Preschool Storytime–In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

For this week’s preschool storytime, I decided to do “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb.”  Since some of my storytime friends in this group are fairly young, I started with telling them about this saying, just in case they hadn’t heard it before.  Luckily, we had a book with the same title that did an adequate job of explaining the concept.

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Song:  We hit the floor together

Opening Rhyme:  This is Big, Big, Big

In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb By Marion Dane Bauer and Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully.  As I said earlier, this book is a good introduction to the concept of the dual nature of spring.  However, I would recommend it for slightly older children–probably ages 4 to 8.

Song: I Hear Thunder

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney.  I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by this 2010 Caldecott Medal Winner because it is–WORDLESS.  Yes, a wordless picture book.  Just in case any of you have avoided this book because you are nervous about narrating the story yourself, let me reassure you.  I read it in storytime and lived to tell about it.  Furthermore, I think that in a one on one, parent-child context, a wordless book like this one could be even more successful.  That’s because you and your child are on an even playing field; that is, you are both in the same position of deriving meaning from the illustrations.  Most of us are familiar enough with this fable to tell the story.  (Lion helps Mouse, Mouse is later able to unexpectedly save Lion in repayment).  But as you go along, you can discuss with your child what he or she thinks is happening in the picture.  Give it a try.  You can also try A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka, the Caldecott Medal Winner for 2012, which is also wordless.

 

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw, Illustrated by Margot Apple.  This is a very cute rhyming book about sheep who unsuccessfully attempt to drive a jeep.  Good for phonological awareness (awareness of the smaller sounds that make up words) and vocabulary (includes uncommon words like “steep”, “leap”, “shrug”, and “weep”.)

 

 

 

 

 

Flannelboard: Mary Had a Little Lamb.  From Recipe for Reading.  This activity was a HIT!  I explained to them that Mary has lost her little lamb (what color is that lamb?) and we will have to sing to help her find him.  We started singing, and let me tell you–there is nothing better that the looks on their faces when I put up that blue sheep (“with fleece as–BLUE AS BLUEBERRIES?!?  NO!  That can’t be Mary’s little lamb!”)  By the time we got to Mary’s lamb with snow-white fleece, they were all giggles.  Awesome!  Thanks, Recipe for Reading!

 

 

 

 

Where is the Green Sheep?  By Mem Fox, Illustrated by Judy Horacek.  The flannelboard above was the perfect segue into this book, where we are looking for a green sheep.  The book shows us a variety of other sheep, but the question persists–where is that green sheep?  I love this book and use it whenever I can.

 

 

 

 

 

Closing rhyme:  My hands say thank you

After the stories we played with the library’s collection of puzzles, blocks and toys!

Preschool storytime is for ages 2 to 5 and is held at 10:00 a.m. every Tuesday morning at the Leesburg Library.  Sponsored by the Lee County Library.  Free and open to the public.