Saturday, December 21, 2024
Family Storytime/Craft "All Presents Accounted For" - Clarence Dillon Library
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Storytime: Button Up for Winter Weather!
vocabulary (unusual animals), following directions,
Book: Froggy Gets Dressed – Jonathon London (kids act out motions and shout out “FROGGY...Have you forgotten something?”) (Alt. for young kids: Bear Gets Dressed: A Guessing Game Story – Harriet Ziefert, Other great underwear-themed titles: Bear in Long Underwear -- Todd H. Doodler, Naked by Michael Ian Black (kids LOVE!)
Froggy clearly had trouble wearing clothes – so do these animals…Flannel: Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing – Judi Barrett (Cut out from a book whose spine had broken -- made it easy for us to as a Q&A: animal identification, reasoning—why wearing clothing would be a problem for the animal, vocabulary development – animal names, “suspenders”)
Action Song: This is the Way… (sequencing: getting dressed) (Tune: “Mulberry Bush”)This is the way we put on our coat,
Put on our coat, put on our coat,
This is the way we put on our coat,
To play outside in the snow.
Continue with other articles of clothing…
(Could also use: Action/Sign Language Song: When It’s Cold Outside from “Pick Me Up: Fun Songs for Learning Signs”)
Book: A Hat for Minerva Louse – Janet Morgan Stoeke
Action Song: We Dress Like That (mention concept of "piggy-back songs" Source Unknown, Tune: “Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes”—repeated several times)
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
In wintertime we dress like that,
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Participatory Storytelling: The Mitten by Jan Brett
Act out story with puppets (old lady, boy) and masks from www.janbrett.com – you can draw an enormous mitten on a white plastic tablecloth with thick black marker, place it on the floor and have adults hold down the corners while the Iibrarian narrates the story and the children (holding laminated masks from the Jan Brett website), step on and huddled together, at the “aachoo” we all jumped off and threw the tablecloth into the air!
Other versions here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html
The Mitten Song
Thumbs in the thumb place
Fingers all together
This is the song we sing when it's mitten weather
It doesn't matter whether
They are made of wool or leather
Thumbs in the thumb place
Fingers all together
Singable Book: Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson
Snowmen don’t need coats to go outside, but people do!
Action Song: I’m a Little Snowman (Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip, drip, drip, I’m a puddle today!
Young group so skipped : Flannel/Song: In the Freezer (Song on Joe Scrugg’s “Traffic Jams”) lyrics to this and additional winter songs here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/01/singalong-winters-day.html
Close with Activity: indoor snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride”, track #5 on album 20th Century Masters: Season's Greetings- The Millennium Collection
Making snowballs for the program:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Trim both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Make 2 or 3 vertical cuts in both ends.
6) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of: Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"
Other possibilities:
Book: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat – Simms Tabeck (folk tale with great cut-out reveals; briefly mention Caldecott Award) (Optional, show another version of same tale: Something from Nothing – Phoebe Gilman)
Hi my name is Joe & I work in a button factory.
One day, my boss said “Joe, are you busy?”
“I said “no”” – so he said “Turn this button with your right hand” (do this)
Repeat: left hand, right foot, left foot, head…finally
I said YES!!!!!!”
Or flannel/prop song (to tune: “Mary Had Little Lamb”) (memory-sequencing)
Joseph had an overcoat, overcoat, over coat…it got old and worn.
So he made a little jacket etc. ..continue thru button…lost button…then he made this little song….
1A few more buttons...
Book: Press Here – Herve Tullet (kids press the dots and are thrilled with the changes, cause & effect, numeracy, left-right identification, patterns)
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Storytime: Soup's On - Bedminster Library/Nicole's Special Ed Class/Bedminster School
emotions, and months of the year
Book: Growing Vegetable Soup
Book: Stone Soup (Ann McGovern version)
Song with felt board: Alphabet Soup
Book: Mean Soup
Song with cards: Chicken Soup with Rice (video version) (the rest of Really Rosie is available online here)
Monday, December 19, 2022
Storytime: Gifts & Giving - Bedminster School/Nicole's Special Ed Class/Bedminster Library
Song/Flannel: Helping by Shel Silverstein from Free to Be, You and Me. Lyrics & tune: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/helping-an-illustrated-song-by-shel-silverstein/
The Gift – Gabriela Keselman (Mickey's birthday is coming and his parents cannot figure out what to do when he tells them that he wants something big, strong, smooth, sweet, warm, funny, and long-lasting) Alternatives: The Gift of Nothing – Patrick McDonnell or Immi’s Gift – Karin Littlewood
The Marvelous Toy by Tom Paxton (sung) (Several book versions available. Hand-me-down toy has special meaning; performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjslf_a11c)
Sign Language Song: Family Tree Song by Tom Chapin & John Forster, additional verses on their album “Family Tree”; video of their performance with signs: http://www.tomchapin.com/docs/lft.htmland and on their video “This Pretty Planet.”
