Plan it Out!

 I'm going to let you all  have a sneak peek at my diary! (gasp)

Well it's more of a planner/ journal/sketchbook, a little black (or red) book to center my thoughts, plan out my events, brainstorm ideas and doddle.

The seed that planted this design was inspired by the work of Rachel Moani. Here is an example from her art journal that I feel in love with and decided I had to make my own!

Mine are not as pretty as hers

So for two years (going on three), I decided to make my own planner/art journal to keep track of my work projects, personal life and have a special space to doodle  or write anything that pops in my head. I used Moleskin Grid Notebooks.

The planner consist of three components

1- The calendar-  I spread out the month on two pages, in equal spaces, except for Sunday which is smaller just so it fits in the pages. I usually decorate it with a quote or a theme sketch that goes with that time of year. This year I've devoted a theme to each month. Usually my favorite TV shows, movies, musical or miscellaneous favorite things.

Then fill in the spaces with the permanent or regular things in your life.
 -Birthdays/Holidays/Anniversary
-Vacation days (I color code the weekend I'm working)
-Reoccurring Programs or events (storytimes etc.)

Use pen or pencil what ever your choice. I have a bag full of colored pens, pencils, gel pens, markers because I'm a big kid a heart. I try to write in pen, but I always makes mistakes. It took 30 seconds into writing in the storytime themes for January 2016 before I made a mistake...in pen! Then I had to search for white-out in our library which apparently no one uses any more!

I also leave a few extra pages between the months to jot down ideas/journal thoughts that are important to that particular time. I leave even more extra pages in June and July for Summer Reading.

Sherlock Themed for March

2- The place for Lists/Goals- This is your planner, so do what you like. I usually do a doodle or an inspirational quote on the cover. I sketch out an infographic of how many books I read in the last year and make a space to list the books I'm going to read in the new year. I've listed my favorite foods, 100 favorite movies, a page of my likes and dislikes.

You can also jot out your goals. Whether it's a big list of New Years Resolutions or a month by month plan on what you want to achieve. The internet is full of ideas about this! Just google "journaling goals" to find many helpful articles on How to Reach Your Goals by Keeping a Journal
or  12 Reasons to Keep a Journal or any of the other 1,080,000 result.

Bullet Journaling, Smashbooks, Art Journaling, Scrapbooking find which one works best for you.

Stuck for ideas, turn to the internet and Pinterest. But don't worry if it's not perfect, because you are the one who is going to see it most. (But show it off if your proud of it)

Info-graph of the books I read in 2014 plus goals for 2015

3- Free Space Plan out everything else except this. Have the extra blank pages in your journal be for whatever you need them to be. A sketchbook for doodles, a place to makes plot notes about your novel, pages to write down recipes. Make a Pinterest board IRL or a vision board with a collage of all the things you like. Try zentangles. Print off coloring pages and paste them in so you have a place to color in times of stress.

Again this is your journal so make it however you like.

I'll level with you, guys. 2015 was not a good year for me, professionally (cough "mydirectorisadouchebag" cough )  I had some really rough and trying times in the work place that left me drained, depressed, angry and feeling helpless. If you read my entire journal, you would see several examples of this. I stopped writing  and drawing for a while. My 2015 journal is more than half blank and I didn't bother writing or decorating anything for the December entry.

However, in my times of trial...I did have a space. One space that was my own. It was my retreat from my troubles and yes it turned into a bit of a burn book towards my co-workers at sometimes (no regrets) But I will keep it and look back on it to find a glimmer of inspiration, a favorite quote from a book I read, a funny entry to make me smile and let me know that (hopefully) this world isn't as crappy as I make it out to be.

But seriously....2015. Good riddance.

Storytime at the Liberry: Forest Pals

It's still technically fall for two more days. I've seen a lot of ideas for hibernation story times,which is find for preschoolers but I think that concept goes right over a toddler's head.

Here is a animal themed storytime involving all sorts of animals you would find in a forest or your backyard. Feel free to swap out book to suite them to any time of the year

Welcome Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Welcome: Our ready to read skill is talking. Talk about what kind of animals you see outside. Not ones in a zoo but your own back yard. Which one is your favorite?

Book: Over in the Meadow - You can use what ever version you prefer or works with your crowd. I used Over in the Forest: Come and take a Peek by Marianne Berkes

Song: The Bear Went over the Mountain

Book: That Pup! by Lindsey Barrett George

Song: Grey Squirrel

Book: Who's in the Forest? by Phyllis Gershator- Just because some of them are out of diapers, doesn't mean they (and you the storyteller) can't enjoy a good board book!

Dancing Song: Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Disney-cember

I find the holiday season a stressful time. More so when I'm at work and my arm is twisted to make our department "Holly and Jolly" with little or no help from my co-workers.



My idea for a Harry Potter themed tree was nixed and was suggested that we do a Night Before Christmas Tree and that we make craft templates so all the staff could decorate one. (Translation: I will tasked to make them.)  I've been hauling butt to get ornaments, trees, and crafts ready for the first week of December.

However, admist this holiday hell there is something heavenly With the success of last years winter break programs, we are bringing back movies and crafts for patrons to do while the kids are off of school. Foolish, they let me pick the movies and went with our theme....Disneycember!*

Don't lie. You just hummed the theme music when you saw this image.

I keep threatening to have my own Disney marathon during December. (54 films /31 days) My husband thinks it's doubtful but I have faith and a two year old which is a good excuse to watch Disney movies

During winter break, we will be showing a classic Disney movie with popcorn. We will also have crafts and activities based on the movie being shown.

The Lion King- A super easy yet surprising sophisticated lion mask. Instructions at Disney Family

Aladdin- A Magic carpet craft. Kids decorate a simple blue sheets of construction paper with tissue paper and other decorations. Punch some holes on the side and add tassels. Viola, your own magic carpet!


Snow White- A craft of my own design. Cut out paper to make a hat and clothes. Glue it to a cardboard tube. Decorate with eyes, nose, belts, buckles, buttons, etc. Lastly glue on a beard made of cotton ball to have your own dwarf!

Robin Hood- Using a template (or a blank sheet of paper) kids can create their own Wanted poster.

Also, I've ordered in plenty of "How to Draw" your favorite Disney character books in. I have a station were the kids can draw and color just like animators. (I might bring up the light board!)


Bonus- What else is big, coming out and December and happens to belong to Disney.....

Star Wars! We are having a "release party" the day after "The Force Awakens" comes out. Similar set up. Crafts and activities all day, a movie in the afternoon. I couldn't convince my boss to let us have a marathon all day. I'm only allowed to watch 1 two hour movie on the clock.

If you really want to step up your game (or are just a Disney freak like me) you can also show a short cartoon before a film. Just like back in the day. Lots of the Disney short cartoons such as Three Little Pig, Prince and the Pauper and Mickey's Christmas Carol are available on DVD.

Pictures to come soon, after the programs. But for now here is the program ideas if you are still searching for stuff to keep your young patrons entertained over the school break.

Happy Disneycember to you all!!!


*Disclaimer: Disneycember was coined by Doug Walker, the Nostalgic Critic. If you want to watch his reviews of the all the traditional Disney animated features and have a warm fuzzy feeling that brings you back to your childhood, check it out here.

Storytime from the Liberry: Food Glorious Food

Nothing like a back to back storytimes about food...right before lunchtime...

I feel like this storytime has a curse on it. Not because its bad, but because it's busy. Rewind to 4 years ago when I first did this storytime and had a craft to go with it. Wouldn't you know it, 80 people showed up to the first one and the kids and parents would not share the supplies, even though they could see the place was a mad house. So I had sad kids with no materials to make their crafts and selfish parents (I won't call the toddlers selfish, that's their nature)

But, I decided to make a craft (a different one) and present this storytime again. I had about 35 prepped hoping that would cover both morning groups.

Of course I had 60 people show up to the first one! I got wiped out and had to print off more, cut them out and prep more supplies for the next group 20 minutes later, and clean up the mess the first group has made. And it was the day my co-worker was on vacation! She certainly would have helped me with the cutting and chaos if she were there, but alas I was flying solo.

Disclaimer: You might want to forgo a craft on this storytime if you don't want to end up jinxed like me.

Welcome Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Welcome:  Our Ready to Read Skill this week is Playing

Book: Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal- A story about a pea who dreads dinner every night...because he has to eat candy! Cheesiness and laughs all around.

Song: Way up High in an Apple Tree

Way up high in an apple tree
Two little apples did I see
So I shook that tree as hard as I could
Down came the apples
Ummmmm They were good.

Book: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food by Jane Yolen- Another crowded pleaser.

