Toddler Storytime: Happy Thanksgiving!

I had my last story time of the Fall session this week.  I usually take the month of December off from weekly story times (not that it's a vacation for me; I'll be working on projects that have been piling up) due to the busy holiday season.  Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I thought it was appropriate to end the Fall story times with a Thanksgiving theme.  Here is what I did:

DISCUSSION:  What Are You Thankful For?
The children in my toddler group are mostly 2-3 years old, so we had a quick discussion about things they are thankful for.  Trucks, toys, parents, cousins and families topped the list. :)

BOOK:  Splat Says Thank You! by Rob Scotton
Splat's best friend Seymour is sick and hasn't smiled in a while.  Splat decides to make Seymour a friendship book thanking him for all the wonderful things he has done for Splat, in hopes that it will make him smile.  This was a nice book to share after talking about things we are thankful for; the kids got to yell out "Thank you" each time Splat said something nice about his friend.

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

If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

Continue with stomp your feet, shout "I am!", and do all three.

(Source: Sunflower Storytime)

FLANNEL SONG:  "Did You Ever Seen a Turkey?"
(tune:  "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")

Did you ever see a turkey, a turkey, a turkey,
Who struts around the farmyard with feathers so bright?
With red ones and orange ones and yellow ones and brown ones,
Did you ever see a turkey with feathers so bright?

Continue with pink ones and green ones and blue ones and purple ones
Continue with striped ones and spotted ones and glittery ones and a cow one

(Source:  Miss Sarah Storytime)

BOOK:  Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr
Turkey does not like Thanksgiving.  He needs to get away from the farmer - fast!  He tries hiding in various places around the farm.  Kids love shouting out "Run, turkey, run!"  For the toddlers, I ask them where turkey is hiding and what kind of animal is he pretending to be.  This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving books and is great to share with preschoolers, too.

FLANNEL SONG:  "We Eat Turkey"
(tune:  "Frere Jacques")

We eat turkey, we eat turkey.
Oh so good, oh so good.
Always on Thanksgiving, always on Thanksgiving.
Yum, yum, yum!  Yum, yum, yum!

Continue with mashed potatoes, corn, squash, and pumpkin pie.

Dinner's over, dinner's over.
We are stuffed!  We are stuffed!
What a great Thanksgiving, what a great Thanksgiving.
Yum, yum, yum!  Yum, yum, yum!

(Source:  Storytime Secrets)

For this rhyme, I printed out clip art of each food item, cut them out, laminated them, and glued a piece of felt onto the back.  I also acted out the verses, pretending to eat the food and rubbing and patting my tummy.  Between verses, I asked what are some things we eat on Thanksgiving and a little boy kept telling me "stuffing" each time I asked!  I'll have to find clip art for that for next year, buddy, because that's my favorite food, too!

CRAFT:  Paper Scrap Turkeys
I found this craft idea on Pinterest.  This is very easy and a great way to use up construction paper scraps.  Ahead of time, I cut out turkey bodies from brown construction paper.  Using scissors with a scalloping edge, I cut out squares of construction paper.  All the toddlers had to do was glue their turkey onto a piece of construction paper and glue paper scraps around it to make feathers.  Their grownups could also make a beak and feet out of scrap paper, if they desired.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

Written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.

Ah, Thanksgiving.  A time for giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings in your life.  It's also the glorious holiday devoted to my favorite foods...turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, squash, rolls, cranberry sauce.  Excuse me, I'm drooling.  While most people will be up bright and early roasting their turkeys and prepping their side dishes, I will be engaged in a yearly tradition that doesn't involve slaving over a hot stove.  I will be plopped in front of the television, in my pajamas, and sipping some coffee while watching the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  No matter how old I get, I still get excited to see the huge balloons floating down the city streets. I know a lot of work and people go into making the parade such a success, but I never knew the history behind it.  I  was thrilled when I learned a picture book was available on the very subject.  So, to jump start your Thanksgiving, may I suggest Balloons Over Broadway?

This is the story of Tony Sarg, who became the puppeteer of the Macy's parade.  As a boy, he loved to make things move and created various marionettes.  When he grew up, he made puppets his life's work.  Macy's approached Tony about helping them create puppets for a parade celebrating the holidays.  The first parade was held in 1924 and each year it grew in size.  Tony created puppets made out of air-filled rubber that floated and were held up by wooded sticks.  The problem was not everyone could see them, so he created puppets that had controls below so the puppet could rise up.  Hence, the balloon puppets we see today.

I just love this story and the fact that it is geared towards children, but still packed full of information.  The illustrations are a combination of watercolors, collage, and toys.  It gives the book a playful element, which meshes well with the story.  I enjoyed pouring over the details in the illustrations and loved the "scrapbook" style of a book within a book.  Knowing the story behind the Macy's parade really prepares me for the joy and whimsy I see in each balloon every year.  This is a perfect read for Thanksgiving.  Now, hand me my pajamas and cup of Joe...it's parade time.