Spring is almost in the air… which means it’s time for some of my favorite books and songs about baby animals! Family time was so much fun last Saturday. Here’s the rundown:
Welcome/Opening Songs:
- If You’re Happy & You Know It
- Shake My Sillies Out
ABC Routine: Letter H
Transition/Fingerplay: Dance Your Fingers
Book #1: What Will Hatch? by Jennifer Ward
I was really excited to read this nonfiction book to the crowd, but they just didn’t seem that into it. I may try reading this again at a later point during storytime after everyone wakes up a little. 🙂
Book #2: Egg by Kevin Henkes
This one went over much better! The repetition really drew the young ones in, plus they liked knocking along with me, trying to crack the egg open.
Shaker Song: Bunny Hop – Katherine Dines
Katherine Dines is the best. I was lucky enough to participate in her closing session at CLEL last year and I’ve been in love with her music ever since! 🙂 We loved this song so much, we had to play it two times through. Be ready to hop, stop and wiggle!
Transition: Little Duck, Little Duck
“Little Duck, Little Duck”
Little duck, little duck, waddle around.
Little duck, little duck, touch the ground.
Little duck, little duck, wings go flap.
Little duck, little duck, say “Quack Quack!”
Little duck, little duck, jump into the river.
Little duck, little duck, give a little shiver.
Little duck, little duck, shake your feet.
Little Duck, little duck, find your seat.
___
Credit: Carol Garnett Hopkins, Artsy Toddler Storytimes
Book #3: Nope! A Tale of First Flight by Drew Sheneman
This mostly wordless picture was SO. MUCH. FUN. It was definitely the crowd’s favorite and mine as well. We practiced some actions before we started reading (saying nope and swinging our finger, pretending to look down from a tree). By the time we got towards the end of the book, the kiddos felt comfortable enough to help narrate.
My Twitter friends voted for a video, so here I go! Please do pay special attention to the disclaimers. I’m not an expert! This is just worked well for me. 🙂
The best part for me was the mom who came up after storytime asking for more wordless books to take home! She said she never felt brave enough to try before, but reading one together at storytime gave her confidence.
Book #4: Charlie Chick by Nick Dechenfield
Who doesn’t love a good pop up book? This was a fun book to finish with and it was the perfect transition for our flannel game.
Fun Fact:
You may have heard play is the work of childhood and it’s true! We develop so many skills through play, like our motor skills when we run and play tag. Today we’re going to play a fun game and practice recognizing colors!
Thanks to an ALSC Webinar I took awhile ago, I now call my early literacy tip my fun fact of the day. Parents really do seem to listen better. It’s amazing what a difference being deliberate with your words can make!
Flannel: Little Chick, Little Chick
Little Chick
Little chick, little chick,
Where did you fly?
Is that you
Behind the yellow egg I spy?
(repeat with other colors)
___
Template: clip art courtesy of My Cute Graphics
That’s all folks! It was a fun day!
Storytime in the Stacks 
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