Outreach Storytime: "Dogs!"

This Outreach storytime was presented at Welcome School on September 22, 2017.

Each Preschool 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 – 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).

Reading:

Puppy Pool Party by Seth Casteel

A Small Thing...but Big by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

Singing:


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!)

Talking:

I Have a Dog and His Name is Rags

I have a dog and his name is Rags.
He eats so much that his tummy sags.
His ears flip-flop,
And his tail wig-wags,
And when he walks he goes zig-zag.

He goes flip-flop, wig-wag, zig-zag (3 times)
I love Rags and he loves me!

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 School ~ We LOVE Dr. Seuss!

This outreach storytime was presented at Welcome School on February 27, 2015.

Books:

The Book With No Pictures by B. J. Novak

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now? by Dr. Seuss

Too Many Daves (taken from The Sneetches and Other Stories) by Dr. Seuss

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).

Pop! Pop! Pop-Up Books!

This outreach storytime was presented at Welcome School on January 30, 2015.

This was a fun selection of books!  I don't recall ever doing a storytime comprised solely of pop-up books.  I loved watching the children's faces as I showed them the various beautifully engineered designs!  In order to have a little fun with words, I arrived at Welcome School with a bottle of pop (for those in the East: "soda"; for those in the South: "coke"!), saying that I was happy to "pop in and share a few stories".  I also shared with the children a fun action rhyme called "Popcorn".
My life-long fascination with words, plays on words, puns, etc. dates back to my adolescence, when my mom would often lead me through a process in order to decode words I did not know.  A typical conversation might go something like this:

Me: Mom, what is a mariner?
My mom: Did you find it in a sentence?  Can you tell from the way it's used in the sentence?
Me: No, not really.
Mom: Can you see any clues in the word?
Me: Is it someone who gets married?  A "marry-ner"?
Mom: No.  Do you see M-A-R-I-N?  How about marina?
Me; Where they keep boats!

Once the "light came on" and I understood the root word, I would call out other words that came to mind such as aquamarine (the blue-green color of seawater) and submarine (under the water), then go on to "sub", as in subway, submerge, etc.  I strongly encourage parents to play these types of word games with their children!  Keep a dictionary handy so that you can look up any words you or your child encounter that you don't know.  Ever since my children were young, we have kept a dictionary in the dining room so that we can refer to it as we eat and talk about our day's experiences.
I also gained a great deal of insights into the fascinating world of language by watching a wonderful tv show that aired in the late 1900s (1971-1976!) called "Make a Wish".  Here is a clip from the show!

Books:

Animal Opposites by Petr Horácek 

Dinosaur Stomp by Paul Stickland

Mighty Machines by Terry Burton

Making Colors by James Diaz

Rhyme:

Popcorn!

Pop!     Pop!    Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Pour the corn into the pot.
(Rub palms together quickly)

Pop!  Pop!  Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Take and shake it 'til it's hot.
(Rub palms together quickly)

Pop!  Pop!  Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Lift the lid, what have you got?
(Rub palms together quickly)

Pop!  Pop!  Pop!
(clap)  (clap)  (clap)
Popcorn!!
(Jump up and raise hands in the air!)

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.  

It's Spring!!

This Outreach Storytime was presented at Welcome School on Friday, March 28, 2014.

Books:

Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky

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

Song:

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.


My monthly visit to Welcome School is always highly anticipated, and this time was no exception!  The visit was full of laughter, beginning when Wesley decided to bring something hidden in his shell to Welcome School!  When he came out of my pocket I couldn't figure out why everyone was laughing so hard.  Then I looked at Wesley and instead of seeing this...

I saw what the children saw:

At the end of storytime the children taught me a song, as is our tradition.  The song didn't sound familiar although Mrs. Sloniker said I heard it while attending an OoeyGooeyLady workshop with the Welcome School staff. (I think I must have been in the ladies' room at the time!)
Here is a Youtube video of the song, "Waddaleeacha", featuring that same workshop speaker. Enjoy!

Another tradition we observe involves letting the children say goodbye to Wesley before we leave.  And I really do mean "say goodbye to Wesley"!  I rarely get an acknowledgement from children when Wesley is with me... but that's fine with me!
Children have the option of feeding Wesley imaginary food - usually something that falls into one of four broad categories: Drinks - milk and fruit juice are favorites; Fruits, Veggies and Other Healthy Stuff; Cookies, Candy and Birthday Cake (Wesley tends to have a birthday every few months!); and Main Dishes such as Pizza, Chicken Nuggets and Hamburgers!

At our visit today Wesley received many of these foods, as well as these gems!!:
"steak and milk"
"chapstick"
"smelly shoes"
"cooking spray" 

That reminds me - there is a FIFTH category: "things that Wesley should eat LATER or that need to be stored in his shell"!  Some children have figured out that, if they give Wesley a snack for later in the day or something like cooking spray, he will disappear into his shell, put the item where it belongs in his house, and POP back out again!  

