Today we told stories and sang songs about animals who live in the jungle. First we told a story about Three Talking Toucans:
Three talking toucans sitting in a tree
The first one turned and squawked at me!
Three little toucans sitting like kings
The second one said, “Watch me flap my wings!”
Three little toucans sitting side by side
The third one said, “I can open my beak wide!”
Then a chameleon the toucans spied
But he changed color so he could hide!
(flip the chameleon around to the dark green side)
(adapted from the song found at http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/jungle-rain-forest.php)
We read Snarlyhissopus by Alan MacDonald and illustrated by Louise Voce. I like this book because it has two morals: first, not to assume the worst of people just because they are different, and second, to be open-minded because what other people like, you may like too! I also like it because it’s a lot of fun to read out loud.
We sang “Five Little Monkeys Teasing Mr. Crocodile”:
Five little monkeys sitting in a tree,
teasing Mr. Crocodile, “You can’t catch me! You can’t catch me!”
Then along came Mr. Crocodile, as quiet as can be,
and he SNAPPED one monkey right out of the tree!
Then we read Toucan Can by Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis. Like Snarlyhissopus, this is a fun book to read out loud with a lot of rhymes and interesting wordplay!
We danced and moved like the animals with the song “If I Was a Bird,” and then learned a movement song to the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”:
I’m a little panda in a tree
I like to climb up high where I can see
Every day I munch on thick bamboo
I eat it for lunch, and I hide in it, too!
Peek-a-Boo!
Our last book was Hooray for Hat! by Brian Wok. This story about jungle animals learning that presents–and friendship–can banish the grumpiest day, includes a lot of fun illustrations and the refrain: “Hooray for Hat!”
Our video was Verna Aardema’s Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, a selection on the DVD Curious George Rides a Bike –and a lot more monkeying around. I forgot how sad the part about the owl baby dying is… But it’s a great story and the video is narrated very nicely by James Earl Jones.
We wrapped up storytime with a few songs from my song cube– Two Little Blackbirds was one, and Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear was another:
If you’re in the mood for any more good jungle books from our collection, here are a few I recommend:
Hope everybody had a nice Saturday and kept dry!