It's organized chaos, but so much fun!

Our craft today was a paper tree. The kids glued down everything but the brown paper. The trees turned out looking adorable! I love picking out crafts were the kids can make it look however they want. To me that's what makes it their own, unique craft!

Splish and Splash (Preschool and Two's)

Preschool Storytime

Opening: Big Books

Book: Splish Splash by Smee

*I was worried this book would be too simple for the preschoolers, but they really got into it! Especially making the waves with their arms!  It never hurts when you use puppets, which were a huge hit!

Fingerplay: Old MacDonald Had a Pond (With puppets)

Old MacDonald had a pond ee-i ee-i-oh!

And on that pond he had a turtle ee-i ee-i-oh!!

With a snap snap here and a snap snap there!

here a snap, there a snap, everywhere a snap  snap

Old MacDonald had a pond ee-i ee-i-oh!

(repeat with fish/splash, duck/quack, frog/hop)

*I apologize, but I believe I found this in an office book we have for storytime use. I was really excited to use this with the kids, but it confused them when we sang this. All of the kids didn't like that I changed the song to Old MacDonald had a pond. I think they liked the traditional version of him having a farm.

Book: Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Cabrera (with puppets)

*This is my favorite go-to book for anything water related, and the kids loved it! I had my volunteer pop up the puppets behind me when I read each verse, and the kids went crazy helping me make all the animal noises.

Fingerplay:  Ten Little Froggies (Only do five and use five green and specked frogs prop)

One little froggie goes hop

Along comes another and they just can't stop so...

Two little froggies go hop, hop

Along comes another and they just can't stop

Three little froggies go hop, hop, hop

Along comes another and they just can't stop. soo

Continue in this manner and end as follows

Ten little froggies go hop, hop, hop, hop hop

Drop! time to stop

Hop each time you count the froggies...and when you get to ten hop ten

times and count on fingers...fall gently down to floor

*This is my new favorite fingerplay for frogs! I only did this through five, but the kids would have kept on hopping until ten if I had let them! We used five green and speckled frogs and put them up on the puppet stage. I had my volunteers just pull a random number of frogs down, and the kids went crazy telling me the frogs were gone! Then we stopped jumping and counted our frogs, then resumed jumping until all the frogs were gone. I found this fabulous fingerplay here. I can't wait to use this one again!

Fingerplay/Flannel: Five Little Fishies Swimming in the Sea

*I love doing this fingerplay with my alligator puppet and five fish, but we ran out of time for it today.

Book: Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark

*I love this book so much! A co-worker made props to go along with this book, so as I read along, all the fish popped up behind me, including the big, bad SHARK!!! At the end of this book the shark's teeth fall out, so of course I had to throw out paper shark teeth on the kids! I am always worried they will get tired of this book, but thankfully they never do!

Fingerplay: Ocean Animal Movement Cards

*I love using ocean animal movement cards, but I had way too much planned for today. Hopefully next time!

Action: Fishing Skit

*This is by far my favorite part of storytime! I take my trusty fishing pole that a co-worker left for us to use, and told the kids to let me know when they see a big fish behind me. I had two volunteers behind our puppet stage, and they would pop up the fish when I had my back turned. Thankfully, the kids started hollering like crazy that the fish was there. Of course, when I turned around, he was gone! Then I put my fishing pole in the water, and I will catch all sorts of crazy stuff! Anything from a (clean) sock, a (puppet) skunk, big sunglasses, etc. At last, I end up catching a tiny, baby fish that the kids haven't seen, and while my back is turned, up pop the big fish I have been after. Then I turn around and see them for the first time. The kids usually end up shouting so loudly that the whole library hears and that's exactly why I do it!

Extra Books:

Down by the Cool of the Pool

Wide-Mouthed Frog (Office pop-up book)

Splash, Splash by Jeff Sheppard

Splish Splash by Smee


Our craft today was a shark!  The kids glued down the shark, his mouth and teeth.  I found this fabulous idea here.  

Time for Two’s Storytime

Opening: Big Books

Fingerplay: If You Want to Hear a Story

Book: Splash Splash by Smee

*The two's loved this book, especially making the waves with their arms!  The puppets were a huge hit!

(tune: the Wheels on the Bus)

The turtle in the pond goes snap snap snap

snap snap snap

snap snap snap

The turtle in the pond goes snap snap snap

all morning long

Repeat with Frog/hop, Duck/quack, fish/splash

*This was a really fun fingerplay to do with the two's and they enjoyed doing the motions with me. I found this fingerplay here.

Book: Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Cabrera

*The two's didn’t enjoy this book as much as they normally do. It seemed that not singing the song the correct way throughout the book confused them.

