Halloween Storytime 10/31/13

Book read:
Click Clack Boo! by Doreen Cronin

Other book suggestions:
Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
We're going on a ghost hunt by Susan Pearson
Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara

If you're a ghost and you know it
If you're a ghost and you know it, just say "Boo"! (shout BOO!)
If you're a ghost and you know it, just say "Boo"!
If you're a ghost and you know and you really want to show it,
If you're a ghost and you know it, just say "Boo"!

If you're a bat and you know it, flap your wings! (flap your arms like wings)
If you're a bat and you know it, flap your wings!
If you're a bat and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you're a bat and you know it, flap your wings!

If you're a werewolf and you know it, give a howl! (howl)
If you're a werewolf and you know it, give a howl!
If you're a werewolf and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you're a werewolf and you know it give a howl!

Monster Boogie (on "Buzz, Buzz" CD by Laurie Berkner)

The Ghost in the House (to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus"
The ghost in the house goes "Boo! Boo! Boo!" (pretend to float around the room like a ghost)
"Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo!"
The ghost in the house goes "Boo! Boo! Boo!"
On Halloween.

The steps in the house go "Creak, creak, creak" (step around room slowly making creaking noises)
"Creak, creak creak. Creak creak creak."
The steps in the house go "Creak, creak, creak"
On Halloween.

The cats in the house go "Meow, meow, meow" (crawl like a cat)
"Meow, meow, meow. Meow, meow, meow."
The cats in the house go "Meow, meow, meow"
On Halloween.

The bats in the house go "Squeak, squeak, squeak" (flap arms like wings)
"Squeak, squeak, squeak. Squeak, squeak, squeak."
The bats in the house go "Squeak, squeak, squeak."
On Halloween.

Brown Owl, Brown Owl, What do you see?
(Adapted from Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin Jr.)
Brown Owl, Brown Owl, What do you see?
I see a White Ghost looking at me.
White Ghost, White Ghost, What do you see?
I see a Purple Bat looking at me.
Purple Bat, Purple Bat, What do you see?
I see a Green Witch looking at me.
Green Witch, Green Witch, What do you see?
I see a Black Cat looking at me.
Black Cat, Black Cat, What do you see?
I see an Orange Pumpkin looking at me.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin, What do you see?
I see a Brown Owl, a White Ghost, a Purple Bat, a Green Witch, a Black Cat and children looking at me!

Ten Little Ghosts
Ten little ghosts all dressed in white (Hold up 10 fingers)
Went out a-haunting on Halloween night. (Wiggle fingers)
They all looked around for someone to scare. (Cup hands around eyes, look around)
They floated here and floated there. (Wiggle fingers to the right then to the left)
Then the ten little ghosts took a look at you (Point to child)
And they all ran away when you said "Boo!"(Put hands behind your back)

Literacy Tip of the Week: 
Fine motor activities such as coloring, sticking stickers or playing with Playdoh help your child develop the muscle strength needed to write successfully. Creating a picture can also be a great way for a child to tell a story before they are able to write.

Craft:
We decorated ghosts with tissue paper :)

Baby Storytime 10/16/13

Book read: 
Toot toot, Beep beep by Emma Garcia

Rickety Rickety Rocking Horse
Rickety, rickety rocking horse (bounce baby on your knees)
Over the fields we go.
Rickety, rickety rocking horse (gradually bounce faster)
Giddy up, giddy up
WHOA! (lean backwards)

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands
Clap, clap clap your hands, (clap hands)
Clap them now with me,
Clap your hands, let me see,
Clap them now with me.

Tap, tap tap your feet, (tap feet on the floor)
Tap them now with me,
Tap your feet, let me see,
Tap them now with me.

Shake, shake, shake your feet, (shake baby's feet back and forth)
Shake them now with me,
Shake your feet, let me see,
Shake them now with me.

(Other verses can include touching body parts, slapping knees, etc.)

