Winter Storytime 09 - Feb. 17 - PENGUINS & MORE WINTER

Books:
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
When It Starts to Snow by Phillis Gershator
Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Lewison
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg

Action Song:
"I Hear Thunder" from I'm a Little Teapot! by Jane Cobb

I hear thunder, I hear thunder, (drum with hands or feet)
Hark, don't you? Hark, don't you? (hand behind ear to listen)
Pitter, patter raindrops, Pitter, patter raindrops, (flutter fingers down)
I'm wet through, I'm wet through. (shake hands)

Craft:
penguin iceberg picture

Winter 09 Storytime - February 10 - VALENTINE'S DAY

Books:
The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson
Biscuit's Valentine's Day by Alyssa Capucilli
Valentine Mice! by Bethany Roberts
The Little Red Hen by Byron Barton
Secret Valentine by Catherine Stock
Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler

Flannel Story:
"The Cucaracha Martina" from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

Craft:
Love Bug paper bag puppets

Winter 09 Storytime - February 3 - BEARS

Books:
Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup
Who Is It? by Sally Grindley
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Good Night, Baby Bear by Frank Asch
The Three Bears by Byron Barton
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Action Song:
"Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around" from Ready, Set, Move! by Greg & Steve

Flannelboard Songs:
Teddy Wore His Red Shirt
A-Hunting We Will Go

Flannelboard Story:
"The Goat in the Turnip Field" from The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra

Craft:
bear headbands

Winter Storytime 09 - January 27 - SNOW

Books:
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Snow by Manya Stojic
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehnew
Snowball by Nina Crews
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

Paper & Scissors Story:
"Will it Ever Snow?" from Fold and Cut Stories by Jerry Mallett and Timothy Ervin

Craft:
glitter snowflake paper plate mobile

Some of my favorite fingerplays and songs

A grandmother asked me the other day for the words to some of the songs and fingerplays I use a lot in my storytimes and I thought it would be a good idea to post them somewhere in case you wanted to try them at home. I always use the same opening and closing stuff, and I try to adjust the fingerplays and songs I use based on the season of storytime I'm in, winter, spring, etc., or whatever storytime theme I'm using.

Fingerplays are a great way to teach rhyming and body awareness and are a way for kids to practice both their gross and fine motor skills. And they get the wiggles out between stories! One of my favorite sources for fingerplays and songs is I'm a Little Teapot! by Jane Cobb.

Wiggle Fingers
Wiggle fingers, wiggle so, (wiggle fingers in front)
Wiggle high, wiggle low, (stretch arms up high, then low to ground)
Wiggle left, wiggle right, (wiggle fingers toward left of body, then to right)
Wiggle fingers out of sight. (hide fingers behind back)

Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass, (flutter fingers down)
Rain on the trees, (stretch arms up high and spread fingers out like a tree)
Rain on the rooftop, (touch fingertips together above head like the top of a triangle or house)
But not on me. (point thumbs toward self and shake head, 'no')

Tommy Thumbs
Tommy Thumbs up, Tommy Thumbs down,
Tommy Thumbs dancing all around the town.
Dance them on your shoulders,
Dance them on your head,
Dance them on your knees,
And tuck them into bed. (tuck thumbs into fists)
Repeat with Polly Pinkies

Now It's Time to Say Goodbye to All Our Friends
(tune: "She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain")
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our friends, "Goodbye!" (clap hands to beat and wave during 'goodbye')
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our friends, "Goodbye!"
Now it's time to say goodbye,
Wave your hands,
Wink your eye,
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our friends, "Goodbye!"