I'm Not Cute!

I adapted Jonathan Allen's book I'm Not Cute! into a short puppet skit for my preschool storytime. It was very easy and the kids loved the hugging parts.

I didn't have all the animals in the book, so I used puppets on hand and it still worked out great. Use puppets that have arms, legs or wings you can get your hands into so they can really hug!

Puppets:
baby owl finger puppet
Mama owl puppet
kangaroo
bat
beaver

Props:
a small nest (or you can simply cup your hands into a nest)

One day, baby owl took to the woods. Walking along the trail, he ran into kangaroo. "Hello, baby owl!" she called. "Aren't you the cutest thing? You're so cute and cuddly!" (kangaroo hugs baby owl) And she hopped away. "I'm not cute!" baby owl cried out. "I am a scary and sleek hunting machine!" and baby owl continued walking. Next he saw bat swoop down from the sky and land on the trail in front of him. "Hello, baby owl!" said bat. "Oh, you are so cute and so fluffy!" (bat hugs baby owl) And bat flew back into the sky. "I'm not cute!" baby owl cried. "I am a scary and sleek hunting machine!" and continued following the path before him. He came upon beaver. "Hello, baby owl!" beaver said. "You are sooo cute! and sooo sweet!" (beaver hugs baby owl) and beaver hopped into the stream and swam away. "I am not cute!" baby owl cried. "I am a scary and sleek hunting machine!" and off he went, kicking stones down the trail.

He bumped into Mama owl. "Hello darling," she said. "Mama, it's not fair!" cried baby owl. "Kangaroo, bat, and beaver all think I'm cute, cuddly, fluffy, and sweet--and I AM NOT! I AM A SCARY AND SLEEK HUNTING MACHINE!"

"Of course you are," Mama owl said. "You aren't cute or cuddly or fluffy or sweet."

Baby owl thought for a moment. He started to cry. "I am cute!" "I am cuddly, and fluffy, AND SWEET!" he shouted.

"Oh, baby owl," said Mama owl, "you're tired. Let's put you to bed." Mama owl took baby home and tucked him into his nest. Soon, he was fast asleep.

"Baby owl," Mama whispered, "you are cute, cuddly, fluffy, and sweet . . . for a scary and sleek hunting machine, that is. And I love you."

THE END

The Cardinal and the Watering Can

I found this simple story online from the NY Public Library. I had to adapt it, since the original is a bluebird and a watering can and I only have a cardinal. Super-easy and quick. A good chance for little ones to practice listening skills.

Puppet:
Any bird you have on hand

Props:

A watering can
a nest
stones

(Pass one stone to each child to hold during the story. Tell them it's part of little cardinal's plan.)

One day a little cardinal was flying home. She was very tired and very thirsty. But she couldn't find water to drink anywhere! She flew high and low, looking for a stream or a puddle and there were none to be found. She stopped on a tree limb to rest. (Perch her on your arm. Pant.) She was so thirsty!

Just then, she spotted a green watering can next to the flower bed. Maybe it has water in it! she thought.
She flew down and perched on the edge of the can. Yes! There was water inside!
But little cardinal couldn't get all the way in the bottom where the water was--she might get stuck. So she thought and thought and came up with a plan:  if she could tip the watering can over, she may be able to pour water to the edge of the can and have a drink.
Little cardinal pushed and pushed and pushed, but she couldn't turn the watering can over! She was so thirsty!

So she thought and thought and came up with another plan. (One child interjected that little cardinal could go find a grown-up to pour the water out of the can; another child offered his stuffed bunny to help little cardinal push the can over!)
Next to the can, she saw a pile of stones. One by one, she dropped the stones into the can. (I let children help with this part and put their stone into the watering can.) Do you know what happened? Each stone she dropped in the can caused the water to rise a bit. With each stone, up and up the water rose until it was high enough in the can for cardinal to take a sip.

What a good plan! Little cardinal was no longer thirsty, and flew on to her nest.

So, when you encounter a problem, stop and take time to think. You CAN solve your problem, even if it's one small stone at a time.