Grumpy Storytime

We all thought spring was coming...then we got another week of snow...which made me grumpy--and thus--a Grumpy Storytime!

Books

The Very Grumpy Day

by Stella J. Jones; illustrated by Alison Edgson

Hooray for Hat

by Brian Won

Songs/Rhymes/Flannel Board

ABC Welcome

The Grumpy Little Cat (by Miss Sue at Library Village)

The Grumpy Little Cat

The Grumpy Little Cat

How do you think he got that way?

The Grumpy Little Cat

"NO" says the cat

"NO" says the cat

What do you think that cat will say?

"NO" says the cat

Let's hug that little cat

Let's hug that little cat

A hug a day keeps the grumps away

Let's hug that little cat

I used a clip art cat and made a separate smile piece to place over the frown

The happy little cat

The happy little cat

Turned that frown upside down

The happy little cat!

If You’re Ever Feeling Grumpy
(tune: Did You Ever See a Lassie)

If you’re ever feeling grumpy, so grumpy, so grumpy,
If you’re ever feeling grumpy,
Just stomp your feet.
Stomp this way and that way and this way and that way.
If you’re ever feeling grumpy just stomp your feet.

Stomping your feet might make you feel a little better...

If you’re ever feeling grumpy, so grumpy, so grumpy,
If you’re ever feeling grumpy,
Just flap your arms.
Flap this way and that way and this way and that way.
If you’re ever feeling grumpy just flap your arms.

Now you are really starting to feel better...

If you’re ever feeling grumpy, so grumpy, so grumpy,
If you’re ever feeling grumpy,
Just jump up and down.
Jump this way and that way and this way and that way.
If you’re ever feeling grumpy just jump up and down.

OK that was pretty fun...the grumps are starting to leave...one more thing

If you’re ever feeling grumpy, so grumpy, so grumpy,
If you’re ever feeling grumpy,
Just spin around.
Spin this way and that way and this way and that way.
If you’re ever feeling grumpy just spin around.

And fall down in a fit of giggles!

Hop, Hop, Stop!

Play and Learn

Draw a self-portrait after/while looking in a hand mirror

Emotion Matching Cards (From Lanie's Little Learners)

Straws and Connectors

Counting Cars

Pom-Pom Poke and Counting

Process Art

An internal blog post

Over the last few months I have tried to add more process art to my play and learn.  I usually do some kind of project the children can take home; though not every week.  Doing these projects during storytime is optional, but I have found that children really enjoy process art.  And the best part?  Less prep time for you!

Process art is, of course, all about the process…the doing it on their own, the exploring, the learning…and not what they make per se.  Process art will not have a “sample” to follow, will have limited (if any) instructions, a variety of supplies will be available, and each child’s art piece will be unique.  

It’s good to know what process art is, but defining what it isn’t is also important.  First and foremost process art is not a “free-for-all”.  Guidelines are always a necessity when working with children.  Yes, we want them to try new things and experiment, but not at expense of ruining the experience for others or wasting resources.  For example, it is OK to mix paint colors on your own paper, but not OK to mix paint colors in their containers; nor is it OK to paint the wall behind you. 

Two other important things to keep in mind when doing process art with young children.

• We can limit which supplies are available for use If you just really can’t do paint, you don’t have to offer it.
• You can still have a general project idea in mind.

Here are some samples of a few process art activities I have done in storytime recently.

Create your own creature—supplies included: construction paper (shapes left over from a different project), googly eyes, pom-poms, feathers, yarn, scissors, glue sticks, and crayons.  See how completely unique each creature is?

Here’s our Valentine’s Day art project.  Supplies:  scissors, glue sticks, crayons, white paper, pink and red paper folded in half with heart traced on them. 

One last tip about process art:  ask yourself "what will the children do?" instead of "what will the children make?" 

What process art have you done—or will try—in your storytimes?

Hugs and Kisses Storytime

I did this theme at a few outreach storytimes and an all ages storytime in the beginning of February and a preschool storytime on Valentine's Day!

Books

Who Wants a Hug?

by Jeff Mack

No More Kissing!

by Emma Chichester Clark

Songs

ABC Welcome

H-E-A-R-T
There is a shape that I can make
That shows that I love you
H-E-A-R-T
H-E-A-R-T
H-E-A-R-T
A heart shows that I love you!

There is a shape that I can make
That shows that I love you
H-E-A-R-(clap)
H-E-A-R-(clap)
H-E-A-R-(clap)
A heart shows that I love you!

Continue taking one letter away...

If You're Happy and You Know It: Love Edition

Jump up and down
Give a hug
Blow a kiss

Hop, Hop, Stop!

Animal Good-byes

Play and Learn

• Puzzles
• Counting Cars
• Busy Bag: Paper Clip Colors
• Heart Matching

• Cut out hearts!

Thursday Thing: STEM

STEM challenges for the week included building with plastic cups, jumbo craft sticks, and blocks!

Fantastic Beasts Storytime

A really fun storytime from a few weeks ago...

Books

Troll and the Oliver

by Adam Stower

If I had a Gryphon

by Vikki Vansickle; illustrated by Cale Atkinson

Graph Question

Which mythical creature would you like to meet?
Bigfoot (4)
Mermaid (4)
Unicorn (6)
Dragon (7)

I changed the "voting" up a bit, that seems to be working much better.  I have buckets for the four choice that they put their smiley face in.  The children can take their time choosing, late comers still get to vote, and it doesn't take as much time.

After our opening I get the buckets and we count the smiley faces as we put them on the graph.

I think the kids "get it" more doing it this way.

Songs/Magnet Board

ABC Welcome

Color Unicorns (Credit: Story Time Secrets)

I saw five little unicorns - creatures from folklore.

I watched the blue one prance away and then there were four.

I saw four little unicorns resting by a tree

I watched the orange one prance away, and then there were three.

I saw three little unicorns, but as near to them I drew,

The green one pranced away, and then there were two.

I saw two little unicorns - I watched them run and run.

The red one pranced away, and then there was one.

I saw a lonely purple unicorn standing in the sun.

When I blinked my eyes, it pranced away, and then there were none.

If You're Happy and You Know It

My Hands

Play and Learn

I have been trying to do more "process art" instead of crafts.  The kids had a great time today making their own mythical creature with lots of googly eyes, colored paper, feathers, pom-poms, yarn, scissors and glue!

I also had out a variety of toys, but the art was definitely a big hit!