Reading Together

Our theme last week was broadly about reading together. So parts of the storytime reflected the idea of reading at bedtime together (we have some nursery rhymes/activities), and other elements were about books themselves. A bigger, more important, part of the storytime was reaching the caregivers and parents in the audience, reminding them how important reading aloud to their children is AND how much fun they can have doing so.

Books:

Toddler Books:

Books Always Everywhere - Jane Blatt
This Book Just Ate My Dog! - Richard Byrne
Read It, Don't Eat It! - Ian Schoenherr
Carlo Likes Reading - Jessica Spanyol

Preschool Books:

This Book Just Ate My Dog! - Richard Byrne
Again! - Emily Gravett
Maybe a Bear Ate It! - Robie Harris
Warning: Do Not Open This Book! - Adam Lehrhaupt
A Perfectly Messed-Up Story - Patrick McDonnell
Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite - Nicola O'Byrne

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Ten in the Bed (with the Ukulele):

Ten in the bed and the little one said, "Roll Over, Roll Over"

So they all rolled over and one fell out...

count down to 1 in the bed

One in the bed and the little one said, "Goodnight."

Source: Memory

*I used this song at Preschool Storytime and at Family Storytime. I had 10 flannel monkeys on the flannel board and we counted down. I played the ukulele for the first line, had the kids help me shout "Roll Over" and then we rolled our hands with the second line and I pulled one of the monkeys off of the flannel board. I had the kids help me with each verse, up until the last one, when I told them this last verse was different. The parents (and older kids) LOVED how this one ended! 

*This song only uses the "G Chord" so it's an easy one to play without worrying about changing chords or moving fingers while keeping track of 50 Toddler/Preschoolers. 

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep:
Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, Yes, sir, three bags full.
One for the master, and one for the dame.
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, Yes, sir, three bags full.
Source: Memory
*I enjoyed Jbrary's rendition as a reminder of how the tune goes: Baa, Baa Black Sheep
*I have different wool colors for our sheep so you can repeat the song several times, with a red sheep, a blue, sheep, etc.

If You're a Reader and You Know It (Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It"):
If you're a reader and you know, clap your hands,
If you're a reader and you know, clap your hands,
If you're a reader and you know, and you really want to show it,
If you're a reader and you know, clap your hands.

Other verses:
If you're a reader and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're a reader and you  know it, shout hooray!

Penny pointers:
Penny pointers up and penny pointers down, (pointer fingers up and then down)
Penny pointers dancing all around the town. (pointer fingers draw circles in the air)
They're dancing on your shoulders, (pointer fingers on shoulders)
They're dancing on your head, (pointer fingers on head)
They're dancing on your tummy, (pointer fingers on tummy)
Now put them to bed. (pointer fingers behind back)

Finger families up and finger families down, (repeat with all fingers on the hand)
Finger families dancing all around the town.
They're dancing on your shoulders,
They're dancing on your head,
They're dancing on your tummy,
Now put them to bed.
Source: Penny Pointers is a great familiar rhyme. Here's a great Youtube Video demonstrating this fingerplay.