Blog Post
PreK Bits - Stories-To-Go Kits 2015
by ryanikoglu
10 new STORIES-TO-GO themes have been added to the Collections in 2015.
These pre-selected kits are especially for families, childcare centers, preschools, classrooms, home schools with kids ages 2-7 years old.
The new themes are as follows:
FRIENDS How do you know you have a friend?
FAMILIES Who’s in your family?
OCCUPATIONS What do people do all day?
WORLD CULTURES A variety of world cultures are represented.
SAFETY TOWN Safe behaviors start young.
MAPS Maps and mapping activities are fun and interesting.
GRIEF When a pet or a person dies, how do you work out the grief?
DIVORCE When families separate, how do things work out?
POTTY TIME When it is time to consider using the potty.
HUMAN BODY What makes your body work?
The complete Stories-To-Go collection can be browsed here.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "H" is for hudgins and hobgoblins
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel invited hobgoblins, hinky pinks and hudgins to tell stories in Preschool Storytime.
The HINKY PINK: an old tale retold by Megan McDonald is a current retell of a traditional storytelling favorite A BED JUST SO by Jeanne Hardendorff (out-of-print book).
Ms. Sara sang "If You're Happy And You Know It" while Ms. Rachel led the motion. This song can be found on these CDs for children:
BOB'S FAVORITE SING-A-LONG SONGS by Bob McGrath; ME, MY FAMILY And FRIENDS by Richele Bartkowiak and Patrick Brennan; and LET'S PLAY! by Raffi.
The “Goblin Story” is a story within the book LITTLE BEAR’S VISIT by Else Holmelund Minarik.
For more tales with miniature fantasy creatures, try the following:
JAMIE O’ROURKE And The POOKA
HERSHEL And The HANUKKAH GOBLINS
TIPTOE GUIDE TO TRACKING FAIRIES
The WOMAN WHO FLUMMOXED The FAIRIES
HORTON HEARS A WHO
The ELVES And The SHOEMAKER
The TOMTEN
CHILD'S BOOK Of FAERIES
GNOMES
BOOK OF LITTLE FOLK
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "G" is for Girls, Goats and Gunniwolf
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel told stories that had names that started with the letter "G" ... as in "Grubb" and "Gunniwolf".
The THREE SILLY GIRLS GRUBB is a re-tell of The THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF. Three little girls skip over the bridge off to school. They missed the school bus. They had jelly donuts in their lunch boxes ... and someone is under the bridge.
Ms. Sara accompanied Ms. Rachel and the goat limberjack on a floating trip "Down The River" ... where you "can't jump", and you "can't turn around."
The "Jump Josie" song can be heard on the recording DANCE PARTY: movin' and groovin' songs for young children.
Then we went with a little girl to pick flowers for Mama ... until ... The GUNNIWOLF appeared !!
Here are a variety of re-tells. Be sure to get one of the traditional tells too:
The tale is told traditionally The THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF by Janet Stevens and by Paul Galdone.
Get Rabbit Ears: The THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF If you would like to watch the tale told on DVD.
The THREE CABRITOS is a Tex-Mex version told by by Eric Kimmel.
THREE SILLY BILLIES is a diverted version told by Margo Palatini.
THREE TRICERATOPS TUFF is a dinosaur version told by Stephen Shaskan.
You still need to deal with who is under the bridge !
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "F" is for farm
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel led folks all around the farm in Preschool Storytime.
First ... GOLLY GUMP SWALLOWED A FLY. This title is out of print. A staff story copy remains. Fortunately, you can use your AADL card to borrow from another library through melcat.
GOLLY GUMP is a retell of I KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY by Glen Rounds.
Ms. Sara played the banjo today. We sang OLD Mac DONALD HAD A WOODSHOP. We used tools (including all of the sounds!) to create a play farm.
During The THREE LITTLE PIGS, the pigs left the farm to build their own homes.
Remember how to handle the wolf !!
For more classic farm fun try the following titles:
MR GUMPY’S MOTOR CAR and MR GUMPY’S OUTING both by John Burnigham.
LITTLE APPLE GOAT … a story of sewing seeds.
ROSIE’S WALK by Pat Hutchins. Rosie sets out from the coop for a walk around the barnyard. Beware of the fox.
The TOMTEN And The FOX by Astrid Lindgren. A tomten protects the hen house from the night visits of the fox.
