Preschool Story Time (at another branch), 11/29/12

This was my second session in a row at the branch where I filled in, but these kids were in preschool. We started out the same way as the baby/toddler group, but then we read some longer and more involved stories.

Song with Puppet: Hello, Mrs. Chicken, how are you?

Book: Chicken Big by Keith Graves
This book was the hit of the story time, especially with the boys. The sense of humor would work just as well for early elementary school as for preschool.

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Book: Chicken Little by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

I did something between these two books, but never took note of what it was! I'm sure it was either an action rhyme or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.

Book: Bob by Tracey Campbell Pearson

Song: I Had a Little Rooster
I have never sung this song at story time, and it didn't go over all that well. The only plus was that the kids helped me decide which animals to sing about it. I'd like to try it again with the ukulele and a lot more practice. 

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

I use the same hello and goodbye songs at almost every session. Click here for the tunes and words. For descriptions of each of my story times, click here.

Baby/Toddler Story Time (at another branch), 11/29/12

I was asked to fill in for a children's librarian at another branch during the week after Thanksgiving. I'm always excited to visit other libraries, so this was a great opportunity. I had two groups - babies and toddlers first, followed by preschoolers. For both groups, I did a chicken theme. Here's the repertoire I presented for the baby/toddler group.

Song with Puppet: Hello, Mrs. Chicken, How Are You?

Book: First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Rhyme: Five Eggs and Five Eggs 

Book: Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker

Song: Los Pollitos 
This was my first time ever singing this song a cappella, and I flubbed the last line of the Spanish lyrics. Thankfully, the teachers in attendance were very forgiving. 

Book: Hurry! Hurry! by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Jeff Mack

Song: Over in the Barnyard 

Book: Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Stoeke

Song with puppets: Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Letter of the Day: Letter C
Since I was "on the road" and didn't know whether I'd have a flannel board, I decided to play with the letter C. I showed all the kids that they always have the letter C with them, and they can always make the C shape with their hands. Some of  the older toddlers tried to do it with me, and the adults did it for the babies.

• Chickadee
• This is the Way we Clap our Hands (This song is to the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush." We sang "this is the way we clap our hands," followed by "this is the way we clap up high" and "this is the way we clap down low.")
• Drive, Drive, Drive the Car 

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It 


I use the same hello and goodbye songs at almost every session. Click here for the tunes and words. For descriptions of each of my story times, click here.

Pajama Story Time, 9/11/12 (at another branch) and 9/12/12

I use the same hello and goodbye songs at almost every session. Click here for the tunes and words. For descriptions of each of my story times, click here. 

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big 

Book: Dance By the Light of the Moon by Joanne Ryder, illustrated by Guy Francis

Song: Moon Moon Moon

Rhyme: Dance Your Fingers

Book: Ten Little Sleepyheads by Elizabeth Provost, illustrated by Donald Saaf

Song: Five in the Bed

Book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
This was a huge hit with parents at the other branch, and a big hit with a preschool boy at my branch, who kept making adorable owl sounds. 

Rhyme: There's a Wide-Eyed Owl 

Book: Little Donkey Close Your Eyes by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Ashley Wolff
To make this book more interactive, I asked everyone to say "close your eyes" along with me every time it came up.

Song: Goodnight

Preschool Story Time, 8/22/12 (at another branch)

 I also filled in for preschool story time yesterday! I originally planned a creativity theme, but then ended up making up much of it as I went along.

First, since the school group that came showed up 15 minutes before the start of story time, I had a room full of silly, laughing kids. I decided to channel some of their energy into singing and moving around, so we did that for a few minutes before starting. Then, once it was actually time, we got underway.

Opening Song: Hello how are you? 

Book: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955)

Flannel Board Song: Harold's Other Crayons (see my Flannel Friday post tomorrow for details)

Book: Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman (1995)
As we counted the instruments, I asked the kids to show me the number of fingers for duo, trio, etc.

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

 

Book: Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia

At this point in story time, just before I started to read, the school group got up and started leaving. To keep things somewhat under control, we sang goodbye to the kids as they left, then had everyone who was not with the school and wanted to stay move closer to me so they could hear the  rest of the books.

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

Book: How Can You Dance?  by Rick Walton, illustrated by Ana Lopez-Escriva (2001)
This was a surprising hit. The kids loved talking about the different animals and their movements. I think it was so successful because I really relaxed with and didn't have to compete with chatty adults to get through the story. I'm brainstorming ways to kind of train the nannies back at my own branch on how to listen to a story.

