Tales for Fours and Fives, 8/11

Only two more (possibly one more) Tales for Fours and Fives before summer comes to an end! While I enjoy being able to read longer and more complex books, there has never really been an audience for this age group, so I don't think there is a real need for it. Still, though, today's group was nice and small and we had a great time.

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Book: My Little Sister Hugged an Ape by Bill Grossman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (2004)
This is one of the best - and most hilarious - rhyming books I have ever read. Just perfect for this age - and especially for boys with little sisters!



Song: Shake My Sillies Out

Book: Bob by Tracey Campbell Pearson (2002)
A rooster learns to crow, but not before making a lot of other noises. The funniest moment in this entire book was when the owl says "Whooo? Whooo? Whooo?" and Bob whispers back, "Bob, Bob, Bob." That was the highlight for today's group!

Song: Monkeys on the Bed

Song: ABCD Medley

Book: Doodler Doodling by Rita Goldman Gelman, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky (2004)
Surprisingly, it was the babies and toddlers who loved this book, not the older kids.

Song: Wheels on the Bus (Raffi version)

Song: Chickadee

Song: Skinnamarink
If I was going to continue this story time in the future, I'd work on finding some new songs. They worked well for the younger siblings, but the older kids were annoyed by them. In fact, if I ever do story time for older kids like this again, I'd think about doing no songs at all outside of the hello and goodbye.


Do you sing songs with kids in this age group? What about with Pre-K and K class visits? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in comments!

6 Epistolary Books for Kids

	Dear Mrs. LaRue by Mark Teague The family dog writes home from obedience school but exaggerates about how he's being treated. Humorous illustrations reveal the truth.
	Regarding the Fountain by Kate and M. Sarah Klise Sixth graders at Dry Creek Middle School correspond with a wacky artist who will design their school's new fountain.
	Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary Leigh Botts deals with his parents' divorce by writing to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw.
	The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg A postman delivers the mail to fairy tale characters.
	Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin A demanding group of farm animals uses a typewriter to negotiate with their farmer.
	Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse A young girl named Rifka chronicles her family's escape from 1919 Russia.

Baby/Toddler Story Time, 8/9

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Book: Dogs by Emily Gravett (2009)
Emily Gravett is such a good author/illustrator for mixed age groups. This book has an especially great ending.

Flannel Board Song: How Much is that Doggie in the Window? (first verse only, with puppet)

Song: One Little Finger

Book: Big Little Lion by Lillian Hoban (1997)
Simple, but sweet story about a little lion who wants to do what big lions do. Lots of great sound words in this one. Babies, especially, enjoyed the swish, swish. 

Song: Rum Rum Sum

Song: Shake My Sillies Out

Song: I'm a Little Teapot 

Flannel Board Rhyme: Five Enormous Dinosaurs
*Stay tuned - I'll be posting the clip art for Flannel Friday this week!

Five enormous dinosaurs letting out a roar. (Let me hear you roar! ROAR!)
One stomped away (stomp, stomp, stomp stomp)

and then there were four.

Four enormous dinosaurs knocking down a tree. Clunk!
One stomped away (stomp, stomp, stomp stomp)

and then there were three.

Three enormous dinosaurs eating tiger stew. Ew!
One stomped away (stomp, stomp, stomp stomp)

and then there were were two.

Two enormous dinosaurs sitting in the sun.
One stomped away (stomp, stomp, stomp stomp)

and then there was one.

One enormous dinosaurs left all alone.
He stomped away (stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp)

and then there were none.

Song: One, Two, I Love You (Numbers Are Our Friends)

Song: Cuddly Koalas

Song: ABCD Medley

Song: Chickadee

Song: Skinnamarink

Family Story Time, 8/8

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Book: Little Green by Keith Baker (2001)
I love Keith Baker, and this is a great picture book featuring a hummingbird, his various movements, and one boy's attempt to capture them with paint.

Song: Did You Ever See?
I have a very small hummingbird finger puppet, and some other flying animal puppets - owl, bumblebee, and ladybug for today  - so we sang this song to go along with our book.

Book: Hello Twins! by Charlotte Voake (2006)
This is a sweet and straightforward book about the differences between a brother and sister who happen to be twins.


Song: Shake My Sillies Out

Song: Head and Shoulders

Book: My Elephant by Petr Horacek (2009)
A boy has an imaginary elephant friend who gets blamed for messes made throughout Grandma and Grandpa's house. This book has a really cute ending, and the kids seemed to like it, even if I'm not sure the whole imaginary friend concept was something they understood.

Song: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
We did the recorded version today, since it ends with an elephant.

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Song: ABCD Medley

Song: Chickadee

Goodbye Song: Skinnamarink