After our usual introduction, we read Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin. I like this book for storytime because the kids get a huge kick out of making animal noises. I asked them to repeat the recurring phrases with me, and give me their best silly giggle. I firmly believe that finding ways to make books interactive will make kids love reading.
Today we jumped and counted again ("Jumping and Counting"), and then did a freeze dance with Greg and Steve's classic, "The Freeze." This is one of the only songs I use that doesn't have directed movement, but freeze dance is also a good way for kids to learn to control their bodies in space. I always make sure to explain that we dance while the music is on, and then when it stops, we have to FREEZE!
Today I tried something new to get attention back on me after a high energy song. Before our second story, we sat down and did a chant together until the kiddos were calm and listening. I got this one from another librarian at my branch; she said it would be a hit, and she was 100% right. It's called "The Hippo on the Bus." I demonstrated it once, and then encouraged both kids and grownups to keep time by hitting their knees with open palms and chant with me as we did it two more times.
A hip, a hip, a hippotomous
Got on, got on, got on the city bus
And all, and all, and all the people fussed...
STOP SQUISHING US!
(On that last line, squish your cheeks in from both sides so your mouth looks funny and speech is distorted, as if you were being squished by a hippo)
After we were all calm and ready to listen to another book, I read The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. This is a hilarious story of a crocodile who loves watermelon, until he swallows a seed and starts getting worried about what will happen. It's short, funny, and the kids love guessing whether he will have a watermelon growing in his belly by the end.
This book is pretty short, so we had time for two more movement songs before saying goodbye to our friends. I decided to go with two of what I consider storytime classics: "Clap Your Hands" and "The Goldfish."
Click here for my version of "Clap Your Hands."
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