Storytime: Bunnies, Eggs and Chicks!

Easter is coming up this Sunday.  Stores are inundated with chocolate rabbits, marshmallow Peeps, Easter eggs, and other pastel-colored decorations and candy.  Well, I just HAD to get into the Easter spirit, so I planned a storytime featuring bunnies, chickens and eggs.  If you're uncomfortable doing an Easter-themed storytime depending on your community, this would also work as a "Spring Things" storytime.  If you'd like any non-Easter book suggestions, please send me a comment.



BOOKS TO SHARE WITH TODDLERS:

Peek-a-Boo Bunny by Holly Surplice
Wee Little Chick by Lauren Thompson

BOOKS TO SHARE WITH PRESCHOOLERS:

I Hatched! by Jill Esbaum
Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs by Janet Morgan Stoeke
The Easter Bunny's Assistant by Jan Thomas

FLANNEL RHYME:  Five Little Bunnies

One little bunny, wondering what to do,
Another bunny came along, then there were two.
Two little bunnies, hopping just like me,
Another bunny came along, then there were three.
Three little bunnies, jumping around outdoors,
Another bunny came along, then there were four.
Four little bunnies, so fluffy and alive,
Another bunny came along, then there were five.
Five little bunnies ready for some fun,
Hopped away in the warm, spring sun.

Source:  King County Library System

SONG:  "I Know a Chicken" by Laurie Berkner from the album Whaddaya Think of That?
I seem to play this song A LOT at storytime, but it's such fun and fits in with lots of themes.  You can't go wrong with a bunch of shaky eggs.

FINGERPLAY:  Ten Fluffy Chicks

Five eggs
     (hold up five fingers)
And five eggs
     (hold up five more fingers)
That makes ten
Sitting on top is the mother hen
     (lock fingers, knuckles up)
Crack, crack, crack, what do I see?
     (wiggle fingers apart)
Ten baby chicks as yellow as can be
     (hold up ten fingers)

Source:  Perry Public Library

FLANNEL RHYME:  Jelly Bean Countdown
Use five different colored jelly beans

Five little jelly beans, I wish I had more!  I'll eat the (color) one - now there are four!
Four little jelly beans, tasty as can be.  I'll eat the (color) one - now there are three!
Three little jelly beans, only a few.  I'll eat the (color) one - now there are two!
Two little jelly beans, eating them is fun.  I'll eat the (color) one - now there is one.
One little jelly bean, the one for me.  I'll eat the (color) one - I'm as happy as can be!

Source:  Perry Public Library

CRAFT:  Pom Pom Easter Egg Painting
I found this on Pinterest (where else?) and knew I had to try it with my toddlers.  This is great way for toddlers to paint.  Using clothespins, attach a pom pom to each one.  Holding this makeshift paint brush, kids dip their pom pom into different colors of washable paint and press it onto a coloring page of an egg.  Super easy and super fun!

SNACK:  Cupcakes
I don't normally have snacks at storytime, but for special occasions I'll break out my mixing bowl.  I made homemade yellow cupcakes with homemade vanilla buttercream frosting that I tinted light green.  Then I decorated them with bunny Peeps (attached with a toothpick) and jelly beans.  Adorable and quite yummy, if I do say so myself.