Children take their play very seriously!!

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).

Welcome School

This Outreach Storytime was presented at Welcome School on Friday, February 28, 2014.

Books:

Too Many Daves (from The Sneetches and Other Stories) by Dr. Seuss

Simpson's Sheep Won't Go To Sleep by Bruce Arant

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).

Welcome School

This storytime was presented at Welcome School on Friday, December 20, 2013.


Books:

Little Robin's Christmas by Jan Fearnley

I adapted this story and presented it to the children as a flannelboard story.  Children familiar with this story might be able to retell the story!

Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke

Before I returned to the Bellevue Public Library, the children taught me a funny song and a cute action rhyme!:

Peppermint Stick Song

(tune: "The Grand Old Duke of York")

Oh, I took a lick of my peppermint stick (pretend to lick finger)

And I thought it tasted yummy! (lick lips)

It used to be on my Christmas tree, (draw a tree in the air)

but I like it better in my tummy. (rub tummy)

This Little Elf 

(Imitate all motions)

This little elf likes to hammer.

This little elf likes to saw.

This little elf likes to splash on paint.

And this little elf likes to draw.

This little elf likes best of all to put the cry in the baby doll. 

(Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama!)

I want to wish all the children, teachers and administrators at Welcome School a very blessed Christmas and a New Year that is filled with new friends, new discoveries and new opportunities! 
  ~ 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).

Giving Thanks

This storytime was presented at Welcome School on Friday, November 22, 2013.


Books:

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette

 

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

 

Song:

I Am Thankful
(Tune: "London bridge")

For my friends and family,
Family, family.
For my friends and family,
I am thankful!

For our teachers here at school,
Here at school, here at school.
For our teachers here at school,
I am thankful!

I encouraged the children and teachers to use this simple tune to create their own thanksgiving songs.  The possibilities are endless!

How about:
For the pets we love so much...
For my grandpas and grandmas...
For our house that's nice and warm...
For my friends who like to play...


Before I returned to the Bellevue Public Library, the children taught me a wonderful song about being thankful!  It goes like this:

Thank you for the world so sweet.
Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the birds that sing.
Thank you God for everything!


I would like to add my thanks for everyone who makes Welcome School such an outstanding school.  I certainly look forward to my monthly visits and I always leave there feeling more energized, loved, and affirmed than when I walked in. 

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  ~ Mrs. B.

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all.”

- Jacqueline Kennedy

                     

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 and Pretend

Presented at Welcome School on Friday, October 25, 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.

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

Pick a Pet by Shelly Rottner and Cheo Garcia

For a fun demonstration about the difference between real and pretend, I brought along my "magic banana" trick!  To watch a video of me presenting my banana trick to children at the library, and a link to learn how I did the trick, click here!

 As is my custom when visiting Welcome School, I asked the children if they had a song to teach me.  This way I can learn new songs to take back to the library with me!  They taught me a very cute song that can be sung to the tune of "Up On the Housetop".  Here are the words:

Sneeze in your elbow please, please, please,
So you don't get germs on me.
Sneeze in your elbow quick, quick, quick,
So nobody else gets sick, sick, sick!

That is an awesome song and an important thing to remember!  The students were such great teachers!

I look forward to visiting Welcome School again in late November!

  ~ 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).

Welcome School

Presented at Welcome School on Friday, September 27, 2013.

Books:

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

(Gray Crayon is tired of coloring so many large animals, such as elephants and whales.  Orange Crayon and  Yellow Crayon are arguing over which color should be used to draw the sun.  Peach Crayon had his wrapper torn completely off and now he's NAKED!  Caution: There are some very unhappy crayons in this story.)

Prairie Chicken Little by Jackie Mims Hopkins, illustrated by Henry Cole

(Oh, no!  Prairie Chicken Little hears a rumblin' and a grumblin' and a tumblin'.  It must be a stampede!!)

 

Song:

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:
...stomp your feet!
...shout hooray!
...be a crayon! (stand up straight and tall and motionless!)



It was so very good to be back at Welcome School today!  As I told the students and teachers, I woke up this morning with a smile on my face, knowing that today was the day I would visit Welcome School!
Wesley enjoyed meeting some new students, as well as seeing some of his "old" friends again!  He especially loved receiving the picture that was drawn by Tessa!

I have developed a sort of tradition during my visits to Welcome School.  Each month I ask the children and teachers to share with me a song they have been learning in their classroom.  This way, I can learn the song too, and take it back to share with other children at the library.  Today they surprised me with a very silly song about chewy, chewy, chewy, chewy, chewy, bubble gum!  My next visit to Welcome School will be on Friday, October 25, 2013!  
~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).

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