Opposites - A Storytime Outline

This was fun theme to present to the children. The books were great and the flannel board was awesome!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

A Garden of Opposites written and illus. by Nancy Davis(T)

Where is the Green Sheep? written by Mem Fox and illus. by Judy Horacek (T)
I ::LOVE:: this book! Any chance to tie into a program theme I will read it!

Opposnakes: A Lift-the Flap Book About Opposites written and illus. by Salina Yoon (T)
The toddlers liked the pictures in this book, especially they unfolded and made the book really long!

Round Trip written and illus. by Ann Jonas (P)
I saw a Children's Librarian read this book back when I was a Library Assistant years and years ago and ever since I had wanted to read the book in my own storytime. Finally I have!

Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit written and illus. by Catherine Rayner (P)
This is such a fun book! I love the ending as did the kids!

Big Smelly Bear written and illus. by Brita Teckentrup (P)
The parents thought that this was a funny book!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, 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.

Five Clean and Dirty Pigs (T, P)
Five pigs so squeaky clean
Cleanest you've ever seen
Wanted to go outside and play
Oink! Oink!
One jumped into the mud
Landed with a big THUD! (make a big clap to some sound effect, if you want)
Then there were four clean squeaky pigs.

Repeat, counting down

One pig so squeaky clean
Cleanest you've ever seen
Wanted to go outside and play
Oink! Oink!
He jumped into the mud
Landed with a THUD
Then there were no more clean squeaky pigs

Remember to count how many dirty piggies you have! 
Source: Mel's Desk via Storytime Katie 

The Itsy Bitsy Spider (T, P)
(follow actions with your fingers and arms)
The itsy bitsy spider (move your fingers like a spider going upward)
went up the water spout.
Down came the rain (wiggle your fingers like rain is falling)
and washed the spider out! (sweep with your hands like the a wave of water washed the spider out)
Out came the sun (raise arms overhead in a circle to make a sun)
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider (make your finger spider go upwards again!)
went up the spout again! 

The Great Big Hairy Spider (T, P)
tune: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
(follow actions)
The great big hairy spider
climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain
and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun
and dried up all the rain.
And the great big hairy spider
climbed up the spout again!

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, 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.

FLANNEL BOARD

Five Clean and Dirty Pigs (T, P)
I saw the flannel boards for this on both Mel's Desk and Storytime Katie's blogs and fell in love. The pigs are adorable! So, obviously I had to make some for myself. The rhyme was a a huge hit!

CRAFT

Clean Pig, Dirty Pig (T)
Inspired by our flannel board, the toddlers got to make a craft that hand on clean pig and one dirty pig. A lot of the children actually understood the concept!

Black and White Pictures (P)
This craft was based off of Jonas' book. The children had to glue random shapes made from white construction paper on to a sheet of black construction paper. I had made a funny looking boat on a lake. Some of the resulting pictures were cars, rockets, and balloons. It was fun to see the imagination flowing in the artwork!

ACTIVITY

Egg Shakers (T, P)
We all got to play with the egg shakers. We shook them really hard and fast to make it loud. Then we shook them slow and soft to make it quiet. We shook toward the sky and down by the ground as well as in front of us and behind us. Egg shakers are always a lot of fun!

PICTURE

Piggies are soooo cute!

Five Clean and Dirty Pigs flannel board,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2011

Clean Pig, Dirty Pig, Toddler Storytime craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2011

What's in my Pocket? - A Storytime Outline

Just as with the What's in a Box storytime theme, I had always wanted to do a storytime about pockets. I must say it was harder to plan this one than the box theme, but it all turned out quite well! The rhymes and flannel boards was the glue for everything, plus they were super fun!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime 

BOOKS

What Did You Put in Your Pocket? written by Beatrice Schenk de Regmiers and illus. by Michael Grejniec (T, P)
This was actually for our flannel board fun!

Pouch! written and illus. by David Ezra Stein (T, P)

Carrot in My Pocket written by Kitson Flynn and Denise Ortakales (P)

There's a Wocket in My Pocket! written and illus. by Dr. Seuss (P)
OK, so this isn't really about pockets, but you can't go wrong with Dr. Seuss... though I did need just a little more practice on some of those tongue twisters!