Song: Popcorn Kernels- A scarf song that induced lots of giggles and smiles. Check out this epic playlist from the gals at jbrary.com of all types of songs to use in food-theme storytimes.

Book: Go Go Grapes by April Pulley Sayre- I told the kiddos to keep their scarves and pretend that they were cheerleaders. They could shout and wave their scarves when the book mentioned their favorite fruit. Obviously, they were really excited about this book.  If only they would get this excited about real fruits and veggies! There is a companion book Rah Rah Radishes just for vegetables.

Dancing Song: Shake Your Sillies Out- with scarves (because we can)

OK, time to put the scarves away. Give ourselves a big squeeze to make us calm and sit on our bottoms for one more story

Book: Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett- A book comprised of only 4 (5) words, so feel free to read it straight or make observations with your group.

Literacy Tip: Books like Go Go Grapes with it's many different types of fruit (lychee, durian, mangosteen etc.) are great for improving vocabulary, but simple books (Orange Pear Apple Bear) are also a good tool helping young reader gain confidence. With only 4 words to identity with pictures, young readers can quickly identify picture to words and might be able to help you read the story after only a few times through. Find a balance that works for your child.

Closing Song: The Wheels on the Bus


Craft: (If you Dare!!)  I actually had a very simple craft of  cupcakes printed out on colored paper. The kids decorated it with left over stickers as "sprinkles" Promoting fine motor skills? Yes! Healthy eating habits? Uh no...

Librarians to Dress up as for Halloween

"What are you going to be Halloween?"

"Oh I guess I'll go as a librarian."

"But that's your job..."

"Shush, I know..."

I love Halloween but after planning for several programs at my library, plus trying to squeeze in family plans, and making a costume for my toddler (who insist on being a clock) in the hope she would have a meltdown at the eleventh hour and refuse to wear it for trick or treat....I just don't have the time for an elaborate cosplay.

(Or money... you know who well us library people are paid ;)

Here are some options of fictional librarians to add some spunk to your costume this year.

Belle from Once Upon a Time
A costume that can go two ways. What a choice! You can dress in her fairy tale gowns and corsets, or go the modern route with a chic blue frock.
Accessories needed: Beautiful hardbound copy of fairy tales, ornate key on a necklace.

Marian the Librarian from the Music Man
The head librarian of River City, Iowa who takes no sass from anyone. Whether its the young couples canoodling in the stacks or the slick con man Harold Hill. If you have a friend who works in a community theater, ask to raid their stock of costumes.
Accessories needed: A stack of "dirty books" (Chaucer, Rabelais, Balzac), a large sign saying "Quiet"

Madam Irma Pince, Hogwarts Librarian
Speaking of another Madam Librarian, Madam Irma Pince from the Harry Potter series in another good choice. Dress as a witch and a librarian and really scare the kids who visit your library. Just kidding. What ever you, do don't write in her library books!
"A warning: If you rip, tear, shred, bend, fold, deface, disfigure, smear, smudge, throw, drop, or in any other manner damage, mistreat, or show lack of respect towards this book, the consequences will be as awful as it is within my power to make them."
Accessories needed: Killer witch hat, Jewelry in your favorite Hogwarts house colors (as J.K. Rowling has not given any defiant proof of what house she belonged to in school)

Twilight Sparkle
For the little girl or brony in all of us
Accessories needed:Purple horn, ears, wig and magic of friendship

Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl)
Librarian by day,  vigilante by night!
Accessories needed: Batgirl costume and utility belt with portable ILS system.

Tammy Two from Parks and Recreation
Yes, you could dress in your regular clothes. But underneath your facade, you are punk ass book jockey and proud of it!
Accessories needed: Pawnee Public Library badge, A thong to flash a "whale tail", long piece of jerky and a mega crush on Nick Offerman.

Maggie from NOSFA2 by Joe Hill (Art by the incredible Gabriel Rodriguez)
Since it's Halloween, I need to read a really scary book. Joe Hill's NOSFA2 did not disappoint! Nail biting, page turning close to peeing your pants in fright horror thrill ride! I was spooked after the first chapter. It's a great novel with great characters including my new favorite librarian, Maggie Leigh. Scrabble champ, occasional psychic  and punk librarian. She has the coolest little office that in the corner with a fish tank that can look out onto the children's section. "It's story hour, the best hour of the day"
Accessories needed: Purple colored hair, Fedora, paperweight in the shape of a gun, cheeky earring made out of scrabble tiles (the letters? F and U)

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Flannel Friday: This is NOT a Pumpkin

This is NOT a Flannel Story!

