Sharks!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on Wednesday, January 29, 2014.

It's back to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo again this week, as we continue our virtual tour of many of the Zoo's wonderful creatures. 

Today we added a picture to Buzz's photo album: a picture of him walking through the tunnel at the aquarium!  I was able to snap a picture just as a shark was swimming right over his head!

Book:

The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist, illustrated by Julie Gorton

Songs:


Good Morning!
(tune: "Frere Jacques")

Good morning! (echo)
How are you? (echo)
I'm so glad to see you! (echo)
Wesley is, too! (echo)



If You're Ready For a Story
(tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")

If you're ready for a story, take a seat.
If you're ready for a story, take a seat.
Clap your hands and stomp your feet,
Make your hands all nice and neat.
If you're ready for a story, take a seat.

Rhymes:

Five Little Fishes

Five little fishes swimming in the sea,
(show number of fingers, hand makes swimming motion)
Teasing Mr. Shark, "Can't catch me!"
(wrists together, fingers extended and curved as "jaws")
Along comes Mr. Shark, quiet as can be
(finger to lips, Shhhh!)
And...CHOMP!
(close "jaw" hands quickly, then rub tummy)

Four little fishes swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mr. Shark, "Can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Shark, quiet as can be
And...CHOMP!

Three little fishes swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mr. Shark, "Can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Shark, quiet as can be
And...CHOMP!

Two little fishes swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mr. Shark, "Can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Shark, quiet as can be
And...CHOMP!

One little fishy swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mr. Shark, "Can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Shark, quiet as can be
And...CHOMP!

Our play time today included some old favorites: our ocean-themed magnet books, sea creature puppets and several jigsaw puzzles.

Next week I will be sharing several books that are NEW! to the Children's Department!

  ~ Mrs. B.

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.

Bears!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on Wednesday, November 13, 2013.

Books:

Never Ask a Bear by Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud, illustrated by Doris Barrette

 
 Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

Songs:

Good Morning!
(tune: "Frere Jacques")

Good morning! (echo)
How are you? (echo)
I'm so glad to see you! (echo)
Wesley is, too! (echo)



If You're Ready For a Story
(tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")

If you're ready for a story, take a seat.
If you're ready for a story, take a seat.
Clap your hands and stomp your feet,
Make your hands all nice and neat.
If you're ready for a story, take a seat.



Rhymes:

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!



Activities:

Teddy Bear Flannelboard Pieces:

Teddy Bear Manipulatives:

Counting Teddy Grahams:

Bear Puppets:

We added some photos to Buzz's Zoo Book today!  Here are some pictures I took when we visited the bears at the Henry Doorly Zoo!

These are Andean Bears:

This Sun Bear bear seems to be talking to Buzz!  I bet he gets LOTS of sun sitting up high on those tree trunks!

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.

Welcome Back to Toddler Storytime!

Monday, September 16, 2013.

After a nice hiatus in which Tammy and I were able to relax, regroup, and reorganize, it is now time to resume weekly storytimes at the library!
I know Tammy has some wonderful, and NEW, things in store for the Preschoolers, while I will be shaking things up a bit with the Toddlers, who will meet on Wednesdays at 9:15 AM.  I am hoping the switch from Tuesday to Wednesday morning will mean more toddlers and their parents/caregivers can join us for Storytime!

So...what's new?!

Well, for starters, our storytime routine will change slightly.  Along with sharing books, songs, puppets, rhymes, and act-outs, I will be incorporating a short time for creative play toward the end of each session.  These play times will further encourage and reinforce the 5 essential elements of the Every Child Ready to Read Program, (which means lots of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing!)

Also, along with seasonal themes such as Thanksgiving, Spring, Valentine's Day, etc., I will be setting aside the first storytime of each month for sharing new books that have recently been added to the library's collection.  I look forward to showcasing some great new books - especially those that may not fit nicely into a theme.

Finally, throughout the school year I will be including quite a few storytimes whose theme has to do with the zoo.  This came about after I made a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo with our library mascot, Buzz!  Here is a photo I took of Buzz as we arrived at the Zoo:

He was sooo excited to be at the Zoo!  We took lots of pictures as we walked around the zoo (and sometimes we rode in a golf cart with our zoo worker friend, Andrea!)

So, be watching for more pictures of Buzz in coming weeks, as I highlight storytime themes such as "Bears", "Zoo Workers", "Sea Creatures", "Butterflies" and more!


I hope to see you soon at the library!
                                   ~Mrs. B. and ...

                                                                               Wesley the Turtle