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!

Setting the Turkeys Free! A Whiteboard Story

I used this skit in preschool story time as part of a Thanksgiving theme. It's an adaptation of Setting the Turkeys Free by Lisa Nikola. I think the book translated well to telling with the whiteboard.

Puppet:
fox

Props:
hand print turkeys
fist-print boulder
foam stickers for decorating the hand print turkeys
craft sticks for fencing
whiteboard
dry-erase markers

The day before my story time, I dipped my hands in paint and made a few hand print turkeys on heavy card stock. I also painted my fist and stamped it onto a piece of card stock to use as the boulder. Once the turkeys and boulder were dry, I attached a magnet to the back of each and set them aside to use. I then took some craft sticks and put a magnet strip on the back of each to use as fencing.

I told the book as I drew a field on the whiteboard. Then, I added my first hand print turkey and decorated it with foam stickers. Next, I added additional turkeys and decorated them as well. I finished the scene off with the craft stick fence and drew rails on the fence with brown marker.

Using my fox puppet, I introduced fox and brainstormed ways to keep him from my turkeys. As in the book, I put up my fist-print boulder and then erased the fencing so the turkeys could run away.

But, in the end, the turkeys came back to my little green field!

We're Going to the Story Time Farm!

Super-simple puppet song for toddlers.

Puppets:
various animals

Props:
none

We're Going to the Story Time Farm
[tune: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush]

We're going to the story time farm,
story time farm, story time farm;
we're going to the story time farm,
listen carefully . . .
SHHHH

Then, I make an animal sound while holding the puppet inside my tote bag where the children can't see it. I have them guess the animals.

Continue until they're disinterested.

Good Bye!

I found the list online for all of those silly kid's goodbyes because I'm tired of the same old line: "See you later, alligator!" Using what I found as a template, I got out some puppets and taught some new goodbyes to my toddlers. This is easy, fun, and uses puppets you may have on hand.

See you later, alligator.
After while crocodile.
In an hour, little flower. (I have a plush and bendable flower.)
Or maybe two, kangaroo!
Adios, hippos!
Bye-bye, butterfly!

Simple.

Who's in the Old Tree?

Using a tri-fold presentation board, I made what sort of resembles an oak tree. I covered it in crumpled brown kraft paper, so it would look like bark and cut a hole in the center. I added kraft paper tree limbs and faux autumn oak leaves.

Since I was using this skit with my toddler group, I placed the tree up high on our lectern and I could easily manipulate the puppets behind the tree. The children were mesmerized, especially when the spider popped out.

I used a familiar song we sing and adapted it to this skit.

Puppets:
As many animals and insects as you want to live in your oak tree. I used:
a cardinal
a squirrel
a spider

Props:
A tree with a cut-out for the animals to peek out of.

"Who's in the Old Tree?"
Who's in the old tree,
the old tree, the old tree?
Who's in the old tree?
I don't know!
Let's find out!

This was easy and satisfyingly simple.

Five Little Apples

This is a puppet and flannel board combination skit. Very simple and effective. I used it this morning with my preschool group and it was a sweet addition to our stortytime.

Puppets:
caterpillar (or worm)
horse
pig
goat
squirrel

Props:
flannel board tree with five removable apples

"Five Red Apples"
Five red apples on the tree,
the farmer didn't care, so guess who came to eat?

CATERPILLAR!
Munch! Munch! Munch!

Countdown until you get to one.

The tree is bare,
there are no more apples there.
But when next Fall comes around,
guess who will be found?
Caterpillar, horse, pig, goat and squirrel!

The Stubborn Pumpkin (Pre-K)

I modified The Stubborn Pumpkin by Laura Geringer to suit a Halloween/Pumpking storytime. I wanted a little more drama than the original story. In my story, the farmer, Bell, Nell, Fifi, Pup, and Mop are seen by a little mouse wandering through the garden. Little mouse offers help and they all laugh at her. I told the children, "mouse is small, that's true, but mouse is smart," and mouse climbs up on the pumpkin, chews through the thick stem and tells everyone to try pulling now. The pumpkin rolls off, and farmer bakes his famous pumpkin pie, giving mouse the biggest slice.

I used a combination flannel board and puppet to tell this story. All of the pieces are felt, except the mouse. For the mouse, I used my small Folkmanis glove puppet.

Hooray! An easy addition to your puppet-story repetoire.