Tales for Twos and Threes - Self Esteem

This storytime focuses on body positivity and self esteem. I did this storytime today and a parent came up to me, thanking me several times for leading a storytime on this timely topic. I think it is really important to teach young children that they are unique and beautiful, no matter what skin color they are. I may just be a children's librarian, but I can make a difference in the lives of children by sharing books on these very important topics. 

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)   Flannel Board: Build a Pig 

I chose this activity because it's fun and it leads into our next book, I Like Me by Nancy Carlson. I don't want to take credit for this one, I actually found this idea from another storytime blog, Reading Chick. You start with a body and ask the children what else the pig needs. Match the wrong body parts, ask them if that looks right, and watch the kids yell out "NO!" Kids find this really funny when you add silly parts like an elephant's trunk to the pig's head instead of a snout. Love this one!

3) Book: I Like Me by Nancy Carlson

This is such a cute book :) It's seriously perfect for young children, ages 2 and up. It's short enough and has adorable illustrations while teaching very important concepts like body positivity and self esteem. My favorite pages are when she says, "I like my curly tail, my round tummy, and my tiny little feet." 

4)   Song: Pancake Manor - Move Your Legs

Love this song too. The "freeze" part is great and stops toddlers in their tracks!

5) Book: Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

I seriously love this book. I've read this at three different storytimes already. The message is very powerful and it's presented in a way that is digestible for children. We all have skin! I also asked children a few questions throughout the book to get their attention. On the page that says "Whoops! When you fall, your skin will heal with a scab, a perfect seal." I asked children, "Who here has had a scab? Raise your hand if you've had a scab!" Many kids in the audience raised their hands. I also did this for the page that says "Sometimes skin has freckles" because I noticed some parents pointing out the freckles on their children's arms. It was cute to see the parents interacting with their children based on the text. :) Highly recommend this book for any storytime because of it's inclusive illustrations and celebration of diversity!  

6) Flannel Board: Five Ballet Dancers

Five Ballet Dancers

Five ballet dancers

Dancing on their toes.

They bend their knees and jump,

then off the stage one goes!

How many ballet dancers are left?

The clipart I used was purchased through the Etsy shop, MyClipArtStore

I asked children to follow the actions of the rhyme and some of them did. I'll admit, none of the children tried to dance on their toes (they have not yet fully developed their fine and gross motor skills to really attempt that yet). I did do my best to do it in front of them as I read the rhyme (which is kind of funny to think about because I do not have the best balance, LOL). Some children did bend their knees and jump. I actually think this would work really well with preschoolers because they would be more willing and able to do the actions. The kids liked counting with me though, as always! :) 

7) Book: Be Who You Are by Todd Parr

This is honestly my new favorite book this week. It is seriously adorable and spreads SUCH a good message, as do all Todd Parr books. The message at the end goes well with the theme of today's storytime:

"It doesn't matter what color you are, where you are from, or who's in your family. Everyone needs to be loved. Always love yourself and BE who are you ARE." -- Todd Parr

8) Affirmations: I Am by Cynthia Dawn

I am great!" (Arms wide) 

I  am smart!" (Finger to head)

I am strong! (Flex muscles) 

I am loved (Hug yourself)

Today is an awesome day! (Jump in the air, fist pump). 

Cynthia Dawn shared this in a post on Storytime Underground. It was very successful. I had the kids repeat the word and action after I said it once. The kids followed along so well and I might actually do this at every storytime because I loved it so much!! Thank you again Cynthia for sharing this, it was truly wonderful! 

9) Final Song: Laurie Berkner - My Energy (I used this song with shakers but it would work great with scarves too). 

