Toddler Storytime: Monkey Business

Have you ever read a picture book and said, "I need to do a storytime with this book!"?  That happened to me, and so a monkey-themed storytime perfect for toddlers was born.  Here's what I did:

Fingerplay:  Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Give them a little clap.
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap.
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin.
Open up your mouth, but don't put them in!
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Give them a little clap.
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap.

Fingerplay:  Three Little Monkeys
Three little monkeys sitting in a tree
     (hold up three fingers)
Eating bananas just like me
     (pretend to eat a banana)
One had a frown
     (make a frown face)
One had a grin
     (make a smile)
One had banana all over his chin!
     (rub chin)
Source: Perry Public Library

Book:  Be Quiet, Mike! by Leslie Patricelli
This was the book that inspired my storytime.  It's about a little monkey named Mike who loves to drum.  His constant "beat, beat, beat" makes his parents and siblings say "be quiet, Mike!"  The kids really enjoyed this book, and I liked that it rhymed and allowed parents and kids to tap along to a beat.  This would also be a good choice for a music themed storytime.

Song with Shaker Eggs: "Shake My Sillies Out" by Raffi
This song can be found on Raffi's album More Singable Songs, available to check out at the library.

Flannel Song:  Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Four little monkeys...etc.

Book:  Ten Naughty Little Monkeys by Suzanne Williams
A take on the "Five Little Monkeys" song, except these monkeys don't just jump on the bed; they run, they skate, and they trip and fall.  A fun counting book to share with kids.

Fingerplay with Glove Puppet:  Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys sitting in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Crocodile, quiet as can be,
And SNAP! (clap hands loudly) that monkey right out of the tree.
Four little monkeys...etc.
Source:  Storytelling Puppet available from Lakeshore Learning

Song with Parachute:  "Popcorn" by Barenaked Ladies
We recently purchased a parachute, which I have been wanting for a long time.  I'm having fun finding songs to use with it, and the kids seem to love it.  A fellow librarian (and good friend) suggested this song, which is on the children's album Snacktime!  I threw some cotton balls onto the parachute, and we had loads of fun making them "pop!"  The toddlers also had fun scrambling under the parachute collecting the cotton balls and throwing them back on.  An awesome end to a fun storytime!