(Because it's made out of paper)

I made most of my "flannel" stories out of paper not because I'm some sort of rebel against the fabric industry, just because I like paper. It's a more versatile and easier medium to work with for me.

With Halloween coming up, I wanted to do "This is is NOT a Pumpkin" by Bob Staake. If you have read this book, you probably have found it as quirky and charming as I do.

Also if you've used this book in storytime, you'll notice it presents some challenges.
1- It's small (typical board book size)
2- It's an older book and often harder to find in libraries (Our system only had 7 copies)

I researched and googled ideas for a flannel on this story and didn't find one. So perhaps I'm the first person to do this book as a flannel and share it. Enjoy!

This is NOT a Pumpkin- Text by Bob Staake

Book added for scale

This is NOT a pumpkin, 
It's round
It's big, 
It has a steam
But this is NOT a pumpkin

You can turn it sideways
You can even turn it upside down.

You can put it in a corner
or throw it high in the air
And wonder if it will come back down

But no matter HOW you look at it this is NOT a pumpkin!

Why because EVERYONE knows that pumpkins
(Turn you pumpkin around)

Don't SMILE!
NO! NO! NO!

Pumpkins don't smile or frown

Jack-o'- lanterns do.

This is NOT a pumpkin.
THIS is a Jack-o'- lantern!


The trick to creating this is to make sure the back of your pumpkin matches the front of your pumpkin. Since I used laminated paper, I also made sure to place a few pieces of double stick table on each side of your pumpkin and in the corners (for the "putting in in the corner, throwing it up" etc.) If your felt is super good at sticking to your board, kudos to you! But for the rest of us...double stick tape.

The eyes, nose and mouth are removable, chiefly the mouth has to be easy to move so you can turn it upside down to frown.

May your upcoming storytimes be spooky!

BOO!

Storytime from the Liberry: Look Your Best

This storytime is a combination of getting dressed and bath time themes.

Welcome Song: The Wheel on the Bus

Welcome: Our Ready to Read Skill this Week is Reading

Book: Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom. An oldie but a goodie!

Song: One Two, Buckle My Shoe

Book: Animal Baths by Bob Banner. The last pages go through all the actions of animals covered in the book and is a good segue into a motion activity for your group. Or you can always skip it if the crowd isn't feeling it.

Flannel Board: Five Elephants in the Bathtub You can download a template for this flannel song here you make up your own

Book: Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

Dancing Song: Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: Small Elephants Bathtime by Tatyana Feeny- A new book just published this year. I read another one of her titles and they are pretty cute. As a small detail, I appreciated the typography in this book.

Craft: Decorate a Shoe- Just like Pete, the toddlers decorated their own white shoes in whatever color they wanted. We used markers and yes I punched the holes laced, and tied every single craft I handed out. I told the grown up that I wasn't expecting the toddlers to know how to tie their shoes at this stage in their development, but a lacing craft was good practice for them and their fine motor skills.

Craft Template from ZiggyZoom

Somehow my theme accidentally became heavy on the elephant theme. So might use some of these books again if I want to do an elephant storytime.

Banned Books Week 2015

Last year, I featured Fun Home by Alison Bechdel as one of book in our display, since BBW featured banned graphic novels. Back then it was a rather obscure graphic novel with maybe a dozen or so copies in our system.

What a difference a year makes! Fun Home is now an award winning Broadway musical. We have 90 copies in our system, with a hold queue and even more copies on order. The book is still making waves as students at Duke University refused to read the book on "moral reasons" 

Researching about banned books is in my top ten list of things I like to do at my job. I enjoy the look of my patron's and co-worker's faces when they pass a display of banned books and exclaim "Wait? Why was this book banned?"

It's also that time of the year when library staff can be a little bit naughty and entice patrons to read those "dirty books" full of insensitive materials, offensive language and depressing subjects.  I feel like the shady figure lurking on a street corner, with a trench coat concealing black market goods; hungry for eager customers.

Which leads to the inspiration for my display. That odd logo on signs across America, the neighborhood watch creep. Who always has reminded me of Phantom of the Opera.

🎶 The Phantom of the Opera wants you....to read these books....🎶 

What horrors lie beneath?

GASP!

Storytime from the Liberry: Avast! Pirates!