 Lyrics: 

This is me, this is me

This is me and my energy

This is me, this is me

This is me and my energy

I'm gonna wiggle my legs

I'm gonna click my heels

I'm gonna stomp my feel

Because I have energy

This is me, this is me 

This is me and my energy 

This is me, this is me 

This is me and my energy 

I'm gonna wave my arms

I'm gonna shake my hips

I'm gonna jump to the sky

Because I have energy

This is me, this is me 

This is me and my energy 

This is me, this is me 

This is me and my energy 

I'm gonna clap my hands

I'm gonna shake my head

I'm gonna yell out loud

Because I have energy

This is me, this is me 

This is me and my energy 

This is me, this is me 

This is me and my energy 

And it's the only thing that I can be

Yeah I'm the only thing that I can be

Me! Me! Energy! Me! Me! Energy!

Me! Me! Energy! Me! Me! Me!

10) Early Literacy Tip: 

Raise a Confident Child by Playing Together. You will learn a lot about your child—and yourself—during play. Playtime gives your child the message, “You are worth my time. You are a valuable person.” It is well known that children learn through play. It improves a child’s behavior by giving him feelings of importance and accomplishment. Instead of viewing playtime as a chore, use it to make an investment in your child’s behavior.

Tip brought to you by Dr. Sears, the author of The Baby Book.

11) Playtime & Actvity: If parents wanted to, they had the chance to trace their child's hand and then make fingerprints on their paper. It was really cute, even though it did leave children's fingertips a fun shade of blue lol. Make sure to use washable ink for this activity! 

Additional Fingerplays:

Nice Fingers (modified from the fingerplay, "Not So Crazy Fingers" in the book Artsy Toddler by Carol Garnett Hopkins. I chose to use the word nice instead since this storytime was focusing on positive traits and crazy can be taken as a bad thing)

I have nice ears (Point to ears)

And a nice nose (Rub nose)

Nice shoulders (Wiggle shoulders)

And nice toes (wiggle toes)

Nice hair (Pat hair)

And a nice chin (point to chin)

And my nice fingers sit quietly like so (Fold hands together into lap). 

All of Me by Jessica McDonald (found on Pinterest, Play Learn Love) 

My hands are for clapping

My arms can hug tight

My fingers can snap

Or can turn out the night

My legs are for jumping

My eyes help me see

This is my body

And I love all of me!

Letter D Storytime

This is my storytime that I put together which introduces children to the letter D! 

1. Book:  Lazy Dave by Jarvis

This is SUCH a cute book that we recently got at work. A review on School Library Journal said that the phrasing is awkward but I completely disagree. The review also said that the the dog and human inhabitants of the story fall flat and inexpressive but I disagree with that also! I found this book to be a really great read aloud and the preschoolers absolutely loved it! The kids enjoyed the retro style illustrations and laughed at many of the pages (especially when Lazy Dave trips and stops the diamond thief!). They were entranced by it as I read it and I definitely don't understand how this could have received a poor review at all!

2. Fingerplay:

Dancing Fingers

We’re going to dance our fingers up
And dance our fingers down
We’ll dance them to the side
Let’s dance them all around
And we’ll dance them on our
shoulders
And we’ll dance them on our head
Let’s dance them on our tummy
And we’ll put them all to bed!

I usually extend this and also dance fingers on our knees, ankles, etc. I also go quickly from knees to toes and back to knees because it makes it more fun for children. Preschoolers are easily amused by these simple action rhymes. 

3. Song: Ducks Like Rain by Raffi

Kids of all ages get a huge kick out of this song. There is also a Carol Peterson version which is great. For the action part, I have the kids use their hands to make a duck mouth sing as the song goes "Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack." I also have the kids stomp around as if they're a duck that is splishin' and splashin' in the rain. This song also greatly amuses any parents in the room!

4. Book: Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates

5. Flannel Board: Five Donuts

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were five yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were four yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were three yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were two yummy donut with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Was one yummy donut with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

She buys a donut and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were zero yummy donuts with sprinkles on top

Along comes a dog with a dollar to pay

But she so stuffed that she passes out along the way!

