Golden Hills Head Start: 2018-2019 School Year

This outreach storytime was presented at Golden Hills Head Start classrooms on August 27, 2018.

Books:

Little Lost Cowboy by Simon Puttock, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church

Shake the Tree by Chiara Vignocchi, Paolo Chiarinotti & Silvia Borando, illustrated by Silvia Borando

Songs:

If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!

Additional verses:
If you're happy and you know it...
Wave hello!
Give a hug!
Smile at your friend!

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).

Outreach Storytime: Apples!

This outreach storytime was presented at Golden Hills Head Start classrooms on September 25, 2017 and at Belleaire Head Start on September 26 & 27, 2017.

Books:

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Up, Up, Up!  It's Apple-Picking Time by Jody Fickes Shapiro, illustrated by Kitty Harvill

Songs:

Shake My Sillies Out
(by Raffi)
Listen to the song on YouTube by clicking here

I'm gonna shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
And wiggle my waggles away!


If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're happy and you know it
Clap your hands!

Additional verses:
If you're happy and you know it...
Wave hello!
Give a hug!
Smile at your friend!

Rhymes:

Way up high in the apple tree,
Two red apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could...

Mmmm!  That was good!

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).

Outreach Storytime ~ January 2015

This outreach storytime was presented at:
Belleaire Elem. Head Start on January 13 & 14, 2015

Fort Crook Elem. on January 20, 2015
Golden Hills Elem. Head Start on January 26, 2015

Books:

Penguins by Liz Pichon

If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor

Songs:

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'm a Little Penguin
(tune: "I'm a Little Teapot") 

I'm a little penguin, black and white.
Stout and fluffy, what a sight!

I can't fly but I love to swim.
So I'll waddle to the water and dive right in!

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).

Trees!

This outreach storytime was presented at Golden Hills Elementary School's Head Start classes on Monday, October 27, 2014.

Books:

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie  Matheson

The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Songs:

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!)

Rhymes:

The Apple Star

Take an apple, round and red,
Don't slice down,
Slice through instead.
Right inside it you will see,
A star as pretty as can be!

Before I began this rhyme, I showed everyone an apple I had brought from home.  As I read the poem, I showed what happens if you "don't slice down"...

but, rather, "slice through instead":

When you pull the halves apart, you can see "a star as pretty as can be!"

Way Up High in the Apple Tree

Way up high in the apple tree,
Two red apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as a I could
Mmmmmm - they were good!

I enjoyed singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "The ABC Song" with the children in both classes today!  Wesley enjoyed all the yummy snacks the children gave him after storytime today!

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).

Cowboys!

This Outreach Storytime was presented at Welcome School on September 26, 2014 and at Golden Hills Head Start on September 29, 2014.


Books:

This Old Band by Tamera Will Wissinger, illustrated by Matt Loveridge

Let's Sing a Lullaby With the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Trot Ol' Joe

Trot Ol' Joe.  Trot Ol' Joe.
You ride better than any horse I know.
Trot Ol' Joe.  Trot Ol' Joe.
You're the best horse in the country-o.
Whoa... Joe!

Here is a fun video I found featuring the song "Trot Ol' Joe.  We had fun singing this song, although we did NOT do the part where we all fall backwards. We were sitting too close together to do this part of the song without bumping heads!  You might like to try this at home, where you have more room to pull back on the reins and yell, "Whooooooa!"

 

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

Spring is Here!

This Outreach Storytime was presented at Golden Hills Head Start classes on Monday, March 31, 2014.

Books:

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky

Songs:
I'm a Little Bunny
(tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little bunny, my name is Joe.
I hop fast...and I hop slow.
Whenever I get sleepy, my ears droop low,
But after my nap, back up they go!


Rhyme:

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.

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).

Dinosaurs!

Presented to Miss Jenny's and Miss Amy's Head Start classes at Golden Hills Elementary School on Monday, February 24, 2014.

Books:
Dinosaur Stomp! by Paul Stickland  

Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart

This is a terrific book, although the text is meant for much older children.  So, I didn't read any of the book to the students...but I did show them these amazing pop-ups!  The dinosaur pictured below seemed to jump right out of the book when I opened it in front of the class!

How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague

Song:

The Dino Pokey
(tune: "The Hokey Pokey")

You put your claws in,
You put your claws out. 
You put your claws in,
And you shake them all about.

You do the Dino Pokey and
You turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

Additional verses:
You put your feet it...and you stomp them all about...
You put your teeth in...and you chomp them all about...
You put your tail in...and you swish it all about...


Activity:
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Turn Around
(a dinosaur chant!)

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, turn around,
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, stomp the ground.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, show your claws,
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, snap your jaws.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, turn around,
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, sit right down!


Open, Shut Them
(a goodbye rhyme!)

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 good bye, bye, bye!

Try saying this several times through, each time getting a little faster!


My unusual visit to Golden Hills Head Start Classes:
Today was a very unusual day for me.  The reason?  My puppet friend, Wesley, did not come with me today to visit the children. Wesley woke up with a bad cough and a tummy ache, so he had to stay home and rest.  Because of this the class and I had a short discussion about the importance of not coughing or sneezing on others, taking lots of breaks to wash our hands, and not being around other children when we are sick.  Wesley was very disappointed that he couldn't come with me today, but he got a lot of rest while I was gone.  He should be feeling better very soon!

