Story Window Storytime Blog: March 2009
Peek inside for storytime ideas! Wilmette Librarians share suggestions for age-appropriate books, rhymes, songs, and crafts.
March 16, 2009
Best of Winter 2009
(For 3.5-5 Year Olds)
My storytime blog has been quiet lately. That doesn't mean we've been quiet in storytime. Oh no. I'll give an update of my favorite song, rhyme, craft, and books of this session.
First, Best Song: Aiken Drum. Although it's an old favorite, I remember hating it as a child. What is an Aiken Drum anyway? Maybe that's why I forgot about it. Maybe that's why I was so pleasantly surprised when I rediscovered it on the Wiggleworms Love You CD put out by the Old Town School of Folk Music. The nonsense is great fun and it makes for wonderful kid participation. This version of the song tells about the man in the moon, how his various body parts were made of different food, and how he played different instruments. You know, "His eyes were made of birthday cake...he played upon his jingle bells..."
Kids can point out the body parts. I gave them different kinds of instruments, which they played when the song mentioned that instrument. At the end, everybody jammed together. Who cares who or what an Aiken Drum is! We had fun.
Posted by Janet at 8:18 PM | TrackBack
Animals
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
What makes for a good day? What starts out as a bad day for a bird, fox and squirrel with some disappointments turns into a good day as happy endings occur in A Good Day, by Kevin Henkes. As we counted to the familiar tune of "One Two, Buckle My Shoe", we enjoyed watching chickens hatch out of eggs in Big Fat Hen, by Keith Baker. Lucy Cousins's books are always popular and this toy and movable version called Maisy at the Farm depicts Maisy doing fun things at a farm like feeding the pigs and riding the tractor. Some of us think mice are indeed very nice. I did the flannel story called "I Think Mice are Nice."
Posted by Sue at 6:18 PM | TrackBack
March 10, 2009
Colors
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
The storytime kids enjoy learning about colors. Bold, exciting rainbow colors and familiar Maisy friends on every page make Maisy's Rainbow Dream,by Lucy Cousins a great read aloud choice. Jane Cabrera is always a popular choice with her vibrant colors and child-like illustrations, as we noted in Cat's Colors. We really enjoyed singing aloud along with the railroad pop-up book written in homage to the popular song, "Wheels on the Bus" called Whistle on the Train, by Margaret McNamara. We counted along with the flannel board story, "Five Owls".
Posted by Sue at 9:47 AM | TrackBack
March 5, 2009
Dogs and Cats (or, Cats and Dogs)
(For 2.5-3.5 Year Olds)
Bark, George, by Jules Feiffer - In this storytime standby, George the puppy says just about everything except "arf." Kids love the silliness and can help out with the animal noises.
Katie Loves the Kittens, by John Himmelman - New picture about a dog who just can't contain her excitement around the new kittens; unfortunately, she scares them. Children, especially those with younger siblings, will identify with Katie, who tries so hard to be gentle and quiet.
Dog's Colorful Day, by Emma Dodds - Another storytime standby, this book about a dog's messy day is great for working on colors and counting. It also lends itself well to a craft project! I photocopy a picture of a clean Dog, and the kids add colored dot stickers and their own coloring.
Posted by Lisa at 2:16 PM | TrackBack
March 4, 2009
Let's Drive!
(For 1.5-2.5 Year Olds)
Trucks and buses are familiar and exciting to the storytime kids and therefore, truck books are popular. Trucks of all sizes, shapes and colors performing a variety of tasks are depicted in Jonathan London's A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa. A day in the life of a truck driver is explored in the colorful picture book Drive, by Nathan Clement. Local author Paul Zelinsky does a toy book version of the classic song in The Wheels on the Bus, that the storytime kids truly enjoyed. We counted along with the flannel board story, "Five Little Owls".
Posted by Sue at 9:40 AM | TrackBack
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