April Showers Bring May Flowers Storytime!

Goodbye April, Hello May!

Opening Song: If you’re Happy and You know it! (Clap, Stomp, Shout Hurray)

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, If you’re Ready for a Story,

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

Sit Down Song:

The more we read together, together, together

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be,

‘Cause my books are your books and your books are my books,

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be.

Book One: Rain by Manya Stojic



Songs:

Look Out the Window  Sung to: "Frere Jacques"

What's the weather, what's the weather,
On this (Monday), On this (Monday)?
Let's look out the window,
Let's look out the window?
It is (Sunny), It is (Sunny).
Replace ( ) for the appropriate word.

Zim-bam, Zim-bam 
Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Zim-bam, zim-bam, zim-bam-bee,
Rain is falling on the tree.
zim-bam, zim-bam, zim-bam-by,
Rain is falling from the sky.
Zim-bam, zim-bam, zim-bam-boo,
Rain is falling on us too

Book Two: Are You Ready to Play Outside by Mo Willems




Song:

Umbrellas Fingerplay 

(Use fingers or make umbrella puppets)

Five umbrellas stood by the back door,
The red one went outside, then there were four.
Four umbrellas pretty as can be,
The blue one went outside, then there were three.
Three umbrellas with nothing to do,
The green one went outside, then there was one.
Just one umbrella alone in the hall,
The purple one went outside, and that was all!

Rain is Falling on You 
Sung to: "Happy Birthday"

Rain is falling on you,
Rain is falling on me,
Rain is falling on everyone,
Rain is falling, YIPPEE!!!

Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister

Flower Garden 

Sung to: "The Farmer In The Dell"

The farmer plants the seeds
The Farmer plants the seeds
Hi, Ho and Cheery O
The farmer plants the seeds.

(Use the following verses.)
The sun begins to shine
The rain begins to fall
The plants begin to grow
The flowers smile at us

Hello Spring Time! 

Sung to: "Good Night Ladies"

Hello spring time
Hello spring time
Hello spring time
We're glad spring time is here.

Hello flowers
Hello flowers
Hello flowers
We're glad spring time is here!

Hello green grass... We're glad spring time is here.
Hello birds... We're glad spring time is here.
(To finish song, repeat first verse after you have said hello to all the spring things the children can think of.)

Song: Rainy Pokey

 Put your Umbrella in,

But your umbrella out,

Put your Umbrella in and Shake it all about,

You do the Rainy Pokey and you turn yourself around,

That's what it's all about!

"SPLASH!"

(Other verses: rain boots, rain coat, rain hat, whole self!)

Goodbye song: The More we get together

Craft today inspired by Starting a Preschool:

We'll be making fingerprint raindrop and flower pictures.

Just us Chickens Story Time

In honor of all those Easter Eggs we'll be dying this week...

Opening Song: If you’re Happy and You know it! (Clap, Stomp, Shout Hurray)

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, If you’re Ready for a Story,

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

Sit Down Song:

The more we read together, together, together

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be,

‘Cause my books are your books and your books are my books,

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be.

Book 1: Tough Chicks by Cece Meng; Ill by Melissa Suber

Song: Five And Five Eggs  

Five and five eggs
Hold up hands
That makes ten
Sitting on top is mother hen
Fold one hand over the other
Crackle crackle crackle
Clap hands three times
What do I see
Fingers around eyes
Ten fluffy chickens
As yellow as can be
 Hold up ten fingers.

Book 2: Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Song: Farm Sounds 

(Sung to: "Wheels on the bus")

The cow in barn goes moo, moo, moo,
Moo, moo, moo. Moo, moo, moo,
repeat
All around the farm.
The pig in the pen goes oink, oink, oink,...........
The hens in the coop go cluck..........
The lambs on the hill go baa,........
The ducks on the pond go quack......

Book 3:

I'm not reading by Jonathan Allen

Songs: 

If I Were a Farmer

(Sung to: "Did you ever see a lassie?")

