Engaging programs to keep kids coming back to the library
To kickoff the summer reading theme this year, I made a felt table for children to play with during the busy months. I used Storytime Katie’s post a while back as inspiration and then went to the craft store. I haven’t stopped hearing squeals since I put it out!
Happy summer!
I fell in love with the princesses that What is Bridget Reading made a few weeks ago! I made Anna and Elsa templates to add to her works of art! And, after tireless research, I decided to write a Five Little about Princesses to use with this. If you find any more 5 or 10 Little to use with this, please add it in the comments section! Here are the templates: Princess templates
Five Little Princesses lounging in the tower
One climbed down to pick a flower
Along came a fairy with a special power
And the princess yelled, “I’ll be back in an hour!”
For more storytime ideas, check out Mollie’s What Happens in Storytime. She’s hosting the weekly blog hop, Flannel Friday, this week. For more information check out the website, Pinterest page, and Facebook Group.
I’ve had a pack of t-shirt transfers kicking around my office for about a year. I decided to use them for a special Lego flannel song I created (along with the double decker couch!):
Five little Legos jumping on the couch
One fell down and he said, “Ouch!”
When I called Lord Business he announced,
“No more Legos jumping on the couch!”
Here is a file (Five Legos) you can print out on the transfer paper. I used white felt and it looks amazing! I’m just trying to get the kids to sing anything besides, “Everything is awesome!” Cross your fingers for me.
For more storytime ideas, check out Katie’s Story Time Secrets. She’s hosting the weekly blog hop, Flannel Friday, this week. For more information check out the website, Pinterest page, and Facebook Group.
I recently wrote a post about Simon C. Page’s Spider-Man or Green Goblin, and am excited that he has another superhero optical illusion. I wrote a story to tell the children and look forward to them yelling, “No Batman!”
Hey look, it’s the Penguin!
It’s not the Penguin, it’s Batman!
No, I heard him say, “My friends call me Oswald.”
No, he whispered that his friend know him as Bruce Wayne.
I see an umbrella hiding under his coat. It must be Penguin.
That’s Batman’s utility belt!
I hear music, it must be coming from the Iceberg Lounge. It’s Penguin!
No, I hear electronics working hard in Wayne Manor. It’s Batman!
Look, I see a tuxedo, top hat, monocle and white gloves. It’s Penguin!
No, I see a black cape. It’s Batman!
I see his entourage of henchmen. It’s got to be the Penguin.
No, it’s his trusty side-kick, Robin. It’s definitely Batman!
Oh no, he’s getting away in the limo. It’s Penguin.
No, that’s the Batmobile. It’s Batman!
Uh, oh. Where’d he go?
He must have gone to his hiding place in the sewers. It was the Penguin!
No, he must have gone to the secret Batcave. It was Batman!
Coloring page: Batman or Penguin
Stay tuned for Olly Moss’ Wolverine or 2 Batman…
For more storytime ideas check out Lisa’s Libraryland. She’s hosting the weekly storytime blog hop Flannel Friday this week.
Since superheroes are a perennial favorite in storytime, I was so excited when I came across Simon C. Page’s amazing optical illusion! The kids love these kind of stories! I was originally inspired by Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Duck! Rabbit! and since then have been writing my own (including Anteater Brachiosaurus, Squirrel Swan, and Wolverine or 2 Batman). I came up with a story for this illusion and a take-home coloring page:
Green Goblin or Spiderman (Begin holding the image upside down and leave it that way throughout the story.)
Hey look, it’s the Green Goblin!
No, it’s Spiderman hanging from a building!
Listen, he said his real name is Harry Osborn.
No, I heard him whisper that his real name is Peter Parker!
See that in the corner? That’s Green Goblin’s Glider!
No, I see Spiderman’s web shooters on the table.
Oh, look! I think those are Goblin’s Pumpkin Bombs moving in the corner.
No, that’s just Spidey’s sense going off!
See that, it’s an Oscorp ID. It’s definitely the Green Goblin!
No, that’s a photographer’s ID for the Daily Bugle. It’s Spiderman!
There’s a picture of Liz Allen over there. Everyone knows that’s Green Goblin’s girlfriend.