Signs handout: http://www.tomchapin.com/docs/ftsigns.html
Family Tree by John Forster & Tom Chapin © 1988 Limousine Music Co. & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)
Before the days of Jello
Lived a prehistoric fellow,
Who loved a maid and courted her
Beneath the banyan tree.
And they had lots of children.
And their children all had children.
And they kept on having children
Until one of them had me!
We're a family and we're a tree.
Our roots go deep down in history
From my great-great-granddaddy reaching up to me,
We're a green and growing family tree.
My grandpa came from Russia;
My grandma came from Prussia;
They met in Nova Scotia,
Had my dad in Tennessee.
Then they moved to Yokohama
Where Daddy met my Mama.
Her dad's from Alabama and her mom's part Cherokee.
We're a family and we're a tree.
Our roots go deep down in history
From my great-great-granddaddy reaching up to me,
We're a green and growing family tree.
Well one fine day I may go
To Tierra Del Fuego.
Perhaps I'll meet my wife there
And we'll move to Timbuktu.
And our kid will be bilingual,
And though she may stay single,
She could, of course, comingle with the
King of Kathmandu.
'Cause we're a family and we're a tree.
Our roots go deep down in history
From my great-great-granddaddy reaching up to me,
We're a green and growing family tree.
The folks in Madagascar
Aren't the same as in Alaskar;
They got different foods, different moods
And different colored skin.
You may have a different name,
But underneath we're much the same;
You're probably my cousin and the whole world is our kin.
We're a family and we're a tree.
Our roots go deep down in history
From my great-great-grandmother reaching up to me, (sign for “grandmother is the same hand as grandfather, but thumb touching the chin and bouncing 2x)
We're a green and growing family tree.
We're a green and growing family.
This song appears on Tom Chapin's Family Tree CD. More very special tree stories here: https://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/school-age-storytime-very-special-trees.html
Song: We Wish You a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year… (lyrics to this and many other holiday songs here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/singalong-keep-spiritwinter-holiday.html)
If time, could add some of the materials from the programs here:
http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search/label/Gifts%20and%20Giving
Looking for additional special holiday titles? Check out this bibliography: http://www.somerset.lib.nj.us/kids/PDFs/holidays2011.pdf
Activity: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson (on album Season’s Greetings)
Making snowballs for the program:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Cut open both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of: Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
School Age Storytime: Snow Day!

Read: Snow by Uri Shulewitz (discussed Caldecott Medal – what it means, my plan to return in early February to run a Mock Caldecott with them)
Younger classes: Do the motions to “When It’s Cold Outside” an Elvis-inspired song from Pick Me Up! Fun Songs for Learning Signs

Acted Out: The Mitten by Jan Brett (did with a large tablecloth mitten & sign/masks from janbrett.com details: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html)
- Talked about folktale (story retold over generations/centuries (define), then read Jan Brett’s book with kids holding tablecloth and masks from www.janbrett.com at the “aachoo”, I grabbed the tablecloth and the kids scattered. Another possibility is to have two kids (or grown ups) hold hands and become each side of the mitten, then let the kids crowd in between. (from http://lalalalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/12/flannel-friday-mitten.html)
Singable Book: Frosty
Booktalked: Snowmen at Night – Caralyn Buehner (mentioned hidden pictures), Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman (wonderful video available on Youtube)

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian (talked about Caldecott Gold woodcut illustrations, true book – would find in the Biography (bio=life, graphy =writing,stories section)
Activity: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson (on album Season’s Greetings)
Making snowballs:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Cut open both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of: Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"
Singable/flannel: “In the Freezer” by Joe Scruggs – lyrics here.
Action Song: “I’m a Little Snowman”
I’m a Little Snowman Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip, drip, drip, I’m a puddle today!
Craft (for afterschool sites): Cut out paper snowflakes http://thechocolatemuffintree.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-giant-snowflakes.html (could use large tissue paper) (booktalked Snowflake Bentley – another Caldecott)
Other possibilities: If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold (would be fun to create artist-inspired snow people)
Snow creatures (inspired by Ehlert’s book) – Materials: White & colored construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, pompoms, buttons, feathers, etc.
JFK --Did puppet version of Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett (a bit hard to do all the pieces - slow to take off parts), didn't have time for The Mitten.
