Storytime: Magic Hat

I did this program virtually at the beginning of 2021, and I was jazzed to be able to do it in person this month. EVERYONE enjoyed the rabbit in a hat puppet, and all the kids wanted a chance to pet it (there were a few that wanted to “rescue” it from its hat, too!) The rabbit in a hat craft was also a hit – I’d put out the toys for playtime and they were all so involved with the craft that they didn’t notice until several minutes later (usually toys come out and crafts are DONE.) Kitamura’s Hat Tricks book worked well for both the younger and older kids, though I’d wished I had something slightly simpler for the babies. But I had enough 1.5-2.5 year old kids in that group that they enjoyed it. Cleminson’s Magic Box was a backup title for the older kids, but I didn’t end up using it.

Early Learning Tip: Walking, running, and dancing all require the body’s ability to keep a steady beat. By doing lap bounces with your baby you are getting them ready for this later developmental stage. (BB)

Early Learning Tip: Counting songs are great ways to introduce children to consecutive numbers and counting. To mix it up, count up AND down, use your non-dominant hand for counting, and occasionally count from or to a number outside of 5 or 10, as we did today in “Six Magic Rabbits.” (TB) (FT)

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (BB) (TB) (FT)**

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (BB) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week was shoulders and knees.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (BB)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Intro: Today’s theme is about Magic! Has anyone been to a Magic show? Or saw a magician do a magic trick?

I saw on the Once Upon a (Story) Time… blog the author mentioned a chalk story called “The Magician’s Hat.” One of the commenters identified the book it came from, and I ILLed it but didn’t get it in time to incorporate it into my planning. But I did want to include it here for your benefit and for my future self!
Drawing Rhyme: The Magician’s Hat
(refer to the pictures to see what to add for each line. The last line does not have an addition to the drawing)
The magician has an empty hat (1)
Turned upside down with a brim like that (2)
Then suddenly a head appears (3)
With two bright eyes… (4)
…and two long ears (5)
And a small round nose… (6)
…and whiskers, too. (7)
And magic stories just for you
Source: Chalk in Hand: The Draw and Tell Book by Phyllis Noe Pflomm (c)1986 via Once Upon a (Story) Time blog

Sometimes a magician will use a magic wand, like this one! But – perhaps you can do magic with your finger! It’s possible you’ll need your grownup to infuse your finger with some magic, so they might give it a little kiss or blow a little air on it. Okay, you’re ready! At the end, after it inevitably gets quieter when we “shh,” I said, “Oh, it got quiet! You DO have a magic finger!” That got some laughs from the grownups. 🙂
Fingerplay: Magic Finger (BB) (TB) (FT)
Magic finger in the air, Magic finger in my hair
Magic finger on my fist, Magic finger on my wrist
Magic finger on my shin, Magic finger on my chin
Magic finger on my hip, Magic finger on my lips (shhhh!)
Source: adapted from YouthLiterature.com via Storytime Katie (two middle lines by Ms. Emily)

Rhyme Game: Abracadabra (TB) (FT)
(children act as the “spell” indicates)
Abracadabra, Alaka-zitty
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be kitties! KAZAM!
Abracadabra, Alaka-zoo
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be kangaroos! KAZAM!
Abracadabra, Alaka-zion
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be lions! KAZAM!
Abracadabra, Alaka-zow
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be cows! KAZAM!
Abracadabra, Alaka-zap
When I say KAZAM you’ll all take a nap! KAZAM!
Abracadabra, Alaka-zids
When I say KAPOW you’ll turn back to kids! KAPOW!
Source: libraryfun.home.blog

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Hattie the Rabbit just gives me all the joy.
Read: Hat Tricks by Satoshi Kitamura (BB) (TB) (FT)

I had this as a backup book, but didn’t end up reading it.
Read: Magic Box by Katie Cleminson

I used a black piece of felt to put over the rabbit and other items in the hat to keep them from showing. I had a seashell, a soft flamingo ornament, a kazoo, and a crocheted bee as my other items. At last, I told the kids my magic was a little rusty and asked if they could get out their magic fingers to help me out. Finally, the rabbit appeared! They LOVED this.
Rhyme with Puppet: Hat Trick (BB) (TB) (FT)
Magic, magic, in my hat!
I’ll pull out a rabbit – (pull anything other than a rabbit)
Ahhhh! What is that?!
(repeat until ready for the rabbit)