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOED A FLY another version of the song by Simms Taback.
Here is a DVD that includes the same book.
The BIG RED BARN by Margaret Wise Brown
For more silly tales and re-tells try the following:
The THREE LITTLE PIGS by James Marshall.
The DAY JIMMY’S BOA ATE The WASH by Trinka Hakes Noble.
CLICK CLACK MOO: Cows That Type a first story of collective cow disobedience by Doreen Cronin.
STORY COUNTY HERE WE COME!
BARNYARD SONG by Rhonda Gowler Greene.
The THREE LITTLE WOLVES And The BIG BAD PIG … a re-tell by Eugene Trivizas.
The TRUE STORY Of The THREE LITTLE PIGS as told from the wolf’s point of view. This is a modern classic by Jon Scieszka.
Try the 2002 Caldecott winner The THREE PIGS by David Wiesner, where the pigs escape the wolf by entering the fantasy world of nursery rhymes.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "E" is for elephants
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel brought Elephants to storytime.
SEVEN BLIND MICE is a classic folktale from India retold by Ed Young.
The song sung in the story is the same tune as “One Elephant” on the CD GREAT BIG HITS! by Sharon, Lois and Bram
Ms. Sara sang and played guitar to “Put Your Finger In The Air” ... while Ms. Rachel led the actions. There is a version of this song on the CD HONK HISS TWEET GGggg by Tom Glazer.
Then Elephant & Piggy told the story I AM INVITED TO A PARTY! by Mo Willems.
For more great elephant stories, try the following:
5 ELEPHANTS by Rob Laidlaw. 5 stories of famous “real” elephants.
ELLA by Bill Peet.
ELMER by David McKee.
17 KINGS And 42 ELEPHANTS by Margaret Mahy.
The BABY SWAP by Jan Ormerod
ELEPHANTASTIC! by Michael Engler.
NANCY KNOWS by Cybele Young.
The LAST KING Of ANGKOR WAT by Graeme Base, a master of search-and-find illustrations.
OLIVER’S TREE by Kit Chase.
For elephant silliness try ELEPHANTASTIC: a trunkful of unforgettable jokes … if you like jokes and riddles.
For an informational journey of elephants in the wild .... watch together BORN To Be WILD 2011.
For pure enjoyment of language and great storytelling try the Rabbit Ears edition of Rudyard Kipling’s jungle stories on DVD … HOW THE RHINOCEROUS GOT HIS SKIN and The ELEPHANT’S CHILD.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "D" is for Driving
by ryanikoglu
You have to be careful when you drive.
There are consequences.
Ms. Rachel told two stories about driving.
The first story was a cautionary tale ... DON’T LET The PIGEON DRIVE The BUS by Mo Willems. You probably already know why.
Ms. Sara accompanied the song "Wheels On The Bus" while Ms. Rachel led the motions.
You can hear “Wheels On The Bus” on the CD HONK HONK RATTLE RATTLE
Ms. Rachel tried to teach a driving lesson, just like the book IN The DRIVER’S SEAT.
The library no longer owns a circulating copy of the book but you can request this title from MelCat Michigan Electronic Library, using your AADL card.
If you want to continue on this theme, try the following titles:
MOO! by David LaRochelle
MITCHELL’S LICENSE by Hallie Durand.
GOOD DRIVING AMELIA BEDELIA! by Herman Parish
AXLE ANNIE And The SPEED GRUMP by Robin Pulver.
MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE by Kate DiCamillo.
MILES To GO by Jamie Harper.
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT by Anastasia Suen.
LET'S GO For A DRIVE by Mo Willems
JIM GILL SINGS DO-RE-MI On HIS TOE LEG KNEE
Remember to adjust your mirrors when you take the driver's seat!
Also use your turn signal lights.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "C" is for crocodiles
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel had tricky stories today. Crocodiles lost. Chickens and Monkeys won.
In MRS CHICKEN And The HUNGRY CROCODILE, Mrs Chicken convinces Crocodile that they are sisters because they both lay eggs. “You can’t eat your sister !!”
Ms. Sara played guitar and sang “Chick-chick Chicken” from Sharon Lois and Bram SING A-Z and the play-song ”Miss Lucy Had a Baby”. You can find this song in the kit SHAKE IT TO The ONE THAT YOU LOVE The BEST songs and play from Black musical traditions.
