Storytime: Bunnies!

Spring time is always synonymous to Bunny Time in my mind! I adore the creatures and I know I’m not the only one! There’s also something about rabbits that I think kids really love. Maybe it’s the hopping? Probably the hopping. Anyway, This is what I recently did for a bunny storytime!

Introduction: Before every storytime, as people are coming in and getting settled, I like to chat with the kids. I think of a couple open-ended questions about my theme to ask them and go from there. It’s a nice way for us to start the storytime, since conversation is naturally limited as the caregivers watch their child interact and answer my questions.

Opening Song: Same as always! My library uses an every child ready to read song that tells the 5 daily practices for gaining early literacy skills. Opening ECRR Song.

Sign of the Day: There are two commonly used signs for Rabbit or Bunny is ASL. I only show the kids one of the signs (the second one in the clip below) because I think it connects more with young children.

Book: Muncha Muncha Muncha by Candace Fleming

I love sharing this book with kids! They love guessing what the farmer will do next and hunting for bunnies on the page, especially since they’re always getting up to shenanigans. However, it is a long book and I usually have to read the room a bit to see if it’ll make it through!

Rhyme: There Was a Little Bunny

There was a little bunny who lived in the wood. (hold up two fingers)
He wiggled his ears as a good bunny should (wiggle on head)
He hopped by a squirrel. He hopped by a tree. (hop, hop)
He hopped by a duck. And he hopped by me. (hop, hop over fist)
He stared at the squirrel. He stared at the tree. (stare, stare)
He stared at the duck. But he made faces at me! (stare, make faces)

Book: Wolfie The Bunny by Ann Dyckman

I adore this book so much! Not only is it humorous and has the kids repeating lines with you, but it touches on some big-picture, tender, topics such as adoption, feelings and emotions, and bullying.

Rhyme: One Little, Two Little Bunnies

I’m filming videos for my library’s Facebook page during quarantine, so excuse the little extras in the video!

Book: Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

I love Kevin Henkes, but I especially love this book! Little White Rabbit explores his surroundings and each thing he does is a great opportunity for the kids to try and mimic him.

Oral Tale with Puppets: Rabbit’s Snow Dance by James and Joseph Bruchac

This story on why rabbit’s have short tails has stayed with me for years and years and every time I tell it, the kids get into that storytime trance! I use puppets (plus a long tail sewn weakly onto the rabbit puppet) and a small drum for this telling. I also have everyone learn Rabbit’s chant song with me so that they can engage in the story.

Closing: We keep our closing song the same so that our kids really get to know them and it becomes a ritual for the end of stories. Our closing is Tickle the Clouds.

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