BOOKS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, 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.

A Great Big Happy Smile (aka Something in my Pocket) (T, P)
I've got something in my pocket (hand one hand sideways and put the fingers of the hand inside it like a pocket)
That belongs across my face
I keep it very close (put your hand pocket close to your heart)
In the most convenient place
I'm sure you wouldn't guess it
If you tried a long, long while
So I'll take it out and put it on... (take your hand out of the other)
It's a great big (storytime) smile! (pretend to put on a smile)
Source: Perry Public Library (this will open a s a Web view of a PDF)

What's in my Pocket? (T, P)
I have a little pocket where something can hide.
It opens doors and starts the car.
Do you know what's inside? (key)

I have a little pocket where something can hide.
It's used to draw in a coloring book.
Do yo know what's inside? (crayon)

I have a little pocket where something can hide.
It shows you when it's time for bed.
Do you know what's inside? (clock)

I have a little pocket where something can hide.
It lights up a dark room.
Do you know what's inside? (flashlight)
Source: This was a flannel from my library, but you can find this also at So Tomorrow.


In My Pockets (T, P) - I didn't get a chance to do this one but perhaps next time and even as a flannel board!
The things in my pockets are lots of fun (hold up five fingers)
I will show you one by one

In my first pocket is a frog (point to thumb)
I found him sitting on a log.

In my second pocket is a car (point to index finger)
It can race off very far.

In my third pocket is a ball (point to middle finger) 
I can bounce it on a wall.

In my fourth pocket is a bunny (point to ring finger)
She twitches her nose and looks so funny.

In my fifth pocket is a dog (touch pink to frog)
He's a friend of my little frog.
Source: Harris County Public Library

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)
Touch Your Nose
(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.

FLANNEL BOARD

What Did You Put in Your Pocket? (T, P)
Based off of Beatrice Schenk de Regmiers' book, I created a giant pocket and a large number of everything that ends up in the pocket. I read the book and every time something new was added, the children with the corressponding shape got to go up to the board and put into the pocket. It was loads of fun!


What's in My Pocket? (T, P)
I need to make my own copy of this flannel board guessing game. The children on both programs loved it!

CRAFT

Pocket Necklace (T, P)
This was a really simple craft. I cut out pocket shapes from construction paper. The children, with the help from me and their guardian, they got to staple their pocket shut and add string to it so that it turned into a necklace. I gave them a fat pencil and a bookmark for them to put in their pockets. 

PICTURE

Look what the toddlers and preschoolers put in the pocket!

What Did You Put In Your Pocket? book inspired flannel board,
created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2011

Whoo-Hoo Owls - A Storytime Outline

Whoooo likes owls? Everyone! It's a great theme for anytime of year, but it was really nice during the fall harvest season.  For my Preschool Storytime I brought a Folkmanis owl puppet for the children to see before the program started (I didn't do with the Toddlers cause it's quite dark and scary looking). The kids loved it! They even started feeding the owl pretend dead mice! It's great!

T = Toddler Storytime

P = Preschool Storytime  

BOOKS

"I'm Not Cute!" written and illus. by Jonathan Allen (T)
Oh, yes he is!

"Wow! Said the Owl written and illus. by Tom Hopgood (T, P)
I love this book and it's use of colors!

Good-Night, Owl! written and illus. by Pat Hutchinson (T)

The Life Cycle of an Owl written by Ruth Thompson (T, P)
We looked at the pictures.

"I'm Not Scared!" written and illus. by Jonathan Allen (P)
Yes, he is! A little girl in Preschool Storytime said that he was scared and that he was a liar!!!! Oh my gosh! I had to catch my breath from laughing and agreeing with her so that I could finish the story!

Cock-a-Doodle-Hooooooo! written by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom (P)
So cute! The parents liked it too!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, 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.