Oh, if I were a farmer, a farmer, a farmer
Oh, if I were a farmer, what would I do?
I wake up with the rooster
Each morning, each morning
I’d wake up with the rooster, that's what I'd do.
Continue using:
I would feed the baby chickens
I would gather eggs for breakfast

Over In The Barnyard

(Sung to: "Down By The Station")

Over in the barnyard
Early in the morning,
See the yellow chickies
Standing in a row.
See the busy farmer
Giving them breakfast.
Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.
Off they go.
(Substitute other barnyard animals.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-O

And on this farm he had a chick

Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-O

With a peep peep, here and a peep peep there.

Here a peep, there a peep, everywhere a peep, peep.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-

And: The Chicken Dance!

This week's Craft comes from I Heart Crafty things:

Cupcake Liner Chicks

Other Recommended Reads:
Chicks Run Wild by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; Ill by Ward Jenkins
Chicken Butt by Erica S Perl; Illustrated by Henry Cole
Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tarfuri

Happy to Be Me Storytime!

This storytime was a request from one of my preschools, and I love it!

Opening Song: If you’re Happy and You know it! (Clap, Stomp, Shout Hurray)

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, If you’re Ready for a Story,

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

Sit Down Song:

The more we read together, together, together

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be,

‘Cause my books are your books and your books are my books,

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be.

Book 1:
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

Show Me If You Can

Sung to: "Go In and Out The Window"

Where is your finger?
Where is your finger?
Where is your finger?
Show me if you can.
Good, now where's your nose?
Now, where is your nose?
Now, where is your nose?
Show me if you can. (Use other body parts.)

Book Two: I like Myself by Karen Beaumont; Illustrated by David Catrow

I Am Special

Sung to: "Are You Sleeping?"

I am special, I am special,
Look at me, Look at me.
A very special person, A very special person
That is me, That is me.

I am special,
I am special,
Yes I am.
Yes I am.
I'm a really neat kid
And a very sweet kid,
Yes I am,
Yes I am.

Some Little Faces

Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"
Some little faces I have seen
Some were sad and some were mean
But the one little face with the smile was the best
That was the happiest of all the rest.

Book Three: I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black; Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Hands On Shoulders

Hands on shoulders, hands on knees,
Hands behind you if you please.
Touch your shoulders, now your nose,
Now your chin and now your toes.
Hands up high in the air,
Down at your sides and touch your hair.
Hands up high as before,
Now clap your hands--one, two, three, four.

Head And Shoulders

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.

Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat,
Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat,
And hair and hips and chin and cheeks,
Ankles, elbows, feet and seat, feet and seat.

  

Tony Chestnut

Tony Chestnut knows I love you.   Point to your toes, knees, chest, head, nose, eyes, heart and to a friend.

Tony knows.  (Tony knows.) Point to your toes, knees and nose.

Tony Chestnut knows I love you. 

That's what Tony knows.

Tony, Tony and his sister Eileen.  Point to your toes, knees, toes, knees then lean to the right.

And Eileen loves Neil and Neil loves Pat.  Everyone lean to the right, kneel and pat your shoulders.

But Pat still loves Bob. Pat your shoulders and bounce your head back and forth.

And there's Russell and Skip.  Standup, wiggle your legs then skip in place.

This song is silly, but it's hip. Make a silly face then stick out your right hip and point to it.

How it ends, just one man knows. Turn and point to your bottom.

And guess what (what), it's Tony Chestnut.  

Johnny works with One Hammer

1. Johnny works with one hammer,
One hammer, 1 hammer,
Johnny works with 1 hammer,
Then he works with two.
(Hammer one fist lightly on leg)

2. . . . Two hammers
(Hammer both fists on legs)

3. . . . Three hammers
(Hammer both fists on legs and one foot on the floor)

4. . . . Four hammers
(Hammer both fists on legs and both feet on the floor)

5. Johnny works with five hammers,
Five hammers, five hammers,
Johnny works with five hammers
(Hammer both fists on legs, both feet on floor, and nod head down and up)
Then he goes to sleep.
(Rest head on joined palms, pretending to go to sleep)

And finally - Hokey Pokey!