Magic, magic, in my hat!
I’ll pull out a rabbit –
See! Look at that!
Source: SLC Book Boy

For my age group, I did only four rabbits.
Flannel Rhyme: Six Magic Rabbits (TB)
Six magic rabbits, each in a tall black hat
Along comes a magician who gives each one a pat
Then she waves her magic wand high above their ears
Abracadabra, poof! One rabbit disappears!
(Count down to one)

One magic rabbit, in a tall black hat
Along comes a magician who gives him a pat
Then she waves her magic wand high above his ears
Abracadabra, poof! The last rabbit disappears!
Source: Libraryfun.home.blog

Before this rhyme, I mentioned that knowing our left and right is a learned skill (and not an easy one!) so grownups can help, or they can mirror me. We did it twice – the first time I demonstrated using only my hands, then the rabbit in the hat did it with us the second time.
Puppet Rhyme: Little Bunny in a Hat (BB) (TB) (FT)
Little bunny in a hat, Sitting so still (begin with bunny hidden)
Will she come out? Yes she will! (bunny pops out of hat)
She looks to the left (turn puppet left)
She looks to the right (turn puppet right)
She looks straight ahead (turn puppet to front)
And pops out of sight (hides in hat again)
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay: Two Magic Rabbits (BB)
Two magic rabbits, sitting in a hat
One named Peter, one named Pat
Disappear Peter, Disappear Pat
Come back Peter, Come back Pat
Source: One Little Librarian

Fingerplay: Bunnies Up! (TB) (FT)
(index and middle finger make bunny ears if you don’t have a puppet)
Bunnies up! Bunnies down!
Hold your bunny & turn around
Bunnies up! Bunnies down!
Put your bunny on the ground
Source: One Little Librarian

What do magic rabbits like to do? Just like all rabbits, they like to bounce! Let’s do a new bounce rhyme. I have been doing “A Smooth Road” for almost all of my Book Babies sessions, so I thought it was time for a new bounce. I adapted this from We Wiggle and We Wiggle and We Stop and NOT the Bounce and Stop one that goes to the tune of Farmer in the Dell, despite the similar name.
Bounce Rhyme: We Bounce and We Bounce and We STOP (BB)
We bounce and we bounce and we STOP
We bounce and we bounce and we STOP
We bounce and we bounce and we bounce and we bounce
And we bounce and we bounce and we STOP!
Repeat with “lean” and “tickle”
Source: adapted from Jbrary

Hm, who else knows how to disappear? These bees like to disappear into their beehive. Let’s see if they’ll come out. My transition here was a bit of a stretch, but oh, well!
Tickle Rhyme: Here Is the Beehive (BB)
Here is the beehive, but where are all the bees? (make fist)
Hidden away where nobody sees
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (open fingers)
They’re alive! Buzz, buzz, buzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

Action Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes* (BB)

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Magic Rabbit in a Hat Puppet (TB) (FT)
Since I had so much fun with my puppet, I wanted the kids to have something they could use to recreate our rhymes and games. I used the template shared on Libraryfun.home.blog, printed them on white cardstock, and included a jumbo craft stick and some sparkly star stickers for this easy craft. The kids really enjoyed coloring their rabbits and decorating the hat, and seemed very engaged.

Play Time
The babies have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (BB) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Max and the Won’t Go to Bed Show – Mark Sperring & Sarah Warburton
The Magic Rabbit – Annette LeBlanc Cate
The Magic Hat – Mem Fox & Tricia Tusa
Foxy – Emma Dodd
Word Wizard – Cathryn Falwell
Spells – Emily Gravett
The Wizard – Jack Prelutsky & Brandon Dorman
Magic Candies – Heena Baek & Sophie Bowman
Magic Matt and the Dinosaur – Grace Maccarone & Norman Bridwell
Paddington and the Magic Trick – Michael Bond & R.W. Alley

This storytime was presented in-person on 9/26, 9/27, & 9/28/22.

Storytime Handout:

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(BB) Book Babies, ages 0-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5