Baby/Toddler Story Time, 5/3

There was no theme this week, and I did the exact same thing for both sessions.

Opening song: Hello, How Are You?
(This week's actions were clapping hands, waving arms, and tapping knees.)

Book: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (1999)
This book is always an audience favorite. I especially love it when I have folks in the audience who have never heard it before, because it gets really good laughs. George keeps trying to bark, but different animal sounds come out. His mother takes him to the vet, who pulls out all of the animals from the depths of George, only to have him swallow something else unexpected on the way home. 

Song: I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
(Using flannelboard cut outs from kizclub.com.)

Book: My Mom by Anthony Browne (2005)
I had to at least acknowledge Mother's Day, so I read this book, about a mom who is "really, REALLY nice" as well as a juggler, dancer, possible astronaut, and excellent cook. I love the way Anthony Browne's illustrations alternate between reality and imagination. I love that Mom's lips aren't there at all until she puts on lipstick, and the page where Mom is portrayed as a butterfly is beautiful and perfect. One of the better Mother's Day titles out there, in my opinion, and one that can be read all year round. Also, it wins for having an amazing cover.

Song: Love Grows (a cappella sing-along)
I learned this song from my mom, who sings it with her pee wee campers in the summer. I'll have to track down the tune!

Love grows

One by one

Two by two 

And four by four 

(hold up the corresponding numbers of fingers)

Love grows 

around like a circle

and comes back knocking

at your front door. 
(draw a circle in the air, then pretend to knock)

Song: I'm a Little Teapot

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes

Flannel Board Rhyme: Five Little Birds (borrowed and slightly adapted from preschoolrainbow.org)

Book: Mommy, Where Are You? by Leonid Gore (2009)
This lift the flap book shows Ozzy the mouse hunting high and low for his mother. After coming upon many, many animals that are not his mother, there is finally a happy reunion, after which they share a cheese breakfast. Nothing new here, really - it's basically a shorter version of Are You My Mother? but it's still a nice book for this age group. The adults didn't have the attention span for a third book in either session, unfortunately. I might have to start cutting it down to two and really stretching those.

Song: Monkeys on the Bed

Song: Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Song: There's a Little Wheel a-Turnin' in my Heart

Goodbye Song: Skinnamarink