Australia

Openers:  Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
I Am a Tree

Prop: Australian Animal Photos

Song:  All the Leaves are Falling Down

Grumble! Rumble! (Siobhan Dodds) 2-4
Little Roo seeks the help of his friends to discover where the horrible sound of a monster is coming from...but they are all eating breakfast!  What is Roo to do? Find out in this fun tale that children can surely relate to.
Song:  A Hunting We Will Go (Aussie Version)




Pouch (David Ezra Stein) 2-5
Little Joey finds the world outside of mommy's pouch to be just a little overwhelming until he finds a friend.  Children will enjoy this story of finding the courage to face new things with the help of a friend.
Song:  Ten Little Joeys
Game: Skizamaroo and Timbuktu






You Cuddle Like a Koala? (John Butler) 2-4
 Bursting with vivid animal illustrations, this book is laid out in a question format that is sure to tempt readers to explore the story by mimicing.  FUN, FUN, FUN!

Audio:  Kukabora bird song
Song: Kukabora Sits in the Old Gum Tree
Felt Board:  Five Kukaboras
Closer:  Wave Goodbye



Toddler Read Alouds

Can You Cuddle Like A Koala? by John Butler
Does A Kangaroo Have A Mother, Too? by Eric Carle
Grumble-Rumble! by Siobham Dodds
Jump Along by Neil Morris
Pouch! by David Ezra Stein - MY FAVORITE!Where Wild Babies Sleep by Ann Purmell

Preschool Read Alouds
Bilby Moon by Margaret Spurling
Boing by Nick Bruel
I Love It When You Smile by Sam McBratney
Joey by Jack Kent
Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell
Little New Kangaroo by Bernard Wiseman
McGillycuddy Could! by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Polly Hopper's Pouch by Louise Bonnett-Ramersaud
Snap! by Marcia Vaughan
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in A Ball by Vicki Churchill
Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields
Who Are You, Baby Kangaroo? by Sylvia Blackstone

School Age Read-AloudsDiary of A Wombat by Jackie French
Don't Laugh, Joe by Keiko Kasza
Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles
Epossumondas Plays Possum by Coleen Salley
Joey Runs Away by Jack Kent
Koala Lou by Mem Fox
Over in Australia by Marianne Burkes
Possum Magic by Mem Fox
What Do You Do With A Kangaroo? by Mercer Mayer
When Kangaroo Goes to School by Sonia Levitin

Labels: australian animals, emu, kangaroo, koala, possum, storytime,wombat

Flannels, Songs and Story Extensions

Book That Works Well As A Storytelling ScriptWombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan

Books That Translate Into Flannel StoriesBilby Moon by Margaret Spurling
Jump Along by Neil Morris
Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell
Little New Kangaroo by Bernard Wiseman
Snap! by Marcia Vaughan

A-Hunting We Will Go 
(Australian Version)
A-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go
The Rainbow Snake will eat some cake,
And then we’ll let him go!

The Bandicoot will play the flute…
The fat Wombat will wear a hat…
The Platypus will dance for us…
The Cockatoo will wave at you…

Cuddly Koalas
(Tune of: “Frere Jacques”)
Cuddly koalas, cuddly koalas
Possums too, possums too
Wallabies and wombats, wallabies and wombats
Kangaroos, kangaroos

Five Little Kookaburras Sitting in a TreeFive little kookaburras sitting in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Crocodile, "You can't catch me!"
Along comes Mr. Crocodile quiet as can be,
SNAP! - that kookaburra out of that tree!
Countdown until none are left..

Hop, Hop, Hop Kangaroo(Tune of "Skip to My Lou")Hop, hop, hop, kangaroo
Hop, hop, hop, kangaroo
Hop, hop, hop, kangaroo
Hopping around Australia.

Baby in a pocket safe and snug
Baby in a pocket safe and snug
Baby in a pocket safe and snug
Hopping with her mama.

A Kangaroo, A Kangaroo(Rhythm of A-Ram-Sam-Sam)
A Kangaroo , A Kangaroo
A Frilly Necked Lizard and a Kangaroo
A Kangaroo , A Kangaroo
A Frilly Necked Lizard and a Kangaroo
Koala, Koala
A Frilly Necked Lizard and a Kangaroo
Koala, Koala
A Frilly Necked Lizard and a Kangaroo

Kookaburra
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh kookaburra! Laugh kookaburra!
Happy as can be.

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Eating all the gumdrops he can see,
Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra,
Leave some there for me.

Kookaburra flies from the old gum tree
Flapping his wings for all to see.
Laugh kookaburra! Laugh kookaburra!
Flying oh so free.

Kookaburra land in the old gum tree
Fluttering his wings for all to see.
Laugh kookaburra! Laugh kookaburra!
Happy as can be.

This is the Way The Kangaroo Hops(Tune: "Mulberry Bush")This is the way the kangaroo hops
The kangaroo hops, the kangaroo hops
This is the way the kangaroo hops
So early in the morning.

Falling for Fall

Openers
Oh Hey,Oh Hi!
I Am A Tree

Winter Lullaby (Barbara Seuling) 2-4

Vibrantly colored illustrations and thoughtful, rhyming text follow a question/answer format to reveal where animals go in the winter--a question many young children (and even some adults!) want to know.

FP:  Where Are All The Bees
FP: Little Cabin In the Woods


Leafman (Louis Ehlert) 2-4
Who doesn't like to play with leaves?  Enjoy this creative leaf play crafted into a fall story by L. Ehlert.  It's a natural segway to a fun fall craft!

Pantomime:  Raking Leaves/Jumping in the Pile
Leaf Sort














Leaves (David Ezra Stein)
A darling young bear worries about the leaves falling off the trees but joyfully finds that they return after his long winter nap.
Felt Board: Ten Crunchy Leaves
Closer:  Wave Goodbye









More Books! (from Story Time Source Page)

Toddler Read Alouds

Bear Dreams by Elisha CooperBig Fat Hen by Keith BakerBunny's First Snowflake by Monica WellingtonBusy Little Squirrel by Nancy TafuriDuck and Goose Find A Pumpkin by Tad HillsFall, Leaves, Fall by Zoe HallLast Song by James Guthrie, illustrated by Eric RohmannMouse's First Fall by Lauren ThompsonPeek-A-Moo by Marie CimarustiPepo and Lolo and the Red Apple by Ana Martin LarranagaSleepy Bear by Lydia DabcovitchThat Pup!  by Lindsay Barrett George ~ story extension: hide "acorns" around roomPreschool Read AloudsBig, Bigger, Biggest Farm by Marie AubinaisFriend for All Seasons by Mei MatsuokaHere We Go Round the Mulberry Bush by Jane CabreraLeaf Man by Lois EhlertLeaf Trouble by Jonathan EmmettLeaves by David Ezra SteinMouse and the Apple by Stephen ButlerNew House for Mouse by Petr Horacek - MY FAVORITETen Red Apples by Virginia MillerSka-tat by Kimberley KnutsonTime to Sleep by Denise FlemingWaiting for Winter by Sebastian MeschenmoserKindergarten Read AloudsBear Snores On by Karma WilsonI Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie by Alison JacksonI Know It's Autumn by Eileen SpinelliLittle Yellow Leaf by Carin BergerOne More Acorn by Don FreemanTops and Bottoms by Janet StevensWhen Autumn Falls by Kelli Nidley

Leaves on the Tree (to the tune of The Wheels On the Bus)

The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown,

orange and brown,

orange and brown,

The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown all over town

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down,

tumbling down,

tumbling down,

The leaves on the trees come tumbling down all over town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish,

swish, swish, swish,

swish, swish, swish

the leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish all through the town.