If You're an Owl and You Know It (T, P)
tune: If You're Happy and You Know It
(follow actions)
If you're an owl and you know it hoot like this "Hoo(t), hoo(t)..."
If you're an owl and you know it hoot like this "Hoo(t), hoo(t)..."
If you're an owl and you know it then your hoot will surely show it
If you're an owl and you know it hoot like this "Hoo(t), hoo(t)..."

continue with other lyrics:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Blink your eyes (blink eyes and open and close hands to help mimic the movement)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)
Source: Librarian Lisa

The Wide-Eyed Owl (T, P)
(follow actions)
There's a wide-eyed how (circle your eyes with your hands)
With a pointed nose (make a beak with your fingers)
Two pointed ears (make ears with your fingers)
And claws for toes (wiggle your "claws")
He lives way up (point way up)
In the tree (spread your arms out to mimic the canopy of a tree)
And when he looks at you (point to the children)
He flaps his wings (yep, flap your wings)
And says, "Whoo! Whoo!" (keep those wings flapping!)
Source: Librarian Lisa

Five Little Owls (T, P)
Five little hoot owls siting in a tree
One flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three, four.

Four little hoot owls sitting in a tree
One flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three.

Repeat, counting down.

One little hot owl sitting in a tree
It flew away! How many do you see?
None!
Source: Sunflower Storytime via Storytime Katie 

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, 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. 

FLANNEL BOARDS

Five Little Owls (T, P)
I ::loved:: the owls that Leah of Sunflower Storytime and Katie of Storytime Katie made for this rhyme. Sooo, I had to make some for myself!

CRAFT

O is for Owl (T)
For this craft I just printed a picture of an owl that the toddlers could color as well as paste a letter O onto the tummy. Everything was then glued onto a piece of construction paper.

Owl Figurines (P)
This was a great way to use some of the toilet paper tubes piling up in the supply closet. Bend down the middle on one end to make the ears. Add some wings (a heart cut in half), a beak, googly eyes and some feathers to finish off this cute owl!

PICTURES

 Owl Figurine, Preschool Storytime Craft,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2011

More is coming!

Cool Winter Fun - A Storytime Outline

In 2011, when I did this storytime, it was actually cold outside! It was perfect! Side note, in 2010 when I did a similar theme it was 70-80 degrees. Not as a much fun! The children had a great time at this program. My favorite part was doing the song "The Mitten in the Snow" because of the flannel board I created.

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

No Two Alike written and illus. by Keith Baker (T)
One of the library's newer books. I love the illustrations!

Frozen Noses written by Jan Carr and illus. by Dorothy Donohue (T)
Having fun in the snow and getting frozen noses!

A Hat for Minerva Louise written and illus. by Janet Morgan Stoeke (T)
Oh, Minerva Louise, I love you! The parents liked this one too!

Snow Dance written by Lezlie Evans and illus. by Cynthia Jabar (P)
I loved this rhyming story. Who doesn't like dancing in the snow (or the rain!)?

Froggy Gets Dressed written by Jonathan London and illus. by Frank Remkiewicz (P)
This is always a crowd-pleaser. The children had fun guessing what he had forgotten to put on. 

Snow written and illus. by Manya Stojic
The snow is coming! I love this book from the words to the illustrations!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, 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.

Boots and Parka, Scarf and Hat (T, P)
tune: Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes
(touch the areas that you wear these items of clothing!)
Boots and parka, scarf and hat (feet, arms, neck, and head)
Scarf and hat
Boots and parka, scarf and hat
Scarf and hat
In wintertime we dress like that!
Boots and parka, scarf and hat
Scarf and hat!
Source: Mel's Desk 

The Mitten in the Snow (P)
The mitten in the snow
The mitten in the snow
Help us please so we won't freeze!
The mitten in the snow.

A mole squeezes in
A mole squeeze in
Help us please so we won't freeze!
The mitten in the snow.

A rabbit squeezes in
A rabbit squeezes in
Help us please so we won't freeze!
The mitten in the snow.

Continue with the other animals:
Hedgehog
Owl
Badger
Fox
Bear (yes, even a bear!)
Mouse

The bear says, "A-choo!"
The bear says, "A-choo!"
All the animals fly out of
The mitten in the snow!
Source: Mrs. Jones Room

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, 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.

FLANNEL BOARD

The Mitten in the Snow (P)
It was a lot of fun to get all those animals "into" the mitten. When it came to when the animals flying out I just pulled the full mitten away from the board (the animals stayed put ... ah, the power of felt!) and I shook it! The animals really did go flying!

Hidden Snowball Guessing Game (T, P)
See the Activity below.