Adapted words to fit the D concept from a flannel board story found on Storytime Katie. For a hilarious element, use a dog puppet to "eat" the donuts. I also had the dog let out a little burp after eating each  donut and the kids were dying of laughter. At the end, I show the dog slumped over the flannel board snoring! Kids commented that the dog must be "really fat" after eating all those donuts! 

6. Book: A Dog Wearing Shoes bu Sangmi Ko

This book is absolutely endearing as well! :) I love that it talks about a lost dog and what happens when you find a dog without an owner. It teaches a good moral to children and also discusses where a dog should be adopted (at a shelter rather than a pet store). One preschooler commented in a disappointing sounding voice that the "pictures were black and white."However, as soon as I started reading, he had no trouble paying attention! The kids also got a huge kick out of the fact that the dog wore shoes and that the dog that girl adopted at the end wore a yellow tutu, just like the little girl. This is the type of book that you will need to have the children look closely at the illustrations. Definitely a great read-a-loud and perfect for any dog storytime. 

7. Song: Dinosaur Dinosaur Move Your Body (from YouTube)

How could I have a Letter D storytime and not mention dinosaurs?!  Kids enjoyed acting out all the motions in this song! I also like that it's short enough to get some wiggles out but not too long where it takes away from the main purpose of storytime (reading great stories)!  

8. Book: Dog Loves Drawing

This is another spectacular dog book. I think this is my new favorite book in fact! The way the drawn animals move through the illustrations are very humorous. The kids laughed so hard. This book was also great for getting the children to make predictions about where the story was going to go. For example, on one page it says "Then the dog decided to draw a..." and then on the next page it shows what the duck drew (a monster).  I also love that it shows children that they too could create their own stories with a pencil and let their imaginations go wild through illustrations. 

9. Song: Jim Gill - Silly Dance Contest 

Kids are obsessed with this song and it is the perfect song to get shy preschoolers out of their comfort zone! 

Preschool Pals: Cupcakes, Cats, Chickens & Cows - Letter C Storytime

1. I open my Preschool Pals program by introducing the letter of the week. For this week I chose the letter C! I usually type of a list of words that begin with C and I'll have pictures of the items to reinforce what the letter C starts with. Here is a Google doc that I have for you to see what I do!

2. Book: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff

Classic spin-off of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. Love this book so much! Doesn't mention as many c words as I wish but it's too cute to pass up. Plus it was the perfect segue into the flannel board story that I shared next. 

2. Flannel Board Story: Five Cupcakes

Adapted words to fit the C concept from a flannel board story found on Storytime Katie. For this flannel board story I used my cat puppet (named Chloe, of course) and had her pretend to eat the cupcakes. Then after all the cupcakes were gone I said she bought candy instead. Then I said the cat had gotten very fat and needed to take a nap. The kids REALLY loved this and thought it was hilarious. I also told them we were subtracting! Yay math! Here are the verses:

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were five yummy cupcakes with sprinkles on top

Along comes cat with some change to pay
She buys a cupcake and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were four yummy cupcakes with sprinkles on top

Along comes cat with some change to pay
She buys a cupcake and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were three yummy cupcakes with sprinkles on top

Along comes cat with some change to pay
She buys a cupcake and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were two yummy cupcakes with sprinkles on top

Along comes cat with some change to pay
She buys a cupcake and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Was one yummy cupcake with sprinkles on top

Along comes cat with some change to pay
She buys the last cupcake and takes it away

Down around the corner in the bakery shop

Were zero yummy cupcake with sprinkles on top

Along comes cat with some change to pay
She buys candy instead and takes it away!

