Love to Read Storytime!

I recently hosted a Love to Read storytime in honor of Library Card Sign up Month! This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson
Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier

Songs

If You're a Reader and You Know It
Courtesy of Storytime Katie

I added a few extra movements to the song. We stomp our feet and tap our knees.

Craft

Frog Bookmark!

Supplies:

• Light and dark green card stock
• Red ribbon
• Google Eyes
• Glue
• Black marker

Instructions:

I used a circle Ellison stamp to cut the circles. Then I folded one circle in half and glued half of it to the other circle. This will give you a mouth. Then I glued the ribbon inside the top circle. The smaller circles were used to make the eyes. I glued them to the top of the head, then placed the google eyes in the center. I simply drew the nose on with a black marker.

Bubbles and Bathtime!

I used this theme in my Toddler Time program. It was a lot of fun! The kids loved the bath books and bubble songs. The scarf play at the end was especially fun.

Books

Time for a Bath by Phillis Gershator
Bears in a Bath by Shirley Parenteau

Songs & Fingerplays

Bubbly Bath
Courtesy of Madison Public Library.

Five Elephants in a Bathtub
Courtesy of Storytime Katie.

Activity

Scarf Play

This is the Way We Wash Our Face
Inspired by Anne's Library Life.

In our version, we wiggle the scarf in front of each body part.  We washed our face, toes, knees, and tummies.

Let's Go Riding in an Elevator
Courtesy of Jbrary. 

Afterwards, I played the song Splish Splash by Bobby Darin from the CD A Child's Celebration of Rock 'N' Roll.

Following the program, the kids colored a bath and rubber duckie picture!

Image Courtesy of Sweet Clipart.

Farm Fun Storytime

Today I had my first preschool storytime after summer reading! The theme was farm fun. It was a hit! The kids, and caregivers, loved the books, songs, activity, and craft. I highly recommend the songs and materials for a preschool program.

Books

Cock-A-Moo-Moo by Juliet Dallas-Conte
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

There was lots of laughter and excitement with these books!

Songs and Fingerplays

When Cows Wake Up in the Morning
Courtesy of Jbrary.


I accompanied this song with a flannel board. I made the animals out of foam sheets. I incorporated a few different animals than the Jbrary version. We sang about cows, sheep, ducks, horses, pigs, and hens.

The Animals on the Farm

There are many versions of this song, but mine is close to the version on Free Preschool Activities. Our version includes cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, and horses.

Little Duck
Courtesy of Storytime Katie.


Activity

Bubbles!
I used songs from the CD Kids Wanna Rock! by Mr. Al.

Craft

Baby Chick

Supplies:

• Yellow card stock
• Basket grass 
• Blue card stock
• White card stock
• Feathers
• Glue sticks
• Baby chick graphic courtesy of Sweet Clipart.

Storytime Update!

Hi everyone! I'll be back next week with regular storytime postings! Our library takes a break from storytime programming during the summer to keep up with the traffic of summer reading! I'm excited to get back into a routine after a busy and successful summer. Our first preschool storytime will be Farm Fun for children ages 3 to 6!

Image courtesy of sweetclipart.com

Under the Sea Storytime!

This program was for children ages 3 to 6.

Books

Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck
My Octopus Arms by Keith Baker

The Sharks in the Sea
(To the tune "The Wheels on the Bus")

The sharks in the sea go
Chomp, chomp, chomp,
(clap hands)
Chomp, chomp, chomp,
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
The sharks in the sea go
Chomp, chomp, chomp
All day long!

Other Verses
Fish go splash
(tap knees)
Lobsters go pinch
(make a claw with hand)
Clams go open and shut
(open and shut hands like a shell)
Octopus goes wiggle
(wiggle fingers)

Bubble, Bubble, Pop!
Courtesy of Jbrary

I'm a Big Whale
Courtesy of Preschool Education

Instead of "I am swimming" we sing "I am splashing" while tapping our knees.

I Had a Little Turtle
Courtesy of Jbrary

The kids loved this song!


Activity

Bubbles!

After the stories, I turned on the bubble machine! The kids absolutely love it. I played the song Sea Cruise from the CD Pirate Party.

Craft

Paper Plate Fish

Supplies:

• Orange paper plate
• Orange cupcake wrapper
• Google eyes
• Orange construction paper 
• Glue stick

Pasta Dinosaur Skeletons

I hosted a pasta dinosaur craft program for children of all ages! It's super easy and a lot of fun.

Supplies:

• Brown Card Stock
• School Glue
• Dried pasta in a variety of shapes

Twisted Fairytale Storytimes

I used this theme for a past storytime. The program was for children ages 4 to 6.

Books

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot by Scott Magoon
The Three Billy Goats Fluff by Rachel Mortimer 

Songs & Fingerplays

The Muffin Man

Activity

Snowman Beanbag Toss

This program took place during the winter, so I used the snowman game toss! It's always a huge hit.

Craft

Three Little Pigs and Big Bad Wolf stick puppets

 

Supplies:

• Cardstock
• Crayons
• Popsicle Sticks
• Glue or tape to adhere the puppets 

I located the cutouts on Pinterest.