CRAFT

Mitten Decoration (T)
I made lots and lots of construction mittens with the die cut machine. The children glued them onto onto another sheet of construction paper and had to decorate them with cotton balls and crayons.

Snow Guessing Page (P)
This was inspired by our activity. Each child got a pair of mittens, a length of yarn (remember the old days when your mittens were like that?), a snowball and some glitter glue! On a piece of construction paper, the had put the snow then cover it with one of the mittens. The mittens were only glued on at the bottom so that they could be flappy. Then they decorated to their hearts content with the glitter glue, a rare treat! Once it was done the children could ask someone behind which mitten the snowball was. All you had to do was pull down the flap to find out!

ACTIVITY

Hidden Snowball Guessing Game (T, P)
This was inspired by Anne from So Tomorrow. The children had to guess which mitten a couple of snowballs were hiding behind. It was a huge hit, especially with the preschool children. Sometimes someone would find one by accident, but that made it fun for the parents and let us all laugh in silliness!

We said this rhyme a couple before we got caught up in the fun!

Snowball, snowball,
Cold and round,
Behind which mitten
Can you be found?!

PICTURES

The Mitten in the Snow flannel board
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2011

Hidden Snowball Guessing Game,
Created by Dorothy WP-CC, 2011

EXTRA BOOKS

Red Sled written by Patricia Thomas and illus. by Chris. L. Demarest
I discovered this book after the storytime and wish that I had it for the Toddler Storytime. Next time I will use it! It's so cute!

Jump and Move - A Storytime Outline

You always have wigglers in your storytime. No matter what. This is the perfect storytime for those little ones! This is also just a plain good theme to have for any day, especially those ones when you need to get up and move or else you turn into real slugs!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Busy Lizzie written and illus. by Holly Berry (T)

In a Small, Small Pond written and illus. by Denise Fleming (T)

The Cuddle Book written and illus. by Guido Van Genechten (T)
This book is adorable! Some moms actually began to cuddle their toddler during this story.

From Head to Toe written and illus. by Eric Carle (P)
The kids really liked matching the actions of the animals found in this book!

Wiggle written by Doreen Cronin and illus. by Scott Menchin (P)

Hop Jump written and illus. by Ellen Stoll Walsh (P)
Why jump and hop when you can dance?!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, 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.

Bluebird Through My Window (T)
Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Bluebird, bluebird through my window,
Oh, Johnny (or Mommy/Daddy) I'm tired.

Continue with other colored birds, yellow, red, green, and etc.

Head and Shoulders (T, P)
(follow actions)
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Eyes and ears
And mouth and noes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes.

Repeat signing and moving at different speeds (slow and fast)

If You're Happy and You Know It (T, P)
(follow actions)
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands (clap your hands!)
If you're happy and you know it
Clap you hands (clap your hands)
If you're happy and you know it
Then your hands should surely show it
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!

If you're happy and you know it
Stomp your feet (stomp you footsies!)
If you're happy and you know it
Stomp your feet (stomp!)
If you're happy and you know it
Then your feet should surely show it
If you're happy and you know it
Stomp your feet.

Continue with
"shout hooray!... then your voice should surely show it..."
"do all three (clap, stomp, hooray!)... then you should surely show it..."

Five Little Moneys Jumping on the Bed (T, P)
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Momma called the doctor
And the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Momma called the doctor
And the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Count down to one monkey!

One little monkey jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped his head.
Momma called the doctor
and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, 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.

FLANNEL BOARDS

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (T, P)

Traffic Light (T, P)

CRAFT

Butterfly Finger Puppets (T)
My library owns a die cut that is in the shape of a butterfly and includes a band cut in the midsection that is meant for a little finger to slip into to use it as a puppet. If you don't have one then find any butterfly shape, cut it out, and temporarily fold in half (without creasing it) and make two cuts horizontal to the tummy. When you lie the butterfly flat it has that ring band affect for the finger to slip into it. You can also crease the wings a little give them more flight, but I didn't on mine. The toddlers loved them!

Cup and PomPom Catcher (P)
To keep with the theme of movement, all the preschoolers got to make cup catcher. One end of a string was taped to the inside of the cup and the other end was tied around a fluffy pompom. Children had to jerk the cup to send the pompom flying and they had to try to catch in the cup. It was an AWESOME craft and everyone loved it!

