BabyTime

Our book today was Counting Kisses by Karen Katz. Count the kisses the baby gets from the people (and a few animals) who love her.



Our Did You Know? literacy fact was:

The single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.

• Make time to read aloud everyday.
• Keep the reading sessions short and fun! If baby loses interest, go on to another activity and read more later.
• If baby is more interested in turning pages than the story, that's OK. He or she will still be learning about books and enjoying your company.

(Source: Every Child Ready to Read at GCLD and RIF/NAEYC)


Welcoming Song: “Let’s All Clap”

(to the tune of “Buffalo Gals”)

Let’s all clap ‘cause ____ is here
______ is here, ______ is here
Let’s all clap ‘cause ______ is here
______ is here today.

Song: “Wake Up Feet”

Wake up feet, wake up feet,

Wake up feet and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle

Wake up feet, wake up feet,

Wake up and wiggle in the morning.

Repeat with hands, ears, elbows, nose, hair, etc…

(Great to sing when baby first wakes up or when you are changing diapers.

Older kids can sit on laps, babies can lie on the floor.)

Rhyme: “Where Oh Where Are Baby’s Fingers?”

Where oh where are baby’s fingers?                     (touch fingers)

Where oh where are baby’s toes?                          (touch toes)

Where is baby’s belly button?                               (trace on baby’s tummy)   

Round and round it goes.

Where oh where are baby’s ears?                          (touch ears)

Where oh where is baby’s nose?                           (touch nose)

Where is baby’s belly button?                               (trace on baby’s tummy)

Round and round it goes.

Bounce: “A Smooth Road”

(Put the baby on your lap, facing you preferably so s/he can see your face.)

A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road    (sway)

A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road       (bounce gently)

A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road              (bounce harder)

A HOLE!                                                                                      (drop baby between knees)

Bounce: “A Bouncing We Will Go”

(to the tune of: “Farmer in the Dell”)

A-bouncing we will go

A-bouncing we will go

Hi ho the derry-o

A bouncing we will go

Repeat: rocking, tickling, arms go up and down, legs go back and forth

Tickle: “There Was a Little Mouse”

There was a little mouse         (tickle)

Looking for his house             (tickle) 

Not here,                                  (tickle)

Not here,                                  (tickle)

But here, here, here                 (tickle tummy)

Movement: “London Bridge”

London Bridge is falling down        (drop on "falling down")

Falling down

Falling down

London Bridge is falling down

My sweet baby

So come and take a walk around      (bounce and walk)

Walk around

Walk around

Come and take a walk around

My sweet baby

Dancing/Movement: “Mama’s Little Baby Loves Dancing”

(to the tune of: "Short'nin' Bread")

Mama's little baby loves dancing, dancing           (sway)

Mama's little baby loves turning around               (turn in a circle)

Mama's little baby loves dancing, dancing           (sway)

Mama's little baby loves to boogie down             (twist)

Lean to the left,                        

Lean to the right

Hug that baby nice and tight

Lean to the left, lean to the right

Hug that baby nice and tight

Mama's little baby loves dancing, dancing           (sway)

Mama's little baby loves turning around               (turn in a circle)

Mama's little baby loves dancing, dancing           (sway)

Mama's little baby loves to boogie down             (twist)

Shaker Song: “Can You Shake Your Egg With Me?”

Can you shake your egg with me?       

Shake you egg along with me?

It's as easy as can be.

Now put it on your knee.

(Repeat: tummy, head, etc.)

Shaker Rhyme: "Pease Porridge Hot"

Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold

Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old

Some like it hot, some like it cold

Some like it in the pot, nine days old

Goodbye Song: “The More We Get Together”

The more we get together, together, together

The more we get together, the happier we'll be

'Cause your friends are my friends

And my friends are your friends

The more we get together, the happier we'll be

Inspiration for this storytime came from the lovely folks at:

Jbrary
Pierce County (WA) Library

Preschool Storytime: Caterpillars and Butterflies

Book: Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.