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Baby Time (Transportation Theme), 8/22/12 (at another branch)

I filled in at another branch yesterday morning and had lots of fun with this transportation-themed story time. 

Opening Song: Hello, how are you? 

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Rhyme: Wiggle Fingers 

Book: What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince, illustrated by Giles Laroche (2006)

Song: Bumpin' Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon 

Book: Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia (2008)


Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up 

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby 

Book: My Car by Byron Barton (2001)

Song: Drive, Drive, Drive Your Car 

Flannel Board Rhyme: Seven Snazzy Aunties
Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Book: School Bus by Donald Crews (1984)

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


Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Moon-Themed "On the Road" Story Time #4, 7/30/12

This is the first in a backlog of story times I have yet to post about, and it's the last in the series of moon-themed story times I performed at other branches in my system this July. All of my experiences were wonderful, but this one especially impressed me because there were so many kids in the 3 to 5 age range and because they were so attentive and so engaged. I had a great time! 

Opening song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you?

Book: The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tracey Pearson Campbell (2006)

Song: Moon Moon Moon

Song (with ukulele and flannel board): Aikendrum
This is the only group where everyone clapped and pretended to strum all the way through this song. I think this was partly because I have gotten way more comfortable playing it since the summer started. 

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Book: What's Up? by Mick Manning, illustrated by Brita Granstrom (1997)


Song: Five Little Martians (based on One Little Monster)

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby

Book: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene W. Field, illustrated by Giselle Potter (2008)

Song: Stars Shining Bright 

Book:  Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I'm Off to the Moon by Dan Yaccarino (1997)
The best part of this story was having everyone count down with me from five.


Song: Five Astronauts Went Up in Space

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Moon-Themed "On the Road" Story Time #3, 7/26/12

This "on the road" story time differed greatly from the others for a few reasons. The children's librarian at the branch was unexpectedly not there, so when I arrived, I was asked to start right away (20 minutes early), and to repeat my story time for an additional group afterward. I had also prepared for a preschool audience, but saw many little ones during the first session for whom many of my books were too complex and long. Here's what I came up for that first session, and then for the second one, which skewed slightly older and included one group that had already sat through session one.

Session One 

Opening Song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you?

Book: What's Up? by Mick Manning, illustrated by Brita Granstrom (1997)
This is actually a science book for beginning readers, but without all the captions and sidebars, the text is perfectly appropriate for a younger audience. I wished for some more feedback from the kids each time the text posed a question, but even without a  response, the kids seemed to be engaged.

Song: Moon Moon Moon

Book: Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli (2009)
I didn't bring this book with me, but managed to grab it from the shelf just before story time started. I could have gone without it, as it turns out, but I panicked when I saw babies! 

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Song (with flannel board and ukulele): Aikendrum
The kids thought the broccoli was a tree, which was something I hadn't really anticipated, but they seemed to like the song. 

Book: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004)
This was too long for a third book.  The kids were not interested. I actually think they didn't understand that the moon looked like milk to the kitten.

Song (with paper stars): Stars Shining Bright

Song (with ukulele): Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Song (with flannel board): Five Astronauts Went Up in Space 

Song: Tommy Thumb
I did this song because it takes a long time to sing all six verses, and I couldn't see the clock. I wanted to make sure I wasn't cutting myself too short! (I wasn't. I could have stopped way before this.)

Song: Chickadee 

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

---

Session Two
 
Opening Song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you?

Book: What's Up? by Mick Manning, illustrated by Brita Granstrom (1997)

Song: Moon Moon Moon

Book: The Moon Might Be Milk by Lisa Shulman, illustrated by Lee Hillenbrand (2007)
I was hesitant about reading this book because it is so long, but overall, it went over well. This is one I want to keep in mind for the future, especially as we start trying to do more "story breaks" rather than full-fledged story times, after school this Fall.


Song (with flannel board and ukulele): Aikendrum

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Book: Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats (1981)
This book is different, and that's what I like about it. I think I could have introduced it better, but I don't know if that would have helped the kids click with it or not. I might try it again to see what improvements I can make because I think the concept of flying to the moon with your imagination is great!

Song (with flannel board): Five Astronauts Went Up in Space

Song (with paper stars): Stars Shining Bright
By the end of the second story time, finally, the kids came out of their shells and practically shouted the name of each color. I actually had to start turning the star around and only revealing the color when I was ready to be assailed by shouts. 
 
Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Because of the chaos with the librarian not being there, I skipped the craft. I don't think either group was expecting a craft because they didn't say a thing about it.

