Tales for 2s and 3s - Monster Halloween Storytime & Craft!

My first storytime for the 2 and 3 year olds was October 27th so I did a fun monster/Halloween themed storytime! :) 

Here is my storytime & craft outline!

1)   Introduction – This is the Way Our Hands Say Hello (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, Clap, clap-clap
This the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap,
Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave hello,
Wave hello, wave hello
This is the way we wave hello,
So early in the morning

2)   Book #1 – Go Away Big Green Monster

This is such a classic book and perfect for this age range. The book is great because the children can participate and tell each part of the monster to "GO AWAY!" It's also great because it identifies colors, which children should be pretty familiar with at this age. 

3)   Song: Spooky Loo on the CD, Wee Sing for Halloween

Here we go Spook-y Loo, Here we go Spook-y Light,

Here we go Spook-y Loo, All on a Hal-low-een night.

You put your right hand in, You put your right hand out, You give you right hand a shake, shake, shake, And you turn your-self a-bout. Oh,

(Chorus after each verse)

2. ...left hand...

3. ...right hand...

4. ...left foot...

5. ...head...

6. ...whole self...

4)   Book 2: Little Monsters

This is an old pop up book from 1986. It might be hard to find in your library but I had to add it here. It is SUCH a cool book. The pop ups are spectacular and at the end, it asks the reader to count how many monsters were in the book. So I asked the children to help me count all the monsters in the book (there were five). Love it! 

5)   Flannel Board Story: Chocolate Chip Ghost

Chocolate Chip Ghost is a sweet little flannel board story that has been told in storytimes for years. It might not fit the monster theme but it's perfect for Halloween time! In this story, the five ghosts have to eat all white foods so they can stay white but the mom runs out of food. The mom goes to the grocery store and before she leaves, she tells the ghosts to not eat anything until she gets back with dinner! Of course, the naughty ghosties are hungry and begin eating different things in their fridge. One ghost eats a strawberry and turns red! I have the children try to guess the color the ghost will turn based on the food they eat. I also have them join in with me and say "Oh no!!" once I flip the ghost over to reveal their color.   Another ghost eats a lemon meringue pie and turns yellow! Oh no!! Finally, the last little ghost looks and looks but doesn't find anything in the cabinets, until he sees a cookie jar on the tallest shelf in the corner. He eats the cookie in a snap and turns chocolate chip colored! Oh no!! Of course the mom then comes home and gives each ghost a glass of milk where they all turn back to white again.  

Here are the words to the story:

Once there was a Mama Ghost and five little ghosts who lived in a spooky old house. They were all a sparkling dazzling white. Mama ghost made sure they stayed so white by letting them eat only white milk.

Once day, just before suppertime, when Mama Ghost looked into the refrigerator, there was no milk for their supper! She quickly got ready to go to the grocery store. Just before she left she told her five little ghosts to be sure not to eat anything, since she would be back with their suppers very soon. With that, she gave them all a kiss and went off to the grocery store.

All went well for a time, but soon the first little ghost said “I’m hungry. I really want something to eat.” And with that, he opened the refrigerator door and found a red ripe strawberry and ate it all up. And he turned bright red. "Oh no!!!"

The second little ghost said “No fair! I’m hungry too.” And opened the refrigerator and found a lemon meringue pie and ate it all up. She turned a bright yellow. "Oh no!!!" 

The third little ghost started crying that he was hungry too and ran to the refrigerator and drank a glass of grape juice and turned purple. What do you think he said? (ask kids to join in) "Oh no!!!"

The fourth little ghost was mad because she was hungry and the only thing left in the refrigerator was a piece of lettuce which she ate, and it turned her green! Oh no!!!

The last little ghost was hungry, hungry, hungry. But when he looked in the refrigerator there was nothing to eat! But he was hungry, hungry, hungry! So he looked in all the drawers, and in all the cabinets, and finally on the very top shelf of a cupboard, there was a cookie jar. And in that cookie jar was one chocolate chip cookie. The little ghost was so hungry that he ate in all up in one snap! And He turned chocolate chip colored! and what did he say? Oh no!!!

Just then Mama Ghost returned from the grocery store with milk for the little ghost’s suppers. My, oh, my! Was she surprised to see all her little ghosties all the colors of the rainbow!

You naughty little ghosties! Come and get your supper right now! So she gave each of them a glass of white milk and each little ghost turned sparkling white again.