Wheels on the Bus

Motorboat, Motorboat
Motorboat, motorboat go so slow (move baby's legs slowly)
Motorboat, motorboat, go so fast, (move baby's legs faster)
Motorboat, motorboat, step on the gas! (pull baby's legs out straight)

I'm a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock, (rock baby back and forth)
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It's one o'clock!
Cuckoo! (lift baby in air once)

Tick tock, tick tock, (rock baby back and forth)
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick tock, tick tock,
It's two o'clock!
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! (lift baby in air twice)

Tick tock, tick tock, (rock baby back and forth)
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick tock, tick tock,
It's three o'clock!
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! (lift baby in air three times)

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Baby's Hokey Pokey from Babyface CD

Literacy tip of the week:
Keep reading sessions short and fun! This is the best way to develop your baby's love of books and reading.

Monsters Storytime 10/15/13 and 10/16/13

Books read:
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere

Other book suggestions:
My Monster Mama loves me so by Laura Leuck
If you're a monster and you know it by Ed Emberley
Monsters on Machines by Deb Lund

If you're a monster and you know it
If you're a monster and you know it,
Wave your claws! (wave hands in the air)
If you're a monster and you know it,
Wave your claws!
If you're a monster and you know it,
and you really want to show it,
If you're a monster and you know it,
Wave your claws!

(Additional verses can include "chomp your teeth", "stamp your paws", "twitch your tail" and "give a roar")

Horns, fangs, knees and claws (version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes")
Horns and fangs, knees and claws, (touch each corresponding body part)
Knees and claws.
Horns and fangs, knees and claws,
Knees and claws.
Eyes and ears and tail and claws!
Horns and fangs, knees and claws,
Knees and claws.

Monster Stomp
If you want to be a monster, now here's your chance!
Cause everybody's doing the monster dance.
You just stomp your feet, wave your arms all around, (stomp and wave arms)
Stretch them up, Stretch them up! (lift arms up high)
Then put them on the ground!
Cause you're doing the Monster Stomp, (turn around in a circle)
That's right you're doing the Monster Stomp!

The monsters are so loud (to the tune of "When Johnny comes marching home")
The monsters stomp around the house,
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! (stomp feet)
The monsters stomp around the house,
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The monsters stomp around the house,
Their brothers and sisters send them out
And they stomp some more outside the house.

The monsters yell around the house,
EEEH! EEEH!
The monsters yell around the house,
EEEH! EEEH!
The monsters yell around the house,
Their brothers and sisters send them out,
And they yell some more outside the house.

Monster, Monster (to the tune of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around")
Monster, monster, turn around, (turn in a circle)
Monster, monster touch the ground, (touch ground)
Monster, monster, show your shoe, (lift up foot)
Monster, monster, how old are you? (have child give their age)
Monster, monster, reach up high, (reach hands above head)
Monster, monster, blink your eyes, (blink eyes)
Monster, monster slap your knees (slap knees)
Monster, monster, sit down please! (sit down)

Little Monster (color recognition activity)
We hid our monster (Fred) beneath colored beds.
For each color we chant: "Little Monster named Fred, Are you under the (insert color) bed?"

Literacy tip of the week:
It can be a good thing if your child wants to read a favorite book repeatedly. Research suggests repeated readings help develop language skills. Your child may notice new vocabulary and understand more of the story each time it is read.

Craft:
We made monster faces using paper plates, construction paper and yarn :)

Baby Storytime 10/9/13

Books:
How do you make a baby smile? by Philemon Sturges
Little Shapes by Scholastic

Tick, Tock
Tick, tock, tick, tock, (rock baby back and forth on your lap)
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick tock,
It's one o'clock! (lift baby once)

Tick, tock, tick, tock,
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It's two o'clock! (lift baby twice)

Tick, tock, tick, tock,
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It's three o'clock! (lift baby three times)

Wheels on the Bus

Peekaboo Song from Babyface CD

Kangaroo Brown
Jump, jump Kangaroo Brown! (bounce baby on lap)
Jump, jump off to town!
Jump, jump, up and down!
Jump, jump, Kangaroo Brown!

If you're happy and you know it

Literacy tip of the week: Make sure to point at pictures and name objects in the story as you read to your child. This is a great way to engage them in the story. It also helps add words to their developing vocabulary.

Pumpkin Storytime 10/8/13 and 10/9/2013

Books read: 
Pumpkin heads by Wendell Minor
The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis

Other book suggestions:
It's Pumpkin Time! by Zoe Hall
Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons

Mr. Pumpkin
I am Mr. Pumpkin big and round (use hands to stretch up and stretch out to make big stomach)
Once upon a time I grew on the ground. (crouch down)
But now I have a mouth, two eyes and a nose (point to each feature)
What are they for, do you suppose? (shrug shoulders)
When I have a candle inside shining bright (put one fist on top of the other, then move fingers of top hand up to show flame)
I'll be a Jack-O-Lantern on Halloween Night! (jump up and smile)

Once there was a Pumpkin
Once there was a pumpkin
And it grew (join fingers of each hand to make one pumpkin)
And grew (separate the hands keeping the pumpkin formation)
And grew (join hands before you, making a large pumpkin with your arms)
Now it's a Jack-O-Lantern and it smiles at you
And you, and you! (Move pumpkin shape around to greet each child)

Jack-O-Poem
I'm Jack-o-Happy! (smile, use happy voice)
I am Jack-o-Sad! (use crying, whiny voice)
I am Jack-o-Sleepy! (use sleepy voice, yawn)
I am Jack-o-Mad! (use growling, angry voice)
I am Jack-o-Small! (use teeny voice, crouch down)
I am Jack-o-Jumping! (Jump up and down)
I am Jack-o-Tall! (reach up high)
I am Jack-o-Lantern, the best one of all!

I'm a Little Pumpkin (to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")
I'm a little pumpkin, orange and ground (hold arms in a circle)
Here is my stem, (place fist on your head)
There is the ground. (touch the ground)
When I get all cut up, don't you shout!
Just open me up and scoop me out! (pretend to scoop the pumpkin out)

Pumpkin Search Game:
Oh, where oh where has my pumpkin gone?
Oh, where oh where can it be?
I'm searching and singing my pumpkin song.
Won't you please help me?

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins at my door,
A neighbor took one and then there were four.

Four little pumpkin under a tree,
Along came a farmer and then there were three.

Three little pumpkins that looked so new,
I gave one away and then there were two.

Two little pumpkins out in the sun,
Mom made a pie and then there was one.

Of all the pumpkins there was just one,
So I made a Jack-O-Lantern and that was fun!

Pumpkin Count Jumping
Pumpkin cut outs are laid on the floor and labeled with 1-5. The children must jump from pumpkin to pumpkin in correct counting sequence. (Great for number recognition and especially good for kids who learn best through movement)

Literacy tip of the week:
When you are reading to your child and encounter a word they do not understand, don't change or skip the word. If you do, you miss the chance to develop your child's vocabulary by explaining what the word means.

Craft:  

We decorated pumpkins with torn paper :)

Baby Storytime 10/2/13

Books read: 
Puppy and Friends by Roger Priddy
DK's Touch and Feel Pets

Songs:

Wheels on the Bus

Tick Tock
Tick, tock, tick, tock, (rock back and forth with baby on your lap)
I'm a little cuckoo clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It's one o'clock! (lift baby once)

Tick, tock, tick, tock, (rock back and forth with baby on your lap)
I'm a little cuckoo clock,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It's two o'clock! (lift baby twice)

Tick, tock, tick, tock, (rock back and forth with baby on your lap)
I'm a little cuckoo clock,
Tick, tock, tick, tock,
It's three o'clock! (lift baby three times)

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Rickety Rocking Horse
Rickety, rickety rocking horse, (bounce baby on your lap)
Over the fields we go,
Rickety, rickety rocking horse,
Giddy up, giddy up! (bounce a little faster)
WHOA! (lean back)

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

If you're happy and you know it

Literacy tip of the week:
Look for board books with bright or high contrast illustrations. These type of illustrations are easier for the youngest babies to see and will help grab the attention of older babies.

