O Christmas Tree!

I wanted to share the felt Christmas tree and decorations that we are offering as an interactive activity in our children's area during our program break in December. I used my Sizzix Big Kick machine with several different diecuts. I made them so that they can be sorted by shape or main color or even size. We generally offer a different activity each week during the same time that we would normally offer our preschool or toddler storytime. This is a great way to continue to interact with our kiddos while we are planning for our next programming session!

There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Guest post for Bethany: Three Nervous Turkeys!

I'm so happy to be hosting Bethany on my blog! She is Head of Children's Services at the Bedford Free Public Library. She has a really fun song/rhyme in time for Thanksgiving!

Three Nervous Turkeys

A Thanksgiving flannel board song

I found Five Nervous Turkeys on the ALSC blog (http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2013/11/give-thanks-for-storytime/).  The song is funny, filled with my favorite autumn fowl, and easy to make with free clipart.  But, as I searched for images and hummed along, I wanted a chorus for everyone to sing and a new verse for the ducks.  5 turkeys, with a full chorus between each verse, plus a final verse to acknowledge the duckiness … is too long for my young storytime kids!  I reduced the turkeys to 3 and scavenged my surplus turkeys for silly mistakes on the duck costumes.

Three Nervous Turkeys—tune: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”

Three turkeys were getting quite nervous.

Thanksgiving Day soon would be back.

So one turkey put on a duck suit, (swap a duck for a turkey)

And now he goes “Gobble, quack-quack.”

Chorus:

Turkey, turkey, (hook thumbs together, fingers stretched out for the turkey feathers)

Turkey goes “Gobble, quack-quack, quack-quack.” (flap elbows/wings like a duck)

Turkey, turkey, (feathers)

Turkey goes “Gobble, quack-quack.”  (wings)

Repeat for 2 turkeys and 1 turkey.

After all of the turkeys are in duck suits:

Now no little turkeys are nervous.

They’re finally feeling their luck.

But you, my poor dears, might get hungry …

… unless, of course, you like duck!

(Chorus)

Ha! Thanks Bethany for sharing a fun Turkey flannelboard set! 
There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Flannel Friday Roundup/Placeholder 11/20/15

Hello Flannel Friday Friends. I have been so grateful for this generous group of storytime enthusiasts. The ideas and inspiration have been a continuing source of affirmation and encouragement to me this past year. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday next week. We will not have a Roundup next week as we celebrate the holiday. So, I invite you to share your ideas and enjoy this week's Roundup!

Thanks Bethany for sharing an adorable rhyme, 'Three Nervous Turkeys'!

Katie@ Felt Board Magic has an adorable set to go with the fun song, 'Bingo'.

Katie, thanks for a second post this week, 'Five in the Bed'.

I'm sharing an interactive apple rhyme, 'I Love Apples - game', and a cute Home Extension.

Thanks Jane @ Piper Loves the Library,  for this wonderful post to remind us all to work together towards Peace in our world!








We really have so much to be thankful for!! I'm thankful for all of you Flannelboard Friends! Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Mmmmm, I Love Apples!

I have a fun interactive apple rhyme that I made up a few years ago. Here's the link for 'I Love Apples - game'.   I diecut about 4 or 5 of each color. I hand them out and tell the kiddos to bring the matching color to put on the flannelboard as I say the rhyme. You could just as easily use laminated paper apple shapes and let the kiddos come up and put their apples in a basket. Any way you play it, apples are a lot of Fun with Friends at Storytime. Check out my other apple posts HERE and HERE.






I love Apples - game
by Kathryn Roach
I love apples, so good to eat!
* color * apples can't be beat!
*sweet-red
*tart-green
*mild-yellow
*funny-blue
*surprising-purple
*tangy-orange
*silly-pink
See my apples. I can't wait
to eat my apples. They're so great!

I have a small apple die cut that we used with a basket shape for the kiddos to make their own basket of apples for our Home Extension. We got 2 baskets from one 9x12 piece of construction paper. The kiddos can use a glue stick at home as they remember the fun storytime at the library!
Another option could be to stamp apple shapes on the basket using stamps or real apples and paint.
There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Spiders!