3. Ralph's World : Driving in my Car --- KIDS LOVE THIS SONG! The preschoolers got super into it. The perfect song to let out some wiggles and also say another "c" word: car! :D 

4. Scat the Cat File Folder Story

Seriously obsessed with this story that I found in our flannel board story inventory. A previous employee where I work made it and I looked it up and it appears to have been adapted from a common story about a cat who didn't want to be black anymore. I can only assume that the person who typed this up had adapted it from the original story. Anyways, the kids were very engaged with this adapted story and absolutely loved it. I personally love it because it teaches a message that is so important. The message is that we should accept who we are and not try to be something we are not. I am so happy I discovered this story! You can learn how to recreate this story at drjean.org but I seriously recommend you follow the words I have adapted here rather than the original:

Once upon a time there was a little orange cat & his name was Scat. One day he looked around & saw that all his brothers & sisters & friends were orange too. Scat decided he would like to be a different color so he said,

I’m Scat the Cat. I’m sassy and fat.

And I can change my colors just like that! (snap fingers)

As quick as a wink, he  changed colors. He wasn’t an orange cat anymore. Now he was YELLOW. Yellow like a lemon—yellow like butter—yellow like a lion.

He went outside t show off his new color to his brothers and sisters, but… as soon as they saw him, they all screamed and ran away. “Eke!” they said. “A lion! Run for your lives!” And Scat was left all alone. So he said,

I’m Scat the Cat. I’m sassy and fat.
And I can change my colors just like that! (snap fingers)

And just like that, he changed colors. This time he was GREEN. What else is green like Scat? He went out to play with his friends, but they couldn’t find him because he was the color of the trees & grass. Well, this color just wasn’t fun at all. You couldn’t have fun playing if no one could see you. So, he decided to try a different color. He said:

I’m Scat the Cat. I’m sassy and fat.
And I can change my colors just like that! (snap fingers)

Scat turned BLUE, like water, the sky, and what else? He rushed to show everyone his new color, but they all went out to play. Scat was in such a hurry to find them, he forgot to wach where he was going and suddenly SPLASH! He fell in the water. He called out for help, but he was the same color as the water. No one could see him!

Scat was getting really scared, but luckily, his friend Timmy Turtle swam nearby and Scat was able to jump on Timmy’s back and ride safely to shore.

“Whew!” said Scat. I don’t want to be blue anymore. That was too scary! So Scat said:

I’m Scat the Cat. I’m sassy and fat.
And I can change my colors just like that! (snap fingers)

Scat turned bright RED, like an apple! Wow! They could surely see him now! Scat was excited about his bright new color. He went to play with everyone, but they all laughed at him. “Whoever heard of a red cat?! No one played with him & he felt so sad. 

(At this point I asked the children if it was nice to not play with someone because of their color and they all agreed that no, it was not nice at all!)

“I don’t want to be red anymore. I don’t want to be blue like the water, I don’t want to be green like the grass, and I don’t want to be yellow like a lion. I want to be orange again, just like my brother’s and sisters and friends. I’d like to have a lot of cats to play with so he said:

I’m Scat the Cat. I’m sassy and fat.
And I can change my colors just like that! (snap fingers)

Scat changed back to ORANGE and after that he was very happy just being himself.

(Then I talk again about the message – We should just be happy being ourselves and not try to be someone we’re not. Scat was happiest just being who he was: an orange cat.)

4. Book: Cupcakes by Charise Mericle Harper

This is SUCH a fun book. Perfect for teaching the letter C for it talks about cheese, candles, cupcakes, and colors. Love love love it.  It's also hilarious and the children LOVE IT! 

5. Letter C Say & Touch Poem 

(Written by me. Please credit by linking to my blog if you use this! Thank you!)

View Google Doc here.

Say "cheddar" and touch your head.
Say "cry" and touch your eye.

Say "care" and touch your hair. Say "couch" and touch your mouth. Say "crows" and touch your nose. Say "chin" and touch your chin. Say "crest" and touch your chest. Say "charm" and touch your arm. Say "crummy" and touch your tummy. Say "cheese" and touch your knees. Say "cleat" and touch your feet.