Closing Song: The More We Get Together

Today's Craft:

We're going outside! So we're drawing self-portraits with Sidewalk chalk!

Recommended Reads:

Hello my Name is Bob by Linas Alsenas

I'm Not by Pam Smallcomb and Robert Weinstock

Superhero Storytime!

Wizard World Comic Con is coming to St. Louis this weekend, so in honor of that (and because this Storyteller is super excited) we are doing Superhero Storytime!!!

Opening Song: If you’re Happy and You know it! (Clap, Stomp, Shout Hurray)

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

If you’re Ready for a Story, If you’re Ready for a Story,

If you’re Ready for a Story, Clap your hands!

Sit Down Song:

The more we read together, together, together

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be,

‘Cause my books are your books and your books are my books,

The More we read together, the happier we’ll be.

Book One: Baron von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident by George McClements

Fingerplay: Counting Superheroes

(From jbrary.com)

5 superheroes ready to fly

Here comes the villain, Stop that guy!

This superhero can save the day.

Off he flies – up, up, and away!

Count down from 4, 3, 2, 1, 0

Book Two: Princess Super Kitty by Antoinette Portis

I’m a Superhero Big and Strong

(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a Superhero Big and strong

My clothes are tight and my cape is long

When someone needs help they call my name

And I fly there faster than a jet airplane!

Song: Superhero, Superhero, Turn around 

(From jbrary.com)

Superhero, superhero turn around

Superhero, superhero touch the ground

Superhero, superhero put on your suit

Superhero, Superhero put on your boots.

Superhero, Superhero, jump up high

Superhero, Superhero, fly, fly, fly

Superhero, Superhero, turn around.

Superhero, Superhero, please sit down.

Book Three: Kapow by George O'Connor

Song:Did you ever see a Superhero?

(From jbrary.com)

Did you ever see a hero, a hero, a hero,

Did you ever see a hero, flying through the sky?

Fly this way and that way, and that way and this way

Did you ever see a hero flying through the sky?

Verses: Putting on their cape, hopping on one foot, saving the day, twirling around

Superhero

(sung to: Wheels on the Bus)

The Superheroes arms flex and lift,

Flex and lift, flex and lift, the superheroes arms flex and lift, all around the town.

Eyes go zap, zap, zap

Legs run very fast

Legs jump super high

Flies zoom zoom zoom

The person in trouble yells help help help!

The superhero goes to save the day

If you’re a hero and you know it !

(Sung to: If you’re happy and you know it)

If you’re a hero and you know it, Flex your muscles

If you’re a hero and you know it, Flex your muscles

If you’re a hero and you know it than your post will surely show it (heroic pose)

If you’re a hero and you know it flex your muscles.

Verses: Jump up high, Fly around, Run real fast

Super Pokey

We put our right glove in

We put our right glove out

We put our right glove in

And we shake it all about

You do the Super Pokey and you fly yourself around

That’s what it’s all about!

Verses: Left glove, Right boot, Left boot, Mask, Cape, Super Self!

Today's craft is a combination from FirstPalette.com and Me!

First, we will make these Superhero masks (they can choose!)

Color, cut out, holepunch, add string, instant superhero mystique!

Then we will make our own logo!

Last time I did this, I made my own logo with an SL (SuperLibrarian!) and taped it to my chest and cape. It's also great because we can talk about the words "logo," "emblem," and "initials."

Other Recommended Reads:

I chose the books that I chose this week because one has a male superhero/villian, one has a female, and one has both! But here are some that almost made the cut because they were also adorable:

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin; Illustrated by Bryan Langdo (A great story for a military family)

The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy or Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis (sibling rivalry story!)

Super Duck by Jez Alborough (cute)

Superhero by Marc Tauss (actual black and white photos of an African American boy playing superhero which is great because there isn't enough African-American representation in mainstream superheros)

The Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman Origin books from Ralph Cosentino (Superheroes have been going darker to capture adult audiences and alienate kids, who still love them. These are kid friendly introductions to the heroes they want to love but can't see in the theatre.)

Have a Super Week!