Move Over Rover by Karen Beaumont

This is a super-simple storytime that works well for preschool storytime or toddler storytime. I had the materials for Rover's doghouse on hand and modified the story to fit the puppets at my branch. I ended the story with a dragon, because we don't own a skunk puppet and it still turned out fine!

Puppets:
dog
cat
beaver
frog
bird
mouse
dragon

Props:
a dog house (though you could easily tell this without a doghouse and stack the animals in your lap)
I used my favorite theater supply--a cardboard tri-fold display to make Rover's doghouse.

Let children help you with the repeating, "move over, rover." I even have my children roll their hands as we say it.

This story basically tells itself, and the children love seeing the animals stack up in Rover's house.

Give it a try!

Who Said Meow? Polushkin

I told the book Who Said Meow? with a little adaptation. It was a simple skit, with the children helping make animal sounds.

Book:  Who Said Meow?--Polushkin

Props:  None

Puppets:
dog
mouse
bee
bird
frog
cat

Fleagle the puppy is sleeping when he hears a "MEOW!" Awakened from his sweet puppy dreaming, he goes in search of the source of the meow and encounters different animals along the way. He asks each one, "Did you say MEOW?" and each answers with their own sound. (Children love helping with this part).
Finally, he gives up, goes back to his nap and is again awakened by a "MEOW!" He sees cat. Of course, she is the source of the "MEOW!"

Very simple. Very effective.

The King, the Mice and the Cheese

Or, as I called it, The King, The Mouse, and The Cheese.

I used this skit as part of a "royalty" themed storytime. I have to say it was one of the most successful stories I've tried with the preschoolers so far. The story is simple, repetitive enough for kids to help with, and funny. It took little prep effort and reaped big rewards. Some of the children stayed after our craft to reenact the story with the puppets again--magic.

I can't take credit for adapting this book to a puppet story; Steven over at Beyond the Book Storytimes (http://btbstorytimes.blogspot.com/) recently posted this idea and I ran with it.

Puppets:
mouse
cat
dog
lion
dragon (in the book it's an elephant)

Props:
a faux block of cheese
a small paper crown that fits your mouse

I adapted the story a little to suit our needs. I kept all of the animals singular, I changed the elephant to a dragon, and in the end I made the dragon afraid of mice so that he flew away--the king was so elated to be rid of the mean lion that he crowned the mouse and decided to share his cheese.

It worked really well and was a lot of fun!

Dog Puppet

Use "Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" with the dog puppet. It's a good introduction to prepositional words (behind, in front, under, over, top, bottom, etc.). You can move the puppet to match the song.