Bubble Wrap Stamping

I always get the funniest looks when the mail comes at my library. Who wouldn't be excited to see a box full of bubble wrap? Who wouldn't run to it and wrap it around themselves like a shawl? Then, throw it on the ground and happily stomp on it?

All that bubble wrap got me thinking about using it with crafts. First, I cut squares and we used it with stamp pads for a farm scene. Then, we wrapped it around the ends of a wrapping paper roll (cut small for little hands) and dipped it in liquid water colors to make a corn cob. I'm planning on using regular paint for a messy learning center in December.

What do you do with bubble wrap?

Shared on Tuesday Tots.

WMCIR: Stunts

I don't know if it is intentional, but Kel Gilligan is totally Kick Buttowski! Disney, if you're reading this, please don't sue! It's a fabulous book. It reminds me of the Dinosaur VS books by Bob Shea, but for an older crowd. Kel Gilligan embarks on death-defying stunts like getting dressed BY HIMSELF. I love the parent's dialogue bubbles. Bobo thought the whole book was hilarious and didn't think Kel was at all like Kick (Kel has a nose, after all).

See, Disney? No blue stripes or cape.

I feel like a broken record, but Bobo loves ninjas, superheroes and jokes. I am keeping everyone updated with new books at least, I hope. The illustrations by Ed Young in this picture book are beautiful. The ninja is on a stealthy mission which is a mystery to the reader. The text is sparse, relying heavily on the gorgeous illustrations to tell the story.

And the joke book for the week... See, so predictable! We did not enjoy this book as much as Monkeyfarts. The jokes weren't as funny and Bobo didn't get some of them. Plus, I don't think there was one crude joke about bodily functions, which (let's face it) are B's bread and butter. 

And since we are learning about jokes, I'll leave you with a Bobo original. Q: How did the policeman catch the slob? A: He peed his pants.

Read Aloud Thursdays

Storytime: Endings for 2- & 3-year-olds

I just posted about the opening routine for 2s and 3s. I also use the same closing routine each week.

1. Name Tag Removal

After singing a lull-a-bye, I ask the children to bring up their name tags and I exchange them with a handout. I used to have tags that accompanied the theme and would make new ones every five weeks. Lately, I've laminated happy faces and use a Sharpie so I can erase them and re-use them each session.

2. Fingertaster

Miss Fiona

What is a fingertaster? According to to Nichols, a fingertaster is a puppet who is very shy and has no teeth. She loves to lick fingers. The first time I introduce Miss Fiona, I let her peek out and hide until the children are very quiet. I tell them she's shy, "Do you know what that means? Do you feel shy sometimes?" Then, I ask a parent to have their finger tasted. The tastes can have something to do with the theme or just be silly. After everyone has a turn, it's time for Fiona to go back in her house and take a nap. Before she leaves, she gives each child a kiss on the hand.

Good-Bye Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

Storytime: Openings for 2- & 3-year-olds

Last year, I shared my opening songs for all my storytimes. I'd like to start sharing my entire storytime for 2s and 3s each week. It makes more sense to talk about the opening separately as it stays the same.

I fell into my job as a children's librarian, so I didn't have much training in that aspect of librarianship. In all honesty, I was pretty clueless when it came to storytime. I had never attended one and didn't have any children at the time. As I worked at a small branch library, I didn't have the fortune of learning from veterans, either. My professional shelf of manuals was a life-saver, though I didn't know it at the time.

After I read one manual, several years into my career, I devoured them all and even asked for the library to order more. Storytimes for two-year-olds by Judy Nichols changed the way I planned storytime.

Opening

1. Come with me! entering the story space and getting settled

I use a train whistle to alert parents and children it is time to enter the storytime room.

This doesn't look like the one I use, I just love ladybugs!

I hold the door open and welcome everyone, by name to practice for our song, and ask them to have a seat on the big puzzle we use as mat. After everyone is in, I make my way to the front and shake my tambourine while singing "Hello, Everybody".

2. Look at me! refocusing toddler's attention on you

After singing, I introduce myself and say we are going to have fun, tell stories, sing songs and play games. "But the first thing we do, so you can be super good listeners today is pass out the listening dust." I use a homemade wand with ribbons to sprinkle it in their hands. The ribbon tickles.

3. Do with me! a participation activity done with you

"The More We Get Together" is a classic song I didn't use for the longest time because I thought it was a cliche. That's just silly! It's so popular because it's a fantastic song that screams childhood. The children pat their legs with me for the first verse, then we sing all their names and finally do a super fast verse that ends in giggles. I didn't realize it at the time, but the other libraries in town use a version of the song, too. One branch uses a Caribbean version and the other a hip-hop one.

4. Watch me do! directing children's attention elsewhere yet still under your control

I use a simple flannel board activity to introduce the theme for the day. So for community helpers, I'd put up a letter flannel and ask them what it is. Then, I'd put up the mailman piece and ask what a person is called who delivers the mail. Then, I'd put up the word.

And that routine is the one I use each week. Please read Judy Nichols' book for more ideas and explanations of each  one as well as thematic books and ideas. 

Tot Trays: Fall

Decorating for Fall

Investigating insects science experiment. We used plastic bugs as it is getting cold outside. Plus, I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to supervise picking up bugs out of the yard.

Scooping and sorting leaves, acorns and bugs.

Sorting and counting turkeys.

Pumpkin observation chart, again, with a different pumpkin. Compare/Contrast with other sheet. Drip painting, which will be shown on my "Pin It, Did It" post, as it turned out gorgeous.

Charlie Brown stickers and Fall stickers in a blank notebook. I will probably do some number work with this tray.

Color by number turkey sheet at the writing center.

Linked with Tot School and Kid's Co-Op.

Flannel Friday: Turkey Wore His Red Feather

Turkey Wore His Red Feather

Sung to the tune of "Mary Wore Her Red Dress"

From Piggyback Songs?

Turkey wore his red feather, red feather, red feather,

Turkey wore his red feather all day long.

Additional verses: green, orange, blue, yellow, pink and white

I also use this turkey for our weekly matching game in November. Thanksgiving is tricky for storytime. I'd rather focus on family than food. Lots of rhymes and stories out there make fun of the turkey getting eaten. It's just not my cup of tea. I'm excited to see what the rest of the Flannel Friday group comes up with this week!

WMCIR: Fractured Fairy Tales and Monkey Farts

When I saw The Three Ninja Pigs, I knew it was the perfect book for Bobo. Perseverance is still the theme, but the pigs must learn martial arts to protects themselves instead of building sturdy homes. The rhyming text is witty and the illustrations are vibrant. I highly recommend this book for little ninjas. 

Oh, Mo Willems, how I love your humor! Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is another classic tale with an infusion of the fantastic. The story is a sarcastic re-telling with sinister dinosaurs and a not-quite-as hapless Goldilocks. Our favorite part replaced porridge with pudding and had Goldilocks eating it all up regardless of temperature because, "It's chocolate pudding, right?" 

What's invisible and smells like bananas? Bobo is just the right age for learning jokes. Sure his jokes don't always make sense and often have a punch line of butt, burp or fart, but he's learning. To foster this new-found sense of humor, I brought home Monkeyfarts! Bobo's favorite jokes are the superhero ones.

I shared with the Read Aloud Thursday group, TGIF and Read Learn Explore.