Pre-School Storytime/Craft: Unusual Pets

 

 

Book: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (George the dog meows, quacks, moos, etc. until a vet reaches down to extract the animals inside...surprise ending, George says, “Hello?”)

Sign Language Song: “Hear the Little Doggie” from Pick Me Up, Fun Songs for Learning Signs  and/or Flannel/Song: “BINGO” (identify letters -- clap for each removed letter -- great for pre-reading listening skills)

Flannel: Any Kind of Dog (based on the book by Lynn Reiser) -- script below

Song: “How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

 

Book: RRRALPH by Lois Ehlert (A kid learns that his dog has an impressive vocabulary!)  -- can booktalk Martha Speaks series.

 

Singable Book: Do Your Ears Hang Low?  by Jenny Cooper (with grey pantihose “ears”)

 

Book: This ORQ. (he cave boy) by David Elliot (boy’s pet mammoth is not well-accepted by his cave-mom – until he saves him from a saber tooth tiger!)

Craft – Paper bag dog puppets.
Could also make your own “pet” using toilet paper tubes, googly eyes, pipe cleaners and scrap paper or 2D/3D animals in the style of Lois Ehlert’s Ralph with recycled materials

 

 

4.17 Branchburg – note: was told theme was “pets” but arrived to find dog craft planned and very young crowd so adjusted accordingly.

Any Kind of Dog
(based on the book by Lynn Reiser)

Richard wanted a dog -- any kind of dog -- but his mom said a dog was too much trouble,

So she gave him a caterpillar.
The caterpillar was very nice.  

It looked a little like a dog (Lhasa Apso), but it was not a dog.

Richard wanted a dog -- any kind of dog -- but his mom said a dog was too much trouble,

So she gave him a mouse.

The mouse  was very nice.  

It looked a little like a dog (Chihuahua), but it was not a dog.

Continue with:
Baby Alligator…. Dachshund
Lamb… Bedlington Terrier

Pony… Great Dane

Lion… Chow Chow
Bear… Newfoundland

All of the animals were very nice, but Richard still wanted a dog.

And, finally, his mother gave him a dog.

The dog was very nice.

It looked exactly like a dog.

The dog was a lot of trouble.

But it was worth it!

 

Additional title possibilities:

Book: Clara and Asha by Eric Rohman (A giant fish makes a delightful friend/pet)  (skipped BGL)

Song: “Make New Friends But Keep the Old”   (skipped BGL)

Optional DVD: Angus Lost (Phoenix Films) - wordless live action. (or Angus & the Ducks)

How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton
A Pet for Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (Fly Guy longs to have a pet of his very own. What will he choose? The story reaches a delightfully odd conclusion that makes total sense)
Don’t Take Your Snake for a Stroll by Karin Ireland
Teacher’s Pets by Dayle Ann Dodds
Hiding Hoover by Elise Broach
The Birthday Fish by Dan Yaccarino
Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett
Hunky Dory Ate It by Katie Evans (great to use with flannel: The Cake that Mack Ate)
It’s a Secret – Burningham (JFreeman)
Pet for Petunia -  Schmid (girl wants a skunk)

Martha – Spirin

"Mrs. Arthur Armrooster Arbuster Getz"
Mrs. Arthur Armbrooster Arbuster Getz
Had a very strange habit of wearing her pets!
Around her waist was a garter snake
And in her pockets mice
About her neck was a quick brown fox
And on her shoulder, a gerbil eating rice
Upon her shoe was a cockatoo
Upon her head a hen
And by her side a pig would hide
And they were all the best of friends!

School Age Storytime: Very Special Dogs

 

Very Special Dogs -- A program introducing Kindergarten-3rd graders to the special things dogs can do for us. Could also combine use elements of this program with a visit from the 4H Guide Dog Training Club.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems – Pigeon is desperate for a puppy, until he actually gets one!

How Smudge Came by Nan Gregory -- A young woman with Down’s Syndrome finds an abandoned puppy and brings it along to the hospice where she works.

Flannel: Any Kind of Dog by Lynn Reiser -- Richard wants a dog, but his mom says a dog is “too much trouble!” so she gets him all sorts of other animals instead.

and/or A Pup Just for Me/A Boy Just for Me by Dorothea P. Seeber -- Reversible book tells how a boy and a pup each finally find the friend they were looking for. 

Dogs by Emily Gravett – Quick tour of the variety of dogs – surprise narrator.

A Place for Grace by Jean Davies Okimoto – Grace is a little dog with big ambitions to be a guide dog. Too small for “seeing eye,” she trains as a “hearing ear,” but has some problems learning what she needs to do.

Song: Do Your Ears Hang Low? (done with pantyhose on head!) http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/songs/childrens/doyourearsmp3.htm

Lola Goes to Work: A Nine to Five Therapy Dog by Marcia Goldman – a day in the life as told by the dog!

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer – George the dog meows, quacks, oinks, and moos, until the vet finds out why!

RRRALPH by Lois Ehlert – Check out this dog’s vocabulary!

Didn't use (lack of time): Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh, My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemie, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina by Kirby Larsen, The Other Dog by Madeleine L’Engle, Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee

12.8, 3.15

Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynne Rae Perkins (Winners 2017)