Fingerplay:  Ten Little Froggies (Only do five and use five green and speckled frogs prop)

One little froggie goes hop

Along comes another and they just can't stop so...

Two little froggies go hop, hop

Along comes another and they just can't stop

Three little froggies go hop, hop, hop

Along comes another and they just can't stop. soo

Continue in this manner and end as follows

Ten little froggies go hop, hop, hop, hop hop

Drop! time to stop

Hop each time you count the froggies...and when you get to ten hop ten

times and count on fingers...fall gently down to floor

http://www.preschooleducation.com/sreptile.shtml

*This is my new favorite fingerplay for frogs! I only did this through five, but the kids would have kept on hopping until then if I had let them! We used five green and speckled frogs and put them up on the puppet stage. I had my volunteers just pull a random number of frogs down, and the kids went crazy telling me the frogs were gone! Then we stopped jumping and counted our frogs, then resumed jumping until all the frogs were gone. I found this fabulous fingerplay here. I can't wait to use this one again!

Fingerplay: Five Little Fishies Swimming in the Sea

*I love doing this fingerplay with my alligator puppet and five fish, but we ran out of time for it today.

Book: Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark

*I love this book so much! A co-worker made props to go along with this book, so as I read along, all the fish popped up behind me, including the big, bad SHARK!!! At the end of this book the shark's teeth fall out, so of course I had to throw out paper shark teeth on the kids! Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to read this book, way too much planned.

Dancing: Boat Dancing

Action: Fishing Skit

*This is by far my favorite part of storytime! I take my trusty fishing pole that a co-worker left for us to use, and told the kids to let me know when they see a big fish behind me. I had two volunteers behind our puppet stage, and they would pop up the fish when I had my back turned. Thankfully, the kids started hollering like crazy that the fish was there. Of course, when I turned around, he was gone! Then I put my fishing pole in the water, and I will catch all sorts of crazy stuff! Anything from a (clean) sock, a (puppet) skunk, big sunglasses, etc. At last, I end up catching a tiny, baby fish that the kids haven't seen, and while my back is turned, up pop the big fish I have been after. Then I turn around and see them for the first time. The kids usually end up shouting so loudly that the whole library hears and that's exactly why I do it!

Extra Books:

Down by the Cool of the Pool

I Spy Under the Sea

Papa’s Seahorse Search

Quack! Quack! Can You Say It Too?

Splish Splash by Smee

Our craft today was a shark!  The kids glued down the shark, his mouth and teeth.  I found this fabulous idea here.  

Go Green! (Preschool and Two's)

Preschool Storytime

Opening: Big Books

Fingerplay/Flannel: Green Guessing Game

*I don't have the words with me for this, but I describe green items, such as a frog, or a traffic light. The kids can guess what I am talking about, then I hold up the item. They had a lot of fun with this, and I'll be glad to send you the rhymes, just leave a comment if you'd like this.

Book: Green Eggs and Ham

*This was so much fun to read! My volunteer read the part of Sam I am, and I read the other. I had real scrambled eggs dyed green, and all through the book I had them out on a paper plate. When it came time for me to eat the eggs, everyone in the room, including the adults got super quiet! You could even hear a pin drop. It was priceless! I love doing this book at green storytime, and its even better when you eat real green eggs.

Fingerplay: If You’re Wearing Green

If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig,

If you’re wearing green today, dance a jig,

If you’re wearing green today,

Dance a jig, then smile and say,

“Have a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day”

“If you’re wearing green today, clap your hands”….

“If you’re wearing green today, spin around”….

“If you’re wearing green today, shout “Hurray!””….

“If you’re wearing green today, stamp your feet”….

*I was really looking forward to doing this with the kids, but they didn't enjoy this like I had hoped. Still, it's a great fingerplay to do this time of year. I found this wonderful movement here.

Book: Can You Make a Scary Face?

*This book is such a great one to read aloud, and the kids really got into it. Especially when we had to make a scary face and make the frog disappear, that was the best part!

Fingerplay: “Color Hop Song” (Tune: Old MacDonald)

      I see something that is green.

      Do you see it too?

      I see something that is green.

      HOP there if you do.

      With a hop, hop here.

      And a hop, hop, there.

      Here a hop, there a hop.

      Everywhere a hop, hop.

      I see something that is green.

      Do you see it too?

      (Have puppets pop up: snake and alligator.)

*This was a huge hit with the kids, but I have to say anytime we jump up and down they love it. I apologize, I can't find where I found this wonderful idea.