Book: Are You a Butterfly? by Judy Allen

I wanted to incorporate nonfiction for a little background on the lifecycle before I plunged into the next rhyme. I used the illustrations and shortened some of the text.




Flannelboard Rhyme: “Five Little Caterpillars” 
(design based on Miss Mary Liberry's)

I added an egg on a leaf to represent the entire life cycle.

Five little caterpillars and not one more
One spun a cocoon and then there were four.
Four little caterpillars sitting in a tree
One spun a cocoon and then there were three.
Three little caterpillars looking at you
One spun a cocoon and then there were two.
Two little caterpillars sitting in the sun
One spun a cocoon and then there was one.
One little caterpillar left all alone
He spun a cocoon and then there were none.





But one cocoon opened under the sun
Out came a butterfly and that makes one.
The second cocoon opened and out he flew
Here came a butterfly and now there are two.
A third cocoon opened and he felt so free
Here came a butterfly and now there are three.
A fourth cocoon opened making one more
Here came a butterfly and now there are four.
A fifth cocoon opened, so happy to be alive
Here came a butterfly and now there are five.*

*I didn't have immediate access to the entire original rhyme, so I improvised a bit. 

Fingerplay: “Two Little Butterflies”

Two little butterflies sitting on a hill

One named Jack, and one named Jill

Fly away Jack, Fly away Jill

Come back Jack, Come back Jill

Shaker Song: “Shake Your Shaker” 

(to the tune of: "Old MacDonald Had a Farm")

Shake your shaker in the air, shake it in the air.

With a shake-shake here and shake-shake there,

Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.

Shake your shaker in the air, shake it in the air.

Shake your shaker way down low, shake it way down low.

With a shake-shake here and a shake-shake there,

Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.

Shake your shaker way down low, shake it way down low.

Shake your shaker way up high, shake it way up high.

With a shake-shake here and a shake-shake there, 

Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.

Shake your shaker way up high, shake it way up high.

Shaker Song: “Egg Shakers Up”

Egg shakers up,                                            (shakers above head)

And egg shakers down,                                (shakers on the floor)

Egg shakers dancing all around the town.    (move shakers back and forth)     

Dance them on your shoulders

Dance them on your head

Dance them on your knee

And tuck them into bed                               (fold shaker inside hands, under head)

Shaker Song: “We Tap the Floor Together”

We tap the floor together

We tap the floor together

We tap the floor together

Because it’s fun to do!

(Repeat: clap our hands, wave hello)

Book: Where’s my Mom? by Julia Donaldson

Game: “Little Caterpillar, Are You Behind the  (color)  butterfly?”

Knock, knock, knock

Little caterpillar, little caterpillar

Are you behind the ______ butterfly?

Fingerplay: “My Friend Caterpillar”

My friendly little caterpillar                   (fingers crawl up arm)

Made its cocoon one day                        (cup hands together)

It turned into a butterfly                         (open hands with thumbs hooked)

And quickly flew away                          (flap hands)

(Credit: SurLaLune Storytime)

Book: Don’t Worry Bear by Greg Foley 

Flannelboard: “Butterfly Colors”

The first to come to the garden bed

Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED.

Then in comes another and that makes two.

Fly right in, my friend of BLUE.

“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen,”

says the butterfly of darkest GREEN.

Our garden needs a sunny fellow,

Fly on in, butterfly with wings of YELLOW.

Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too.

The garden is waiting for a color like you.

ORANGE, orange, you’re waited so long.

Fly right in, where you belong.

Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight!

Flying together – what a delight!

(Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime)

I added participation to this rhyme by passing out the butterflies and having each child put their butterfly on the board when I said their color. 

Story/Activity: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This was such a fun way to retell a familiar story. Thanks to Lisa at Thrive After Three for the idea and instructions. It was a hit!

Start with a knee-high stocking and googly eyes for the caterpillar.

These pieces are all made of craft foam. I drew them freehand.

Add details with more foam and glue or puffy paint.

Cut a hole in the middle that fits over your arm.

Make sure you have lots of red foam and try to find tan!
My cherry pie is a sad, sad blueberry...something.