I love the Eency Weency Spider in all it's versions! I needed a cute interactive spider set to go with this theme.  Here's a set of rainbow spiders and a rainbow spiderweb I made a few years ago. I used the variegated yarn from Walmart and some white pipe cleaners to make my web. I put a dab of hot glue at each joint and a piece of velcro to hold the web on the board. The colorful spiders are a diecut. I cut 4 of each color. Unfortunately, their legs are a little thin and sometimes a spider loses one in the hands of an enthusiastic toddler. LOL! I made up a rhyme to use with the set, Rainbow Spiderweb.

Here's a cute, paper plate craft for a Home Extension. I bought the black plates at the Dollar store and we cut crepe paper strips for the legs. We used paper hole reinforcers for the eyes and cut out the mouth for some spidery fun! We also added a long string so that the kiddos could make their spider jump and dance! Rainbow spiders can be a lot of Fun with Friends at Storytime!

There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Beary Sleepy Bedtime

Bears and Bedtime are a winning combination for storytime! I've posted some other bedtime posts HERE and HERE. I made my own new set of Five in the Bed inspired by Miss Mary Liberry and Sarah at Read Rabbit Read. I actually made 6 little bears (can't remember why??) We offered a really easy prep, Home Extension that uses the adorable bear and bunny from this cute picture book! We put the cut squares in an envelope and paper-clipped it to the precut, programmed paper so that they could color Bear and bunny and make the blanket with the squares and a glue stick. I'm showing the example that I made. They loved it!! 

We also sang a fun silly song I saw at 1234 More Storytimes about colored pajamas that had everyone laughing! I laminated and cut out Google images of kids in 5 different colored pajamas; red, orange,green, pink and blue. I used those colors because they were one syllable and fit the song. Anyway, I was VERY expressive with my singing! After 2 colors the caregivers and the kiddos began singing with me. They thought it was hilarious! LOL! We're having so much Fun with Friends at Storytime! There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Flannel Friday 10/23 Roundup/Placeholder

I'm so excited to be hosting Flannel Friday this week!! Here's this week's Flannel Friday Roundup for your viewing pleasure. Happy Fall Ya'll!!

Carol from Magical Library Book Bug has a 5 whatsit Mitten rhyme and cute magnetic mittens for a Hands theme for toddlers.

Amy from One Little Librarian has a cute rhyme and adorable ghosts that would be great with toddlers also!

Heather from Books and Giggles is sharing a set and templates for The Ox-Cart Man.

And I have a  felt set for the picture book, The Mouse and the Apple.









Thanks everyone for sharing! Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Mouse and the Apple

Recently we started organizing and weeding our flannelboard sets at my library. We came across an adorable set of pieces that illustrated this book. Then as I was looking through some Flannel Friday Pinterest boards I came across a pin from Mel's desk that inspired me to make my own set of pieces to go with this book. I used both sets to make my patterns and I can't wait to use this story about patience and the reward that comes to those who wait!

We used to tell my grandson, J, 'patience is waiting without whining!'  I need to remember that lesson myself!
We're having so much Fun with Friends at Storytime! There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Another Jewel and Crown post!

I know, I'm slightly obsessive/compulsive. But here's one more post about a crown and jewels. I have some other posts, Here and Here. A couple of years ago I saw this post at LibErin about a crown and some shape jewels and was inspired to get out my glitter and make up a rhyme! This is a rhyme I made up that I used two different ways. I made a set of 5 colored 'jewels' the same shape and a set of 5 different shaped 'jewels'. Actually, the blue one works in both sets.

Crown Jewels

(by Kathryn Roach)

The royal king wears a crown

It sits upon his head.

Let’s add our first shiny jewel

A beautiful ruby Red

This kingly crown is lovely

I’m sure you’ll say it’s true!

We’ll add another jewel

A beautiful sapphire Blue

As the king sits on his throne

His crown will shine so bright!

Let’s add another jewel

This Orange one is just right!

This crown lets everybody know

The king is ‘His Royal Highness’

Let’s add this shiny Purple jewel

To make this crown the finest!

And now, we’ve almost finished

The most beautiful crown you’ve seen.

Let’s add the last bright jewel

This lovely emerald Green

The king is oh so happy

To wear this crown of gold

Each jewel in place makes his crown

A wonderful sight to behold!