Moon-Themed "On the Road" Story Time #2, 7/25/12

This week, my travels brought me to the main branch of my library system for story time. I had a wonderful time, and so did the kids!

Opening Song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you?

Book: The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tracey Pearson Campbell (2006)
This group was pretty big, and the kids were interested in this book, but so talkative they wanted to tell me something about every page. I was thankful that the book was so short, or we might never have made it to the end!

Song: Moon Moon Moon 

Song (with flannel board and ukulele): Aikendrum
This was my best performance of Aikendrum so far. The more times I tell and sing his story, the more comfortable I become, and the more willing to take chances and be a bit more interactive. I asked the kids to clap as I played and - bingo! at least one daycare group did it! It's way more fun to play when people are enjoying it with me.

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Book: Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli (2009)
I couldn't get the group to join in on the refrain so this book was the weakest link this time around.

Song: Five Little Martians
I forgot to start with five martians, and started with just one. So we ended up singing the song counting up  to five, which basically ruins the whole concept. But I'm the only one who noticed, so I guess it's okay.

Five little martians
Five little martians

Five little martians

Beep! Beep! Beep!

One little martian
went home to bed
Now that martian's

fast asleep!

Rhyme: Hop Your Bunnies
I haven't had great luck with this next book as a  read-aloud, and I was losing the kids' attention by this point, so I threw this rhyme in here to get them excited about the  rabbit character. It mostly worked.

Book: Moonlight by Helen V. Griffith (2012)
I tried not to linger over the pages too much, as we were getting restless. I'm not going to use this  book for story time anymore, except maybe for the smaller pajama story time.

Song (with paper stars): Stars Shining Bright
This song is always a success, but this group really made me love it even more. I didn't have velcro on the stars, so I just held them up with my hand, reaching way up with each one as I sang about the star shining above the tree. There was one preschool class who called out the colors in a lovely little chorus which made the song so much fun for all of us.

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby
I threw in the additional "do the twist" verse, and I saw at least one teacher get really excited about it and start rocking out right in her seat. (Why she was sitting, I don't know, but the kids did stand up.)

Book: I Want to be an Astronaut by Byron Barton (1988)
This one surprised me by going over really well for the first time this summer. I don't think I read it differently; it might just be the dynamic of this particular crowd that made it work.

Song (with flannel board): Five Astronauts Went Up in Space 
Since the kids loved calling out their colors for the star song, I incorporated the colors of  the astronauts into this one as well. Every time I put up a new one, we called out the color, and when we put them away, we reviewed the colors and said goodbye to each astronaut.

Song (with ukulele): Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
This is the first story time group ever where the kids actually sang the words along with me. I loved it!

Song: Chickadee

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

I had a coloring sheet and stickers available at the end of story time. More on that after all the "on the road" story times are finished (early next week.)

Moon-Themed "On the Road" Story Time #1, 7/12/12

This summer, as part of our summer reading program, children's librarians in my system are traveling to each other's branches to perform story times. My theme is the moon, and today was my first of the four visits I have scheduled. I went to the library where Lucy from In the Children's Room works, and had a wonderful time with her story time crowd!

Here is what I shared with the kids:

Opening Song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you?
I played the hello song in C instead of A! This might not sound like an accomplishment, but for me it was.

Book: The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tracey Pearson Campbell (2006)
What a delightful surprise it was to see everyone enjoy this book so much. On pages where I thought the poetry was confusing, I used the illustrations to keep the kids interested, pointing out the shape of the moon and the clock face, for example, and showing them the raccoons stealing veggies on the garden wall. I will definitely be using this book again at my own story times, and when I go "on the road" again later in the month.

Song: Moon Moon Moon 

Song (with flannel board and ukulele): Aikendrum
I redid my Aikendrum flannel board for two reasons: the pieces were too small, and none of the kids or nannies could identify spaghetti or meatballs when I held them up individually. For this set, I didn't bother making a ladel, but I made broccoli for the hair, two cookies for the eyes, a cheese nose and a banana mouth. They were all instantly recognizable foods, and the kids knew them all. I also managed to play the entire song without the chords in front of me, and I only made one mistake.  (I played this one in A - which is why the hello song was in C.)

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up

Book: Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli (2009)
I used to fear this book's small number of words. Now I embrace the lovely refrain and have so much fun building up the "high five" at the book's climax.

Song: Five Little Martians 

Remember One Little Finger? Remember One Little Monster? Well, Five Little Martians is yet another piggyback song on the same tune.

Five little martians
Five little martians

Five little martians

Beep! Beep! Beep!