Have the kids add pieces to your caterpillar arm
as you tell the story (and make munching sounds).

Finish up with the cocoon and butterfly.

For our scarf songs today, we pretended the scarves were colorful butterflies.

Scarf Song: “Flutter, Flutter Butterfly”

(to the tune of: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)

Flutter flutter butterfly

Floating in the springtime sky

Floating by for all to see

Floating by so merrily

Flutter flutter butterfly

Floating in the springtime sky

Scarf Rhyme: “Fuzzy Little Caterpillar”

(to the tune of: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

A fuzzy little caterpillar curled up on a leaf

Spun her little chrysalis and then fell fast asleep

While she was sleeping, she dreamed that she could fly

And later when she woke up, she was a butterfly!

Scarves: “Bibbity Boppity Boo”

(to the tune of: "Willaby Wallaby Woo)

Bibbity Boppity Boo

A butterfly sat on my shoe

Bibbety Boppity band 

A butterfly sat on my hand 

Bibbity Boppity Bed

A butterfly sat on my head

Bibbity Boppity Bee

A butterfly sat on my knee

(Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends)

I could NOT skip the Popcorn Kernel song or there would have been trouble. It is a huge favorite!

Scarf Song: “Popcorn Kernels”

(to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)

Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels              (wave scarf)

In the pot, in the pot                                   (hide scarf inside cupped hands)

Shake them, shake them, shake them        (shake cupped hands)

Shake them, shake them, shake them

Til they pop! Til they pop!                        (throw scarf into the air)

Book: Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek

The gorgeous pop-up butterfly at the end of this book was a great way to finish storytime.

Closing Song: “The More We Get Together”

The more we get together, together, together

The more we get together, the happier we'll be

'Cause your friends are my friends 

And my friends are your friends

The more we get together, the happier we'll be.

Craft, Manipulatives, Exploration:

Craft: Butterfly Suncatcher

Playdough

Lacing shapes and beads

Inspiration for this storytime came from the lovely folks at: 

Storytime Katie: Butterflies & Caterpillars; Flannel Friday Butterflies

Miss Meg's Storytime

Storytime Hooligans

Library Village

Perry (OH) Public Library

Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends

Miss Mary Liberry

Thrive After Three

King County (WA) Public Library

Jbrary

Flannel Friday

Pajama Party Evening Program

On Friday night, I hosted an evening family program with a pajama party theme. All the kids wore their pajamas (and so did I).

More evening programs are in the works. Starting in the fall they will be a monthly event, so stay tuned for more information...


Action Rhyme: “Bedtime”
Time for bed, time for bed
Fluff up your pillow (make fluffing motions with hands)
Lay down your head (palms together, hands to side of face)
Tuck in tight         (pull imaginary blanket up to chin)
Close your eyes         (close eyes)
And sleep all night         (snore)

Book: Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems




Rhyme Cube 
We rolled the cube to help choose our rhymes. The six choices on my cube are: I'm a Little Teapot; The Itsy Bitsy Spider; Humpty Dumpty; Twinkle Twinkle Little Star; Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes; Two Little Blackbirds.

Thanks to the Storytime Underground Facebook group for the discussions on rhyme/song cubes that encouraged me to try it out.


 


Book: Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea




Flannel rhyme: “Ten Teddy Bears Sleeping in the Bed”
Ten little teddy bears sleeping in the bed,
Five at the foot and five at the head.
One little teddy said, “This bed is TOO full!”
So he grabbed the blanket and started to pull.
He pulled and he pulled and he pulled some more,
Until two little teddies went BOOM to the floor!

(Make pulling motions with PULL and clap with the BOOM)
(Subtract bears until…)

One little teddy bear sleeping in the bed,
Zero at the foot and one at the head.
This little teddy said, “This is not right!
I don’t want to sleep alone tonight!”
So…

One little teddy bear sleeping in the bed,
Zero at the foot and one at the head.
This teddy said, “This bed is NOT full!”
So he put out his paw and started to pull.
He pulled and he pulled and he pulled some more,
Until four little teddies climbed up from the floor!

