Storytime: Community Heroes

The fire departments of DeWitt and Jamesville
brought their trucks for the kids to see inside!

Kids get really excited when they hear the sound of a fire truck coming down the street. The brave men and women who wear uniforms and help keep us safe are big parts of our community. Going along with this year's CSLP theme of "Every Hero Has a Story," I planned a Community Heroes storytime. This is a great way to introduce children to police officers, firefighters, and paramedics; you can even invite them to your library so kids can see the types of uniforms they wear and the vehicles they drive!

BOOKS:



Keeping You Safe: A Book About Police Officers by Ann Owen
My Truck is Stuck! by Kevin Lewis
I’m Brave! by Kate McMullan
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling

RHYMES & SONGS:

Action Rhyme: Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck

Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
(place hands on imaginary steering wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(lean to the right)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(lean to the left)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(lean to the right and left)
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
(pretend to climb ladder)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
(pretend to spray hose)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Slowly, slowly, back to the station
(lean slowly to the left and right)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Source: Collaborative Summer Library Program manual

Fingerplay: Five Brave Firefighters

Five brave firefighters
Standing in a row
Ring goes the bell
And down one goes….

Source: Read, Rhyme and Sing

I gave scarves to the kids, and I used jingle bells to sound the "bell." When the "bell" went off, the kids waves their scarves around. It was super fun!

Song: "Obsessed By Trucks"
by Justin Roberts (from CD Jungle Gym)

This is a fun song for the kids to dance to. Put out a bunch of instruments and have them "drive" around the room.

CRAFT:

Officer Buckle Hat

I found a template for a police hat here, and cut out all the pieces ahead of time. The kids assembled their hat with a glue stick. I gave the parents construction paper bands that they fit around their child's head. I love when I can connect a craft directly to a book!

Storytime: Superheroes!

This year's Summer Reading Program theme, Every Hero Has a Story, is my favorite! There are so many programs and book displays you can do with this theme, and who doesn't love superheroes? The kids at my library are nuts for them and our books are always checked out. It was a no-brainer to plan a Superhero storytime for my toddler and preschool groups! KA-POW! BAM! Okay, I'll stop now.

BOOKS:



Supertruck by Stephen Savage
Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti
The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy by David Soman
Mighty Max! by Harriet Ziefert
The Day I Lost My Superpowers by Michael Escoffier

RHYMES & SONGS:

Flannel Rhyme: A Superhero Suits Up

What's that sound? I heard the call!
For I'm the greatest superhero of them all!

I'm off, I'm ready, I'm almost there!
Oh wait... I'm in my underwear?

I'll need my cape to help me fly,
And my rocket boots to traverse the sky,

Now I'm set and ready to go!
I think I'm forgetting something though...

That's right! My super belt of utility,
And my goggles to increase visibility!

Now I'm off, I'm out the door!
Why do I think there's something more?

That's so weird to feel a breeze
Where I should be covered.... Oh no! Wiz gees!

I need my SUIT with my super star
To go adventuring near and far!

Oh wait, what's that? The danger's through
There's no more crime fighting left to do?

But I'm all dressed up! Oh sigh, oh well,

At least my outfit's looking swell...

Source: Library Makers

Fingerplay: Five Superheroes

Five superheroes ready to fly
Here comes the villain, Stop that guy!
This superhero can save the day.
Off he flies – up, up, and away!

Count down from 4, 3, 2, 1, 0

Source: Jbrary

Action Rhyme: Superhero, Superhero, Turn Around

Superhero, superhero turn around
Superhero, superhero touch the ground
Superhero, superhero put on your suit
Superhero, Superhero put on your boots.
Superhero, Superhero jump up high.
Superhero, Superhero fly, fly, fly.

Source: Jbrary

CRAFT:

Paper Bag Superhero Kid

Source: Glued to My Crafts

Storytime: Ninjas!

If your library participates in the Collaborative Summer Library Program, you are well aware of this year's awesome theme "Every Hero Has a Story." With that in mind, I planned my weekly story times around this theme. A ninja-themed storytime had to happen! I was kind of surprised that my preschoolers weren't as ninja crazy as the school-aged kids.* No matter. Follow Miss Jenny for some ninja fun!

*After story time was finished, a mom sent me a picture of her son practicing his ninja moves. He was using The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz as his guide. Epic storytime win!

BOOKS:

Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta

Ninja Bunny by Jennifer Gray Olson

Dojo Daycare by Chris Tougas

Little Kunoichi, the Ninja Girl by Sanae Ishida

Ninja! by Arree Chung

RHYMES & SONGS:

Five Little Ninjas

Five little ninjas creeping through the door,

One said "HIYAH," and then there were four.

Four little ninjas climbing up a tree,

One said "HIYAH." and then there were three.

Three little ninjas with nothing to do,

One said "HIYAH," and then there were two.

Two little ninjas having so much fun,

One said "HIYAH," and then there was one.

One little ninja, on the run.

He said "HIYAH," and then there were none.

Source: Falling Flannelboards

Ninja, Ninja

Ninja, ninja, sneak around.

Ninja, ninja, roll on the ground.

Ninja, ninja, climb up high.

Ninja, ninja, touch the sky.

Ninja, ninja, jump down low.

Ninja, ninja, touch your toe.

Ninja, ninja, take a bow.

Ninja, ninja, sit down low.

Source: Storytime With Miss Mollie

"If You're a Ninja and You Know It"

(tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")

If you're a ninja and you know it,

Be really quiet. (Shhh!)

If you're a ninja and you know it,

Be really quiet. (Shhh!)

If you're a ninja and you know it,

Then your face will surely know it.

If you're a ninja and you know it,

Be really quiet. (Shhh!)

...walk on tip toe (Tip, Toe)

...say "HIYAH!" (HIYAH!)

Source: Anne's Library Life

CRAFT:

Shape Ninja

Source: No Time for Flash Cards