More ideas: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/let-it-snow-winter-storytimecraft-ages.html, http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/pre-school-storytime-button-up-for.html
1/18 Bedm, Afterschools: VH, JFK, Whiton, BG
Friday, December 15, 2017
School Age Storytime : Gifts and Giving
A storytime for K-2 celebrating seasonal holidays. Featuring tangible & intangible giving, with a nod to geography and figurative writing. Great lead-in for holiday toy, coat & food drives.
Book: Rabbit’s Gift – George Shannon (Chinese folktale in which each animal tries to share the turnip left at his doorstep.)
Storytelling with props/flannel: The Great Big Enormous Turnip (heading to the country north of China with another tale of turnips & cooperation -- based on the Russian book by Alexsey Nikolayevich Tolstoy)
Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant (Loosely-based on a true story. A rich man rides a train through Appalachia every year at Christmas tossing gifts to the poor children who are waiting in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there the young boy waiting for gifts each year who grows up and also gives back to the community.)
The Marvelous Toy by Tom Paxton (sung) (Several book versions available. Hand-me-down toy has special meaning; performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjslf_a11c)
Book: The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes --Linda Glaser (When unexpected guests are due, a girl borrows more potatoes and eggs from Mrs. Greenberg, the lonely but stubborn older woman next door, and finally figures out a way to convince her to join in the celebration. This book has delicious examples of figurative language, e.g. "Mrs. Greenberg's house was always clean and tidy, like its face was just scrubbed and its blouse was tucked in, while Rachel's house always looked like it was still in its pajamas and needed to brush its hair yet.")
Song/Flannel: Helping by Shel Silverstein from Free to Be, You and Me. Lyrics & tune: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/helping-an-illustrated-song-by-shel-silverstein/ (no time today but could also have sung Song/Flannel: I Had a Little Dreidel (with myriad variations --source unknown -- students encouraged to make up new verses!)
More song lyrics: carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/singalong-keep-spiritwinter-holiday.html
Book: Gifts by Jo Ellen Bogart (A grandmother travels the world bringing back gifts both real and fanciful in this lovely rhyming story illustrated with three dimensional pictures created from plasticine clay. The child grows to a young woman and the grandmother gets more frail until the last page shows the child grown up with a child of her own traveling the world and concludes "and everything she shared with me I'm going to share with you." Had kids identify geographic locations mentioned on maps on the endpapers.)
The Extraordinary Gift – Florence Langlois (Imaginative fold out book which says that the best gift is a book!)
Song: We Wish You a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year… (lyrics to this and many other holiday songs here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/singalong-keep-spiritwinter-holiday.html)
If time, could add some of the materials from the programs below:
http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/school-age-storytime-gifts-and-giving.html
http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/pre-school-storytime-gifts-and-giving.html
http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/11/chanukah-divali-storiesschool-age.html
Looking for additional special holiday titles? Check out this bibliography: http://www.somerset.lib.nj.us/kids/PDFs/holidays2011.pdf
Bedm. 12/2017
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Pre-School Storytime and Craft: The “Bear” Necessities
The “Bear” Necessities
(Fun storytime geared for ages 2-6, incorporates participatory storytelling, numeracy, colors, alphabet reinforcement, music, and even a folk tale! – lots of great material to choose from.)
Intro music: Gary Rosen “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” (optional display book Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Kennedy – can march around to this tune too.)
Book: The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey & Don Wood
Glove puppet/numeral cards (numeracy): Five Little Bears (source unknown)
One little bear wondering what to do
Along came another -- then there were two.
Two little bears climbing up a tree
Along came another -- then there were three.
Three little bears ate an apple core.
Along came another -- then there were four.
Four little bears found honey in a hive.
Along came another -- then there were five!
Book: Orange Pear Apple Bear – Emily Gravett (only 5 words, very clever…easy to “read” together – kids love this!)
Flannel: Goldilocks and the Three Bears (classic folk tale, talk about kids acting it out at home using puppets or props)
Action: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around (traditional)
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 shake your head.
Teddy bear, teddy bear point to red.
Teddy bear teddy bear stomp your feet.
Teddy bear, teddy bear take your seat.
Creature ABC – Andrew Zuckerman (Reinforcing the letters of the alphabet (and their sounds) with a great guessing game!)
Fingerplay: Where Is Brown Bear?
Define “hibernation”
Tune: "Where Is Thumbkin?"
Where is brown bear, where is brown bear?
