Storytime From the Liberry: The Letter H (Bonus Flannel Friday Story)

This Storytime is brought to you by the letter H!

Inspiration for this one came from the story/poem " The House that Jack Built" specifically from the Disney 1956 short cartoon which set it to music.

I wish there was a book of this version! I think its' so clever how the shape of the letters create the animals and characters.

However I was having a hard time finding an actual book version of the nursery rhyme that was suitable for my toddler crowd. I need one that was shorter. After much fruitless searching and finding none to my liking (I'm picky) I decided to just make it a flannel story instead.

Disclaimer: The only thing truly flannel about this is that its on a flannel board. My preferred method is drawing and coloring my own designs on card stock, laminating them and sticking them up with double sided tape.

The House that Jack Built (For the Younger Crowd)

This is the house that Jack built
This is the cheese that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat, that ate the cheese, that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat, who chased the rat, that ate the cheese, that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog, who worried the cat, who chased the rat, that ate the cheese, that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn, who tossed the dog, who worried the cat, who chased the rat, that ate the cheese, that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden, all forlorn, who milked the cow with the crumpled horn, who tossed the dog, who worried the cat, who chased the rat, that ate the cheese, that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tattered and torn, who kissed the maiden all forlorn,who milked the cow with the crumpled horn, who tossed the dog, who worried the cat, who chased the rat, that ate the cheese, that lay in the house that Jack built.

The House the Jack Built

Close up of the man and the maiden

Close up of all the animals (floating in space!)

I shorten the rhyme and changed some elements. For example the "malt" becomes the "cheese" and the cat no longer kills the rat but chases him instead. You can always add more elements (preacher, rooster, farmer etc.) if you have a older group with a longer attention spans. There is also a pattern for this nursery rhyme in The Flannel Board Storytelling Book by Judy Sierra.

Books:

The Tree House that Jack Built by Verburg and Teague- Brand new book, just published this year. Better for older kids (preschool age)

We Were Tired of Living in a House by Leisel Moak Skorpen

Giddy Up! Let's Ride by Flora McDonnell

Clip Clop by Nicola Smee - Great book to act out during storytime!

Activities:

We adapted This is the Way the Ladies Ride from a lap sit song to letting the kids just pretend their were riding horses on their own. Obviously they only got excited and participated once we got to the "cowboy" part and went really fast.  

Johnny Has One Hammer

10 Horses- A finger play

Check out More Flannel Friday Fun at this week's round up hosted by Notes from the Story Room and the Flannel Friday blog