Jewels and Crowns are so much Fun With Friends at Storytime! There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

A Crown for a Day!

Since we are doing a combination Halloween and Medieval theme soon, I got out my felt sets from a couple of years ago. I have a rhyme that I made up about Queen Sophie and her colorful crowns for each day of the week. I made a felt set of crowns and also a file folder crown. I had colorful gems that I used on my crowns along with lots of glitter!! I hot glued shiny sequins to the file folder crown after I had laminated it. I used construction paper in the file folder, but brightly colored card stock or even some shiny or holographic paper would be really pretty too! Depending on the group (or my mood LOL!) I can use either set. Here's the link for the rhyme,  'Crown for a Day' and the pics of the two sets.

Being a Princess is so much Fun With Friends at Storytime! There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Five Jack-o-lanterns Shining Bright

We are combining Halloween and a Medieval storytime theme this year. Dressing up for Halloween is a great time to pretend to be a king or princess or knight in shining armor!  Miss Margaret had a cute prop of 5 jack-o-lantern shapes that are clothes-pined to a cute wooden fence. So, to use that prop and tie it into our theme I made up a rhyme and made this set of flannel children for our combination storytime.

Five Jack-o-lanterns Shining Bright

  (by Kathryn Roach)

Sitting on a fence on Halloween night

Five smiling Jack-o-lanterns are shining bright.

Watching the kids going Trick or Treat

Filling their bags with something sweet.

First comes a king with his crown on tight

He takes a Jack-o-lantern shining bright.

Next a princess, such a beautiful sight

She takes a Jack-o-lantern shining bright.

Third comes a knight with his sword of might!

He takes a Jack-o-lantern shining bright.

Fourth comes a dragon, I don't think he'll bite!

He takes a Jack-o-lantern shining bright.

Last is a jester with black and red tights

She takes a Jack-o-lantern shining bright.

Five Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween night 
Have five smiling Jack-o-lanterns shining bright.

Happy Halloween!

Check out my post about dragons HERE. And my Medieval post HERE.   Dressing up for Halloween is a lot of Fun with Friends at Storytime!

There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Little Forest Animals revisited!

Last year I posted about a rhyme/activity that I used called Little Forest Animals. When I made it up I hadn't seen any of the other wonderful posts on the Flannel Friday Forest Animal Pinterest board. Since then I found similar rhymes @Falling Flannelboards and @ 1234 More Storytimes. You could do a month of Forest/Woodland animal storytimes with all of these resources!  I usually use the Beanie Baby animals that I have with my rhyme but I also made a set of laminated animals from Google images (just in case) LOL!

This theme would be an excellent opportunity to use or highlight non-fiction titles for little kiddos! Any of these rhyme/activities would be great for the Talking and Playing components of ECRR! Forest Animals are a lot of Fun with Friends at Storytime. 

There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Mole's New Hole...an inspired post

Two years ago when our Summer Reading theme was 'Dig into Reading' I was inspired to make my own set for the story that Linda Meuse shared from Notes from the Story Room. Not only had she made up a cute story, she shared patterns ready for use!! I used her patterns and instead of coloring the pellon with colored pencils I used acrylic paints. I made my hole for mole out of felt with a couple of dots of velcro on the back to hold it tight as I maneuvered mole and then possum in and out of it. We all really enjoyed the story!

You could also play "Which animal is missing?" game with these pieces by having the kids close their eyes (ha!) while you take an animal off of the board. It's so funny that someone always peeks!! This story would be great with a nonfiction book also!! Forest Animals are a lot of Fun with Friends at Storytime!  

There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.

Guest Post for Nancy

I'm glad to be hosting this week for Nancy Becker Foss to share some of her adorable decorating ideas for her library! Here are some of her ideas:

She made a garland of tiny books 

And a Library Chandelier made from an old lampshade covered in fabric scraps and hung with tiny paper books! 

How clever!

Thanks for sharing Nancy! 

There are more great posts on the Flannel Friday Roundup. Check out the wonderful resources on the Flannel Friday Pinterest Boards. If you want more info about Flannel Friday here's the link for the official Flannel Friday blog.