6)   Book #2 – Tickle Monster by Edouard Manceau

This is such an awesome book and pairs so well with Go Away Big Green Monster! It is PERFECT for this age range. The book begins with, "Hey Tickle Monster! You don't scare me! If I tickle your horns... you can't poke me!" In this story, the reader is prompted to tickle various parts of a monster and he is deconstructed with each part that is tickled, repurposing the monster parts into a far less threatening scene (feet turn upside down and become trees in a scene, for example). You can prompt children to pretend they are a monster and have parents tickle the various parts on their child as the monster in the story slowly goes away. Parts that are tickled: horns, arms, feet, teeth, tummy, ears, nose, eyes, and finally, head (the last part to go). I love the last few pages of this book too. "And now, if I tickle your head... you're gone! Good-bye Tickle Monster!" -- "Phew! I can finally go to sleep" -- "But if you ever come knocking on my door, Tickle Monster, beware: I will tickle you again!"

It's been a while since I've seen a book that is almost as amazing as Go Away Big Green Monster! This book was a big hit with the kids. 

7)   Halloween Dance on the CD, Golden Records Spooky Halloween Hits. This is the classic 60's song that prompts children to march like a monster, shake their hands like a skeleton, put their arms up like a goblin, and dance like a fairy! It's a really great song to get kids moving. I will note though that some of the sound effects (particularly the monster roaring sounds) may be a little spooky for young children. However, I haven't had any complaints yet and I've played this song at 4 different Halloween storytimes over the years :) Listen to it below:

8)   Quote from Mr. Rogers: Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. (perfect quote to lead into the playtime!)

9)   Craft & Playtime. The craft for this week was a monster visor. It is made mostly from ellison shapes with the addition of multicolored sticker dots and googly eyes. The beauty of this craft is that not all of them will look alike! I love crafts that don't end up looking all the same. I wish I had a picture of some of the children's visors but I forgot to bring a camera into the program. 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Bathtime Storytime for 2s and 3s

I did not get the chance to perform this storytime with the 2 and 3 year olds because I was very sick last week. My coworker lead the program for me on Tuesday but here is what I had planned:

1. Regular Opening Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, Clap, clap-clap
This the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap,
Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave hello,
Wave hello, wave hello
This is the way we wave hello,
So early in the morning

3. Blow bubbles and sing the song "Hello Bubble" brought to you by Jbrary!

Lyrics:
Hello Bubbles, hello bubbles
Come and land, come and land
Right in the middle, right in the middle
of my hand, of my hand

Goodbye bubbles, goodbye bubbles
time to go, time to go
I can help you, I can help you
with a blow, with a blow

3. Book: Bath Time by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Janet Pederson

4. Flannelboard: Five Rubber Duckies by Miss Sarah (me!)
This rubber ducky is number one.
He went swimming in the bath just for fun.
With a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And a Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
One rubber ducky came swimming back.

This rubber ducky is number two.
He walks around like others do.
With a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And a Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
Two rubber duckies came swimming back.

This rubber ducky is number three.
He’s hiding now-where can he be?
With a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And a Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!Two rubber duckies came swimming back.

This rubber ducky is number four.
She ate a fish, but she wants some more.
With a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And a Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
Four rubber duckies came swimming back.

This rubber ducky is number five.
He flapped his wings and tried to fly.
With a wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
And a Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
Five rubber duckies came swimming back.

5. Song: Bob McGrath - Soap Song

6. Book: Big Red Tub

7. Flannelboard Story: 5 Hippos in a Bath Tub

One hippo in the bathtub,
Going for a swim.
Knock, knock (slap knees twice)
Splash, splash (clap hands twice)
Come on in! (motion ‘come’ with hands)

Continue until 5 Elephants…..
Five hipposs in the bathtub
Going for a swim
Knock, knock
Splash, splash
They all fell in!

Idea taken from Sunflower Storytime and changed elephants to hippos since we had a hippo die-cut shape!


8. Song: Raffi - Bathtime
You could blow bubbles during this great Raffi song OR you could sing "Goodbye Bubble" (same as the opening Hello Bubble song shared above by Jbrary)



9. Closing Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap,Clap, clap-clap
This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap, tap-tap,Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave goodbye,Wave goodbye, wave goodbye,This is the way we wave goodbye,Goodbye until next time

10. Give children a duck stamp on their hand!

Additional Songs:

The Night I had a Dream by Laurie Berkner

 



 Louis Lion Sings Good Night -  Boys in the Bath (Track 5)

Carole Peterson - I Brush My Teeth (Track 7 from Baloney!)

