SLP 2017: Butterflies Storytime: "Let's Build!"

This Butterflies Storytime, for toddlers and preschoolers, was presented at Bellevue Public Library on July 11,12, & 13, 2017.


Each Butterflies Storytime includes activities that support all or most 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 – talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing  – 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).



Stories:
Let's Build by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto

Build, Dogs, Build: A Tall Tail by James Horvath

(Read on Tuesday evening only)
Jack and Jill's Treehouse by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Henry Cole

Action Rhymes:

I Have Ten Little Fingers

I have ten little fingers 
(show fingers)
and they all belong to me.
(point fingers to self)
I can make them do things,
(make fingers dance in front of body)                                                                               would you like to see?
I can wave them up high,
(reach high to wave hands)
I can wave them down low,
(reach low to wave)
I can make them hide...
(quickly hide fingers in pockets, behind back, etc.)
And I can fold them, so.
(fold hands in lap)

The children in storytime love saying this rhyme several times, each time increasing the speed!


Songs:


Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.
Hello friends.
Hello friends.
We're glad you came today!


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!)

When I Build My House
(from Parachute Express)
Listen to the song on YouTube by clicking here

This cumulative song includes some fun actions!
Saw the wood...
Hammer the nails...
Lay the bricks...
Paint the walls...



Bumpety, Bumpety Goes the Dump Truck
(tune" "One Little, Two Little")

Bumpety, bumpety goes the dump truck,
Bumpety, bumpety goes the dump truck,
Bumpety, bumpety goes the dump truck,
Dump...out the load!

This is a fun song to act out with your youngster!  Stand facing your child and hold hands. While singing "Bumpety, bumpety goes the dump truck", bend your knees to bounce up and down.  While singing "Dump...out the load", allow your child to lean back, while being held by your hands.  See how far he can lean back!
If singing this song with an infant, gently bounce baby on your lap or in your arms.  End the song by gently leaning forward with Baby.

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

Home Activity:

I encourage families to watch for opportunities to observe a construction site...from a safe distance, of course!  If possible, spend some time watching the workers and equipment.  This might be a great time to talk with your child about the work each person does, what materials are being used, the names of various pieces of equipment, and what is involved in building a house or other structure.

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