It’s fall, and time to celebrate the frisky creatures bouncing along storing nuts – Squirrels!

Books We Shared


Where are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Spencer’s books are going missing!  His dad doesn’t know where they are.  His mom doesn’t know.  It’s not his little sister.  So who has got those books?

 


My Cousin Momo by Zachariah OHora
Momo the flying squirrel is coming to visit his cousins!  But, it turns out, Momo isn’t quite what they expect.  He doesn’t play games the way they expect, and they aren’t very kind about it.  Can his cousins and Momo become friends, even if they are different?


Flannelboard Stories

We did some counting with today’s flannelboard stories.

5 Little Squirrels

song taken from Storytime Stuff
template taken from Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love by Diane Briggs, illustrated by Thomas Briggs. 

1 little squirrel went out to play
Up in the branches one autumn day.
He had such enormous fun,
he called for another little squirrel to come.

2…
3…
4…

5 little squirrels went out to play
up in the branches on chilly day.
They had such enormous fun,
Then they all scurried home ’cause winter had come.

 

5 Little Acorns
(to the tune of “Five Little Ducks”)
song taken from Story Time Secrets 
template taken from Preschool Favorites: 35 Storytimes Kids Love by Diane Briggs, illustrated by Thomas Briggs. 

Down around the corner by the big oak tree
Sat five little acorns looking so yummy
Along came a squirrel with a big busy tail
He took one acorn and ran off down the trail.

4…
3…
2….
1…


Movements

It’s fun to pretend you’re a swift, bushy-tailed squirrel!

Frisky Squirrel
taken from Miss Kate’s Storytime Wiki
(to the tune of “The Grand Ol’ Duke of York”)

Oh the frisky little squirrel
He gathers nuts and seeds
He hides them for the winter months
So he’ll have all he needs.

Refrain:
Oh up-up-up he goes (stretch up to the sky)
And down-down-down he comes (bend/squat down to the floor)
He runs around (turn around)
Goes up-and-down (stretch up and then bend/squat down quickly)
His work is never done.

Repeat refrain.


Music from CDs

Music always adds to storytime.  Here is a song we shared today:

“Clap Your Hands” from Wiggleworms Love You by Old Town School of Folk Music

“Shake My Sillies Out” from More Singable Songs by Raffi

 


Film We Watched

“Squirrel for a Day” from Curious George: Zoo Night and Other Animal Stories

George learns a lesson about growth when he finds out that squirrels bury their food in the ground.

 

It’s great to talk about things you watch with your child!  This helps them extend their language!

Here are some suggestions for things to talk about after watching “Squirrel for a Day”:
– Look around the house and find examples of things that would grow and things that wouldn’t.


 Continue the Fun

Here are some more books about squirrels.  Check them out at your nearest Pasadena Public Library Branch.

Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett

That Pup! by Lindsay Barrett George

Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins