Butterflies

For my first family storytime of the summer, I did the theme of butterflies (and caterpillars). With a huge focus on science (Fizz Boom Read, anyone?), it made sense to incorporate Metamorphosis into the theme. Maybe the concept of Metamorphosis might be a little too deep for wiggly under-5-year-olds, but we did talk about caterpillars turning into butterflies after spending some time in a cocoon.

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

A Caterpillar Crawled:
A caterpillar crawled (crawl right index finger up left arm like a caterpillar.)

To the top of a tree. "I think I'll take a nap," said he. (Wiggle right index finger.)
So under the leaf he began to creep. (Move under left hand.)
He spun a cocoon and he fell asleep. (Make fist around index finger.)
For two long weeks he slept in that cocoon bed,
Till spring came along and said,
"Wake up! Wake up! You sleepy head." (Shake arms.)
Out of the leaf he did cry.
(Hook thumbs and spread fingers to make a butterfly.)
"Look, I am a butterfly."

Source: SurLaLune

Fuzzy Little Caterpillar:
A fuzzy little caterpillar curled upon a leaf
Spun her little chrysalis and then fell fast asleep
While she was sleeping she dreamed that she could fly
And later, when she woke up, she was a butterfly!
Source: Perry Public Library

Butterfly Garden: 
*For this one, I printed off large pictures of the different colored butterflies. I ended up covering them with adhesive paper and putting magnets on the back of each one so we can use them again and again at storytimes.
The first to come to the garden bed

Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED

Then in comes another and that makes two

Fly right in my friend of BLUE

"The garden is fine, the best I've seen"

Says the butterfly of softest GREEN

Our garden needs a sunny fellow

Fly in butterfly with wings of YELLOW

Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too

The garden is waiting for a color like you

ORANGE, orange you've waited so long

Fly right in where you belong

Butterflies, butterflies, you're such a sight

Flying together--what a delight!

Source: Perry Public Library

Books:

1. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle

This book is a classic, and always fun to use during storytime. We had some cut-outs of the food ready to go, so I put a little tape on the back of them and put them up on the story board as we went through all of the food that the caterpillar ate (as well as a caterpillar, a cocoon, and a butterfly). It illustrated to the kids how much food one little (very hungry) caterpillar can eat, and it was no wonder he had a stomach ache afterwards. I put the cocoon over top of the caterpillar and was able to show the caterpillar disappearing into a cocoon for two long weeks until he pops out and becomes a beautiful butterfly!

2. "Butterfly, Butterfly: A Book Full of Colors" by Petr Horcek

What beautiful illustrations! If you have a copy at your library, go look at them! They are beautiful! But it's possible they won't, just for the fact that there are pop-ups in the book. Because of that, it is one of our professional resources and is a reference book (not able to be checked out by members).

But, at any rate, it is a wonderful book!