This storytime script was created and used as part of another program we did – Preschool Cooks & Books. You can see that post here, if you’d like. Basically, that program sets out to help caregivers and preschoolers create food together and we add in a storytime or storytime elements as we wait for things to cook or bake. Our very first session centered on cupcakes so we of course made cupcakes and centered our storytime on the same theme! You can read the full script below:
Opening Song: We sang our opening song, and then got started!
Transition: Since we’re making cupcakes, we’re going to read about some cupcakes or cakes! Our first book is about a birthday cake!
Book: Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson
This is one of my favorite baking storytime books. It’s got a great rhythm and rhymes and is silly and imaginative. I love asking the kids how they would make a giant cake after reading this one.
Transition: Now let’s do a rhyme about some cupcakes in a bakery. When someone comes to the bakery, they might see something that looks delicious. But what do they do? That’s right, they buy it and eat it! My puppet friend, Johnny, is going to help us with this rhyme.
Rhyme: Down Around the Corner w/ Felt Cupcakes & puppet
Down around the corner in the bakery shop Were five yummy cupcakes with sprinkles on top Along comes Johnny with a dollar to pay He buys a cupcake and takes it away (continue with four, three, two, and one)
Transition: Great job with that! I think we’re ready to read our next book, too! This one is about monsters who love cupcakes! And they do exactly what we just did in the kitchen to make some cupcakes, too!
Book:Monsters Love Cupcakes by Mike Austin
This is a short break of a book. Not complex, but reiterates the process of making cupcakes so that the kids can reinforce the skills they used earlier during our baking time.
Transition: That book was so much fun! Let’s remind ourselves of all the steps to make cupcakes with our next rhyme. Do you remember what we did?
Chant: The Baking Chant
First we add the milk and we pour it, pour it Then we add the eggs and we crack them, crack them Then we add the butter and we smash it, smash it Then we add the flour and we shake it, shake it Then we add the sugar and we pinch it, pinch it Then we take a spoon and we mix it, mix it Then we take out a pan and we pour it, pour it Then we put it in the oven and we bake it, bake it Then we add the frosting and we spread it, spread it Then we cut a piece and we eat it, we eat it!
Transition: And look! We just made some cupcakes with our rhyme, so we can play a game with them, now! [put felt cupcakes on the felt board]
Game: I Spy with Felt Cupcakes
With this I Spy Game, we put all the felt cupcakes on the felt board and then call attention to different descriptors. The ones we used this session were: I spy with my little eye, a cupcake 1) with fruit 2) with chocolate icing 3) with sprinkles 4) with chocolate cake 5) with vanilla icing 6) that tastes like strawberries 7) with vanilla cake and 8) that might be used to celebrate a birthday!
Transition: You all used some good clues to find the cupcakes during our game! Our final book is about Pete the cat and some missing cupcakes. Let’s see if Pete can use some clues to find out what happened to his cupcakes!
Book:Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by James Dean
This was a fun one to read with the kids! They were great at spotting the clues as to who stole Pete’s cupcakes. I was also impressed with the group’s math skills as they subtracted 2 from 8, then 2 more and so on!
Transition: We have just a little bit of time left before we need to go back into the kitchen and check on our cupcakes, so let’s get out our scarves and do a couple rhymes!
Scarves: Popcorn Kernels & Pat-a-cake
Transition: Our cupcakes are done and cooling, so we’re just in time to sing our goodbye song and then go make the frosting so that we can test taste the delicious cupcakes!
Closing: We closed out with our goodbye song and then went on to frosting!
Librarian Ginny 