(Add bears in various increments until…)

Ten little teddy bears sleeping in the bed,
Five at the foot and five at the head.
One little teddy said, “This is JUST right!”
So ten little teddy bears said, “Good Night!”

Credit: Susan Pflug, Copyright 1990 

Action Rhyme: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, find your nose

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your toes

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your knees

Teddy bear, teddy bear, sit down please

Book: Tiger Can’t Sleep by S. J. Fore

Action Song: “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,

"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Count down...

One little monkey jumping on the bed

He fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, 

"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Book: Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas  

This is a wonderful, silly book and I was really excited to share it and sing in a funny cowboy voice, but I think I got frazzled by the fact that up next on the agenda was my ukulele debut. I completely skipped this book and I'm so sad about it. I may have to plan a whole cowboy/cowgirl storytime around it, just so I can use it.  

Song: “Hop Little Bunnies” on ukulele

See the little bunnies sleeping till it's nearly noon                 (CCCC-FF-C)

Come and let us gently wake them with a merry tune         (GG-CC-GG-C)

Oh how still, are they ill, wake up soon                 (Pluck C-E-G, C-E-G, GG-C)

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop                 (CCCC)

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop                 (CC-G-C)

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop                 (CCCC)

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop.                 (CC-G-C)

My debut was a little rocky, but I can't wait to try again.

Storytelling: The Squeaky Door from the version retold by Margaret Read MacDonald

I did this as an oral story without any props. I haven't done many of those before, but it went over really well. Lots of sound effects and repetitive phrases made it fun for the audience and easy to tell. 

More Rhyme Cube

Flannel story: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carl

(patterns from KidzClub)

Activity: Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

I put out gym mats and the kids jumped on the “bed.”

Activity: Build a Blanket Fort

Craft: Aluminum Foil Moon

Snack: milk and cookies

In case anyone shares my cookie addiction, here are the recipes I made:

Peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip

Snickerdoodles

Inspiration for this storytime came from the lovely folks at: 

Storytime Katie - Pajamas; Bedtime & Pajamas; Ten Teddy Bears Sleeping in the Bed

Karlyn's Librarian Life

Miss Mary Liberry

The Lion is a Bookworm

Mansfield/Richland County (Ohio) Public Library

Jen in the Library

BabyTime

Our book on Wednesday was Overboard by Sarah Weeks. A young bunny thinks it's funny to throw things from his high chair, crib, etc. We made use of the repeated refrain of "Overboard!" by throwing our scarves and pom-pom balls in the air. It was a fun way to make the book more interactive for the little ones.




Our "Did You Know" literacy fact was:

Interacting with books looks different for babies and toddlers. Developmentally appropriate ways for them to use books include: mouthing books; stacking or playing with books; asking for the same story over and over; acting out or retelling parts of a favorite story. We want to make interacting with books fun and build positive associations.


Welcoming Song: “Let’s All Clap”
(to the tune of “Buffalo Gals”)

Let’s all clap ‘cause ____ is here
______ is here, ______ is here
Let’s all clap ‘cause ______ is here
______ is here today.

Fingerplay/Tickle: “Here is the Beehive”

Here is the beehive     [hold up closed fist]
But where are the bees?    [shrug with other hand]
Hidden away where nobody sees   [cover fist with other hand]
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive
One, two, three, four, five    [poke out one finger at a time]
They’re ALIVE!!     [buzzing sounds and tickles]


Lap Bounce: “Bumping Up and Down In My Little Red Wagon”

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Bumping up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darling?

Repeat with: my little black stroller, tricycle, shopping cart, whatever baby rides in.


Nursery Rhyme: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
You can also do this rhyme with hand motions (see link above) or as a tickle.