6. Book: Big Chickens by Leslie Helakosky

This is another perfect book to read which teaches the letter C! This one is extra special because it teaches the "ch" sound that c makes when you pair it with h. The book also has a lot of repetition which makes it really great for preschoolers. It's just a hilarious, fun, and colorful book overall. The book even features cows, another c word animal!

7. Ending Song: I Know a Chicken by the Laurie Berkner Band, from the Cd Whaddaya Think of That?

Oh, I know a chicken (I know a chicken)
And she laid an egg (And she laid an egg)
Oh I know a chicken (I know a chicken)
And she laid an egg (And she laid an egg)
Oh my goodness (Oh my goodness)
It’s a shaky egg! (It’s a shaky egg!)
Shake your eggs!
Other Verses:
-Shake em fast 
– Shake em slow- you know how it goes 
– Shake em in a circle don’t let touch the ground cause you shake them round n round.

After the song I gave children a cow stamp on their hand and then I passed out a camel letter puppet that children can color and make at home. These little puppets are really popular! I had a kid this week who came to me with his peacock letter p popsicle stick puppet that he had made at home. It was so adorable because he thought he had to give me the puppet but I told him he could keep it and he was super thrilled!

You can download and print the PDF of the letter c puppet here from quality-kids-crafts.com

View more letter puppets here. 

Hope you enjoyed this colorful storytime focusing on the letter C! 

Make It Take It! Wire Sculpture

The arts can make you smart! Recent research demonstrates a correlation between the arts and higher academic performance. In the report, “Learning, Arts and the Brain,” seven universities presented several studies discussing how visual arts, music, and dance training and skill impact learning (The Dana Foundation, 2008). This is why I try to incorporate as much art as I can within my library programs. This blog entry talks about the Make It Take It program that I lead at 95th Street Library.  Make It Take It  is a weekly program that features a 15 minute storytime followed by a unique and fun craft. Activities are geared towards 3-5 year olds.  This craft is specifically inspired by Alexander Calder's wire sculptures: 

Alexander Calder | Ball Player (c. 1927)

Alexander Calder | Elephant (c. 1928)

The craft will be done using a styrofoam base, pipecleaners, and beads and is meant to inspire creativity within children! Here is what the craft will look like: 

Short Storytime Outline: 

Opening Song Options: 
My Energy by Laurie Berkner (Great action song to get kids moving)
I'm Me & You're You by Laurie Berkner

(This song has an excellent message about how kids are all unique individuals. Here is a snippet of the lyrics: "I'm me and you're you. I like green, you like blue. I use tape, you use glue. I stayed short and you grew. It doesn't matter what we do. 'Cause I'm still me and you're still you." I would sing this with Shakers and have lyrics on the white board)

Books:

A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch

Lines that Wiggle by Candice Whitman

Art by Patrick McDonnel

The Straight Line Wonder by Mem Fox

Flannel Boards / Fingerplays & Songs

Clancy the Clown  - A Flannelboard Story

(This was a really fun story that was very interactive! This flannel helps children identify their colors and shapes and is also very funny!)

Clancy was a clown in a circus.  Every day he put on a funny face that made the children clap and laugh.  Then he did somersaults and rode a pig.  Clancy blew a trumpet and that made the children clap and laugh too.

One day Clancy went to put on his funny face.  He put on his silly eyes (place eyes).  He put on his happy mouth (place mouth).  He put on his crazy hair (place hair).  But Clancy Clown couldn't find his funny nose. "I know my nose", said Clancy.  "My nose is round and red.  Where is my funny nose?"

Clancy found a nose that looked like this  (put on a blue square nose). It was a blue square nose. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? (The kids scream out, "NO!") "No", said Clancy Clown. "This is not my nose. This is a blue square nose. My name is round and red. (remove blue square) I know my nose!" 

Clancy found a nose that looked like this. (Put on a green triangle nose). It was a green triangle nose. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? "No" said Clancy Clown. "This is not my nose. This is a green triangle nose. My nose is round and red.  (Remove green triangle) I know my nose!"