Any song from the Seseme Street CD, Splish Splash Bath Time Fun

Other Books to consider:

Bathtime Piggly Wiggly by Christyan and Diane Fox

Bubbles, Bubbles by Kathi Applet, illustrated by Fumi Kosaka

My Blue Boat by Chris Demarest

Who's in the Tub by Sylvia Jones, illustrated by Pascala Constantin

Other Rhymes to Use:


Bubbles
a small bubble (make a circle with your hands)
a medium sized bubble (make a larger circle with your hands)
a great big bubble i see (make a large circle with your arms)
now let’s count them, are you ready?
1 –2 – 3 (make 3 circles again)
pop! (clap hands loudly once)

(From Sunflower Storytime)

Evan’s Bath Song by Rachel Bartkowiak
(To the tune of Rockabye, Baby)
Splishin’ and splashin’
In the bathtub.
When we take a bath
We clean and we scrub.
With a washcloth
And a little shampoo,
And when it’s all over
We smell good as new.
Splishin’ and splashin’
That’s what we do.
Don’t forget Ducky.
He likes it, too.
Watching’ the bubbles
Dance in the tub.
Oh, how we love bath time
Rub-a-dub-dub!
From Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

This is the Way We Take a Bath

(tune: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way we wash our hands
Wash our hands, wash our hands,
This is the way we wash our hands
So early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our hair
Wash our hair, wash our hair,
This is the way we wash our hair
so early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our feet
wash our feet, wash our feet
This is the way we wash our feet
So early in the morning

The Toothbrush Song
(Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Brush them everyday.
We put toothpaste on our brush
To help stop tooth decay.
Floss, floss, floss your teeth.
Floss them every day!
Using the string to clean between
Keeps the plaque away!
Clean, clean, clean your teeth.
Clean them every day!
Your teeth will sparkle for years to come
In the most beautiful way!
Brush, brush, brush your teeth.
Brush them every day!
Happy, healthy teeth you'll have
If it's done this way.
(From: Can Teach)

Colorful Storytime for 2s and 3s

1. Song: Glad to See you by Peter & Ellen Allard on the CD Sing it! Say it! Stamp it! Sway it! Vol.2

2. Regular Opening Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, Clap, clap-clap
This the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say hello,

With a tap tap-tap,

Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say hello,

With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave hello,

Wave hello, wave hello

This is the way we wave hello,

So early in the morning

3. Book: Duckies Rainbow by Frances Barry

4. Action poem: Say and Touch

Say "red" and touch your head.
Say "sky" and touch your eye.
Say "bear" and touch your hair.
Say "south" and touch your mouth.
Say "rose" and touch your nose.
Say "in" and touch your chin.
Say "rest" and touch your chest.
Say "farm" and touch your arm.
Say "yummy" and touch your tummy.
Say "bee" and touch your knee.
Say "neat" and touch your feet"

5. Song: Legs and Arms by Pancake Manor

6. Book: Cat's Color by Jane Cabrera

7. Flannel board rhyme: Five Little Kitty Cats

5 little kitty cats playing near the door.

One ran and hid inside, then there were 4.

4 little kitty cats underneath a tree,

One heard a dog bark, then there were 3.

3 little kitty cats wondering what to do.

One ran to chase a bird, then there were 2.

2 Little kitty cats sitting in the sun.

One ran to catch his tail, then there was 1.

1 little kitty cat looking for some fun.

He saw a butterfly, then there were none.



8. Book: Giant Pop-Out Shapes, A Pop-Out Surprise Book

This book was a huge success with the children! The kids loved guessing the shapes and colors presented on each page. They were well engaged and entertained till the end of the book. This books is also very educational for toddlers by reinforcing their colors and shapes!

9. Goodbye song (to the tune of Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap,
Clap, clap-clap
This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap, tap-tap,
Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave goodbye,
Wave goodbye, wave goodbye,
This is the way we wave goodbye,
Goodbye until next time

Other Books to Consider:

WOW! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood

I Say, You Say COLORS! by Ted Carpenter

This is a fun book that promotes interactive learning for the young readers. I Say, You Say COLORS! enhances reading skills through repetition, practicing new words and matching. 

Autumn Orange by Christine C. Jones, Illustrated by Todd Ouren

This is also a darling book that is perfect if you are presenting the storytime in the fall!

Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr, Illustrated by Eric Carle

This book could also be made into a flannel board story if you have the time to trace the animals from the book and color them using Pellon. If you've never made a flannelboard story using pellon, click here to learn how to do it. Although this blogger says to use crayons, I'm lucky to have a nice selection of fabric markers at work to use. The fabric markers work EXCELLENT.