The itsy bitsy spider went 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 itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again


Bounce: “A-Bouncing We Will Go”
(to the tune of: “Farmer in the Dell”)

A-bouncing we will go
A-bouncing we will go
Hi ho the derry-o
A bouncing we will go

Repeat: rocking, tickling, arms go up and down, legs go back and forth

Movement: “Ring Around the Rosie”

Ring around the rosie,                    (walk and bounce)
Pocket full of posies,
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!      (gently drop baby)

The cows are in the meadow          (walk and bounce)
Eating buttercups
Thunder, lightning,
We all jump up!                             (jump)


Movement/Dance: “Go In and Out the Window”
[Stand in a circle, holding baby. In the second verse, turn baby to face another child in the circle. If you are alone, you could use a mirror.]

Go in and out the window                [swing baby in football hold toward middle of circle]
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
As we have done before

Turn and face your partner                        [hold baby under arms, turn toward other baby]
Turn and face your partner
Turn and face your partner
As we have done before

Go up and down the staircase              [lift baby up and down]
Go up and down the staircase
Go up and down the staircase
As we have done before


Scarf Song: “I Have a Little Ladybug”
(to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)

I have a little ladybug (wave scarves side to side)
Ladybug, ladybug
I have a little ladybug
Whose wings are black and red

See the little ladybug (wave scarf in circles)
Ladybug, ladybug
See the little ladybug
Flying here and there (wave above head)

Now it’s landing on the ground (swirl scarf on ground)
On the ground, on the ground
Now it’s landing on the ground
And crawling everywhere (wiggle scarf on ground)


Scarf Song: “Wind, Oh Wind”

Wind, oh wind, oh wind, I say
What are you blowing away today?

Scarves, scarves, scarves, I say
I’m blowing the scarves away today.

(Could reepeat with leaves, clouds, etc.)


Goodbye Song: “The More We Get Together”

The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we'll be
'Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together, the happier we'll be

Today's storytime was inspired by the lovely folks at: 

Jbrary

AnnesLibraryLife

Preschool Storytime: Baby Animals

Book: Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson




Fingerplay: “Here Is a Bunny”
Here is a bunny with ears so funny                              (hold up index and middle fingers for ears)
And here is his hole in the ground                               (make a circle with the other hand)
At the first sound he hears, he pricks up his ears         (extend two fingers)
And hops in the hole in the ground                              (fingers jump into the hole)

Flannelboard Rhyme: “Ten Fluffy Chickens”

Five eggs and five eggs         (hold up fingers)

And that makes ten

Sitting on top is Mother Hen

Cackle, cackle, cackle (make chicken noises)

And what do I see?

Ten fluffy chickens                         (flip eggs over to reveal chicks)

Yellow as can be!

Book: A Book of Babies by Il Sung Na




Flannelboard Song: “The Ducks on the Bus”
(to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus")

The ducks on the bus go quack quack quack!
Quack quack quack! Quack quack quack!
The ducks on the bus go quack quack quack!
All through the town!

Repeat: lambs go baaa, bunnies go hop, birds go chirp, chicks go peep

Flannelboard Rhyme: “Five Little Ducks”
Five little ducks went out to play, over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack”
And only four little ducks came back.

(Count down until…)

Sad mother duck went out one day, over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack”
And all five little ducks came back.

At the end, I asked the kids to help Mother Duck call for her babies and we QUACKED loudly until all the babies came back.

Shaker Song: “Shake Your Shaker” 

(to the tune of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm")

Shake your shaker in the air, shake it in the air.

With a shake-shake here and shake-shake there,

Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.

Shake your shaker in the air, shake it in the air.

Shake your shaker way down low, shake it way down low.

With a shake-shake here and a shake-shake there,

Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.

Shake your shaker way down low, shake it way down low.

Shake your shaker way up high, shake it way up high.

With a shake-shake here and a shake-shake there, 

Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.

Shake your shaker way up high, shake it way up high.

Shaker Song: “Egg Shakers Up”

Egg shakers up,                                            (shakers above head)

And egg shakers down,                                (shakers on the floor)

Egg shakers dancing all around the town.    (move shakers back and forth)     

Dance them on your shoulders

Dance them on your head

Dance them on your knee

And tuck them into bed                               (fold shaker inside hands, under head)

photo credit: Sue Lessig

Shaker Song: “We Tap the Floor Together”

We tap the floor together

We tap the floor together

We tap the floor together

Because it’s fun to do!

