I have been terribly remiss about posting lately. I have many storytime plans that I used over the past few months to share. One of my favorites every year is always this one; I love to sing, and accompanying our singing with a little dancing and movement is super fun. Plus, singing songs reinforces phonological awareness in young children – they become better able to hear and manipulate the smaller sounds that make up each word. I have a ukulele but have yet to learn to play it, but I look forward to bringing that into the mix! As one of my fellow librarian twitter pals said, I only have to learn 3 chords and I’ll probably be good to go for most kids’ songs.
We start the storytime with my pink-haired friend Zoe, sister of Zeke, who talks about her favorite things to do with her brother. She loves to read (of course), play outside, and most of all, make music. She pretends to play the drums (bam! bam!), the guitar (plink, plink!) and asks the kids to help her sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Zoe settles down to listen and we begin our stories!
- Krosozcka, Jarrett J. Punk Farm. This, for me, is a storytime
- Rock On!
highlight. Don’t read it aloud unless you’re fully prepared to give the band’s version of “Old MacDonald” it’s full punk treatment. That means growly voice, head-banging, exaggerated singing. And a possible sore throat and an accusation of reading “a lot of shouting books”. But the giggles you’ll get, from both kids and teachers/parents, is worth it! If they’ve really enjoyed the story, treat them to Punk Farm on Tour.
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Waddell, Martin.
Happy Hedgehog Band. An oldie (and out of print now, I think), but a goodie, as everyone can help make the different drum sounds. And when the other animals join in with their noises, I ask everyone to choose a noise and make it. We sound like quite the symphony! Who needs instruments to make music?
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Flannelboard/Song:
“Mary Wore Her Red Dress”. I’ve made little felt versions of clothing: yellow hat, red dress (of course), green shoes, blue pants, pink socks, etc. and we sing the verse with each item (in the song link, everything is red. But why can’t we practice our colors too?). If the group is small enough (so that it won’t take the rest of storytime to do this), have each child choose one item of clothing they are wearing and tell you what color it is. Then everyone sings the verse, inserting that child’s name and the item they’re wearing.
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Cronin, Doreen.
Wiggle. Wiggles are fun!
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Come on and do a dance with me, it’s just a little step or two.
I’ll teach you how. We’ll start right now.
It’s a simple dance to do.
First you clap your hands, then you stomp your feet
It’s a simple dance to do.
Wait! I forgot to tell you! There’s another little step or two.
Turn around, And touch your toes.
Put it together!
Clap your hands, stomp your feet
Turn around, and touch your toes
It’s a simple dance to do!
Wait! I forgot to tell you! There’s another little step or two.
Pull your ears, and flap your arms
It’s a simple dance to do!
Clap your hands, and stomp your feet.
Turn around, and touch your toes.
Pull your ears, and flap your arms
It’s a simple dance to do!
Wait! I forgot to tell you
There’s another step and then we’re through.
Stretch up high, all fall down.
Ready?
Clap your hands, stomp your feet
Turn around, and touch your toes
Pull your ears, and flap your arms
Now stretch up high, and all fall down.
It’s a simple dance to do!
- Phew! Let’s take a break and sing a story! Hort, Lenny. Seals on the Bus. Every kid knows the tune, and every kid will get into the silliness of having this random combination of animals on the bus. At the end, if you’d like, you can ask the kids to suggest other animals that might be on the bus, and make their noises!
- Calmenson, Stephanie. Jazzmatazz! I like this one for the beat. The kids pat their legs and help out on the “Doo dat, diddy dat, diddy dat doo!” refrains. It’s baby’s first scat singing!
Other book options I sometimes use:
- Anderson, Peggy Perry. Chuck’s Band. A rhyming story that’s not really a rhyming story.
- Diaz, David. De Colores. I work with a large number of Spanish-speaking kids who may know the song already. If you know the tune, it’s a lovely song to sing. I sing the Spanish and speak the English.
Other new books that I haven’t yet tried with the kids, but think would fit in nicely:
Go forth and make some music!
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Tags: flannelboards, movement, music, Songs, Storytime
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