Book/Music: Five Speckled Frogs by Steven Anderson

*I was super excited to use this book along with the CD, and at the last minute decided not to play the music, which was a big mistake. I wrongly assumed everybody knew this beloved song, but nobody did! We propped up five frogs on my puppet stage, and I started singing the song as I showed the pictures in the book. I thought by the time we got down to two frogs the adults would start singing with me, but nobody did! I guess nobody knows this song like they used to. I still recommend this book, the music that is included with this book is the best that I've ever heard.

Fingerplay/Flannel: “Five Green Shamrocks” (use puppets)

           Five green shamrocks growing outdoors

      [Alligator] picked one, and that left four.

               Four green shamrocks, green as they can be.

               [Snake] picked one and that left three.

      Three green shamrocks playing peek-a-boo

      [Lion] picked one and that left two.

               Two green shamrocks nodding in the sun,

               [Monkey] picked one, and that left one.

      One green shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day fun.

      [Dinosaur] picked it, and that left none.

*This fingerplay went over great! The kids loved seeing the puppets take my shamrocks. You can find this along with other great St. Patrick's Day fingerplays here.

Book: Go Away, Big Green Monster!

*My favorite green book of all time! I love having the monster disappear right before the kids eyes, and this book never fails to enchant the kids.

Action Rhyme: “Monster, Monster”

Monster, monster, turn around

Monster, monster, touch the ground

Monster, monster, reach up high

Monster, monster, touch the sky

Monster, monster, touch your nose

Monster, monster, grab your toes

Monster, monster, touch your knees

Monster, monster, sit down please

*We ran out of time to do this fingerplay today, but it's a great one! I found this here.

Storytelling: “I’m Being Eaten By a Boa Constrictor” (With giant prop snake)

*This is one of my favorite things to act out, and this was done before I started doing storytime. I can't take credit for it. What you do is make a giant snake out of a hula hoop. I ended up taking green tablecloths and taping them to the top of the hula hoop. Then you add eyes and a tongue. You step inside the snake so that it pools around your feet. As you recite the poem by Shel Silverstein, you slowly pull the snake up around your body. As you get to the last line, you flip the snake up and over your head, so that you have disappeared and the snake's eyes and tongue are now facing the kids. They go crazy over this! Sadly, I forgot to do this today but have it down in my plans for April. I will include a picture of this in my future plans so that my explanation makes more sense.

Four our craft today, the kids made a turtle! The kids glued down the turtle head, arms, legs, and shell. We used green scrapbook paper for the shell. Below is what our turtle looked like. I found this adorable idea here.

Extra Read-Alouds:

Big Frog Can’t Fit In!

Nighty Night, Little Green Monster!

Snip Snap! What’s That?

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!

Where is the Green Sheep?

Time for Two’s Storytime

Opening: Big Books

Fingerplay: If You Want to Hear a Story

Book: Go Away, Big Green Monster!

*My favorite green book of all time! I love having the monster disappear right before the kids eyes, and this book never fails to enchant the kids.

Fingerplay: “Color Hop Song” (Tune: Old MacDonald)

      I see something that is green.

      Do you see it too?

      I see something that is green.

      HOP there if you do.

      With a hop, hop here.

      And a hop, hop, there.

      Here a hop, there a hop.

      Everywhere a hop, hop.

      I see something that is green.

      Do you see it too?

      (Have puppets pop up: snake and alligator.)

*This was a huge hit with the kids, but I have to say anytime we jump up and down they love it. I apologize, I can't find where I found this wonderful idea.

Book: I Spy With My Little Eye

*The kids enjoyed this book. Next time I will use the puppets, which I normally do. I think they would have enjoyed this book more that way.

Fingerplay/Flannel: Five Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree

Book: Nighty Night Little Green Monster

*Another great book to read with this age. I think at this point they were done with listening, but they all did quiet down and seem to enjoy this book.

Fingerplay/Flannel: “Five Green Shamrocks” (use puppets)

           Five green shamrocks growing outdoors

      [Alligator] picked one, and that left four.

               Four green shamrocks, green as they can be.

               [Snake] picked one and that left three.

      Three green shamrocks playing peek-a-boo

      [Lion] picked one and that left two.

               Two green shamrocks nodding in the sun,

               [Monkey] picked one, and that left one.

      One green shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day fun.

      [Dinosaur] picked it, and that left none.

*This fingerplay went over great! The kids loved seeing the puppets take my shamrocks. You can find this along with other great St. Patrick's Day fingerplays here.

Dancing: Green Egg Dancing

*We didn't have time to dance with anything today.

Four our craft today, the kids made a turtle! The kids glued down the turtle head, arms, legs, and shell. We used green scrapbook paper for the shell. Below is what our turtle looked like. I found this adorable idea here.

Extra Read-Alouds:

Big Frog Can’t Fit In!

Nighty Night, Little Green Monster!

Where is the Green Sheep?

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!