When I was told in my new job that I was going to eventually take over for toddler storytime, I made of list of themes I wanted to talk about.

Pirates! was the first thing on the list.

September 19 is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. And this usually happens at the start of our fall storytime schedule. The best thing about this storytime is 90% of the picture books about pirates I find enjoyable, hilarious and really entertaining. Can't say that about every theme (I'm looking at you "getting dressed" books)

Also as I was prepping for storytime and gearing up for a new season, I did something new. I actually timed how long it took me to read each book, to make sure I wasn't going too slow or too fast. I discovered that I book that I thought was short, was actually the longest read in my set and therefore should not be used as the last story after the kids had been hyped up by shaking their sillies out.

timing how long it actually takes me to read a picture book to help plan storytime...because I'm crazy? #librarylife #storytime

— J. J. M. (@fromtheliberry) September 14, 2015

I also took a tip from the world of the restaurant kitchen. Make your last plate (book) as good as your first. (or in my case books) Service/Storytime can take a lot out of you, and you don't want to be close to the finish stuck with a book you really don't want to read. It will drag and you will drag. Even if you are exhausted you still have to finish strong. The last book you read should have as much enthusiasm as the first book you read. That just my way of seeing it. ( My inspiration mainly comes from  an awesome read about the industry Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line by Michael Gibney which I highly recommend)

Welcome Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Ready to Read skill this week is Talking. We practiced out best pirate voices with "Yo, ho ho." and "Arrrr"

Book: Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler - Lots of wonderful literacy opportunities in this unassuming book. As the reader you have to act as the voice of the narrator and the dog. You can break the fourth wall and engage with your group to talk back to the dog or answer questions. It has great words for vocabulary development (sextant, anchor and pekingese). Plus it's just really cute and about a dog who becomes a pirate. What else do you want? This is one of my favorite storytime books that I own in my personal library. We read it so much at home, my daughter has it practically memorized.

Song: My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean

Book: Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors by Danna Smith

Song: Row Row Row Your Boat- the pirate edition!

Row, row, row your boat
Gently cross the sea
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily
A Pirate's life for me

Swap, swap swap the deck...
Walk, walk, walk the plank...
Hoist, hoist, hoist the flag....

Book: Pi-Rat by Maxine Lee- This book is just fun and silly for little ones and grown-ups. Full of puns and lots of pirate phrases


Dancing Song: Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: I love my Pirate Papa by Laura Leuck- A good "awwww" book to end storytime. Very sweet.

Closing Song: Wheels on the Bus

Our activity was a treasure hunt. I taped red "X"s under tables and on low book shelves and placed a handful of plastic pirate coins. The kids had to find the x, and bring me back one coin in order to get a sticker. I let them keep both the coin and the sticker. This was an exercise in following directions as for my first two groups, I had many paper x handed to me instead of coins.

Enjoy me hearties!!

The Return of LEGO Club: Unleash the Choas

133 people showed up for the first LEGO club this summer. I had seven tables, at least 5,000 LEGO bricks and it was still madness.

I was expecting this, just maybe not on this scale. We had issues with kids not sharing, ignoring safety rules and several who had never played with LEGO at all and keep pulling on my tailcoats asking me to show them how to build something.

The kicker was a had a notoriously obnoxious patron show up half way through, remark loudly on the chaos and then had this "helpful" suggestions.

"Next time I come, I will help you organized the kids into groups of the same age and gender. That way it will work smoother. Okay, honey"

 Ah my inner monologue at that point.

"These children are working together to make beautiful creations. Why do they need to be separate by gender? Is there a law that boys and girls can't play together? Did I miss something?! Ages. Sure put all the older kids together! They would win every time because they have more experience and practice. Then you'll be back whining to me at how that's not fair to the little kids. Let the kids be! They are playing fine without your interference. I've been doing this for over a year. This ain't my first trip to the rodeo. Get out of my face, please. And don't call me honey, you're only 5 years older than me!"

(Imagining Lewis Black narrating that is quite satisfying)

Instead I apologized for the chaos and explained that we had an option of a free play table for kids of any ages to use if they don't want to team build.

