Snow

As it so happens, we had snow just this morning, making for a perfect storytime theme! Here is what we read:

Snowbots by Aaron Reynolds and David Barneda

Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner

A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann

Scholastic video version of Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

We used two flannel boards from the library previously made by other children's librarians: "Five Little Snow Pals" and "All You Need for a Snowman." A good description of both of these can be found here: http://www.teaching-tiny-tots.com/toddler-books-five-little-snowmen.html

We finished with a stick snowman craft. I painted the sticks beforehand and put all of the pieces in individual bags so each child could pick up a bag and a box to complete their craft. At my library, we use small supply boxes with crayons and glue inside and the kids use these each time they come. Sometimes I will add scissors or tape to the boxes depending on what they need. I found the inspiration for this craft on Pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/pin/208080445255126723/

Alphabet

The Spring storytime season has begun! Today we kicked things off with an alphabet themed storytime. 

Books:

Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth

Agent A to Agent Z by Andy Rash

LMNO Peas by Keith Baker

and the Scholastic video version of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

We sang APPLE to the tune of BINGO using pieces on the flannel board for visual help, and did an Alphabet Soup flannel board rhyme. Our craft today was a hand magnet with a wooden piece in the middle with the first letter of the child's name on it. I gave them crayons and they had a great time decorating the hands!

Transportation

This week I went with the theme "Things That Go." We had a great time thinking of all the different kinds of ways people travel and move things around. We read the following books:

Little Bear’s Little Boat by Nancy Carpenter

Farmer Dale’s Red Pickup Truck by Lisa Wheeler

Sally’s Great Balloon Adventure by Stephen Huneck

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

I did three flannel boards “This Little Train”, “Green Means Go” and “Transportation Match.” The memory match takes longer but the older kids helped the younger ones, which made it go faster. We made a name rocket as our craft (original craft idea here).

Dog Tails

I have two very crazy dogs of my own, so I love sharing dog stories. For this storytime I read:

Some Dog! by Mary Casanova

Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont

If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

We sang BINGO using flannel board pieces and  "If You're Happy and You Know it Give a Bark." It goes like this:

If you're happy and you know it give a bark,

If you're happy and you know it give a bark, 

If you're happy and you know it,

a dog just has to show it.

If you're happy and you know it give a bark.

Repeat with: turn around; wag your tail; do all three.  

We finished with a tiny dog book craft found here. I pre-cut and folded the books for the young kids, but left some whole for the older ones.

And in case you were wondering, here are what my crazy animals look like. Sasha is a 4 year old Boxer and Mr. Darcy is a 9 month old English Springer Spaniel.