Preschool Story Time, 6/7/17

Book: Some Birds by Matt Spink
I have to admit that I hated the preachy "birds should be free" message at the end of this book, but I also thought it would be a crowd pleaser and I was not wrong. I also liked the eye-catching artwork, even if Birds by Kevin Henkes is an overall better choice.

Song: The Little Bird
I did this song without the ukulele, and had the kids do very simple motions. I think I still prefer it with the uke, but it went fine.

Rhyme: Two Little Black Birds

Book: Flamingos Fly by Douglas Florian
I chose this board book because my group is small, the pictures were bright, and the text invites lots of movement. Unfortunately, the movement aspect didn't really catch on, except with my own kids.

Song: Way Up in the Sky

Song: Mr. Sun

Book: Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer
This is a story about a grumpy penguin who washes his grumpiness away in the bath. It was probably the most forgettable book of the session, and the least truly bird-related story.

Song: Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Song: Put Your Hands Up High

Book: Quack and Count by Keith Baker
I lost a couple of the toddlers (including my own) during this book, but the preschool-age kids did seem to enjoy it.

Song: Five Little Ducks

Song: Chickadee

August Story Time Themes

These story times themes for August are a mixed bag of my favorites that didn't quite fit in other months.

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Berries

Suggested Books:

• Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
• Blackberry Ramble by Thacher Hurd 
• Jamberry by Bruce Degen
• The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood

Extension Activities

• Jamberry Felt Story
• Pop Goes the Berry 
• Picked a Strawberry
• Fruit Salad Salsa

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Australia

Suggested Books:

• Hunwick's Egg by Mem Fox
• Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
• Can You Cuddle Like a Koala? by John Butler 
• Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields
• Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes 

Extension Activities

• Kookaburra 
• Taba Naba
• Cuddly Koalas

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Bedtime

Suggested Books:

• The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds by Marisabina Russo
• Feet Go to Sleep by Barbara Bottner 
• Tiger Can't Sleep by S.J. Fore
• Tell Me About Your Day Today by Mem Fox
• Little Donkey Close Your Eyes by Margaret Wise Brown

Extension Activities

• Goodnight
• Monkeys on the Bed
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

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Water

Suggested Books: 

• All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
• Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
• Water in the Park by Emily Jenkins 
• Better Not Get Wet, Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom
• Row Row Row Your Boat by Iza Trapani

Extension Activities

• I Like to Feel the Raindrops Fall
• Five Rowers in a Boat 
• Boots

July Story Time Themes

These story time themes for July involve the Fourth of July, community helpers, and going on vacation.

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America and Independence Day

Recommended Books:

• The Star-Spangled Banner by Peter Spier
• Wow! America! by Robert Neubecker 
• Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger
• Take Me Out to the Ballgame by Maryann Kovalski
• The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
• Red, White and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw

Extension Activities:

• The Irrational Anthem
• Yankee Doodle
• Baseball Player 
• Way Up High in the Apple Tree
• Fireworks Go Snap Snap Snap

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Community Helpers

Recommended Books: 

• This is the Firefighter by Laura Godwin
• Stanley the Mailman by William Bee 
• Career Day by Anne Rockwell 
• Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling 
• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
• Kitten Red Yellow Blue by Peter Catalanotto

Extension Activities

• Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?
• Hurry Hurry Drive the Firetruck
• One Brave Firefighter
• Hats on Everyone

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Traveling

Suggested Books: 

• Sail Away by Donald Crews
• The Bridge Is Up by Babs Bell
• The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant 
• A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee
• In the Driver's Seat by Max Haynes

Extension Activities:

• We All Go Traveling By 
• Drive Drive Drive Your Car 
• My Aunt Came Back
• Let's Take a Ride in an Automobile

Preschool Story Time, 5/17/17 (Garden Theme)

Opening Song: Story Time is Starting

Book: The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
This book was long, but the audience was attentive. It probably helped that they seemed to know Eric Carle's style.

Song: One Seed

Book: The Rose in My Garden by Arnold Lobel, illustrated by Anita Lobel
I hesitated to use this book because it's long and the pictures are hard to see but I wanted to try it anyway. To keep the kids engaged, I had the whole room buzz every time I mentioned the bee. I would probably not use it again without turning it into a flannel board or something more easily seen from a distance, but I was pleased with how well it went over, all things considered.

Song: Head and Shoulders

Song: Put Your Hands Up High

Song: Mr. Sun

Book: My Garden by Kevin Henkes
I think this was the favorite of the session. The chocolate bunnies are always a hit!

Song with Ukulele: My May Garden
In addition to the verses shown in the link, I also added one of my own: Bees in the flowers, buzz buzz buzz... I played the ukulele and let the group make up their own motions, and they did better than if they had been following me!

Book: Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
This was a new-to-me book and I liked the way the story connected to the Mary Mary Quite Contrary nursery rhyme. I think it might have gone over better as the opening book to the session, but I would definitely use it again.

Songs with Shaker Eggs: 

• Can You Shake Your Egg with Me?
• Shake Your Eggs and Stop (with ukulele, to the tune of Ella Jenkins's Stop and Go)
• ABCs/Twinkle/Baa (with ukulele)

Song: Chickadee