My Community: Toddler Lap Time, 6/28/13

 My Community: Toddler Lap Time, 6/28/13

Book: This is the Firefighter by Laura Godwin
At the start of story time, only one little girl was in the room, and she was not at all interested in this book. We read it quickly and moved onto the flannel board.

Flannel Board: Five Little Firefighters Putting out the Fire
I wrote this flannel board story, and I'll be sharing it on a future Flannel Friday. The little girl really liked it, and she kept taking the pieces on and off the board.

Book: Police Officers on Patrol by Kersten Hamilton
In the middle of this book, a second little girl joined us. Both girls were very busy, and neither paid very much attention to the story.

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Book: Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman
Just before we started this book, a third toddler joined us - a boy this time. This is the only book they really listened to, and afterwards, they just went crazy.

Activities with Stars

• Rhyme: Stars Up, Stars Down
• Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
• Song: There’s a Star Upon My Head

Song with Puppet: Mr. Sun

Song: Hands Up High 

The last few activities were a blur of foam stars flying through the air and little feet stomping on the steps at the front of  the room. We gave up and just played for a few minutes.

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.

My Community: Drop-In Story Time, 6/28/13

My Community: Drop-In Story Time, 6/28/13

Flannel Board Song: Who are the People in your Neighborhood?

Book: Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook
I think this book works whether kids can guess or not, and in a way, it seems to follow the same concept as the magic envelope - using clues to add up to a bigger picture. I like the way the illustrations tell a secondary story, where the mail carrier delivers an invitation to each community helper, and in the end, they have a party to celebrate the astronaut's launch into space.

Song: The Wheels on the Bus
When in doubt, sing The Wheels on the Bus and end with a verse that shushes grown-ups.

Book: Look What I See! Where Can I Be? In the Neighborhood by Dia L. Michels
I have always loved this book, and I think some of the kids enjoyed it, though the room was somewhat chaotic and it was hard to tell. 

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

Magic Envelope: Firetruck
I forgot to sing hello to the magic envelope, and I actually think that might have worked out for the better. I felt like  the adults paid better attention without the song, but that could have been for any number of reasons, I suppose. In any case, the kids seemed interested in what was happening, and they were pleased when the firetruck emerged. 

Song: Hurry Hurry Drive the Firetruck
I asked all the kids to help me drive the firetruck and they did a great job singing and moving along with me.

Songs with Ukulele: ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / Baa Baa Black Sheep

Song with Puppet: Mr. Sun

Song: Hands Up High

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.

My Community: Preschool Story Time, 6/27/13

My Community: Preschool Story Time, 6/27/13

This story time was unprecedented in the sense that there were three kids in the room and none of them spoke at all the entire time. I am just not used to that! And it wasn't just that they were quiet. They didn't answer direct questions, or even acknowledge that I was in the room. I really hope we can build up a larger audience for this  story time as the summer wears on, because doing this for a group of completely silent kids every week is going to be trying.


Book: Career Day by Anne Rockwell
I have no real commentary about this book, or anything else, because there were no reactions at all. I may as well have been practicing story time for a group of stuffed animals. It was almost creepy. 


Guessing Game: Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?
I created two-sided cards for this game using clipart and riddle clues from kizclub.com.

Book: Whose Shoes? by Stephen R. Swinburne
This would be great to read to a class. Too bad it doesn't fit the rainforest or camping theme or I'd take it with me to the daycare!



Book: Pig Pig Gets a Job by David McPhail 

Craft: Community Helpers Badges from Crayola

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.

Preschool Story Time, 11/14 (Community Helpers Theme)

I hate to say it, but themes are really working for me with his group. I'm using no technology at all, not even a CD player, and it's taking me a lot longer to prepare than it used to, but things are running much more smoothly overall because of that extra preparation. It also probably didn't hurt that today a grand total of four children showed up, and only one made it to the end. In any case, that one child's mom complimented me on the theme, and I felt very confident, even with just the one child in the audience.

Here is my Community Helpers repertoire:

Opening song: Hello, How Are You?

Book: Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue by Peter Catalanotto (2005)
Each of Sophie's 16 calico kittens works with a different community helper. This book is very simple in its structure, which I usually like, but the two times I've read it, it hasn't made a big impression. I really like Catalanotto, though!

Rhyme: This is Dr. Bell

Song: Workers and Their Tools
This is a song I came up with, to the tune of the Wheels on the Bus, which shows how different workers might use their tools. It's not an extraordinarily brilliant song, but it got the kids to interact with me and with their parents. (The title is lame, though. Feel free to call it something else if you use it.)

Book: Firefighters: Speeding! Spraying! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli (2007)
Little boys love firefighter books. This is a gentle look into their lives as brave heroes. Some people get stuck a burning building, but they are quickly rescued, and a happy ending ensues. The rhyming text isn't all that exciting, but we had a great time making siren sounds.

Song: Hurry, Hurry Drive the Firetruck
I am pretty sure this originated on Barney, but I remember it from my last library job.

Book: Career Day by Anne Rockwell,illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell (2000)
A pre-K or kindergarten class invites a series of community helpers to speak about their careers. My favorite of the bunch today, and a hit with the one remaining child in the room when I read it. 

Flannel Board Song: Who Are the People in your Neighborhood?

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

This story time lasted approximately 22 minutes. I had more on the schedule, but decided to leave some of it out when most of my audience left. 

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Other books I considered reading at this story time include:

• Monday is One Day by Arthur Levine, illustrated by Julian Hector
• Meet My Neighbor, the Tae Kwon Do Master by Marc Crabtree
• Police: Hurrying! Helping! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli

Find more Community Helpers story times on these other sites:

• Kasson Public Library
• So Tomorrow
• Wilmette Public Library
• Ready to Read @ ALPL