One little martian
went home to bed
Now that martian's

fast asleep!

Book: Moonlight by Helen V. Griffith (2012)
This book is beautiful and poetic and flopped terribly at my own story time. This group seemed to enjoy it, however, especially because it had a bunny.

Song (with pop stick puppets): Stars Shining Bright
I love this song, and the kids loved it too. It was great to have some preschoolers who could name their colors without adult help. 

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby 
I added in an additional verse this time - do the twist. I wasn't crazy about it, but it was nice to have some variety. 

Book: I Want to be an Astronaut by Byron Barton (1988)
This is another one that flopped with my group but was successful today. I think it worked well in this case because it had the context of the specific moon-centric theme. I also think it helps when the group is smaller and the kids can really see the pictures.

Song (with flannel board): Five Astronauts Went Up in Space 

Song (with ukulele): Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

We did a craft at the end of story time - rocket launchers, inspired by this post on Pinterest. I'll make a separate post about the craft itself, once I've been to all four libraries.

Preschool Story Time - Fantasy Theme (@ another branch)

When I heard I was going to do story time at an unfamiliar location, I knew immediately that it was time to resurrect my most successful preschool story time - the fantasy-themed one from November 7. This turned out to be a wise decision, and I actually think the second time around was better than the original! Here's what it looked like today:

Opening Song: Hello, how are you? 


Song: If You'd Like to Read a Book

Book: Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith (2009)
Planning to read this book was a bit of a risk because it's pretty long, and I had no idea whether the kids would be up for it. As it turned out, the group was just the right age for this story, and they absolutely loved it. There are a lot of books I love to read aloud, but I really think I might love this one the most. 

Rhyme: Fierce is the Dragon 
The kids got so into this. It makes me so happy when they enjoy something I wrote.

Song: Where is Thumbkin? (Royal Family Edition)

Book: King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood and Don Wood (1985)
I will never get tired of this book. I love the king's mischievous face, and the playful tone I hear in his voice every time he says, "Come in!"

Song: There is Clapping in the Castle
This song is a lot easier to do a cappella than I realized. I love it!

Flannel Board Song: Royal Crowns (Based on Grandpa's Ties)
This branch has a big black flannel board, which was so perfect for this song. Had I thought of it soon enough, this would have been a great opportunity to let the kids put pieces on the flannel board. If I ever do this again, I'll remember that!

Book: May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illustrated by Beni Montresor (1966)
I am really retiring this one now, I swear. I just couldn't resist.

Flannel Board Song: Five Little Fairies
This is a fantastic song for winding down at the end of story time - and these kids loved fairies!

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Baby Time, 4/4/12 (@ another branch)

One of my colleagues at another branch is off this week, so I offered to cover for her. I did two back-to-back programs - one baby time for kids up to age 2, and one preschool story time for ages 3-5. The groups were very small, which is a change for me - and a welcome one! I had a wonderful time, and I think the kids did, too.

Here is what I did at "Baby Time." (The kids were actually mostly toddlers.)

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Rhyme: Dance Your Fingers

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Flannel Board Rhyme: Let's Make a Noise
This was the official debut of this rhyme - can't wait to use it with my babies at Baby Lap Time tomorrow! 

Book: Mommies Say Shhh! by Patricia Polacco (2007)
I love this book. It is unfortunate that it doesn't mention the dads, but the unique animal sounds (chee, chee, chee for a squirrel, and buff, buff, buff for a dog) are a welcome deviation from the usual farm animal books I read. I especially love the repeated phrase," Bunnies say nothing at all."


Rhyme with Puppets: Two Little Bunnies (based on Two Little Blackbirds)

Song: Head and Shoulders

Song: Tony Chestnut

Book: I'm a Baby, You're a Baby by Lisa Kopper (1994)
I hadn't done this one in a while, and was glad to bring it back out! The pictures are overloaded with human and animal cuteness! 

Flannel Board Song: Here Stands a Robin

Song: Where is Big Toe?

Book: Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker (1999)
Oh, Keith Baker. What would I do without his books? I'm getting ready to retire this one for a while, but was glad to have it as a security blanket in an unfamiliar situation. 


Rhyme: Five Eggs and Five Eggs

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Song: You Are My Sunshine

Song: Chickadee

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

This program was longer than what I would normally do at my own branch, but our standards do say we should provide 30-minute programs, so I didn't want to deviate from that if the audience expected a full half-hour. I lost most of the kids before the end, but only just before.  It's so much easier to hold  the attention of  ten toddlers than one hundred!