Here I am, here I am. (show thumb)
You look so big and furry,
Now we have to hurry,
Hi-ber-nate, hi-ber-nate.
repeat with:
young bear (show pointer finger)
tall bear (show middle finger)
old bear (show ring finger)
short bear (show pinky)
Book: The Teddy Bear by David McPhail (a boy’s lost teddy becomes a comfort to a homeless man – can tell abridgement if no time for whole story) If young crowd, try
Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough (also big book & flannel)
DVD: Corduroy (16min. but kids love!) PPR on Weston Woods 50th Anniversary Collection (Margaret Draghi favorite modern classics)
Craft: Decorate Ellison die XL Teddy Bear – stickers, glitter, scissors, colored paper, markers, gluesticks – could also do a lace button craft
12.16 BWL
Additional possibilities:
Flannel: Brown Bear, Brown Bear…What Do You See? – show book by Bill Martin & Eric Carle (in addition to reinforcing color & animal names, repetition and word clues make this another first book for child to “read”)
Copycat Bear! – Ellie Sandall (Bird is initially upset that bear is copying her actions but eventually realizes it is a sign of friendship – great fun to act out bird & bear’s actions with the kids)
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich – Julia Sarcone-Roach – surprise ending
Bear Snores On – Wilson (If not using for a winter storytime -- kids snore along! (Margaret Draghi favorite modern classics) also DVD)
Song: Where is Brown Bear… hibernate (below)
Make a Wish Bear – Greg Foley
Good Luck Bear – Greg Foley
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? – Nancy Carlstrom
Action Book: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Rosen (Margaret Draghi favorite modern classics) story map
Flannel/song: Down by the Bay – Raffi
Bear’s Picture – Pinkwater/Johnson – use for art/creativity
Bears on Chairs – Parenteau – cute sharing but not exceptional
Bear has a Story to Tell – Stead
Red Sled – Judge
Bear who Shared – Rayner – beautiful illus
Moon Bear – Guiberson/Young
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep – Wright (bear misinterprets winter’s instructions)
The Terrible Plop – Dubosarsky
Interactive Book: Are You There, Baby Bear? – Gliori (flaps)
Brown Paper Teddy Bear – Allison
Old Bear – Henkes
Where’s My Teddy? -- Alborough (also big book & flannel)
You & Me Little Bear -- Waddell
http://www.slj.com/2014/10/reviews/spotlight/curl-up-with-these-books-about-bears-slj-spotlight/
11/10, 11/11, 12/12, 12/15 bwl (have to pick and choose)
Songs & Fingerplays:
FIVE LITTLE BEARS
One little bear
Wondering what to do
Along came another
Then there were two.
Two little bears
Climbing up a tree
Along came another
Then there were three.
Three little bears
Ate an apple core.
Along came another,
Then there were four.
Four little bears
Found honey in a hive.
Along came another,
Then there were five!
Five Brown Teddies (glove count down)
Tune: "Ten Green Bottles"
Five brown teddies sitting on a wall,
Five brown teddies sitting on a wall,
And if one brown teddy should accidentally fall,
There'd be four brown teddies sitting on the wall.
Repeat counting backward with each verse.
TEDDY BEAR (Action)
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, go upstairs;
Teddy bear, teddy bear, comb your hair
Teddy bear, teddy bear, stomp your feet;
Teddy bear, teddy bear, take your seat.
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear turn around
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear touch the ground
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear show your shoe
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear that will do
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear go upstairs
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear *show you care*
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear turn out the light
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear say good night.
The Other Day (Tune: "Sippin' Cider Through A Straw")
The leader sings a line and the group repeats it.
Then the leader and the group sing through the
entire verse together singing each line only once.
The other day.
I saw a bear.
Out in the wood.
Away out there.
He looked at me.
I looked at him.
He sized up me.
I sized up him.
He said to me.
"Why don't you run?"
"'Cause you ain't got any gun."
And so I ran.
Away from there.
But right behind.
Me was that bear.
And then I saw.
Ahead of me.
A great big tree.
Oh, glory be!
The nearest branch.
Was ten feet up.
I had to jump.
And trust my luck.
And so I jumped.
Away from there.
But I missed that branch.
Away up there.
Now don't you fret.
And don't you frown.
'Cause I caught that branch.
On the way back down.
This is the end.
There ain't no more.
Unless I see.
That bear once more.
Repeat last verse.
Where Is Brown Bear?
Tune: "Where Is Thumbkin?"
Where is brown bear, where is brown bear?
Here I am, here I am. (show thumb)
You look so big and furry,
Now we have to hurry,
Hi-ber-nate, hi-ber-nate.
repeat with:
young bear (show pointer finger)
tall bear (show middle finger)
old bear (show ring finger)
short bear (show pinky)
Bears Are Sleeping
Tune: "Frere Jacques"
Bears are sleeping,
Bears are sleeping,
In their dens, in their dens,
Soon it will be spring, soon it will be spring.
Wake up bears, wake up bears!
Rhyme: Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
FW had no hair
FW wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
Puppets/Song: I Know A Bear Named Corduroy