Pre-K Library Storytime

Monkeys live for danger. They're always teasing crocodiles and jumping on beds. They can't even behave at the library! When Curious George, the most famous monkey of them all, goes to storytime, he turns the library bookshelves upside down -- literally. And yet, what do we so often call the small people who come to our storytimes? Monkeys. Puppet   There was a little monkey who lived in a tree. He was very furry, as furry could be. He gobbled bananas, he gobbled up bugs But he was a lovin' monkey and liked to give hugs! He hugged all the babies. He hugged all their moms. Then he said "eee eee eeee" And ran back up the tree. Games   Make some monkey noises! They're a) important vowel sounds and b) big faves with kids doing animal noises. Tell them not to clap after the stories -- they're supposed to give you monkey cheers, ooo-eee-aaaa! Books Intro:  Two Little Monkeys  by Mem Fox. This makes for a great clapping song. Gripping tale: Where's My Mommy? ...

Children learn so much from their friends, how to play, how to speak, even how to be human. At the same time, two year olds can't Twitter or Facebook. They are dependent on us to make their playdates, and I am happy to say, they quite often come to my library to meet other two year olds! Game Quiz your storytime visitors with a flannelboard mix of which famous friend goes with whom:  Elephant & Piggy, Pooh and Piglet, Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat, Dora and Diego. Books Any Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems Do You Want To Be My Friend? by Eric Carle. Nobody wants to be friends with the mouse! Not the horse, not the crocodile, not the lion...until he finds another mouse.  Great readaloud -- all those animals! A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead.  This Caldecott winner is the charming tale of a living zookeeper who takes sick one day and has to stay home. Do the animals miss him? No, they go to visit him.   The Adventures of Beekle...

Know a  Firefighter? Children have been known to hide from firefighters in burning houses because the appearance of the firefighters in all their gear can be so scary.  Invite a firefighter to your storytime and ask them to put on their gear while the kids watch.  I bet they'd even read them a book. Books:   Fire Engine No. 9 by Mike Austin. This is like a book rendition of Hurry Hurry drive the firetruck. Segue right into it! Intro: The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck by Laura Murray. Wow, what a great resource!  A book which deals with all the details of firelife THROUGH THE EYES OF A GINGERBREAD MAN!  And in rhyme! Firetruck books can get pretty repetitive.  This one is welcome fun. Gripping Tale:   Clifford and the Firefighters by Norman Bridwell.  Clifford just happens to be visiting the fire station and just happens to make a mess of the "stop, Drop and Roll" drill when the fire alarm just happens to go off and he just happens...

Intro I gather up a bunch of different books and talk about how books come in all shapes and sizes.  Showing off the different book formats was a lot of fun, and many parents weren't hip to CD books etc. Cloth book Novelty book Book with sound Board book --  Waddle  has scanimation. Tiny little book & a big book, which I used to demonstrate page turning: on edge of book not in middle. I played a book on a DVD. Pop Up Book and don't forget the net:   Scholastic Picture Books on Netflix B o o k s This is Not a Book by Jean Jullien.  The kids enjoy guessing the pictures. (I skipped the butt crack.) It's a Little Book by Lane Smith. So suitable for acting out. A performance piece. Frankencrayon by Michael Hall.  No preaching here, but we're talking about whether or not scribbling in a book is a good idea.  In a riotously--Michael Hall  funny way. I just wanted to read a book I liked that I wouldn't usually use in storytime.  I picked one o...

Birthday Party! Beach Party! New Year's Party! Earth Day Party! Tea Party! Cake! Games! Songs! Fireworks!  It's always the right time to throw a dance party, or a cupcake party, or a rainy day party, and here are some great books to go with the theme. Have you been doing the Beach Theme to death? Do a Beach Party Theme and throw in extra songs and a game! Don't usually serve food at your library? A party is a chance to make an exception. Looking for a good reason to play The Jackson Five's ABCs and dance? Do it! It's a party! Come dressed for your party in your most outrageous outfit, whatever suits your Fancy Nancy. Glinda the Good Witch evening gown? Tux? Wedding dress? Halloween costume? Don't forget the noisemakers and confetti! 2014 Lineup: Intro: I am Invited to a Party by Mo Willems Gripping Tale: Let's Have a Tree Party! by Thomas Martin.  This one touches on all the features of a fun party -- Simon Says, pizza & ice cream, music and counting. Th...

We'll be trick 'r treating throughout the library this Friday, so wear your superduds or tails & horns, and get ready! We'll supply the books, the songs, the treats & treat bags.  Boo! @ your local library A children's library is the place to be for Halloween lovers.  Halloween is that night of the year when we can be anything we can imagine. Halloween is that time when we can take our fears (of vampires, witches or bats) turn them inside out, wear them like a hat, and get rid of them for good. Surreptitiously storytime seduces small children into learning to sit still, participate in a group, listen and enjoy a book BUT NOT ON HALLOWEEN!!! On Halloween I’m wearing my de rigeur witch outfit, the little ones are dressed according to their private fantasy world, and after storytime we bust loose and go Trick or Treating in the library! I give them each a goodie bag and they move from reference desk to circulation desk, etc. It opens them up to the rest of the libr...