We had a wonderful time reading books about birds during Toddler Storytime last Tuesday.  We also talked to Henrietta (our library hen), sang songs, shared a flannel story and watched a brief video. Halfway through our storytime we heard a loud, CLUCK, CLUCK, CLUCK and voila!  Henrietta managed to lay a “shaky” egg.  Who says you can’t have a little fun in the library?

 

Oh!  Did I mention that the children also got to witness some blue birds hatch? Not your usual storytime fare but it definitely enhanced our theme!

 

Below you’ll find a listing of the stories, songs, activities, flannel rhyme and video we shared.  As our session progresses you’ll notice that I repeat many of the same songs and rhymes.  I do this because repetition is one of the most important learning tools for a young child.

Repitition provides the practice that children need to master new skills. Repetition helps to improve speed, increases confidence, and strengthens the connections in the brain that help children learn.  Reading Brightstart

Books We Shared

Fun FACT:  Just a reminder that reading is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s brain development!  Click here for a list of the benefits:Birth to Five

Hooray for Birds by Lucy Cousins is beautifully illustrated and helps us imagine what its like to be a bird!  We’re encouraged to flap our wings, fly high and low, tweet, open our beaks, wake up the neighborhood with a cock-a-doodle-do and more!  A wonderful book to read over and over again with your toddler.  There’s just so much to explore and talk about in this book.

Early Bird by Toni Yuly is the perfect picture book for infants and toddlers.  In this book Yuly introduces us to a bird that loves waking up early in the morning so he can get GOING!  The book shows the early bird moving across, through, under and over obstacles to get to the other side of the garden where the early worm awaits.  Along with getting introduced to prepositions, there is anticipation as we wonder if our now hungry bird will eat that worm for lunch!  Thankfully, the worm is saved by a big, juicy strawberry.

Flannel Board We Shared

One little bird with feathers of blue, flew beside the green one and then there were two!

Two little birds sitting in a tree, along came a pink one and then there were three!

Three little birds, looking for one more, along came an orange one and then there were four!

Four little birds glad to be alive, along came a yellow one and then there were five!

Five little birds sharing beautiful songs hoping that eventually we’ll all sing along!


Action Songs & Rhymes

We share a lot of songs & rhymes during storytime!  You’ll find lyrics/words to those songs & rhymes we shared.  We even sang a song with shaker eggs called “I Know a Chicken.”  I’ve included a video clip of the song by the original artist, Laurie Berkner.

Welcome, Welcome Everyone (to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle)

Welcome, welcome everyone,

Now we’re here let’s have some fun!

First we clap our hands just so,

Then we bend and touch our toes.

Welcome, welcome everyone,

Now we’re here let’s have some fun!

Clap Everybody and Say Hello! (see “CDs section” below to find this song in our CD collection)

Clap everybody and say hello, clap everybody and say hello, clap everybody and say hello, no matter what the weather

Stamp everybody… (stamp feet)

Wiggle everybody… (wiggle your body)

Jump everybody… (jump up and down)

Sing everybody… (open arms wide)

Roll Your Hands (see “CDs section” below to find this song in our CD collection)

Roll, roll, roll your hands as fast as fast can be! (roll hands)

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Clap, clap, clap your hands as loud as loud can be!  (clap hands)

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Tap, tap, tap your feet as softly as can be! (quietly tap feet)

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Shake, shake, shake your feet as quickly as can be!  (quickly shake feet onto the ground)

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me.

Roll, roll, roll your hands as fast as fast can be! (roll hands)

Do it now, let me see, do it now with me. (keep rolling until the end of the song)

Open Shut Them – Video:  Open Shut Them

Open, shut them, open, shut them, (open and close hands)
Give a little clap, clap, clap.  (clap three times)
Open shut them, open shut them (open and close hands)
Put them in your lap, lap, lap. (place hands in lap and bounce them 3X)

Creep them, crawl them, creep them crawl them, (crawl fingers up arms)
Right up to your chinny  chin chin. (place fingers on chin)
Open up your little mouth (open mouth and say ahhhhhh)
But do not put them in!! (put hands behind your back)

This is Big

This is big, big, big (stretch hands far to sides)
This is small, small, small (cup hands together)
This is short, short, short (hold palms close vertically)
This is tall, tall, tall (hold palms far apart vertically)
This is fast, fast, fast (roll hands quickly)
This is slow, slow, slow (roll hands slowly)
This is yes, yes, yes (nod head)
This is no, no, no (shake head)
Credit: Mel’s Desk

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star– Video:  Twinkle Twinkle

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle Twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.

You are My Sunshine (short version)

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray.

You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
And I love you more every day.

Goodbye Friends (in sign) – Video:  Goodbye Friends

Goodbye friends, goodbye friends,
Goodbye friends, it’s time to say goodbye.

Music from CDs We Shared

Children love to sing and dance to music.  Here are some of the action songs & rhymes on CD that we used in storytime.  Click onto the CD titles to find these items in our library catalog.

“Clap Everybody and Say Hello” from Sally Go Round the Sun by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

“Roll Your Hands” from Toddlers on Parade by Kathy Reid-Naiman

“I’m a Little Teapot” from Toddler Favorites by Music for Little People

“Itsy Bitsy Spider” from Its Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

“ABC”  from Go Baby Go! Baby Loves Jazz by Baby Loves Jazz Band

“Two Little Blackbirds” from  Circle Time: songs and rhymes for the very young by Lisa Monet

“We’re Going to the Market” from I Love to Hear the Sounds by Kathy Reid-Naiman

“Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes” from Its Toddler Time by Carol Hammett and Elaine Bueffel

“I know a Chicken” from Whaddya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

Video

So Smart!  House

Who’s Hiding in the House?

CONTINUE THE FUN

If you want to read more books about birds make sure to check these out from your local Pasadena Library!