Bedtime Storytime for 2s and 3s!

1. Regular Opening Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, Clap, clap-clap
This the way our hands say hello,
With a clap, clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap,
Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say hello,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave hello,
Wave hello, wave hello
This is the way we wave hello,
So early in the morning

2. Book: Tuck Me In! By Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt

This book is so darling. It names many baby animals that need to be tucked in and the illustrations are adorable and vibrant. Each animal presented has a half-sized page on the right that is the bespread which you turn over to tuck the animal in. It is such a fun book and it's perfect for this age group. I asked children to name the animals as I read through the book which helps to build their vocabulary!

3. Flannelboard: My Stuffed Animals Get Ready For Bed by Annie Inches

This is an excellent children's book that can be made into a wonderful flannelboard story. You can act out some of the words while you put the pictures of the animals onto the flannel board. The animal names are bolded in red and you can use any clipart that suits your fancy!

My stuffed animals are wild - not sleepy at all.
Tumbling and twirling, they dance down the hall.
They slide and they squeel-one stands on his head.
How can I get these guys ready for bed?

My furry polar bear goes scrub-a-dub-dub.
Hush, furry polar bear-get out of the tub.

My scruffy monkey bangs a pot on his head.
Hush, scruffy monkey-hop into your bed.

My squeely pink pig plays electric guitar.
Hush, pink pig-wish on a star.

My little red hen eats alphabet soup.
Hush, little hen-climb into your coop.

My fluffy kitten hides under the rug.
Hush, fluffy kitten-give me a hug.

My spotted cow signs songs to the lambies.
Hush, spotted cow-put on your jammies.

My slippery snake slithers and hisses.
Hush, slippery snake-blow me some kisses.

My velvety horse asks for some light.
hush, velvety horse-now say goodnight

My shaggy llama winds up his clock.
Hush, shaggy llama-hush-hush and tick tock.

My scaly dragon stretches and yawns.
Hush, scaly dragon-the curtains are drawn.

The time has come to say your good-nights.
Hush, cuddly ones-turn out the lights.

Now my stuffed animals are as safe as can be.
Settled and quiet, they watch over me.

Good night. Sleep tight.

4. Song: Puttin on My Pajamas - Baby Loves Jazz

5. Book: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

This is SUCH a fun book! The kids really love it and the parents always get a kick out of it as well. I really love all the dinosaur books by Jane Yolen.

6. Flannelboard Story: In His Jungle Bed
Read this softly until the last line

Way down deep in his jungle bed
a lion rests his sleepy head
a SNAKE comes by and asks him to roar
(put your head on your hands, like you are sleeping and snore)
 
Way down deep in his jungle bed
a lion rests his sleepy head
a MONKEY comes by and asks him to roar
But the lion just snores a gentle snore
(put your head on your hands, like you are sleeping and snore)

Way down deep in his jungle bed
a lion rests his sleepy head
a PARROT comes by and asks him to roar
But the lion just snores a gentle snore
Then he lifts his head with a great big ROAR!
(ROAR LOUDLY)

 

7. Song: Bouncin on the Bed by Philly Joe Giraffe



8. Flannel Board Rhyme:

5 yellow crescent moons,
How sleepy one did snore!
He went away to bed
and then there were 4.

4 yellow crescent moons.
Shining bright as could be.
One went to find the stars
and then there were 3.

3 yellow crescent moons.
Now what could they do?
"I'm off to play," said the bright eyed one
and then there were 2.

2 yellow crescent moons
Out came the sun.
"I't's much too bright", one complained
and then there was one.

1 yellow crescent moon
Alone so way up high.
Shines and shines for all the earth
Can you see it in the sky?


9. Closing Song (to tune of the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap,Clap, clap-clap
This is the way our hands say goodbye,
With a clap clap-clap, clap-clap

This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap, tap-tap,Tap tap-tap
This is the way our knees say goodbye,
With a tap tap-tap, tap-tap

This is the way we wave goodbye,
Wave goodbye, wave goodbye,
This is the way we wave goodbye,
Goodbye until next time

10. Give children a star stamp on their hand!

Other books to consider:

The Whole Night Through by David Frampton

This book is SO beautiful. I really love the woodcut illustrations because they provide such a nice contrast of colors for a night time setting. There are a lot of big words in this book that will be unfamiliar to toddlers but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's never too early to introduce obscure animals to children!

Night Lights by Susan Gal

This is a truly beautifully illustrated book about a child's nighttime routine through the many lights that she sees. There are street lights, night lights, star lights and good nights. This would be a great addition to any toddler storytime about bed time! "Night Lights” was included in School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2009 list! This book has also received a tramendous review from Kirkus Reviews and she also received a star, which is "assigned to books of unusual merit." Here is what they had to say:

“For this family of three – mother, daughter, and pup – the everyday events of an evening take on special meaning in this debut author/illustrator’s capable hands. A single word or two describing the lights that brighten the night determine each page’s action. A streetlight illuminates the darkened cityscape as mother and child cycle home; firelight makes for a cozy backyard BBQ; a flashlight produces a shadow-puppet play. Gal cleverly weaves these intimate moments together to create a seamless bedtime story. The illustrations, done with a heavy oil crayon or chalk pastel-type texture in combination with cut and pasted photographic elements, are infused with an inviting warmth. Reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats, for the atmospheric collage work, and Margaret Bloy Graham, with a pooch that could double for Harry (whose story the girl reads in bed with her dog), the images manage to be both fresh and familiar. The many warm renderings of light – the glow from a reading light, the comfort of the night-light and the peacefulness of the moonlight – reveal the loveliness of a night spent with an affectionate family”. -- Kirkus Reveiws

Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora

 

This is also an adorable book which goes through all the things a child sees in a regular day, from grandparents to daddy to the moon to a rubber ducky at bathtime! The ending is "Peekaboo, I see you!"

Time for bed, Fred! by Yasmeen Ismail

I really love this book not only because of the fun story, but also because of the beautiful water color illustrations! This is also a story children can relate to if they happen to have a dog. The dog Fred is shown doing all sorts of activities other than going to bed, such as jumping in a puddle or hiding in some flowers. The texts repeats, "that's not your bed, fred!" Then fred is shown taking a bath and zipping down the stairs without being dried (which, if you have a dog, is something we've all dealt with!) Then Fred is shown hiding again and the texts reads "Fred? .... Fred?..... Fred? it's very late now, Fred. Time for bed." Then the dog is read one story and afterwards he jumps onto the reader's bed, "Oh Fred, that's MY bed!" Let's find your bed, Fred..."  and at last, Fred is shown sleeping in his dog bed.

Nap in a Lap by Sarah Wilson

 

This is a cute and short book featuring baby animals taking their naps in very interesting places. Piglets snooze in haystacks. Ladbugs doze on rosebuds.But what's the best place for a tired little girl and her puppy to nap? Just like the other babies, they find the perfect spot, which so happens to be a nap in a lap!

Additional Fingerplays and Rhymes:

Going to Bed
This little child is going to bed (point to self)
Down on the pillow he lays his head (rest head on hands)
He wraps himself in covers tight (wrap hands across body)
And this is the way he sleeps all night (close eyes, nod head)
Morning comes, he opens his eyes (raise head, eyes open wide)
Off with a toss the covers fly (fling arms wide)
Soon he is up and dressed and awake (jump up)
Ready for fun and play all day (clap hands and turn in a circle)
Credit: Best Kids Book Site // Used: “Day and Night” Storytime & “Starry Night Stories”

Five White and Fluffy Sheep
Five white and fluffy sheep (hold up five fingers)
In the pasture fast asleep (hands under head, lean over)
Their wool kept them cozy all night long (hug yourself)
Snore! Snore! (make snore sounds)
The farmer slipped away with one (hold up one finger)
And sheared the wool till he was done (clap)
Then there were 4 white fluffy sheep (hold up four fingers)
Baa! Baa! (baa!)

Big Yellow Moon
Big yellow moon shines so bright, (circle overhead)
Glides across the starry night (arms left to right)
Looks down at me (hand shades eyes)
Asleep in bed, (head on hands)
Whispers, “Good night sleepyhead.” (shh)
Big yellow moon, your turn is done (move arms down)
Here comes Mr. Morning Sun (circle overhead)
I wake up. (arms stretch out)
You go to bed. (head on hands)
“Sleep well, Moon, you sleepyhead.” (shh)

Five Little Bats
Five little bats flew out one night
(Hold up five fingers)
To have some fun in the bright moonlight.
(Move your hand in a circle)
The first one said, “You can’t catch me!”
(Move your thumb away to the side)
The second one said, “Look out for the tree!”
(Shake your first finger in warning)
The third one said, “I love to swoop,”
(Make your middle finger do a graceful dive)
The fourth one did a loop-the-loop.
(Move your ring finger in a circle)
The fifth one said, “Let’s catch some gnats!”
(Wiggle your little finger)
Isn’t it fun being five little bats!
(Wiggle all five fingers)