Preschool Storytime: Dinosaurs

If there is one topic most children gravitate towards, it's dinosaurs.  Thankfully, my library has a pretty large selection of picture books on these extinct creatures, so I give you the makings for a dinosaur storytime (roaring included).

Book:  Dinosaur Pet by Marc Sedaka

I started off storytime with this newer addition to our collection.  Based on the song "Calendar Girl" by Neil Sedaka, this version had a dinosaur hatching out of an egg in January and growing bigger and bigger as the year progresses.  I love the illustrations in this book, and the repetition of the lyrics.

Song:  "We Are the Dinosaurs" by Laurie Berkner

You can't have a dinosaur storytime without playing this awesome song!  I gave the kids shakey eggs (again, a must) and we stomped around the room, stopped and ate a snack, took a nap, stomped some more, and ROOOAAARRED because, well, we were being dinosaurs.  This song is on her album Whaddaya Think of That? which is available at my library.  If you don't know the awesomeness that is Laurie Berkner, I urge you to check out her music.  You and your kids will love it!

Book:  Dinosaur Countdown by Nicholas Oldland

I chose another relatively new book to our collection, and the kids really liked it!  They got to countdown from 10 to 0.  One of my particulars in picking dinosaur books is to make sure I can pronounce the names of the different types of dinosaurs, because in the past I read a book and mispronounced a name, and boy oh boy, did the kids correct me.  So, I double checked and got all the dinosaurs right in this cute book.

Flannel Rhyme:  Five Enormous Dinosaurs

(If you don't have flannel dinosaurs, you can easily change this to a fingerplay and count on your fingers.)

Five enormous dinosaurs, letting out a roar,

One went away and then there were four.

Four enormous dinosaurs, munching on a tree,

One went away and then there were three.

Three enormous dinosaurs didn't know what to do,

One went away and then there were two.

Two enormous dinosaurs having lots of fun,

One went away and then there was one.

One enormous dinosaur afraid to be a hero,

She went away and then there were zero.

(Source:  SurLaLune Storytime)

Book:  Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems

I just had to read this funny book - it's one of my favorites!  The kids loved it too.  Who wouldn't love a story about a friendly, helpful dinosaur that also bakes you chocolate chip cookies?

Song:  Dino-Pokey (tune of: "The Hokey-Pokey")

Put your claws in.  Put your claws out.

Put your claws in and scratch them all about.

You do the dino-pokey and turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

Put your feet in...stomp them all about.

Put your teeth in...chomp them all about.

Put your tail in...wag it all about.

(Source:  SurLaLune Storytime)

Craft:  Paper Plate Dinosaur

For each child you will need two paper plates, scissors, tape, and crayons and markers.

1.  Cut around the rim of one of the paper plates, and then cut that rim in half.  One part will be the dinosaur's head and neck and the second part will be the tail.

2.  Cut two legs from the middle of the paper plate.

3.  Tape these pieces to the second paper plate.

4.  Kids may decorate their dinosaurs any way they'd like. 

Holiday Picks: How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?

With snow in the forecast, temperatures dropping, and people digging out their mittens and hats, it's officially December!  Enjoy a holiday pick each day before Christmas.

Written by Jane Yolen.  Illustrated by Mark Teague.  New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2012.

Tonight marks the first night of Chanukah.  I'm looking forward to eating latkes.  Fried potato pancakes.  Need I say more?  I'm not Jewish, but I do have Irish heritage, and have never met a potato I didn't love.  But, I digress.  Here's a fun picture book to share with your kids.  As I mentioned in a previous post, Jane Yolen and Mark Teague published two holiday books this year in their highly popular dinosaur series.  This one is about Chanukah.

Does a dinosaur misbehave on Chanukah nights when the holiday lights are being lit?  Does he fidget through the prayer?  Sneak a peek at presents hidden under the bed?  Gather up all the gelt, and squeeze the chocolate coins until they melt?  No, dinosaurs don't.  He takes turn playing with the dreidel, eats all his latkes, and helps clean up, like a good dinosaur.  Kids will love looking at all the pictures of the different types of dinosaurs and giggling at their naughty behaviors.  Hopefully, they won't act those out!  Happy Chanukah to all my Jewish friends!  How will you celebrate this year?

Holiday Picks: How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?

With snow in the forecast, temperatures dropping, and people digging out their mittens and hats, it's officially December!  Enjoy a holiday pick each day before Christmas.

Written by Jane Yolen.  Illustrated by Mark Teague.  New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2012.

Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's series of dinosaur books are a hit at my library, and their latest ones do not disappoint (more on the second book in another post)!  So, how does a dinosaur behave on Christmas Eve?  Does he refuse to go to bed?  Does he sneak a peek at what is under the tree?  Does he eat the cookies left out for Santa?  No, of course not!  This dinosaur is very well behaved, decorating the tree, helping to clean up dinner dishes, kissing his grandparents good night, and going right to sleep.  Full of humor, I think a lot of families can relate to some of the antics exhibited by those naughty dinosaurs.  But, at the end of the story, there is a gentle message about how great it is to be a good dinosaur.  This is a great choice to share with toddlers and preschoolers.  How will your little dinosaurs say Merry Christmas?

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

By Mo Willems.  New York: Balzer + Bray, 2012.

"Once upon a time, there were three Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and some other Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway."

I know what you're thinking: wait a minute, I know this story!  But I don't remember any dinosaurs.  That's because this delightful picture book take a different approach to a classic fairy tale.  One day, these dinosaurs decide to make their beds, arrange their chairs, and cook three bowls of delicious chocolate pudding, for no particular reason.  Then, they decide to leave and go "someplace else" and while they are gone, they really hope no innocent child stops by their unlocked home while they are gone.  Wink, wink.  If you know the story, of course a little girl named Goldilocks happens upon the house of the dinosaurs.  She eats the chocolate pudding, and then tired and full, decides to take a nap.  But the chairs are too big, and so are the beds.  She exclaims "the bears that live here must be nuts!"  Then, she takes a closer look at her surroundings and realizes this isn't some bear's house, it's some dinosaur's house, and high tails it out of the back door just as the dinosaurs barge through the front door.  No yummy, chocolate filled little girl for the dinosaurs.  And the story ends with a moral: "if you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave."  As for the dinosaurs, the moral is "lock the back door!"

I am a huge fan of Mo Willems, and enjoy sharing his books at storytime.  This is another gem.  The illustrations are fantastic.  My favorite is the Norwegian dinosaur maniacally laughing.  Have your kids take a close look and they will see one of his famous characters in the pages.  But the real winner is the storyline.  I was laughing so much, which is a true sign of an awesome picture book, in my humble opinion.  Hey, if the adults love it, it makes sharing it all the better.  And if you're looking for ideas to use with the book, check out HarperCollins website for downloadable activities.  We just got this at our library, so check it out!