SPECIAL ACTIVITY

Traffic Light (T, P)
I cut out a red, yellow, and green circle to make the "traffic light" image. I also used our die cutter to make letters that spelled out "stop," "slow," and "go" in the corresponding felt color. Once all of that the flannel board, we breifly talked about the meaning of the colors. Then we walked, ran, and stood in place pending the speed (fast, slow, stop) that I shouted. Everyone loved it!

PICTURE

Traffic Light flannel board,
created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012

Use Your Imagination - A Storytime Outline

I'm going to go along with to people from my Preschool Storytime to describe how this program theme went... from one boy it was "Awesome!" and from a guardian it was "fun!". Granted the toddlers didn't quite grab the concept of imagination! But they can recognize the animals and other things from the illustrations in the books to make it fun. The preschoolers loved the theme, especially once I pulled out Antoinette Portis' books!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

It Looked Like Spilt Milk written and illus. by Charles G. Shaw (T)
This was a great book for the toddlers, and even preschoolers, for shape recognition.

He Saves the Day written by Marsha Hayles and illus. by Lynne Cravath (T) 
This was a fun book. I shortened the reading for this one because the toddlers were really active.

Mud is Cake written by Pam Munoz Ryan and illus. by David McPhail (P)
Imagination at its fullest in this rhyming book. 

A Pig Called Pete written by Alan Bowater and illus. by Pete Pascoe (P)
You have to imagine that pigs can be clean, purple, and can fly around the world! 

Not A Box written and illus. by Antoinette Portis (P)
I love this book! 

Not A Stick written and illus. by Antoinette Portis (P)
Because Not A Box was such a success this was my fourth and last book I did in the program. The children loved it and created a lot of "awesomes" from one little boy!

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, 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.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider (T, P)
(follow actions with your fingers and arms)
The itsy bitsy spider (move your fingers like a spider going upward)
went up the water spout.
Down came the rain (wiggle your fingers like rain is falling)
and washed the spider out! (sweep with your hands like the a wave of water washed the spider out)
Out came the sun (raise arms overhead in a circle to make a sun)
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider (make your finger spider go upwards again!)
went up the spout again!

The Great Big Hairy Spider (T, P)
tune: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
(follow actions)
The great big hairy spider
climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain
and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun
and dried up all the rain.
And the great big hairy spider
climbed up the spout again!

Five Little Monkeys Swinging From a Tree (P)
Five little monkeys swinging from a tree (hold up five fingers and swing your arm)
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!" (but your hands to your ears like antlers!)
Along come Mr. Crocodile, (but your hands together and swim them around slowly)
As hungry as can be
And SNAP! (make your whole arms into a large crocodile mouth and snap your hands together)

Four little monkeys swinging from a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Crocodile,
As hungry as can be
And SNAP!

Countdown to one monkey

One little monkey swinging from a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Crocodile,
As hunger as can be (still!)
And SNAP!
Along go Mr. Crocodile as fat as can be!

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, 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.

ACTIVITY

White Cloud Shapes (T)
I was unable to borrow It Looked Like Spilt Milk flannel board from another library in time. So! Instead I took my white felt and use the die cuts to create different shapes (cow, train engine, turtle, spider, and etc.) that allowed the toddlers to put on the board.

CRAFT

"My circle is a..." coloring page (T, P)
Inspired by Anotinette Portis' books I cranked out die cut circles out of colorful construction paper. The children then had the opporuntity to glue their circle onto a sheet of paper, which I had printed "My circle is a..." on, and they had to imagine their circle as something other than a circle! One girl made her circle into a portrait of Hello Kitty. A boy made his into a baseball and drew a bat to hit it with. The preschoolers had the most imagination as my toddlers are actually quite young. We just viewed the craft as a practice in dexterity and fine motor skills!

EXTRA BOOKS

What Shall We Play written and illus. by Sue Heap (T)
My Garden written and illus. by Kevin Henkes (P)
Harold and the Purple Crayon written and illus. by Crockett Johnson (P)
Ella's Games written by David Bedford and illus. by Peter Kavanagh (P)

PICTURES

It's coming!

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