Cats Storytime 10/1/13 and 10/2/13

Books read:
Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
Mama Cat has three kittens by Denise Fleming

Other book suggestions:
I love cats by Sue Stainton
Kitty cat, kitty cat, are you waking up? by Bill Martin Jr.
Pumpkin Cat by Anne Mortimer
There are cats in this book by Viviane Schwartz

Cat Talk
Cats can meow,
Cats can growl,
Cats can purr,
Cats can yowl.
Cats can arch their backs and hiss,
Just like this! (bend over, arch back and hold up hands like paws and hiss)

If you're a cat and you know it (to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it")
If you're a cat and you know it say meow, (meow)
If you're a cat and you know it say meow.
If you're a cat and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you're a cat and you know it saw meow.

If you're a cat and you know it lick your paws, (pretend to lick hands)
If you're a cat and you know it lick your paws,
If you're a cat and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you're a cat and you know it lick your paws.

If you're a cat and you know it pounce like this, (pretend to pounce on hands and knees)
If you're a cat and you know it pounce like this,
If you're a cat and you know it and you really want to show it,
If you're a cat and you know it pounce like this.

I've got a cat on my knee (to the tune of "Skip to my Loo")
Cat, cat, cat on on my knee, (put both hands on your knee)
Cat, cat, cat on my knee,
Cat, cat, cat on my knee.
Meow, meow, meow, meow.
(Use other body parts for additional verses)

Tiptoe Soft
by Margaret Hillert
Tiptoe soft as a pussycat, (tiptoe)
Soft on little cat feet.
Flap your wings like a baby bird. (flap arms like wings)
Open your beak for a treat. (look up and open your mouth)
Clomp, clomp, clomp like a big old horse. (stomp feet)
Pick up a hoof, and then,
Tip, tip, tip on the tips of your toes, (tiptoe)
Soft as a cat again.

Five Kittens Fingerplay
Five little kittens standing in a row (hold up five fingers)
They nod their heads to the children so. (bend fingers)
They run to the left, they run to the right (run fingers to the left and then to the right)
They stand and stretch in the bright sunlight. (stretch fingers tall)
Along comes a dog that's in for some fun. (Hold up fingers from opposite hand)
MEOW! See those kittens run! (Let fingers run)

Play "Kitten Says" instead of Simon Says

Lost Mitten Color Story
My poor little kitten lost her mitten
And started to cry "Boohoo".
So I helped my kitten look for her mitten,
Her beautiful mitten of BLUE.

I found a mitten just right for a kitten,
Under my mother's bed.
But alas the mitten was not the right mitten.
It was colored RED.

I found a mitten just right for a kitten,
On the hand of you brother's toy clown.
But alas the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored BROWN.

I found a mitten just right for a kitten,
Under the laundry so clean.
But alas the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored GREEN.

I found a mitten just right for a kitten,
Inside a grocery sack.
But alas the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored BLACK.

I found a mitten just right for a kitten,
Under the kitchen sink.
But alas the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored PINK.

I found a mitten just right for a kitten,
Inside my favorite shoe.
And this time it was the right mitten, for it was colored BLUE!

There are some great Pete the Cat activities at the website: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/

Literacy tip of the week:
Singing songs with your child is an important way to get them ready for reading. Songs can help children identify the rhythm and rhyme within language. For instance, singing a word can make it easier to identify the sounds and parts of the word. Over time singing many songs with your child can also help build their vocabulary.

Craft:
We glued yarn to our cats today :)