Storytime: Too Many in the Bed

Family storytime for ages 3-8 and their families, with craft.

Books:

The Squeaky Door

by Margaret Read MacDonald and pictures by Mary Newell DePalma

I have a few other versions listed in "Additional Books" but this is my favorite to read to a group. The repetition is a real crowd-pleaser. Be sure to add big SMACKs and long, loud squeaks. I also throw in a motor activity and have them click off the light with me.

Creak! Said the Bed

by Phyllis Root and pictures by Regan Dunnick

The clever, hanging ending and jabs at Dad's snoring keep this a little more entertaining for the parents.  Wouldn't be my first pick for outreach, though.

The Napping House

by Audrey Wood and pictures by Don Wood

An all-time favorite of mine-- even holds the interest of the very youngest audience members. I wanted to make a magnet board out of this story but our laminator was out of commission. Check out this great color pattern pdf from kizclub.com. Search their website if you would prefer the black and white.

Additional Books:

Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly by Judith Mathews and Fay Robinson and pictures by Alexi Natchev

Race You to Bed by Bob Shea

The Squeaky, Creaky Bed by Pat Thomson and pictures by Niki Daly

Songs:

Ten in the Bed

Traditional 

I love this version I found on YouTube. But, I don't think I'd have time to get the kids and chairs set up. We just rolled our arms for "roll over".

Five Little Monkeys

Traditional

Using these darling finger puppets always seems to hold their attention.

Or learn the sign language version.

Craft:

Mouse Paper Craft

from DLTK Kids

We copied the mouse onto white paper and had teen volunteers cut out the pieces. I told the kids they could draw pajamas on their mice if they wanted, since we're "quiet as a mouse" when we go to bed. A bit of a stretch, but nobody noticed.

Storytime: Eggs

Family storytime for kids ages 3-8 and their families, with craft.

Books:

Egg Drop

by Mini Grey

The first group I read this to was horrified by the ending. So, I warned the second group that it wasn't a happy ending, and said "Humpty Dumpty" with them afterwards; which worked much better.

The Odd Egg

by Emily Gravett

Very fun with quirky drawings. Simple enough story to hold the attention of the younger ones, and the illustrations kept the older ones interested.

Additional books:

Cluck, Cluck Who's There? by Caroline Jayne Church and James Mayhew

An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Aston and Pictures by Sylvia Long

Eggbert: The Slightly Cracked Egg by Tom Ross and pictures by Rex Barron

An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni

Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss

What's In That Egg? by Becky Baines

Songs:

"I Know a Chicken" from Laurie Berkner's Whaddaya Think of That

With shaky eggs, of course. To get the adults involved, I told the kids to give an to the adult they came with. Always a hit!

Activity:

"So Many Eggs" from "Liven Up Your Storytimes", a 2010 ALA Presentation by Kathy MacMillan and Christine Kirkner, www.storytimemagic.net

Prepare a nest of plastic eggs. Inside each egg place pictures or figures of animals that come from eggs. Have the child pick out an egg and open it for the group when you say the rhyme.

I found a nest while walking one day.

"Look at all the eggs!" I had to say.

I waited and waited and what did I see?

Craaack! Who hatched? A baby _______ was looking at me.

Craft:

Hatching Egg

I had a volunteer cut out a duck and two "eggs" (just ovals) from the Ellison. Then she cut one of the eggs to appear cracked. The kids glued down torn paper "nests", and the whole egg. Next, they pasted on the chicks. And finally, the adults helped attach the cracked egg with a paper fastener.

Storytime: Snow (2011)

Storytime for children ages 3-8 and their families, with craft.

Books:

Sneezy the Snowman

by Maureen Wright and pictures by Stephen Gilpin

Ten on the Sled

by Kim Norman and pictures by Liza Woodruff



Songs and Activities:

"Snowball: A Scarf Rhyme"
Hand out scarves to each child and demonstrate how to use them throughout the rhyme.

I pull on my mittens.
(pull scarf over each hand in turn)
On my head I put my hat.
(put scarf on head)
I toss on my scarf,
(fling scarf over shoulder)
And I'm out the door like that!

The snow is drifting down,
(let scarf drift down to the floor in front of you)
To the ground just so.
I gather up a bunch of it,
(ball up scarf between hands)
And here's the snowball that I THROW!
(throw the balled scarf)

MacMillan, Kathy and Christine Kirker. storytimestuff @ gmail.com.
"Storytime Stuff Winter Newsletter." www.storytimestuff.net




"Shake Your Scarves" from Johnette Downing's, The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs



Pet Snowball Poem

 I made myself a snowball,
Just as perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet,
And let it sleep with me.
I gave it some pajamas,
And a pillow for its head.
Then, last night it ran away,
But first... it wet the bed!


Craft:

Winter Wonderland Art

The children all had a cut-out of a snowman to paste onto blue paper. Then I gave them torn white paper and chalk to make a snowstorm for the snowmen.

My Montessori Journey has a similar craft.
Torn Paper Snow Scene Art Project

Storytime: Kisses

Family storytime for ages 3-8 and their families, with craft. 

Kisses = A Mom favorite.

Books:

 

How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?

by Varsha Bajaj and pictures by Ivan Bates

(I had the kids make kissing smacks for the number of kisses the animal wanted.)

No More Kissing

by Emma Chichester Clark

How About a Kiss For Me?

by Todd Tarpley and pictures by Liza Woodruff

Additional Books:
I Lost My Kisses by Trudie Trewin and pictures by Nick Bland
If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul and pictures by David Walker
The Kiss That Missed by David Melling
Mama's Kiss by Jane Yolen and pictures by Daniel Baxter

Songs and Fingerplays

A Kiss

There's something in my pocket.

Could it be a moose?

Could it be a train with a bell and a caboose?

Could it be a snake?

Or some sticky glue?

Right here in my pocket is a KISS from me to you.

(blow kiss)

www.thebestkidsbooksite.com

I'm Making You a Pretty Valentine

(Sung to: I'm Squishing Up a Baby Bumblebee)

I'm making you a pretty valentine.

(Act out coloring and cutting, etc.)

Won't you say that you will be mine?

I'm making you a pretty valentine.

It's so special!

I'm giving you my pretty valentine.

(Make a heart with hands and hold it out to adult)

Won't you say that you will be mine?

I'm giving you my pretty valentine.

It's so special!

You said that you will be my valentine!

(Hug adult)

I'm so glad you said you will be mine.

You said that you will be my valentine!

Oh, I love you!

Modified from Perpetual Preschool

Originally by D. Brackbill

"Tony Chestnut" from Tony Chestnut and Fun Time Action Songs

"Skinnamarink"

Craft

Valentines

Cut-out Ellison hearts decorated with tissue paper squares, doilies, heart stickers and crayons.