Beyond the Book Storytimes
30 FOLLOWERS
I've been a children's librarian since 1986 and enjoy storytelling with books, puppets, props, and whatever else works.
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin, Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, Illustrated by Peter Brown
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Frog and Toad: "The Story" by Arnold Lobel (from the book Frog and Toad are Friends)
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, Illustrated by Don Wood
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pin ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, illustrated by Michael Hays
Puppets: none
Props: Stuff to make someone look a little bit like a giant
Presenters: two
Audience: Family Storytime (mostly 3-6 year olds)
Abiyoyo is one of a handful of stories I tell that I actually heard as a child. We had the Pete Seeger version on a record (it's possible it might even have been a reel to reel tape!). It was too scary at first and I would leave the room at "the sun rose blood red over the hills," but eventually I got used to it. I've told it solo a few times ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Story: "The Foolish Frog" by Pete Seeger
Puppets: Frog, Man, Woman, Child, Cow, Chicken (can cut one or two)
Props: Grass, Water Bottle, Barn (optional)
Presenters: One
Audience: Family Storytime, also good for K-2
When I started as a children's librarian a few decades ago the world of storytelling seemed totally new to me. Later I realized it wasn't, because I grew up listening to Pete Seeger records, and although I liked his songs, it was the stories that really captured me: "Abiyoyo"..."Sam the Whaler"...and this one, "The Foolish Frog ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood; Illustrated by Claudia Rueda
Puppets: 2 Cats, Bird, Frog (or substitute)
Props: Signs (copied from book); Santa Clothes for Cat (just a hat would do); Two Cat Food Cans (or similar); Christmas Lights; Puppet Stage (optional)
Presenters: Two
Audience: Family Storytime (could be done with one)
We needed a new holiday story to go with our annual puppet show presentation of The Nutcracker, so Brad and I decided to try Here Comes Santa Cat. In the book, the "narrator" is talking directly ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: A Pet for Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Puppets: Fly, Octopus, Monkey, Porcupine, Dog, Cat, Frog, Chipmunk, Spider, Worm (can substitute for all but Fly)
Props: Garbage Can, Banana (or substitute food), Bags for three puppets
Presenters: Two
Audience: Family Storytime
Tedd Arnold's "Fly Guy" books are excellent, but most don't translate too easily into read alouds or a two-person act-out kind of thing. But A Pet for Fly Guy is written as a picture book, rather than an early reader, and the structure is just right. I've used as a storytime read a ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: The Dark at the Top of the Stairs by Sam McBratney, Illustrated by Ivan Bates
Puppets: None
Props: None
Technology: Projector and Scans; Music and Sound Effects in PowerPoint
Presenters: Two or more
Audience: Family Storytime
For our annual "Slightly Spooky Storyime" we decided to try The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (the Sam McBratney picture book, not the William Inge play), . It's been one my favorites suspenseful/funny read alouds for a long time, but we thought it could make a good Act-Out with Scans. &nb ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: What's in Fox's Sack? by Paul Galdone
Puppets: Fox, Bee, Rooster, Pig, Child, Dog; 4 people optional
Props: Sack (pillow slip works fine)
Presenters: One
Audience: Family Storytime (older too)
Video: How to Tell What's in Fox's Sack? with Puppets
Here's one of the first stories I ever told with puppets. It has a repetitive pattern that's easy to learn (and for the audience to follow), and that pattern builds and twists a bit at the end to make a very satisfying story. When I tell it with puppets I like to it as narrator, as well as ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Puppets: none
Props: none
Technology: Projector with scanned illustrations + music clips
Audience: Family Storytime (mostly age 3-7)
Presenters: one
Jerry Pinkney's version of The Lion and the Mouse has so much potential in storytime settings and we've used it with several variations. We scan the images to project so they can be seen in our large storytimes. We've done it with barebones narration and simple perscussion to give it rhythm. Another time we had a local string quart ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: The Hat by Jan Brett
Puppets: None
Props: Character Signs, Various Articles of Clothing, Clothesline
Presenters: 2, plus child volunteers (could be 1 plus kids)
Audience: Family Storytime (mostly 3-7)
Brad and I chose to use Jan Brett's The Hat for a "clothing" themed Family Storytime. Jan Brett's website has a bunch of great resources for teachers and storytellers, including neat and simple printouts for the animals from The Hat. They're designed for reader's theater, but we used them in a slightly different way. We print ..read more
Beyond the Book Storytimes
3y ago
Book: There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish by Jennifer Ward, Illustrated by Steve Gray
Puppets: Pirate
Props: Fish, Parrot, Map, Sail, Boat, Mast, Bubbles (or substitutes)
Audience: Family Storytime (mostly ages 3-6)
Presenters: two
For a pirate-themed Family Storytime Sheila and I decided to do this reworking of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" using puppets, props, and a puppet stage. Sheila was in front of the stage managing props and leading the song. I was behind with a pirate puppet.
We adapted the book a b ..read more