Flannel Friday: Colorful Kings

Lately, I've been doing story times with a color theme, mostly just as a way of organizing all my greatest hits into a coherent structure so that I can have a little variety as summer winds down. This morning, finding myself not fully satisfied by one of my green-themed rhymes, I decided to put a new twist an old favorite flannel board.

Thus, King Green was born.

King Green wears a green crown all the time.

When he's feeling fancy, he also wears a green tie. 

When he's feeling cold, he wears a green scarf.

When it rains, he carries a green umbrella and wears green boots.

When it snows, he wears green mittens.

When he needs some good luck, he wears a shamrock.

I attempted to sing about each of these items, to the tune of Mary Wore Her Red Dress. "The King wore his green crown..." etc. Unfortunately, I got nervous and forgot the ukulele chords, so it didn't work so well. However, the concept is good. It's a great way to use some of  those forgotten flannel pieces, and it can be adapted to any color. I plan to do a rainbow-themed story time in a couple of weeks, when I'm finished with individual colors, and when I do, I think King, Queen, or Princess Rainbow might make an appearance as well.

Today's Flannel Friday Round-Up is hosted by Liz at Putting Smiles on Faces.

Baby/Toddler Story Time (Yellow Theme), 7/31/12

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Rhyme: Blue is the Lake

 

Book: This is the Sunflower by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Donald Crews (2000)

When the nannies find a book boring, they choose not to listen. This was such a book. I've tried this one a couple of times, and it is not something I'll use in this story time again. 

Song (with ukulele and flannel board): Oh Yellow Flower

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby

Rhyme:  Here is the Earth

I needed a simple night-themed rhyme, so I wrote this one:

Here is the earth so big and round.

Here is the moon so bright.

And here are the stars that sparkle and shine

all through the night. 

Book: The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes (2008) 

Rhyme: Lemon Tree
This rhyme from Everything Preschool was actually very well-received. The kids didn't do it themselves, but watching me do the motions seemed to really entertain them. 

Book: School Bus by Donald Crews (1984)

Song (with ukulele): The Wheels on the Bus 

What a disaster. The adults know this song better than any other, but unless I do the motions, they won't do them, even when I demonstrate the motion before each verse. I won't do this one with the ukulele again.

Book: Five Little Ducks by Ian Beck (1993)

Song: Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell 

Song: Chickadee

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

Summer Baby Lap Time #3, 7/27/12

Since I was out doing story time at another branch, I once again missed the Thursday session of Baby Lap Time last week, but I was back for Friday. I did mostly old favorites, with just one or two new things thrown in.

Opening Song: Please Tell Us Your Name

Rhyme: Cheek Chin

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Song: Dance Your Fingers

Book: Whose Toes are Those? by Jabari Asim, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (2006)

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby

Book: Goodnight, Owl by Dwell Studio (2011)

Song: Two Little Owls
This is an old song by Burl Ives that I found on YouTube. It has many more verses  than I used, but the owl verse is really cute and easy to learn.

Song: Mrs. Moon (based on Mr. Sun)

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It 

Rhyme: Hey, Diddle Diddle

Song with Shaker Eggs: ABCs

Song with Shaker Eggs: Can You Shake Your Egg With Me? 

Song with Shaker Eggs: Shake My Sillies Out 

Goodbye Song: Shaker Egg Goodbye Song

6 New York City Novels for Tweens & Teens

	The New York Four by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly An NYU Freshman gets comfortable in New York City in this YA graphic novel.
	Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen In May 1929, three young women arrive in New York City, set on making their dreams come true, but soon discover the harsh truth of making it on their own.
	Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick Though they are initially strangers living far apart in time, Ben and Rose both find their destiny in the Big Apple.
	Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson In her family's struggling hotel, Scarlett's job is to look after the needs of their sole guest, an eccentric woman named Mrs. Amberson.
	Secret Society by Tom Dolby Students at a prep school are tapped for a secret society, but they're not prepared for the grueling initiation.
	The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor Three best friends try to survive their separation as high school begins and each one attends a different school.