Clancy found a nose that looked like this (Put on a big yellow circle) . It was a big yellow round nose. Was this Clancy Clowns's nose? (Children scream out, "NO!") ,  "No." said Clancy Clown. "This is  a round nose, but it is big and yellow. My nose is round and red. (Remove yellow circle) I know my nose!" 

Clancy found  another nose that looked like this (Put on a tiny purple circle).  It was a tiny purple circle. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? (Children scream out, "NO!") "No" , said Clancy Clown. "This is not my nose. This is a round nose but it's tiny and purple. My nose is round and red. (Remove purple circle) I know my nose!" 

Then Clancy found a nose that looked like this (Use red circle). It was a round nose. It was a red nose. Was this Clancy Clown's nose? (let audience scream "YES!"). 


Clancy Clown put on his funny nose and went out to turn somersaults and ride a pig and blow his trumpet so the children would clap and laugh. Clancy Clown knows his nose... and now so do you!

Rainbow Colors

Tune: Hush, Little Baby

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue
Rainbow green and yellow, too
Rainbow orange, rainbow red
Rainbow smiling overhead.
Come and count the colors with me
How many colors can you see?
One, two, three, down to green,
Four, five, six can be seen
Rainbow purple, rainbow blue,
Rainbow green and yellow, too.
Rainbow orange, rainbow red,
Rainbow smiling overhead.

Source: King County Library System

Rainbow Colors
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Start by putting all the rainbow shapes out on the flannel board - as you sing the song, point to each colored rainbow. (Center the red rainbow in the middle of the board). Build the rainbow starting with red on the outside working into purple as you sing the line "Rainbow smiling overhead." Pause until the rainbow is assembled then continue singing. 

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue,

Rainbow green and yellow too

Rainbow orange, rainbow red

Rainbow smiling overhead.
(Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple... assemble rainbow at this time)

Come and count the colors with me

How many colors can you see?
One, two, three, down to green,

Four, five, six can be seen

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue,

Rainbow green and yellow too

Rainbow orange, rainbow red

Rainbow smiling overhead. 

You have counted the colors with me
All of the colors that we see. 

Our Shapes 

Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”

Did you ever see a circle, a circle, a circle? 

Did you ever see a circle? 

It looks like a ball.

Did you ever see a rectangle, 

Rectangle, rectangle? 

Did you ever see a rectangle? 

It looks like a door.

Did you ever see a triangle, 

Triangle, triangle? 

Did you ever see a triangle? 

It looks like a sail.

Did you ever see a square, 

A square, a square? 

Did you ever see a square? 

It looks like a box.

Source: Addison Library

Wire Sculpture Craft Instructions: 

Materials:

·        Styrofoam Base

·        Multicolored Pipe Cleaners 

·        Multicolored Pony Beads / Assorted Beads

Instructions:
1) Put as many or as little beads of any color onto a pipe cleaner
2) Bend, curl, and twist pipe cleaners into any shape you like. Poke each end of the pipe cleaner into the Styrofoam base.
3) Intersect the pipe cleaners and make them tall or short and twist them into whatever funky shape you like! The purpose of this craft is to be creative. No two sculptures should look alike.

Early literacy tips:
By encouraging the child to use their fine motor skills to put pony beads on the pipe cleaner and bend it, they are developing the muscle strength needed to be able to write successfully someday. The children will also feel that the art is more their own when they are completing it themselves. Instruct children to bend pipe cleaners into different shapes. Parents could help children make more complex shapes. Older children may want to make people, animals, trucks, or anything they’d like, or they can just make an abstract work of art.

Coloring Sheet:

Pass out an art-themed coloring sheet inspired by famous artists after the activity! There are free printable sheets here:

http://makingartfun.com/htm/art-masterpiece-coloring-pages-index.htm

Display:

Since it is Fall, I also have a display of art books in the J Non-fiction section. Here is my display: