Storytimes for the Week of March 17-22

Preschool Storytime Lineup- New Books
"Can't Wait to Celebrate" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
W is for Watermelon
Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson
"Silly Dance Contest" from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
Chilly Milly Moo by Fiona Ross
"The Milkshake Song" from Songs for Wiggleworms
Caterpillar Buys Sneakers Flannel Story
How to Be a Good Cat by Gail Page

Toddler Storytime Lineup- Farm!
"Can't Wait to Celebrate" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
F is for Farm
Clip, Clop by Nicola Smee
"Walkin Ol' Joe" from Songs for Wiggleworms
Duck's Key, Where Can It Be? by Jez Alborough
"Five Little Ducks" fingerplay
Brown Bear, Brown Bear Flannel Story
Farm Animals by Simms Taback
"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" from Songs for Wiggleworms
Bark, George! Puppet Story

Ready to Read Skill: Sounds! (Phonological Awareness)
Books with sounds are a great way to play with this Ready to Read skill. Read Bark, George and have your child guess which animal the vet will pull out next!

Books that you can sing along with are a great way to develop your child's ear for different sounds. "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" is a traditional song that has inspired many picture books.

Book Storytimes- Week of March 10-15

Preschool Storytime Lineup 

"Jumping and Counting" from Jim Gill's
B is for Book
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
Book, Book, Book flannel
"Shake my Sillies Out" from Raffi's More Singable Songs for the Very Young
Maisy Goes to the Library by Lucy Cousins
"Knuckles Knees" from Jim Gill
B-O-O-K-S Flannel Story
Read It, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr

B-O-O-K-S (to the tune of B-I-N-G-O)
There was a man who loved books,
and books are what he read
B-O-O-K-S, B-O-O-K-S, B-O-O-K-S,
and books are what he read.

Toddler Storytime Lineup
"Clap Your Hands" from Wiggleworms Love You
B is for Book
The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore
"Silly Dance Contest" from Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song
5 Little Books Flannel
Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie Harris
B-O-O-K-S Flannel Song
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Read to Tiger Puppet Story

Ready to Read Skill: Using Books
When reading with your toddler, let them turn the pages. It will reinforce in their minds how a book works, and that each page has a new meaning.

See if your baby can tell when you hold a book upside down! Learning to use books is one of the building blocks for being Ready to Read!

Storytimes Week of March 3-March 8

Preschool Storytime Lineup- Kim's Favorites 

"Grand Old Duke of York" from Toddler's On Parade
K is for Kim
Mother, Mother I Want Another by Maria Robbins
Spider puppet
"Spider On the Floor" from Raffi's Singable Songs for the Very Young
Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
"The Milkshake Song" from Songs for Wiggleworms
I'm in the Middle of a Puddle Flannel Story
The Blue Balloon by Mick Inkpen

Toddler Storytime- Adventurers!
"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" Songs for Wiggleworms
M is for Map
Adventurer puppets- pirate, astronaut, cowgirl
Starry Safari by Linda Ashman
Little Pirate's Treasure Flannel Story
"Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear" from Toddler's On Parade
Giddy-Up, Let's Ride! by Flora McDonnell
"Shake my Sillies Out" from Raffi's More Singable Songs for the Very Young
Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli
"Zoom, Zoom, Zoom" Action Song
"Happy Birthday!" Song (Happy 3rd Birthday, Kaylee!)

Ready to Read Skill: Phonological Awareness (Sounds)

Books with animal sounds are a fun way to build an important Ready to Read skill. Starry Safari is a book full of great ways to interact with your little one. Have them beep the horn on the safari jeep, screech on the brakes and ROAR to scare away the lion!

Giddy-Up, Let's Ride is a wild romp through many different sounds and words for riding. Another great action book!



Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Royalty Storytimes- February 24-March 1

This week we had fun with our Royalty Storytimes!