Thankfully that patron never showed back up at LEGO club for the rest of the summer and things got a lot more calmer. Sure I had a panic attack afterwards and lived in fear that every club meeting this summer would be like the first, but they were not. (thank god)

We had four meetings of LEGO club this year and I divided the challenges into two categories. Creative Challenges and Technical Challenges

Creative Challenges had the kids build something to a specific theme while Technical let them build what ever they wanted but it had to fit a certain criteria

Creative Challenges
Favorite Books-  I selected about 20 well known books and gave each team a envelope with 5 titles that they could chose from. Each team could only pick one book and could build a scene, character or other representation from the story.

Our Winner- The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Superhero HQ- In going with our theme "Every Hero Has a Story" I asked the kids to build a superhero headquarter. They had to think about what the superheroes would use for communication, transportation and other technology. They also had to determine where it was located (A cave, underground, sky scraper or outer space.)

Impressive!

Technical Challenges
Unbreakable- This was a favorite for me. The kids can build what ever they want, but it can't break. I would go over and shake the tables, or tilt the creation and drop them. Any brick or figure that fell off, couldn't be put back on.

This one was call Vietnam Bomb Base. Historical!

Bricks Only- Again another favorite for me. Too often I had seen kids obsessed with sticking on the most mini figures, doo-dads and other assorted pieces instead of actually building something! It's seems to be the idea that the biggest and busiest creations will automatically be the winner. Not so! My experience has been the team with the best team work and clear vision always has the most votes.
For this challenge kids could build what ever they wanted, but there was to be no wheels, mini figures, clamps, food or other accessories allowed.

Again not my first time at the rodeo. For more tips about running a LEGO club and containing the creative chaos it brings, look here at this post.

Storytime from the Liberry: The Color Yellow

 Back to school means the yellow buses will soon be cruising your streets. Even if your toddler or preschooler doesn't ride a school bus, they still might find them fascinating! Especially if they have a big brother or sister who does ride. On the sly side, it’s a good chance to talk about experiences; mainly other people’s experiences. In my small city, not many of the toddlers and caregivers are coming to story time on a bus or have ever ridden a bus, but in place like Washington D.C. or NYC, it very common.

To be fair, most kids have and never will ride in a rocket ship, but we still read and talk about them.

Reading about buses is a good transition to talk about going back to school with the whole family, school age and preschool alike. Plus if you are trying to check your local library now for the typical "back to school" books, you will most likely find them all checked out. (Don't blame me! Blame the teachers!)

Or if you are wanting a whole storytime/lesson plan about the color yellow, here is what I did. We talked about buses and bananas 

Opening Song: Wheels on the Bus (How fitting! )

Talk and Engage: Ask about what things are yellow? Or have pictures, or flannel pieces with suggestions if your group needs help

Book: Yellow is my Color Star by Judy Horacek  - A charming book about the color yellow that I did not expect to find.

Song: Two Little Blackbirds

Book: Pete the Cat and the Bad Banana by James Dean

Song: Go Bananas

This can be done two ways. If you have a really energetic group that loves to dance and can do it for a while, I recommend The LearningStation’s song Go Bananas

For my toddlers, I did a shorter song. We also talked before we sang, what it meant by “going bananas”

Go Bananas

Ready? OK!

Bananas unite! (Put hands over head)

Bananas split! (hands at side)

Go bananas!

Go, go bananas!

Go bananas!

Go, go bananas!

(Turn in circles, dance and move your arms)

Bananas to the left!

Bananas to the right!

Peel your banana and, mmmmm, you take a bite!

Go bananas!

Go, go bananas!

Go bananas!

Go, go bananas!

Go bananas!

Go, go bananas!

Go!

This song was the perfect transition to our next book!

Book: Betty goes Bananas by Steve Antony – This book will defiantly strike a chord with the parents of toddlers and preschoolers and make you laugh. When Betty the gorilla wants to eat a bananas, the struggle leads to a full blown tantrum. The maddening frustrations of doing a simple task with a toddler, now in storybook form. Also,  the Mr. Toucan character is quite sassy, I like his style.

Dancing Song: Shake Your Sillies Out

Book: The Little School Bus by Margery Culyer

Flannel Board: Little Mouse, Little Mouse- I do this at every story about colors and the kids love it.

Closing Song: Wheels on the Bus

Other book recommendations about school buses: The BusStop, I’m your Bus, Hello School Bus.

There are also plenty of other things that are yellow that you could talk and read about.

Doing a storytime for spring? Read about the sun, bumblebees and yellow flowers.

For fall, corn, squash, changing leaves and harvest theme are easy to work in with the color yellow.