I recently started a new job in Minnesota as the storytime provider for an adorable small-town library. Since I’ve been staying home with my daughter and subbing at her preschool, this job has been absolutely perfect! It’s wonderful to plan storytimes, make flannels, and sing songs with kiddos again. For my first storytime with a new group, I chose some of my storytime favorites—books, songs, and activities—to introduce myself.
Books we Read
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
If you haven’t read this book to a group of kids at storytime – do it! Kids get to scream “NO” over and over inside of the library and it is so much fun. It is always one of my go-to storytime favorites for all ages!
Pete the Cat I Love my White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat is always a hit and it was between this one or the four groovy buttons. Pete steps in so many things that turn his shoes colors and kids love helping guess what color his shoes will turn and then they get to sing a song every time he steps in something new. Repetitive, catchy, and just plain fun.
If you want to use Pete in a cat themed storytime, check out this post for more ideas!
Froggy Picks a Pumpkin by Jonathan London
Froggy’s class goes on a field trip to the pumpkin patch and they all get to choose a pumpkin. Some of the students will win a prize and there are a few different categories. I love Froggy books because the kids get to help me yell “FROGGGGGYYYY” which is so much fun.
I am now realizing that books where kids can either sing or yell with me are my storytime favorites. They are just so much fun and I LOVE a noisy storytime.
Songs we Sang
Hurry, Hurry
Hurry, hurry drive the firetruck.
Hurry, hurry drive the firetruck.
Hurry, hurry drive the firetruck.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
Repeat with: turn the corner, climb the ladder, spray the water.
Slowly, slowly back to the station.
Slowly, slowly back to the station.
Slowly, slowly back to the station.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
Credit: Ms. Rachel
The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.
Repeat with: doors open and shut, wipers go swish, horn goes beep, babies go waaa, parents go shush, and so many more.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin on the Ground
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground,
How’d you get so big and round?
First you were a seed so small.
Now you are so big and tall.
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground,
How’d you get so big and round?
Flannel Board
I hid the pigeon behind one of the vehicles and had kids guess where he was using the color and vehicle. We played this three times and then at the end of storytime, I left it on the flannel board so they could take turns playing!
Early Literacy Tip
Read books you love and books your kids love. This will lead to a greater love of reading!
Craft
I printed out these blank shoes and then brought out tons of craft supplies so kids could decorate their own shoes. Markers, glue, pom poms, glitter glue, sticky buttons, and any other cute thing I could find in the craft cabinet. They had a blast designing their own shoes.
The kids loved the books and really enjoyed the craft, so I definitely plan on including a craft in every storytime. They sang and danced along with me, which makes me excited to add even more movement and dancing songs in the future. It was such a fun first storytime, and I can’t wait to share more of my storytime favorites with this group!