Rainy Day

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi

The Umbrella (Jan Brett) 3-5
Not unlike another Jan Brett favorite, The Mitten, little Carlos' umbrella slowly fills with creatures from the tropical rain forest until...well, you find out.  Richly colored and detailed drawings in Ms. Brett's classic style adorn this delightful little story and introduce those of us in N. America to some creatures we may not have encountered before.
Song:  We're Stomping in the Rain

Big Rain Coming (Germein) 2-5 
Katrina Germein masterfully employs colorful Australian art forms to embellish a sweltering week in the outback.  You will almost feel the heat hanging over this story and relief when the big rain comes.
Finger Play:  Thunder Storm
Chant: Rain, Rain Go Away


Here Comes the Rain (Mary Murphy) 2-4
Cats hate water...or do they?  Follow kitty as he finds out that the things we fear are often not so bad after all.  Young children will appreciate the colorful illustrations and simple text.
Finger Play:  The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Felt Board:

More Books!  (From Story Time Source Page)
Toddler Read Alouds
Duckie's Rainbow by Frances Barry
Ducks Like to Swim by Agnes Verboven
Here Comes the Rain by Mary Murphy
Maisy's Rainbow Dream by Lucy Cousins
Ned's Rainbow by Melanie Walsh
One Rainy Day by Tammi Salzano 
Rain by Robert Kalan
Raindrops: A Shower of Colors by Chieu Anh Urban
Taste the Raindrops by Anna Grossnickle Hines
What Can You Do in the Rain? by Anna Grossnickle Hines

Preschool Read Alouds
A Drop of Rain by Wong Herbert Yee
April Showers by George ShannonIn the Rain With Baby Duck by Amy Hest
Little Brown Hen's Shower by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Rain by Manya Stojic
Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt
Raindrop Plop! by Wendy Lewison
Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray\
Thingamabob by Il Sung Na
Thirsty Thursday by Phyllis Root
The Way the Storm Stops by Michelle Meadows

School Age Read Alouds
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema
I Love the Rain by Margaret ParkBridges
Lila and the Secret of the Rain by David Conway
Rainbow Of My Own by Don Freeman
Rain Came Down by David Shannon
Rain Romp by Jane Kurtz
Soggy Saturday by Phyllis Root
This is the Rain by Lola Schaeffer

Monkey Business

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!

Monkey (Gerald McDermott) 3-5
Many cultures have tales of 'The Trickster.'  This vibrant tale from India sets a monkey's wits against an crocodile's teeth!
Finger Play:  Here is a Little Crocodile
Song:  Row, Row, Row Your Boat (with crocodile ending)





Caps for Sale (Slobodkina) 3-5
A traveling salesman loses his caps.  Find out just what happens in this simple tale that helps children methodically explore colors, numbers, money, and monkey business!
Game:  Monkey See, Monkey Do (Skizamaroo and Timbuk Tu)
Song:  My thumbs are starting to wiggle (Hand out hats from previous book and see if children can balance their hat on their head while singing this song!)
Free Printable Monkey Masks:
http://www.craftjr.com/printable-animal-masks-monkey-mask/printable-monkey-mask-color/






Monkey and Me (Emily Gravett) 2-4
Do you have a favorite toy?  Does your toy go everywhere you go?  Join a little girl and her monkey as they explore animal friends together.
Song:  Go Bananas

Felt Board:
Teasing Mr. Alligator

Closer:
Wave Goodbye (Rob Reid)



Toddler Read Alouds
Five Little Monkey Jumping On the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Hug by Jez Alborough
Little Gorilla by Ruth Bornstein
Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett
Monkey See, Look at Me!  by Lorena Siminovoch
Monkey Soup by Louis Sachar
Peek-A-Zoo by Marie Torres Cimarusti
Ten Little Sock Monkies by William Winburn
Two Little Monkeys by Mem Fox 
Yes by Jez Alborough

Preschool Read Alouds
Banana! by Jonathan Allen
Big Little Monkey by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Gary and Ray by Sarah Adams
Good Night, Monkey Boy by Jarrett Krosocska
Just the Thing by Damien Harvey
Kiki's Blankie by Janie Bynum
Little Beauty by Anthony Brown
Monkey's Friends by Ruth Brown
Mo's Stinky Sweater by David Bedford
Seals On the Bus by Lenny Hort
Where's My Mom? by Julia Donaldson

Kindergarten Read Alouds
Bitter Bananas by Isaac Olaleye
Boy Who Loved Bananas by George Elliot
Caps for Sale by Esphr Slobodkina
Gladys Goes to Lunch by Derek Anderson
Little Red Monkey by Jonathan London
Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India by Gerald McDermott 
Monkey Who Wanted the Moon by Anne Mangan
Soon, Baboon, Soon by Dave Horowitz
So Say the Little Monkeys by Nancy Van Laan

Oversize Book
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

How Are You Feeling?

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi
Flower Stretch

Llama Llama Mad at Mama (Dewdney) 2-5
I think EVERY parent and young child can relate to the ups and downs of a day out shopping.  I'll bet you know just how little llama is feeling in this book about the roller coaster of little emotions.
Song:  Old Mac Donald Felt So Glad
Song:  If You're Happy and You Know It










How Are You Peeling-Foods with Moods (Freymann) 2-4
Freymann is a master at enjoying his veggies in a whole new way...  His delightful and tender characters help you children know that we all experience a range of emotions and that we're not alone with those tough ones...
Finger Play:  Where Is Thumbkin?
Song:  Shake My Sillies Out










Augustus and His Smile (Rayner) 2-4
Sometimes you have to chase that smile until you find it...in the most unexpected places.  Rayner's lovingly told tale invites the lesson that we can choose to create our own smiles.  (A nice reminder for adults, too!)
Finger Play:  Something In My Pocket


Felt Board: I Have a Little Feeling

More Books! (from Story Time Source Page)

Toddler Read Alouds
Baby Faces Peekaboo! by Dawn Sirett
Don't Worry, Bear by Greg Foley
Finn Throws a Fit by David Elliot  ~ this one is more for the parents :) 
Funny Face by Nicola Smee
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
How Do You Feel? by Mandy Stanley
I Don't Like Gloria by Kate Umansky
If You're Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera
What Does Baby Say? by Karen Katz

Preschool Read Alouds
Augustus and His Smile by Catherine Rayner
Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Flyaway Katie by Polly Dunbar
Grumpy Gloria by Anna Dewdney
Ha, Ha, Baby! by Kate Peety
How Do You Make A Baby Smile? by Philemon Sturges
If You're Happy and You Know It by James Warhola
I'm Not Scared! by Jonathan Allen
Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff
Llama, Llama, Mad At Mama by Anna Dewdney
Taking A Bath With the Dog by Scott Menchin

School Age Read Alouds
Augustus and His Smile by Catherine Rayner 
Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski
Bored Bill by Liz Pichon
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Grumpy Cat by Britta Teckentrup
Hurty Feelings by Helen Lester
Misery Moo by Jeanne Willis
Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban
Please Don't Upset P.U. Zorilla by Lynn Rowe Reed
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
Silly Billy by Anthony Browne