Baby & Toddler Storytimes

B o o k s   I Am Small by Emma Dodd .  This books isn't really about penguins, but opposites.  Opposites are always great to do with babies, so this will work out fine. Waddle! Waddle! by Jame Proimos. Props: horn, mirror.  I looked around the room in the middle of this and the babies were actually listening!  One year olds listening to a story!  So this is definitely a keeper. (The penguin looks into the mirror at himself -- not sure if the babies will get that, use the puppet. Penguins by Cynthia Rylant.  Doesn't really work with the babies.  It seems like it's so short that it will hold them, but it doesn't... Use I Like It When or Busy Penguins instead. Book:   I Like It When...  by Mary Murphy. Board book. This book isn't really about penguins either, it's about being two years old. Perfectimundo for baby storyhour. Simple line illustrations on brightly colored pages and text easy to act out. "I like it when you tickle me." "I li...

  Books: Round Balls, Round Balls (Round)  Fairly goofy big: try just pitching the creatues up in the air, the ball, the bunny, the bear, the kitty, and the elephant.  That should amuse the babies! Where's My Teddy by Jez Alborough.  An all time favorite.  Don't forget to bring the bears, and then sing "This is Little". Not a Box by Antoinette Portis. Babies might not get the gist of this exercise in imagination, but they will certainly get the concept of having a good time with a box. Songs: By all means collect all the noisemaking baby toys and pass them out for a grand finale:  Rattle up high, rattle down low,  rattle fast, and rattle slow.  Rattle all around -- don't stop! -- don't quit!  Rattle till you're tired and ready to quit. Game: Have them count while you throw the beanbags into the box.  Get the parents to join in.

  Puppet: Our turtle puppet made his bow, since he lives in a house -- his shell. As usual, I circled the audience and said the Vachel Lindsay poem: There was a little turtle, he lived in a box. He swam in the paddles, he climbed on the rocks. He snapped at the mosquitoes, he snapped at the fleas, He snapped at the minnows, he snapped at me! He caught the mosquitoes, he caught those fleas, He caught those minnows, but he didn't catch me! The kids love being snapped at and gobbled  while I circle the room. Books: Guess What I Am  by Anni Axworthy.  I had the matching puppets in a big bag, and the kids (a bit older today) liked watching me take them out.  I swapped out the animals in the book for puppets I actually had.   The Napping House  by Audrey Wood. I do this with a xylophone, hitting a note for each new character element. Bling Blang  by Woody Guthrie. This book has nice hammering and sawing actions to go along with the bright rhymes. Songs...

What will I do without my babies for a week?

    B o o k s   The Wide-Mouthed Frog Pop-up by Faulkner.  Perfect. Do Crocs Kiss. Great for the babies. Snip Snap! What's That? by Berman. I love this book, but the babies have no fear, so it just doesn't work for this age group. P l a y s Five Little Monkeys swinging from the tree Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!" Along comes the crocodile, quiet as can be    and SNAPS that monkey right off of that tree! (And no, they just don't learn.) (I thought this would be a bit much for them, but with so many toddlers, they were fascinated by the monkeys hanging from the clothesline and stood transfixed down to the last gobbled simian.) S o n g s Clapping:  Alligator, alligator, alligator pie, If I don't get some I think I'm going to cry You can take away the sun, you can take away the sky But please don't take away my alligator pie. Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily Life is just a dream Row, row, row your b...

Books My Dad Loves Me by Marianne Richmond. Nice. Just as with Cabrera's Carry Me , the baby critter is shown doing things with dad that babies can identify with. This is a terrific storytime choice. Baby Lion  by Shively Didn't get to: Pete's a Pizza by William Steig. Roll out your babies and dust them with cheese while you read!

Do WE know any naughty little monkeys? Nah, we only know GOOD little monkeys. Except, according to all the stories, there really only are naughty little monkeys, teasing the crocodiles, jumping on the beds -- you know who I'm talking about. Come on down to storytime and sing some songs and jump around together! Books: Busy Monkeys by John Schindel.  Curious George's Opposites .  I always love an opposite book. From Head to Toe by Eric Carle Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins.  Great rhythm. Songs: 5 little monkeys, of course!