(Repeat: clap our hands, wave hello)

Book: Baby Bird by Joyce Dunbar

Fingerplay: “Two Little Bluebirds”

Two little bluebirds (hold up 2 fingers)

Up in a tree

Built a nest (rest fingers on other curved palm)

For all to see.

Along came the babies, 

One, two, three. (hold up 3 more fingers)

Now they’re all

A happy family! (wiggle all 5 fingers)

Fingerplay: “Two Little Blackbirds”

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill     (hold out both thumbs)

One named Jack                                     (wiggle left thumb)

And one named Jill                                (wiggle right thumb)

Fly away, Jack                                       (put left hand behind back)

Fly away, Jill                                         (put right band behind back)

Come back, Jack                                    (bring left thumb out)

Come back, Jill                                      (bring right thumb out)

Action Rhyme: “Little Birds”

Little birds, little birds, jump up and down

Little birds, little birds, don’t make a sound

Little birds, little birds, tip-toe to me

Little birds, little birds, bend your knees

Little birds, little birds, peep, peep, peep

Little birds, little birds, sleep, sleep, sleep

Little birds, little birds, fly to the leaves

Little birds, little birds, sit down please

Book: Baby Animals by Jim Pipe

Nursery Rhyme: “Little Bo Peep” 

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep 

And doesn't know where to find them.

Leave them alone and they'll come home

Wagging their tails behind them.

Scarf Song: “We Wave Our Scarves Together”

(to the tune of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”)

We wave our scarves together

We wave our scarves together

We wave our scarves together

Because it’s fun to do!

Wave ‘em up high

Wave ‘em down low

Wave ‘em in the middle

Because it’s fun to do!

We throw our scarves together

We throw our scarves together

We throw our scarves together

Because it’s fun to do!

We throw ‘em up high

We throw ‘em down low

We throw ‘em in the middle

Because it’s fun to do!

photo credit: Sue Lessig

Scarf Song: “Popcorn Kernels”

(to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)

Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels              (wave scarf)

In the pot, in the pot                                   (hide scarf inside cupped hands)

Shake them, shake them, shake them        (shake cupped hands)

Shake them, shake them, shake them

Til they pop! Til they pop!                        (throw scarf into the air)

Closing Song: “The More We Get Together”

The more we get together, together, together

The more we get together, the happier we'll be

'Cause your friends are my friends 

And my friends are your friends

The more we get together, the happier we'll be.

Craft, exploration, manipulatives:

Baby animal coloring page and animal stencils

Animal puzzles

Playdough

Inspiration for today's storytime came from the lovely folks at: 

Perry Public Library

Storytime Katie - spring animals; 10 fluffy chickens

Abby the Librarian

Flannelboard Fun

Jbrary

Flannel Friday

Flannel Friday: Five Little Eggs

This is my first post to Flannel Friday, so here goes! For a recent spring storytime about eggs and nests, I was inspired by Jen in the Library's shorter version of Ten Little Eggs. My preschool storytime group runs pretty young, so Five Little Eggs was more our speed. 

“Five Little Eggs” 

There are five little eggs

And what do we see

They’re about to crack open

“My goodness me,”

said Mother Hen.

The first egg cracks open

And what do we see

It’s a snappy little alligator

Looking at me.

The second egg cracks open

And what do we see

It’s a little purple dinosaur

Looking at me.

The third egg cracks open

And what do we see

It’s a little green turtle

Looking at me.

The fourth egg cracks open

And what do we see

It’s a pretty little bluebird

Looking at me.

The fifth egg cracks open

And what do we see

It’s a little yellow chicken

Looking at me.

“My baby!”

said the mother hen,

as happy as can be.

“Mommy!” said the chick.

“Did you meet all my sisters and brothers?”

“What!” shrieked Mother Hen,

“My goodness me.”

Source: Jen in the Library

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Cate at Storytiming.  You can also find tons of ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest Pages, the Flannel Friday Blog, and Flannel Friday's Facebook page.