 Preschool Storytime Lineup

"Celebrate" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
C is for Crown
Hush Little Dragon by Boni Ashburn
The Knight and the Dragon flannel
Royal puppets
"Dragon, Dragon" Action Rhyme 
Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
"The Grand Old Duke of York" Rhyme
Who Wants a Dragon? by James Mayhew

"If You're Happy and You Know It" from Wiggleworms

Dragon, Dragon: 
Dragon, Dragon, Turn Around

Dragon, Dragon, Touch the Ground
Dragon, Dragon, Fly Up High!
Dragon, Dragon, Touch the Sky!
Dragon, Dragon, Give a Roar! 
Dragon, Dragon, Sit on the floor.

The Grand Old Duke of York: 
He had 10,000 men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
For when you’re up, you’re up,
And when you’re down, you’re down.
And when you’re only halfway up,
You’re neither up nor down.

Toddler Storytime Lineup

"If You're Happy and You Know It" from Wiggleworms Love You
C is for Castle
Royal puppets
I Want To Do It Myself! by Tony Ross
"Milkshake" from Wiggleworms
Who Wants a Dragon? by James Mayhew
Princess Isabella's Lost Ball Flannel
"Dragon, Dragon" action rhyme 
5 Little Knights flannel rhyme
That's Not My Dragon! by Fiona Watt

Ready To Read: Vocabulary- Words!
Touch/Feel books like That's Not My Dragon are a great way to show your toddler new vocabulary. Letting your child feel with her fingers what "knobbly" means is much more effective than a verbal explanation.

Singing with your child is a great way to introduce words that don't normally come up in conversation.

Forest Animals- Week of February 18-23

This week we took a walk in the Forest for our Forest Animal Storytimes!

Preschool Storytime Lineup
"Celebrate" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
D is for Deer
Forest animal puppets
The Foggy, Foggy Forest by Nick Sharratt
Suzy Goose Flannel
"Jumping and Counting" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Rayner

Moose March:
Moose march slowly,
Moose tippy-toe,
March, Moose, March, to and fro,
Moose march fast,
Whoa, Moose, Whoa!

Toddler Storytime Lineup

"Walking, Walking" from Wiggleworms Love You
D is for Deer
Forest Animal puppets
The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
"Jump Up, Turn Around" from Jim Gill
Good Night, Owl by Pat Hutchins
"Finger Poppin" from Preschool Aerobic Fun
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? Flannel

Moose March:
Moose march slowly,
Moose tippy-toe,
March, Moose, March, to and fro,
Moose march fast,
Whoa, Moose, Whoa!

Ready To Read: Vocabulary- Words!
Reading books like Bill Martin's Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? helps to introduce your toddler to words you would not use in normal conversation, like blue heron or mule deer.

Practice animal sounds with your little one, and use a variety of words to describe the noises.  In Good Night, Owl your child can practice buzzing, peeping, rat-a-tating, screeching, etc.

Squeak, squeak! Mouse Storytimes, Week of February 11-

Squeak, Squeak! It's Mice this week for our Mouse Storytimes!

Preschool Storytime Lineup
"Can't Wait to Celebrate" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
M is for Mouse
Eeeek! Mouse! by Lydia Monks
"3 Blind Mice" with mouse puppet
Hide and Squeak Flannel
"Jumping and Counting" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
A New House for Mouse by Peter Horacek
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie- prop story

Toddler Storytime Lineup

"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" from Wiggleworms Love You
M is for Mouse
Eeeek! Mouse! by Lydia Monks
"Very, Very Tall" from Wiggleworms Love You
Hide and Squeak Flannel
"Jumping and Counting" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem
A New House for Mouse by Peter Horacek
Mother, Mother I Want Another- puppet story

Ready To Read: Narrative Skills- Storytelling!
Ask your preschooler to help you find all the mice in Eeeek! Mouse. Ask them questions based on the pictures. "What do you think the cat is going to do?" "Do the mice like their new house?"