Ms. Michaela and I created this storytime as our go-to for when visiting schools want a tour and preview. It consists of three books, two songs/rhymes, two flannel board activities, and a make-a-book craft. This storytime has a bit of a crocodile theme, but at the bottom I will give some quick suggestions to switch it to a bear theme in a pinch!
Hello Song: If You're Ready For a Story
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This is my regular hello song and it always gets the kids pumped up, especially the last book. It's sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It."
If you're ready for a story clap your hands! (clap, clap)
If you're ready for a story clap your hands! (clap, clap)
If you're ready for a story, If you're ready for a story,
If you're ready for a story clap your hands! (clap, clap)
Continue with stomp your feet and shout hooray (jump up with arms in the air)!
Open These Books VERY Carefully
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Carlo and the Really Nice Librarian (Jessica Spanyol)
Carlo visits the new library and is delighted by everything he sees, but the librarian, Mrs. Chinca, is a bit scary at first. After spending some time reading with Mrs. Chinca, Carlo has a renewed enthusiasm for the library and learns not to judge a "book" by its cover.
Book! Book! Book! (Deborah Bruss)
The farm animals are bored, so they take a trip to the library in search of some fun books to read. A problem arises when the librarian cannot understand their animal noises. Will any of the animals be able to make their wishes known? This book is sure to impress both children and adults at storytime, thanks to the various animal noises and fun puns!
Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite (Nicola O'Byrne)
It's time to read the The Ugly Duckling but WAIT...what's that in the corner? Is it a CROCODILE? We will have to try many things to get that scary crocodile out of here in this hilarious interactive book! The ending will surprise you!
Booktastic Flannel Board Activities
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Carlo and the Really Nice Librarian Rhyme
This one goes with the book, as Mrs. Chinka eats up all of the five fun books! You can find the words and some alternative ideas here. If you don't read this book, she can easily be substituted with a bear for a bear library storytime!
Bookworm (Who's Behind the Book?) Guessing Game
Hide five small critters behind five different colored books. Go through each book one by one then have them guess who is behind. Lift the book to reveal who is there. For the last book, surprise them by unveiling a bookworm!
Or just hide the bookworm behind one of the books and have the kids guess where he is lurking!
Rhyme:
"Let's take a look, let's take a look! Who is behind the green book?"
More Songs & Rhymes to Wiggle To
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There Was a Crocodile (Performed by Jbrary)
This one goes nicely with our sort-of crocodile theme! It has a lot of silly motions for the different animals, so it will be a hit with the kids.
Tickle the Clouds
This is a go-to goodbye rhyme for Ms. Michaela. She likes to be silly and tickle the wrong places to see if the kids catch on.
Tickle the clouds! (reach up and wiggle your fingers)
Tickle your toes! (reach down and wiggle fingers)
Tickle your ears! (wiggle fingers at ears)
Now tickle your nose! (wiggle fingers at nose)
Let's tickle our tummy. (wiggle fingers at tummy)
And let's reach down low, (lean down and touch ground)
And way up high! (stretch arms up, stand on toes)
Storytime is over, so wave goodbye. (wave)
Craft: Make a Crocodile Book!
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Since preschool groups can be a bit unpredictable, we wanted to stick to a simple craft with easy prep. We made simple glue and fold booklets with crocodiles inside or out to match our theme. These are a hit with the kids because they are easy to customize.
This is Ms. Michaela's sample book. Isn't it lovely?
Materials:
1. Construction paper
2. Printer paper (we printed an ownership sticker on ours)
3. Glue sticks
4. Crocodile or bear cutouts (we used the Ellison cutter)
5. Crayons, markers, etc.
Here are some of our visitors working hard on their books! Doesn't it look like fun?
Alternative Idea: Bear Theme
To make your library storytime a bear themed one, simply substitute for these great books: The New Libearian (Alison Donald), A Library Book for Bear (Bonny Becker), and Corduroy Goes to the Library (Don Freeman).
Then, find a bear flannel rhyme or substitute Mrs. Chinka for a bear. Add a bear song and some bear cutouts and you are ready for a beary good time!