A Seuss-y Time! - A Storytime Outline

I had the opportunity to host a special storytime for a visiting group of four year olds today. At the day school the children were learning about Dr. Seuss as his birthday is on Friday, March 2, and so, obviously, I would do a Dr. Seuss storytime! It's the first one I've ever done, so I was excited in trying it out! And... It was AWESOME!!!!The children were super excited and loved every bit of it. Even the teacher asked for a copy of the Cat in the Hat Fingerplay!

P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Green Eggs and Ham written and illus. by Dr. Seuss
My library owns a big book version of this that I'm in love with!

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? written and illus. by Dr. Seuss
Love the participation from the audience!

Ten Apples Up On Top! written by Theo LeSieg (Dr. Seuss) and illus. by Ray McKie 
A fun story and the kids loved connection activity for this, as did their teacher!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (P)
(follow actions)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Cat Tricks! What Can You Do?
(follow actions)
Can you make your mouth make popping sounds?
Can you curl your tongue?
Can you whistle?
Can you wiggle your nose?
Can you make a funny face?
Can you recite the alphabet backwards?
Can you bark like a dog?
Can you do 10 jumping jacks?
Can you spell Lorax?
Can you touch your toes without bending your knees?
Source: Seussville (the Dr. Seuss official website) (this will open as a PDF)

Cat in the Hat Fingerplay (P)
One little cat on a sunny day,
Put on his hat and went out to play.

Two little cats went it started getting dark,
Put their hats on and went to the park.

Three little cats when the sky was blue,
Put on their hats and went to the zoo.

Four little cats by the kitchen door,
Put on their hats and went to the store.

Five little cats on a sunny day,
Put on their hats and they all ran away!
Source: Step by SteCC

If You Like Dr. Seuss (P)
tune: If You're Happy and You Know It
(follow actions)
If you like Dr. Seuss, clap your hands
If you like Dr. Seuss, clap your hands
If you like Dr. Seuss when the Grinch is on the loose
If you like Dr. Seuss, clap your hands.

If you like Green Eggs and Ham, stomp your feet
If you like Green Eggs and Ham, stomp your feet
If you like Green Eggs and Ham then go tell Sam I Am
If you like Green Eggs and Ham, stomp your feet

If you like Cat in the Hat, shout hooray!
If you like Cat in the Hat, shout hooray!
If you like Cat in the Hat though he makes the fish so mad
If you like Cat in the Hat, shout hooray!
Source: Storytimes Online (this will open as a PDF, but it has some great Seuss songs!)
OK, I didn't do this one this time around, but I had it ready in case I needed a backup song!

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (P)
(follow actions)

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

ACTIVITIES

Balancing an Apple (P)
I used my felt apple shapes from a previous storytime for this activity. Each child got one apple to put on their heads. We, then, had to do some things that were from the list of the Cat Tricks before we really got our movement on like jumping up and down on both feet, jumping up and down on one foot, turn around three times, squat down to touch the floor and so on. All the while we had to make sure that the apple didn't fall off our heads. This was inspired by the book Ten Apples on Top, obviously, and it was a huge hit with the kids, parents and the teacher!
 
Scavenger Hunt (P)
My fellow Children's Librarian and I created a visual scavenger hunt for the children to do. We took images from the books, such as the Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, the fishes from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and etc. Everyone got a form that had the images on it and had to find the the place cards we had posted around the children's area like our Storytime Door, Children's Desk and Dr. Seuss display.

PICTURE

Dr. Seuss on the Loose! Scavenger Hunt
created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012