Since 2015, the Indiana State Library has had an annual reader’s choice award for excellent picture books called the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award. Libraries around the state are encouraged to present the five nominated books and collect votes from kids ages 0-5. Even in lockdown, there were ways to promote the program. The ISL got permission to do a read-aloud video for each title available during the voting period. I promoted two of those titles during this storytime and encouraged parents to watch the remaining three and vote. (I have/will be featuring the other titles in other storytimes.) We learned later that the winning title for 2020 was Don’t Blink! The ISL does a great job promoting this program, and creates a programming guide with suggested extension activities for each title, which I drew from to create this storytime. Read more about the Firefly Award here! This was also a storytime I did exclusively on Facebook Live, and do not have a YouTube version available. With everyone staying safer at home, we weren’t providing handouts or Take and Make packets at that time. I tried to suggest either crafts made with household materials or activities caregivers could do with their child.
*EDIT: I’ve realized that the tune “Shortnin’ Bread” is rooted in racism and can be harmful. I’ll no longer be using “Every Little Cell” during storytime, as it uses this tune.
Welcome Song: Clap and Sing Hello
Tickle song: Spots, Spots, Spots
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots
What a lot of spots he got
A tiger’s stripes are always nice
But a leopard has lots of spots
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
Credit: Jbrary
Read: B Is for Baby by Atinuke & Angela Brooksbank
Ukulele Song: My Bonnie
(Stand up or sit down (or raise or lower arms) every time you hear a word beginning with “B”!)
My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
My Bonnie lies over the sea,
My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me.
Bring back, bring back, Oh bring back my Bonnie to me, to me:
Bring back, bring back, Oh bring back my Bonnie to me.
Credit: Traditional, actions as described on the album Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee.
Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!
Many people in African countries are experts at carrying items on their head. These could be anything from a basket of fruit to a sewing machine! This leaves their hands free for other tasks and for greeting friends. (Point out illustration on the B is for Bougainvillea page) How far can you go with a beanbag, pillow, or stuffed animal on your head?
Action Song: The Bean Bag
Verse 1
Throw the bean bag and catch
Turn around, turn around, stamp, stamp, stamp
Throw the bean bag and catch
Turn around, turn around, stamp, stamp, stamp
Chorus
Put it on your head and walk around the room (4 times)
Put it on your shoulder, Put it on your elbow
Put it on your knee, Put it on your back now
Put it on your stomach, Put it on your finger
Put it on your foot, Put it on your arm now
repeat chorus
repeat verse 1
Credit: Hap Palmer, from the album Can a Jumbo Jet Sing the Alphabet?
Have you ever tried to skip bedtime? What did you do? Did it work? What is you usual bedtime routine? Here’s a story about skipping bedtime.
Read: Don’t Blink! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & David Roberts
Lullaby: Over the Ocean
Sailing, sailing over the water
Sailing, sailing over the sea
Sailing, sailing over the ocean
Sail back home to me
Credit: Kathy Reid Naiman from the album A Smooth Road To London Town
*SEE EDIT ABOVE* Ukulele Song: Every Little Cell
(tune of Shortnin’ Bread)
Every little cell in my body is happy
Every little cell is healthy and well
Every little cell in my body is happy
Every little cell is healthy and well
Cells on my left, cells on my right
All my cells are doing just fine
Cells from my top all the way down my spine
My cells work together to keep me in line
Credit: Mick Jeffries taught me the first verse, I wrote the second
(I also saw Allison Davies perform it with a different second verse)
Activity Suggestion: Beading
We saw beautiful, colorful beads in B is for Baby. Spend some time this week beading! Beading is a great activity for fine motor skills. You can make big beads by cutting sections of cardboard tubes (and children can decorate them, too). Older children may enjoy beading with pasta or large wooden beads. For the string, use yarn, shoelaces, or household twine. Wrap tape around the ends of yarn and twine to make it easier to thread.
Also check out the other Firefly Award nominees!
Firefly Home by Jane Clarke & Britta Teckentrup
Pirate Jack Gets Dressed by Nancy Raines Day & Allison Black
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Closing Rhyme: Tickle the Stars
This storytime was presented virtually on 4/21/20.
Storytime with Ms. Emily Library 