In COUNTING CROCODILES Monkey held a count off with the crocodiles in the sea.
For more tricky crocodile stories and songs try these favorites:
The CD CLUCK OLD HEN by Barnyard Seranade. They perform a riot of chicken songs for you to cluck and peck to.
SOLOMON CROCODILE by Catherine Rayner.
LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE by Bernard Waber. Bernard Waber has many classic stories that continue to appeal.
CORNELIUS: A Fable by Leo Lionni.
The WATERMELON SEED by Greg Pizzoli.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO EAT A CHILD by Sylviane Donnio.
OPEN VERY CAREFULLY by Nicola O'Byrne.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "B" is for buttons !
by ryanikoglu
In Ms Rachel's Storytime this week ... each story had buttons.
A very big favorite character is PETE The CAT And His FOUR GROOVY BUTTONS by Eric Litwin. When Pete lost a button did he cry?
"Goodness No! Buttons come and buttons go." He just kept on walking!
Ms. Sara accompanied the group singing "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean", while Ms. Rachel led action to go with the song. Be careful about those "B"s!
Frog told the story of “The Lost Button” from FROG And TOAD ARE FRIENDS by Arnold Lobel. Toad lost a button. Each button they found was not the one Toad lost. But Toad was so grateful for Frog's help that he made him a special gift with the leftover buttons. This is why they are best friends forever !!
For more stories about why buttons are special, try these titles:
ELIZA’S KINDERGARTEN SURPRISE by Alice B. McGinty
HANNAH’S COLLECTION by Marthe Jocelyn
GRANDMA’S BUTTON BOX by Linda Williams Aber
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING by Phoebe Gilman
PRESS HERE by Herve Tullet
BUTTON UP! WRINKLED RHYMES by Alice Schertle
CORDUROY by Don Freeman.
The BELLY BOOK by Fran Manushkin. Guess where "the button" is?
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "A" is for Amphibians (aka Frogs+)
by ryanikoglu
Who let the frogs out ?
Ms. Rachel let the frogs out for storytime!
We learned WHY The FROG HAS BIG EYES by Betsy Franco
Ms Sara and her banjo played with our children's choir to sing and count “Five Green Speckled Frogs” ...who were eating most delicious bugs … "YUMM!".
We also sang an all-action song "She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain". You can hear Jewel's version on the CD The MERRY GOES ROUND.
We found who upset the ONE DOG CANOE by Mary Casanova
For more amphibious antics try the following frog tales:
FROG And FLY: six slurpy stories by Jeff Mack
THAT”S MINE! by Michel van Zeveren
A FROG IN The BOG by Karma Wilson
TUESDAY by David Wiesner. Frogs rise on their lily pads, float through the air, and explore the nearby houses while their inhabitants sleep. The 1992 Caldecott winner.
CROAKY POKEY You can read this book and then DO this book all together.
999 TADPOLES and 999 FROGS WAKE UP Ken Mimura. These will tune-up your counting fingers well.
Blog Post
"F" is for Farm Fun
by ryanikoglu
Things were happening on the farm this week during Ms. Rachel storytime.
OUT Of The EGG by Tina Matthews is a twist on the traditional LITTLE RED HEN story.
Ms. Sara sang and accompanied “B-I-N-G-O" and "Old MacDonald Had a Farm“.
PIGGY IN The PUDDLE by James Marshall is a silly story of a family of pigs … and a mud puddle of course!
For more preschool farm fun try these favorites:
E-I-E-I-O:How Old MacDonald Got His Farm by Judy Sierra.
ROSIE’S WALK by Pat Hutchins.
STANLEY The FARMER by William Bee.
LIFE-SIZE FARM: An Actual Size Animal Encyclopedia
The NOISY FARM: Lots Of Animal Noises To Enjoy! by Marni Mcgee.
HENRY’S MAP by David Elliot.
For families that like a longer story, turn of phrase, deeper details, or different vocabulary, try these favorites:
CHESTER The WORLDY PIG and COCK-A-DOODLE DUDLEY by Bill Peet.
MILLIE WAITS For The MAIL by Alexander Steffensmeier.
The YEAR At MAPLE HILL FARM by Alice Provensen.
The CHICKEN-CHASING QUEEN Of LAMAR COUNTY by Janice N. Harrington.
OLD MIKAMBA HAD A FARM by Rachel Isadora