Let's Get Going!

This Transportation-themed storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on March 24, 2015.  Visiting us were students, teachers, and parents from Aldersgate Preschool.
It was also presented on March 25 at Toddler Storytime.

Books:

Go-Go Gorillas by Julia Durango, illustrated by Eleanor Taylor

The children were very helpful in chiming in on the repeating refrain of this story about 10 gorillas who are summoned to the King's villa for a very special announcement.
"Go-go, gorillas!  Gotta go, gorillas, go!
                                                                      

Six Hogs on a Scooter by Eileen Spinelli , illustrated by Scott Nash

"Six hogs on a scooter makes an interesting sight."

Oopsy, Teacher! by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa

(Used for the Aldersgate Preschool Storytime)

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort, illustrated by G. Brian Karas

(I referred to this book during the Aldersgate Preschool Storytime but did not read it.)

Songs:

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round,
'round and 'round,
'round and 'round.
The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round,
all through the town.


The duck on the bus goes quack, quack, quack...
The elephant on the bus goes (trumpeting sound)...
The snake on the bus goes sssss-sssss...
The rabbit on the bus says nothing at al...

Sailing to the Sea
(sung by Tom Chapin on his album "Mother Earth")

This is a delightful song to act out!  The children helped make the sounds of the wind in the sail ("whoosh!"), the bell on the buoy ("ding-ding!"), the cars on the bridge ("beep-beep!"), the train on the shore ("clickety-clack, clickety-clack!") and the ocean liner ("ooooooo")
Here are the flannel pieces we used to help us remember the order of the song:

At the end of each verse we held on to the sides of our imaginary boat as we went "gently rocking, riding, rolling, sailing to the sea."  You can check out this wonderful music CD at the Bellevue Public Library or purchase the download of the song (or the entire CD) online from the artist!


I always enjoy visits from our friends at Aldersgate Preschool.  So nice to see so many parents being active participants during Storytime!    ~ Mrs. B.

Each Outreach Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Papa Bear & Me Storytime ~ March 24, 2015

This Papa Bear and Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on March 24, 2015.

Papa Bear & Me Storytime is designed to appeal especially to daddies, grandpas and other men in a child's life.  I try to choose stories that 1) are about bears, or 2) have a strong, positive male figure in the story.  While I issue a special invitation for men to accompany their children to this storytime, please know that everyone is welcome to come!
      ~ Mrs. B.

Books:

Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney

Sleep Tight, Little Bear by Britta Teckentrup

Click, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle

Each Papa Bear & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Baby & Me Storytime ~ March 24 & 26

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on March 24 & 26, 2015.

Book:
Rain, Rain, Go Away by Caroline Jayne Church

Songs:

Hello, Friends!

(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

We're glad you came today!

Skinnamarink

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

I love you in the morning

And in the afternoon.

I love you in the evening

And underneath the moon, oh,

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

First We Wave Our Hands Up High
(tune: "London Bridge")

First we wave our hands up high,
Hands up high, hands up high.
First we wave our hands up high,
Then we clap them!

Then we shake our hands down low,
Hands down low, hands down low.
Then we shake our hands down low,
Then we hide them!

Rhymes:

It's Raining

It's raining!  It's raining!

How the wind does blow!

Raindrops falling from the sky.

Oops!  One landed on my...nose!

Have fun with your little one by continuing this rhyme, choosing other parts of her body where a raindrop might land and unexpectedly tickle her!  Raindrops might land on Baby's neck, toes, ears, back, tummy, knee, etc.

X Marks the Spot

X marks the spot,

(make an X on baby's chest or back)

with a dot, dot, dot,

(tap with finger on belly or back 3 times)

and a dash, and a dash,

(draw 2 lines on baby's chest or back)

and a question mark!

(draw a question mark with a dot)

Tickle up... 

(tickle baby up to head)

and tickle down...

(tickle baby down to toes)

Tickle baby all around! 

(tickle all over)

I Saw a Snake Go By One Day
(© Lois Simmie)  

I saw a snake go by one day (make snake motion with arm)
Riding in his Chevrolet (hands on steering wheel)
He was long (extend arms to show "long")
And he was thin (arms show "thin")
And he didn't have a chin. (point to chin)

He had no chin,
But what the heck (shrug)
He had lots and lots and lots of neck! (touch or tickle baby's neck)

Our activity this week was Scarves!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Baby & Me Storytime ~ March 17 & 19, 2015

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on March 17 & 19, 2015.

Book:

Peek-a-Boo! by Roberta Grobel Intrater

Songs:

Hello, Friends!

(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

We're glad you came today!

Skinnamarink

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

I love you in the morning

And in the afternoon.

I love you in the evening

And underneath the moon, oh,

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, 
How I wonder what you are.

Clap Your Hands, One, Two, Three
(tune: "This Old Man")

Clap your hands, one, two, three
Play a clapping game with me.
Now your hands have gone away.
Bring them back so we can play!

Final time:
Clap your hands, one, two, three
Play a clapping game with me.
Now your hands have gone away.
We'll play this game another day!

Rhymes:

Uncover Our Eyes

Uncover our eyes, 

and what can we see?

I can see you and you can see me!

You can see your fingers, 

and you can see your toes.

You can see your tummy, 

but you can't see your nose!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, One Child In a Tub


Rub-a-dub-dub, one child in a tub,
(rub knuckles gently up and down child's chest)
Tell me what you see.
One foot with toes,
(point to parts of child's body)
A hand, a nose,
As clean as they can be!
(rub hands together)

Rub-a-dub-dub, one child in a tub,
(rub knuckles gently up and down child's chest)
Tell me what you see.
Two ears, a cheek,
(point to parts of child's body)
So clean they squeak,
(gently rub child's cheeks)
A chin, a tummy, a knee.
(point to parts of child's body)

Rub -a-dub-dub, one child in a tub,
(rub knuckles gently up and down child's chest)
Tell me what you see.
Legs and arms,
So clean and warm.
Do they have a hug for me?

Our activity this week was Bean Bags!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Toddler Storytime ~ Spring is Here!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on March 18, 2015.

Books:
My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Harlow Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell

Everything Spring! by Jill Esbaum, photographs by National Geographic Kids

Songs:

(scroll to the end of this post to find out why we didn't sing Wesley's special song this week!)
Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)




I Wish I Was a Rabbit
(tune: "The More We Get Together")

I wish I was a rabbit, a rabbit, a rabbit.
I wish I was a rabbit, 'cause rabbits can hop.
They hop, and hop, and hop, and hop.
I wish I was a rabbit, 'cause rabbits can hop.


I wish I was a rabbit, a rabbit, a rabbit,
I wish I was a rabbit 'cause rabbits can munch.
They munch, and munch, and munch, and munch.
I wish I was a rabbit 'cause rabbits can munch.

I wish I was a rabbit, a rabbit, a rabbit.
I wish I was a rabbit that wiggles its nose.
It wiggles and wiggles and wiggles and wiggles.
I wish I was a rabbit that wiggles its nose.


Rhymes: 

Here is the Beehive

Here is the beehive,
But where are the bees?
Hidden inside where nobody sees!

Watch, and you'll see them
come out of the hive.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5!  Bzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Open, Shut Them!

Open, shut them,

Open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap!

Open, shut them,

Open, shut them,

Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!

Waving, waving, waving, waving,

High up in the sky, sky, sky.

Wave to me...I'll wave to you.

Now let's all say goodbye, bye, bye.

We always say this rhyme at least twice, increasing the speed with each repetition!

Playtime Activities:

What's in the Green Box?
(tune: "Sally Wore a Red Dress")

What's in the green box,
The green box, the green box?
What's in the green box
For us to play?

Instead of our usual green box, one of our Storytime parents, James, brought in his OWN green box...filled with these beautiful violas!  There were enough pots for each family to take one home.  What a wonderful way to celebrate the return of Spring!  Thank you, James!

The reason for Wesley's absence today???  Well, I had a little accident with my morning beverage, which tipped and spilled...all...over...Wesley. Don't worry, my drink was no longer hot!  So, while I was in Storytime I sent Wesley home to take a bath!



In Wesley's absence we welcomed this interesting-looking creature - a terrific reminder of the coming of SPRING!:

Each Toddler Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.

Baby & Me Storytime ~ February 24 & 26, 2015

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on February 24 & 26, 2015.

Book:
Where is Baby's Yummy Tummy? by Karen Katz

Songs:

Hello, Friends!

(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

We're glad you came today!

Skinnamarink

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

I love you in the morning

And in the afternoon.

I love you in the evening

And underneath the moon, oh,

Skinnamarink-a-dink-a-dink

Skinnamarink-a-doo

I love you!

I Can Make My Baby Smile

(tune: “Muffin Man”)

I can make my baby smile,(or laugh)

My baby smile, my baby smile.

I can make my baby smile

When I tickle his (or her, or your) toes!

Additional verses: nose, tummy, feet, chin, etc.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.

Rhymes:

As I Went Walking to Town One Day

(Underlined words and syllables represent the 
stressed beats in this rhyme.)

As I went walking to town one day,

Oh, it was a sunshiny day!

As I went walking to town one day,

I met a cow along the way!

And what do you think that cow did say?

Mooooo!

What other animals could you meet along the way? 

What sounds do they make?

Here is Baby Ready for a Nap

Here is baby ready for a nap.

I'll lay you down here in my lap.

I'll cover you up so you won't peep,

And rock you 'til you're fast asleep.

Our activity this week was Hand Puppets!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).