No, that’s Mary Jane, or M.J. as Spidey likes to call her!
Uh, oh. Where’d he go? (Hide paper behind back)
He must have went to a Gathering of the Five Meeting. It was Green Goblin!
No, he must have met the Avengers. It was Spiderman!
Coloring Page: Spiderman or Green Goblin
Stay tuned for Batman or Penguin…
For more ideas to use in storytime check out Kathryn’s blog over at Fun with Friends at Storytime. She’s hosting the weekly storytime blog hop, Flannel Friday, this week!
I just learned that one of my other favorite superhero stories is no longer in print (blowing nose now). If you can get your hands on this, I highly recommend it! (Or, you can watch my video and create your own flannel!) This adventure story is great for many storytime themes: Dads, superheroes, pirates, bedtime. I use it frequently and am asked for it over and over! I do apologize to Michael Rex, though, because there is one page spread that I dislike so much I actually stapled the pages together in my copy and never read it aloud (it features Dad plucking the feathers off of vultures).
Here’s my version:
Here’s a craft (make sure you buy cool band-aids to accompany this craft to make Daddy feel better!): You Can Do Anything, Daddy
For more flannel ideas, check out the weekly blog hop called Flannel Friday. I just happen to be hosting this week!
This was one of the first “flannel” stories I ever made. I began the journey because I fell in love with Captain Pajamas, but didn’t love all of the parts of the story. I didn’t think Brian’s sister Jessie was a good character, so I changed her to be co-heroes with her brother. I also didn’t like how Jessie called Shadow “stupid” over and over. And, the ending doesn’t work well with all preschool groups (I didn’t want children going home thinking there were aliens in their beds!). So, after careful thought and some paper engineering, I made my first story. I tried to find the dittos I used, but I looked everywhere and I must have left them at my old job. Someday I’ll create this story with felt, but for now it works. Here’s a video of my version of the sadly out-of-print story. I suggest making your own version to use with a superhero or bedtime theme:
Here’s a craft to go with the story (copy double-sided): Captain Pajamas Shadow Craft
For more flannel ideas check out Future Librarian Superhero, she’s hosting this week’s Flannel Friday blog hop!
Ralph Cosentino’s superhero picture book series is amazing! I’ve used his stories in pre-K and early elementary classes and they’re a hit with all ages! I love them so much, I made flannel sets to accompany the stories (stay tuned for Batman and Superman):
Wonder Woman: The Story of the Amazon Princess is the kind of princess I can read about to children! It features the story of her defeating all the boys to win the contest, her invisible jet, and her cool silver cuffs and golden lasso.
This book also taught me about her arch enemies: Ares, Silver Swan, Cheetah, and Circe.
I’m looking for a cool craft to go with this story. So if you have one, please post in the comments section!
For more flannel ideas check out Itsy Bitsy Mom, she’s hosting Flannel Friday this week.
Ralph Cosentino’s superhero picture book series is amazing! I’ve used his stories in pre-K and early elementary classes and they’re a hit with all ages! I love them so much, I made flannel sets to accompany the stories (stay tuned for Batman and Wonder Woman):
Superman: The Story of the Man of Steel boils down the complicated story of Cal-El / Clark Kent so a four-year old can understand it. It talks about his childhood, Krypton and the Daily Planet.
The kids’ favorite part of the book is when it highlights the villains, including Lex Luthor, Metallo, Brainiac, and Bizarro.
I even made a cool phone booth craft: Superman Phone Booth Craft
Reading with Red is hosting this week’s Flannel Friday, be sure to check it out!
Ralph Cosentino’s superhero picture book series is amazing! I’ve used his stories in pre-K and early elementary classes and they’re a hit with all ages! I love them so much, I made flannel sets to accompany the stories (stay tuned for Superman and Wonder Woman):
Batman: The Story of the Dark Knight simplifies Bruce Wayne’s tale and includes a history of Bruce learning, working out, building the Batmobile and Wayne Manor, and of course his alter-ego.
My favorite part features the villains: Joker, Catwoman, Penguin, and Two-Face.
I paired this up with a craft: Batman Flying on Straw Craft
For more flannel and storytime ideas check out Storytime Secrets, she’s hosting Flannel Friday this week!
