It’s the time of year in the school schedule when we start celebrating all things spring: flowers, plants, bugs, rain and (oh please) SUNSHINE. Here’s my bug and flower storytime plan, heavy on the bugs.:
I have an awesome watering can puppet (will add a picture later) that I picked up at the Illinois Museum of Natural History several years ago. Your thumb is the spigot, and your fingers are green stems attached to a butterfly, ladybug, bee, and flower, respectively. I start with my fingers scrunched down in the watering can and ask the kids about it. Then I lift my fingers one by one and the kids identify each creature as it comes out.
- Rosen, Michael. Tiny Little Fly. This is a new title, and the kids have enjoyed it. Tiny little fly flies from elephant to hippo
Is it a bug? Is it a flower?
to tiger, and each animal in turn winks his eye and tries to catch the fly. But fly is too tiny, and too fast! There’s a wonderful 4 page spread of all the animals (and fly).
- Foley, Greg. Don’t Worry, Bear. Bear meets caterpillar as he’s making a cocoon. Once caterpillar is inside, Bear worries about him and so checks on him regularly in the rain, wind, night and snow. Each time caterpillar reassures him, saying “Don’t worry, bear.” This is a sweet story, and although the kids can predict the ending, it’s well-loved. Plus, being able to predict the ending of a story is a good feeling for a kid!
- Flannelboard: 5 Spring Flowers
- Carle, Eric. Very Quiet Cricket. This is my favorite of Carle’s bug books (next to the Very Hungry Caterpillar which I use in my Food-themed storytime), but it’s often difficult to find a copy in which the cricket’s noise is still working. Library books wear out. And the kids really love the surprise at the end, so I try to find one that makes the noise. This year I’m using a copy of The Very Clumsy Click Beetle because that’s the one I had that worked. I would also have accepted The Very Lonely Firefly.
- Song “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”. We end with several rousing choruses of this, with me on ukulele (which means the kids have to promise to help, because I can’t do the hand movements and play at the same time, obviously). First, we sing the “normal” version. Then, a version of the “Great Big Spider” (in very deep voices) and the “Teeny Tiny Spider” (very quietly). We end with a rockin’ version, which is just the regular song but I attempt to play a more energetic and “rock and roll” version. I’ll let you judge for yourself if I succeed:
Other stories I might use:
- Dodd, Emma. I Love Bugs! Awesome vocabulary in this book. Plus the kids can identify the bugs on the pages.
- Horacek, Petr. Butterfly, Butterfly. SURPRISE!
- Park, Linda Sue. What Does Bunny See? Colors! Rhymes!
Buzz Buzz! What are your favorite bug books?
missmaryliberry.com 
Unfortunately, no. I’ve had it so long I don’t even remember that it came with a rhyme! Sorry.
Do you happen to recall the printed rhyme that came with your watering can puppet? We have the same puppet at our library, but we’ve lost the rhyme. Thanks!
I just started last summer, and really only know a few chords. But that’s all you need for kids’ music! Here’s the website I use to get the chords (it says guitar chords, but they work for uke too): http://www.storytimesongs.com/guitar.html
Oh, cool! You play the uke! I’ve just started (bought one in Feb.) and so far I’ve only done The Garden Song as a sing-along entr’acte during a puppet show (my first performance – it went okay. I told them they had to sing louder to drown me out). Great technique there! You give me courage to branch out!