I had no theme this week, which is what I prefer, but I did pair some of the books with a rhyme or song just to keep the session flowing smoothly.
Opening Song: Clap Along With Me
Book: Potato Joe by Keith Baker (2008, Harcourt)
I love this silly book. Last time I read this - at our temporary library before this one opened - I didn't have a great response, but this group loved it, and they all laughed at my favorite part, which is the appearance of Watermelon Moe! If you don't know this one yet, you must discover it, and share it! Keith Baker is the best.
Song: One, Two I Love You (Numbers Are Our Friends)
I never thought I'd get tired of this song, but I'm starting to. It's time to find a new counting song.
Song: Where is Thumbkin?
Book: Birds by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek (2009, Greenwillow Books)
Another favorite. I love the illustrations, I love the text, I love the concept. This book is perfect. I thought it might be too long for this group, but honestly, the parents were thrilled, and the kids picked up on that enthusiasm. One little one was especially moved to point and shriek when she saw the page with the big and small birds. You can't go wrong with Kevin Henkes!
Flannel Board Rhyme: Five Little Birds (borrowed and slightly adapted from preschoolrainbow.org)
I created a set of birds, a door, a tree, and a sun for my flannel board to accompany this rhyme. I also changed the word "birdies" to "birds." It's just a personal preference, but I'd rather use the proper words than baby talk in a story time.
Five little birds, flying around our door,
The blue one flew away and then there were four.
Four little birds sitting in a tree,
The yellow one flew away and then there were three.
The little birds didn't know what to do,
So the red one flew away, and then there were two.
Two little birds sitting in the sun,
The Brown one flew away, and there was one.
Four little birds sitting in a tree,
The yellow one flew away and then there were three.
The little birds didn't know what to do,
So the red one flew away, and then there were two.
Two little birds sitting in the sun,
The Brown one flew away, and there was one.
One little bird all alone,
She flew away and then there were none.
She flew away and then there were none.
But later on that very day...
five little birds came back to play.
Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider (a cappella sing-along)
Song: Twinkle, Twinkle (a cappella sing-along)
Song: I'm a Little Teapot
A simple lift-the-flap book about zoo animals. The narrator asks the zoo for a pet, but they keep sending animals that are too heavy (the elephant), too fierce (the lion), or too scary (the snake.) Finally, though, they send a puppy, and he is just right!
Song: The Keeper at the Zoo (adapted from here)
I have a bunch of zoo animal puppets that don't get much attention. It's hard to do animal sounds when you have animals like the giraffe in the mix, and there aren't nearly as many zoo songs or books as there are for farm animals. So I have decided to take this song and run with it for a little while.
The keeper at the zoo
The keeper at the zoo
Heigh-ho the derry-oh
The keeper at the zoo
The keeper feeds the [lion]
The keeper feeds the [lion]Heigh-ho the derry-oh
The keeper feeds the [lion]
(Substitute other zoo animals for each subsequent verse)Song: The Wheels on the Bus
Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
I love this version - it's a brass arrangement, and nice and slow for little ones!
Song: Tony Chestnut (a cappella)
I really like this one. My audience stills looks at me like I'm a little bit nuts, but I can also tell that some are starting to become fans.
Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This
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