The students have a tradition of pulling (imaginary) snack foods out of their (real or imaginary!) pockets and giving them to Wesley before he and I return to the library. Since Wesley was not with me today, the children entrusted their snacks to me to give to Wesley as soon as he felt better.  I came back to the library with my book basket full of strawberries, peanut butter, bananas, ice cream, pizza, candy, apples, cake, chicken legs, an egg, bubble gum, cookies, grapes, and several kinds of medicine to help him feel better!  Wesley is in good hands with such loving friends!

Friday, February 28:
I'm happy to report that Wesley is feeling much better and has been getting plenty of rest!  Wesley wanted to thank everyone for the yummy snacks, so here is a video message from him!

Library News: Don't forget our 11th annual Seussathon which is next Monday, March 3 from 9AM to 9 PM!  We hope you will come and be part of the fun!  See my post for pictures from the past 9 years of Seussathon!

My next visit to Golden Hills' Head Start classes will be on Monday, March 31, 2014! 


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).

Bears and Hibernation

Presented to the students in Miss Amy's morning and afternoon classes at Golden Hills Head Start on Monday, December 16, 2013.

Tell Me The Day Backwards by Albert Lamb, illustrated by David McPhail

Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep by Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, turn around.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, touch the ground.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, reach up high.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, touch the sky
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, bend down low.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, touch your toes.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, go to bed.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, rest your head
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, turn out the light.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, say "Good Night."


I want to wish all the children, teachers and administrators at Golden Hills Head Start and Early Head Start a very blessed Christmas and a New Year that is filled with new friends, new discoveries and new opportunities! 
  ~ Mrs. B. 

Fairy Tales

Presented at Miss Jenny's Golden Hills Head Start class on Monday, December 16. 2013.

Books:

The Princess and the Pea by Rachel Isadora

Will Princess Isabel Ever Say Please? by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Amanda Haley

Songs:

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were four green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, ribbit!)

Four green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were three green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, ribbit!)

Three green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM!  (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were two green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, ribbit!)

Two green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there was one green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, ribbit!)

One green and speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs -- YUM YUM! (rub tummy)   
One jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool
Then there were no green and speckled frogs. (ribbit, ribbit!)


I want to wish all the children, teachers and administrators at Golden Hills Head Start and Early Head Start a very blessed Christmas and a New Year that is filled with new friends, new discoveries and new opportunities! 
  ~ Mrs. B. 

Turkeys!

These outreach storytimes were presented at Golden Hills Head Start classes on Monday, November 18 and Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

Books:
Turkeys by Hollie Endres

Albuquerque Turkey adapted by B.G. Ford, illustrated by Lucinda McQueen

Song:

Everybody Say Hello
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello,
Say hello, say hello.
Everybody say hello,
Hello Wesley!

This is the song I always sing to let my puppet friend, Wesley, know that it's time for Storytime!  The children seem pick up the tune and the words very quickly!  Here is a recent photo of Wesley, for those of you who have not yet met him:

Silly Dance Contest
written by Jim Gill

Dance any way you want to,
Dance any way you please.
Dance any way you want to,
But stop when I say, "Freeze!"

(The possibilities for additional verses are endless!)
Jump as high as you want to...
Dance as silly as you want to...
Spin as fast as you want to...
Dance as slowly as you want to...
Dance as fast as you want to...

Click here to see a video of Jim Gill performing this song with his audience!


I enjoyed seeing all the bright, smiling faces at Miss Jenny's and Miss Amy's classrooms this week!  They are great listeners, great singers and terrific dancers!
I look forward to visiting their classroom again next month!
  ~ 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).

Real or Pretend

Presented at Miss Jenny's and Miss Amy's Golden Hills Head Start classrooms on Monday, October 28, 2013.

I enjoy presenting this theme, which fits in well this time of year.  Hopefully the stories and our conversations will help children differentiate between what is real and what is pretend when they see Halloween costumes, characters and decorations.

 *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  

Oh no!  Today I woke up with laryngitis!  I don't feel sick, I just don't have a voice!

Not surprisingly, my puppet friend, Wesley, has laryngitis, too!  Thanks to my assistant Tammy for presenting my storytimes at Golden Hills this morning!  Tammy brought along her puppet friend, Henrietta, whose raccoon eyes always remind me of a Halloween mask!

  ~ Mrs. B.




Books:
Hi Pizza Man! by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel

Pick a Pet by Shelly Rottner and Cheo Garcia

Song:

The children made several song requests, so Tammy led them in singing "Old MacDonald", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The ABC Song".

Real and Pretend

Presented at Miss Amy's Golden Hills Head Start classroom on Thursday, October 24, 2013.

I enjoy presenting this theme, which fits in well this time of year.  Hopefully the stories and our conversations will help them differentiate between what is real and what is pretend when they see Halloween costumes, characters and decorations.

Books:
Hi Pizza Man! by Virginia Walter, illustrated by Ponder Goembel

Pick a Pet by Shelly Rottner and Cheo Garcia

Song:

Everybody Say Hello
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello,
Say hello, say hello.
Everybody say hello,
Hello Wesley!

We use this song to get my puppet friend, Wesley, to come out of my apron pocket.  He is a photo of Wesley:

The children made two song requests, so we had a great sing-along!
What's not to love about "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "The ABC Song"?!


Mrs. B's Pre-Sliced Banana: Real or Pretend?

During my visit today I showed the children a banana and asked them if it was real or pretend.  The general consensus was that it was real!  Then I told them that it was a special banana that was pre-sliced before it is peeled!  When I peeled the banana and showed them the slices, I admitted that there aren't really bananas that grow, pre-sliced, on trees.  It was just a trick I played on them!  To see how I did it, click here.

I always enjoy my visits to Miss Amy's classroom!  I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween!

  ~ Mrs. B.