This theme was a BIG hit!  So sorry it has taken me so long to post the blog entry – the storytime actually took place on May 30th!

  The Zoo theme gave us a chance to play with different stories, moods & activities as we explored the wonderful world of animals at the Zoo (and beyond)!  Since the audience skewed a bit older, they begged for more stories and fewer songs so that’s what we did!  I thoroughly enjoyed reading to this very receptive group of preschool children!  Here are some of the stories and activities we shared:

OPENING SONGS:

Welcome, WelcomeClap Everybody and Say Hello

 After a raucous version of Open Shut Them, it was time to read.

Dear Zoo
I was able to capture everyone’s attention with Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.  This book is about a child who writes to the Zoo asking for the perfect pet; there was quite a bit of trial & error before the Zookeeper sent him a suitable match!  The kids loved this book and so did the parents.  It’s always fun to read for an appreciative crowd!

 

 

creature features

 

 

I couldn’t resist sharing some creatures from this marvelously illustrated book.  It is nonfiction but the visuals are bright, clearly delineated and stunning. Packed with many cool facts and visuals on where certain animals live and what they eat, this book captures twenty-five humorous—and very true—explanations of why animals look the way they do in order to exist in this world.

 

Little Gorilla book

 

 

A heartwarming story about a little gorilla who grows up and wonders if he’s still loveable as a BIG GORILLA!  The illustrations are beautiful and the text, although simple, reflects a fear that many children have as they grow up and individuate – Will I still be loved? 

 

 

 

 


 A FLANNEL BOARD ACTIVITY

Teasing Mr. Crocodile

Monkey and alligator2

We had fun with the flannel version of this story:

Teasing Mr. Crocodile

Five little monkeys
Sitting in a tree

Teasing Mr. Crocodile,
“You can’t catch me.”

Along came Mr. Crocodile,
(finger up to mouth like SHHHH)
Quiet as can be

SNAP
(Both hands clap together like a crocodile’s mouth)

AND SNATCHED THAT MONKEY RIGHT OUT OF THAT TREE…(pull one monkey from the flannel board)

Four little monkeys
Sitting in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile,
“You can’t catch me.”
Along came Mr. Crocodile,
Quiet as can be
SNAP

Three little monkeys
Sitting in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile,
“You can’t catch me.”
Along came Mr. Crocodile,
Quiet as can be
SNAP

Two little monkeys
Sitting in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile,
“You can’t catch me.”
Along came Mr. Crocodile,
Quiet as can be
SNAP

One little monkey
Sitting in a tree
Teasing Mr. Crocodile,
“You can’t catch me.”
Along came Mr. Crocodile,
Quiet as can be
SNAP

No more little monkeys
Sitting in a tree


A DRAW AND TELL STORY

(originally created by Richard Thompson)

Talk about suspense….I started out with this drawing upside down.

William and Warble  – To see this story emerge from start to finish, click here:  william-warble

william and warble

 


MORE FLANNEL FUN:

animals flannel

 

Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear?  (Based on the book by Bill Martin, Jr.)

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what do you hear?

I hear a Lion roaring in my ear (ROAR)

Lion, Lion, what do you hear?

I hear a Zebra braying in my ear (BRAYYYYY)

[Repeat with the rest of the animals and end with the Zookeeper…]

 

 


OUR VIDEO: 

goodnight gorilla A sneaky gorilla grabs the zookeeper’s keys and let’s ALL of the animals out of their cages.

The zookeeper’s wife slips under the covers to find multiple animals snoring in the room…how did that happen?

A wonderful rendition of the story Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathman.

 

 

CLOSING SONG:

Goodbye (Songs for Wiggleworms CD)