Language

I decided to do something a little outside the box for this week's theme. I wanted to focus on language and, honestly, it has been one of my favorite themes of all time. We used sign language as one of the languages, but learned other simple words in a few other languages.

The concept of languages, especially the fact that people speak different languages, may be completely over the head of most toddlers HOWEVER language is a huge part of early literacy. Since storytime is only partially for the children, and mostly for the caregivers, I wanted to encourage caregivers to feel comfortable exposing their children to different languages. 

Books:

Toddler Books:

Fiesta! - Ginger Foglesong Guy

Uno, Dos, Tres = One, Two, Three - Pat Mora

How Gator Says Good-bye! - Abigail Samoun

Preschool Books:

Oh No, Gotta Go! - Susan Middleton Elya

Ribbit! - Rodrigo Folguiera

Hands & Hearts: With 15 Words in American Sign Language - Donna Jo Napoli

Froodle - Antoinette Portis

Quackers - Liz Wong

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Come Under My Umbrella (Sign Language Song):

Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella,

Come under my umbrella, it's starting to rain.

With thunder and lightning and thunder and lightning,

Come under my umbrella, it's starting to rain.

Source: Jbrary

*All of the words in BOLD are also in sign language. The kids loved this and we did it several times!

Can We Find? (Tune: "Muffin Man")

Can we find the little cat? 

The little cat? The little cat?

Can we find the little cat?

We want to say hello!

Repeat with: Dog (Hola), Mouse (Bonjour), Etc.

Source: Storytime Katie

*I borrowed a version of the song that Storytime Katie came up with, made some adjustments, and added a few different ways to say hello in other languages.

Peace Like a River:

I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river, in my heart.
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river, in my heart.
Repeat with:
I've got joy like a fountain
I've got love like an ocean

Source: Jbrary

*It's a traditional, somewhat religious, folk song. I did replace "soul" with "heart", since I felt more comfortable considering the word "soul"'s potential for religious connotations. 
*The words in bold were in sign language.

Fall (Autumn)

We're getting into the seasonal game early this year. Our theme this week is about Fall.

Books:

Toddler Books:

Acorns Everywhere! - Kevin Sherry

The Busy Little Squirrel - Nancy Tafuri

Preschool Books:

The Little Yellow Leaf - Carin Berger

Fall is Not Easy - Marty Kelley

The Busy Little Squirrel - Nancy Tafuri

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

The Squirrel and the Acorns:

Down around the corner by the big oak tree, 

Sat five little acorns as tasty as can be.

Along comes Mr. Squirrel with his big bushy tail,

And he takes one acorn and runs off down the trail.

Count down...4, 3, 2, 1

Source: An LA of mine

Bowl of Apples:

Five little apples in the bowl,

One fell out and started to roll.

It bumped the table and hit my feet,

How many apples left to eat?

Count down...4, 3, 2, 1

Source: Storytime Katie

Dragons

This week our theme is dragons! And, boy, do toddlers and preschoolers love to roar like dragons!

Books:

Toddler Books:

Oh So Brave Dragon - David Kirk

Waking Dragons - Jane Yolen

Preschool Books:

There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight - Penny Parker Clostermann

Oh So Brave Dragon - David Kirk

Dragons Love Tacos - Adam Rubin

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Five Little Dragons:

Five little dragons with great big scales, 

One lost his balance and bumped his tail.

He cried, "Ouch!" and breathed some fire,

And then flew away, higher and higher.

Count down...4, 3, 2, 1

Source: Falling Flannel Boards

Fly, Dragon, Fly (Tune: "Skip to the Lou")

Fly, fly, dragon, fly,

Fly, fly, dragon, fly,

Fly, fly, dragon, fly,

Way up to the sky.

Hop, hop, dragon, hop,

Hop, hop, dragon, hop,

Hop, hop, dragon, hop,

Stop, dragon, stop.

Turn, turn, dragon, turn,

Turn, turn, dragon, turn,

Turn, turn, dragon, turn,

Sit, dragon, sit.

Source: Johnson County Library

When Dragons Wake Up in the Morning

When dragons wake up in the morning, they always say hello. 

When dragons wake up in the morning, they always say hello.

And what do they say? ROOOOAAAAAARRRR

And that is what they say.

Repeat several times...

Source: Jbrary

*When I used this song at my storytimes this week, I also had the kids do the sign language word for "hello" whenever we sang that part.

Trucks

Our first week back to storytimes for our Fall session was last week but it was so hectic that I haven't had time to post until now. The theme for last week was TRUCKS and, surprising no one, it was a big hit.

Books:

Toddler Books:

Red Truck - Kersten Hamilton

The Mixed-Up Truck - Stephen Savage

I Love Trucks! - Philemon Sturges

Preschool Books:

Red Truck - Kersten Hamilton

Good Night, Truck - Sally Odgers

The Mixed-Up Truck - Stephen Savage

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Machines (Tune: "Wheels on the Bus")

The backhoe on the lot goes dig, dig, dig,

Dig, dig, dig. Dig, dig, dig.

The backhoe on the lot goes dig, dig, dig,

All day long.

The big cement mixer goes round and round,

Round and round. Round and round.

The big cement mixer goes round and round,

All day long.

The dump truck takes the dirt and dumps it out,

Dumps it out. Dumps it out.

The dump truck takes the dirt and dumps it out,

All day long.

Source: My flannel drawer

*I have used this for Construction themes before and the kids love it. I just left out a few pieces that did not have anything to do with trucks.

Have You Ever Seen a Blue Truck (Tune: "Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?")

Have you ever seen a blue truck, a blue truck, a blue truck,

Have you ever seen a blue truck go bumping along?

Bumping this way and that way, and this way and that way.

Have you ever seen a blue truck go bumping along?

Repeat with different colors/activities: red truck/jumping; orange truck/rocking; etc.

Source: ME ;), but I found a similar one that used the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" at Storytime Sparks. We already had trucks for our "Duck Behind the Truck" flannel, so I just used the tune and activities with the flannels.

Duck Behind the Truck 

Little Duck, Little Duck, are you behind the red truck?

Repeat with different trucks until you find Little Duck

Source: One of my Library Assistants