As many in the library world know – September is Library Card Signup Month. I took our storytime this past week to let caregivers know and to do a storytime all about books and libraries in order to celebrate. At our library, we leave it up to the child’s grownup to decide when their child is ready for a library card, but I find that a lot of caregivers don’t realize that. So, we like to celebrate this month and let our caregivers know. This was an unexpectedly fun storytime to do. A lot of the kids were really into it. We only read two books today, which is really abnormal for me since I usually get through 3-4 stories total whether it’s book, felt, or oral formats. However, the two books we read today were both a bit longer and so between taking up more time there, it also required more movement/brain breaks inbetween. Here’s the full storytime script below:
Opening Song: We sang our opening song, and then got started!
Opening Question: What’s your favorite part of coming to the library? [Got some good responses with this one! Some of my favorites were storytime (Awwww!), getting to look at books, seeing their library friends (Awwwww!), and getting to play in our play space]
Sign of the Day: Book
Transition: Did you know September is Library Card Sign Up Month? At MCPL, we leave it up to the grownups to decide the right time for getting a library card. If a caregiver or guardian already has an account with us, their information can trickle down to their child to get a library account. Feel free to see any of our desks if you want to get a card for your little one! To celebrate this month, I wanted to do a storytime all about libraries and books! Our first book is about a book and all the adventures it goes on!
Book: Book’s Big Adventure by Adam Lehrhaupt
This is a cute book about a book! Specifically, about a book’s life span in a library and then at a book sale until it finally ends up in someone’s home with a new lease on life. Very cute.
Transition: I love that we got to see a sneak peek of a book’s life! Just like we saw the life cycle of that book, our next song talks about the lifespan and adventures of an acorn!
Song: I’m a Nut!
Transition: What a fun song! Ok, I think we’re ready for another story. Let’s find a seat and sit down. Our next book might seem a little familiar. It’s about some kids who come to the library for storytime, but their librarian is missing!
Book: The New Libearean by Alison Donald
The kids went wild for this one! It’s so fantastical and has such a nice imaginative plot. Plus, the kids loved being “suspicious” of me as a librarian after reading about a “liBEARian.”
Transition: You know one of the major things of the library is books! Our next rhyme talks about 5 books from a library.
Rhyme: 5 Little Books Felt
Five little books at the library,
Five little books as great as can be!
Along comes Johnny with their library card,
To take one home and read!
Transition: [Here, I’ll put our felt books back on feltboard] Something I love about books is that the covers sometimes give us hints as to what the story is about. For example, if a book has this picture on it [Put felt fish on one of the felt books], what do you think that book is about? Fishes! That’s right! [Put remainder felt objects on felt books] Now, I thought maybe we could play a game.
Game: I love that you can find books that match your interests! So if you love trains – you can find a book to learn about trains! So I thought I would invite some friends over to find some books they like. Do you think you might be able to help them find a book they’ll like? [Bring out puppets one by one: Bird = book with a felt worm, Cat= book with a felt fish, Bear = book with a felt strawberry, Possum = book with insects, & Squirrel = book with an acorn. As I get out each puppet, I ask the kids to decide which book that animal might be most interested in reading.]
Transition: You guys were so helpful in finding good books for my friends! But it looks like the squirrel isn’t ready to leave, yet…Squirrel, what’s up? [Make squirrel chatter] OOH! Squirrel says he wants to sing a song with you all because he’s so happy you helped him find a good book! Let’s try this one together!
Song: Grey Squirrel
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel,
swish your bushy tail!
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel,
swish your bushy tail!
Wrinkle up your little nose,
Hold a nut between your toes.
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel,
swish your bushy tail!
Transition: That was so much fun to sing with a squirrel, but now we have just enough time left to get out our scarves and do some songs and rhymes with them!
Scarves: Dance you scarves & Popcorn Kernels
Transition: Thanks so much for spending a little time of your day with me! Before we sing goodbye, I wanted to remind everyone that we’ll have a craft afterwards just next door. Ok, is everyone ready to sing goodbye?
Closing: We closed out with our goodbye song and then went on to craft time!
More Books to Check Out:
Librarian Ginny 