Date presented: July 11, 2016
This story time was based on a theme that generally fit well with summer and outdoor activities, rather than focusing on a specific summer reading theme. This story time was done with my second library system, and includes more structure than some of my original story times. Each week, we included the same opening song, a host puppet greeting, and a movement song in the middle of story time. Our branch utilizes co-presenting, in which two story time staff alternate presenting content during the session.
Introduction
For each story time, we walked the children’s area approximately five minutes before the session to welcome families and direct them to our story time room. Once the first group of families was seated in the room, story time started promptly; additional families were welcome to join late. We started each story time with an introduction to the presenters, as well as a reminder the basic rules of story time. It might have sounded something like this:
“Welcome of our preschool story time! My name is Miss Jaime, and we also have our friend Miss Meredith here for story time today. Today’s story time is intended for children between the ages of 3 and six, but if you’re here with older or younger siblings, that’s okay, too. If at any time during today’s story time you need to take a break, please feel free to step out of the room and come back in again when you’re ready. If you need them during your visit today, we have family restrooms available in the children’s area and full-service restrooms in the lobby.”
Welcome Song and Announcements
Way Up in the Sky
Way up in the sky, the little birds fly.
Way down in their nest, the little birds rest.
With a wing on the left, and a wing on the right,
The little birds sleep all through the night.
Shhh….they’re sleeping!
Then UP COMES THE SUN.
The DEW FALLS AWAY.
“Good morning, good morning!” the little birds say.
After our welcome song, we shared announcements for families, generally information about upcoming programs that might be happening and of interest to the audience, or holiday closures at the library.
Host Puppet Greeting
Each week, the lead presenter of our story time brings his or her host puppet to greet the children. Each host puppet has its own personality, based on the presenter. After the welcome song, the host puppet comes out to share his or her bit, which might be a song, telling jokes, or really anything that the presenter might want to do. On my weeks as lead presenter, my host puppet is a black kitten named Shadow who shares a song with the audience. After the host puppet visits, he or she takes a nap until the end of story time, when the children have a chance to interact with the puppet.
1st Book
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen – I picked this book because I hoped that there would be good participation in the repeated actions and refrain, but with this group, there was not as much participation as I would have liked. As a result, the story fell a little flat, which wasn’t the best start to the session.
Song/Rhyme/Activity
In between stories, we included a rhyme, fingerplay, or flannel that related to the theme. With this library, we present flannels, but the audience is not involved in handling the pieces or putting things on the board. We tried to create some kind of interactive element for families to participate in during the presentation. For this week, I chose a flannel owned by the library system. Called “Guess the Sport,” it was a guessing game that gave clues to identifying different sport balls. This worked really well with the group because it was simple enough for the children to guess the correct answer, and they enjoyed playing.
Guess the Sport
I am a ball.
I can bounce.
If I swish through the hoop,
It’s two points that count.
What am I?
[Basketball]
I am a ball.
My color is brown.
If I make it to the end zone,
It’s a touchdown!
What am I?
[Football]
I am a ball
With two colors, not one.
If I’m kicked in the goal,
You may have won.
What am I?
[Soccer ball]
I am a small ball,
Not soft but hard.
Hit me with a bat –
I’ll fly out of the yard!
What am I?
[Baseball]
I am not a ball.
My name is puck.
If I fly off the ice,
You better duck!
What am I?
[Hockey puck]
Credit: Ramarie Beaver with the Plano Public Library System
2nd Book
What Shall We Do When We All Go Out? by Shari Halpern – I chose this book hoping that the parents would participate in singing the verses as we progressed. It turned out to be a really cute story, and the parents quickly joined in with singing along. It’s always more fun when the parents are participating than when you are singing by yourself, and I love that it easily transitions to its own literacy tip if you want to include it.
Movement Song
In the middle of our story time, we pause for a dance break with the preschoolers. We switch the song out with the different sessions (spring, summer, and fall) to help keep things interesting. The dance break gives the wiggly kids a chance to work out some of their wiggles before we continue, and it also helps to break up the books and other elements. For summer, we shared “Bluegrass Jamboree” by Hap Palmer, from the album So Big: Activity Songs for Little Ones.
3rd Book
Let’s Play in the Forest While the Wolf Is Not Around by Claudia Rueda – I love everything about this book. It’s an absurdly catchy tune to sing, you can exaggerate the wolf when you read, and it’s easy for even the youngest listeners to catch on to what is happening and sing along. I usually try and have the parents and kids help with each “Wolf, are you there?” Unfortunately, this group just wasn’t as excited about reading this book as I was.
Song/Rhyme/Activity
Just like the first half of story time, the second half also includes a rhyme, fingerplay, or flannel related to the theme that breaks up the books. We used the rhyme “Football, Football,” with the children guessing which helmet the football might be hiding behind. Just like any other variation of the Little Mouse game that I’ve ever presented in story time, this one was a huge hit with the audience.
In between stories, we included a rhyme, fingerplay, or flannel that related to the theme. With this library, we present flannels, but the audience is not involved in handling the pieces or putting things on the board. We tried to create some kind of interactive element for families to participate in during the presentation. For this week, I chose a flannel owned by the library system. Called “Guess the Sport,” it was a guessing game that gave clues to identifying different sport balls. This worked really well with the group because it was simple enough for the children to guess the correct answer, and they enjoyed playing.
Football, Football
Football, football,
Where do you hide?
Are you in the [color] helmet?
Let’s peek inside.
Credit: Adapted from Literary Hoots
4th Book
Playground Day by Jennifer Merz – I picked this story because it shows all kinds of fun and imaginative play at the playground. Unfortunately, at this point in the story time our attention was waning, but it has great opportunities for guessing and my co-presenter did a great job of engaging the audience.
Literacy Tip
One of our story time expectations is to include a literacy tip for parents each week. Personally, I like to work mine in either directly relating to something in a book, or at the end of story time as a way to wrap up everything that we’ve shared. This week’s was adapted from the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, and went something like this:
Parents, going to the park or anywhere outside is a great chance for your child to explore their limits, learn about the outside world, and try new things. It’s learning, but it’s fun, too! For now, though, it’s time for us to wave goodbye to our friends until next week.
Goodbye Song
Instead of a goodbye song, we share a bunch of silly goodbye waves, adapted from Rob Reid. We have everyone get up on their feet before we run through the whole list.
Goodbye Waves
Wave high.
Wave low.
I think it’s time –
We’ve gotta go.
Wave your elbows.
Wave your toes.
Wave your tongue.
Wave your nose.
Wave your knees.
Wave your lips.
Blow a movie star kiss
With your fingertips!
Wave your ears.
Wave your hair.
Wave your belly
And your derriere (a French word for your bottom)!
Wave your chin.
Wave your eyes.
Wave your hands
And say goodbye.
Credit: Adapted from Rob Reid
How It Went
Overall, this session was a success. I think part of what made it successful was combining play, sports, and pretend together, because the theme could be sufficiently broad to bring in a variety of items to engage the audience. I also liked that it worked well with the summer time feelings, and I would likely try it again in the future.
Miss Jaime's Library Journeys 