School! (and a nod to Father's Day)

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!

Papa, Do You Love Me (Barbara Joosse) 3-5
In the beautiful style of Mama Do You Love Me by the same author, Ms. Joosse portrays the strong, sure, and protective love of a father.  Set to the spectacular backdrop of Africa and the Maasai culture, this story reminds us that a father's love is universal.
Song: Love Grows
Chant: Deep Down in Africa

Owen (Kevin Henkes) 3-5
A fun book about tackling the sometimes frightening challenge of growing up by taking bits of your childhood with you--no matter what Mrs. Tweezers says...
Song: The Sneezing Song

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Bill Martin) 2-4
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has joined that revered list of children's classics.  Few little ones will face learning the alphabet without the drumming and jaunty cadence of Martin's coconut tree characters.
Song:  ABC's, of course!










Mouse Views (Bruce McMillan) 2-4
Take a peek at a classroom from the eyes of a mouse.  Close-up views followed by reveal pages challenge children to guess what the mouse is seeing.  This is always a fun story to help demystify a school classroom for pre-k's just entering their kindergarten year.

FB: Monkey in the Coconut Tree
Closer:  Wave Goodbye


Other School-Themed Books:
School Bus (Donal Crews)
Wow! School!  (Robert Neubecker)
Minerva Louise at School (Morgan Stoeke)

Garden

Openers
Oh Hey, Oh HI!
I Am a Tree!

In the Garden:  Who's Been There? (Lindsay Barrett George) 4-6
This absolutely gorgeous book with child's point-of-view illustrations is as beautiful as it is factual. Children and their dog examine the evidence of garden visitors and wonder, "Who's Been Here?"  A flip of the page reveals startlingly life-sized answers.  Have fun with this memorable natural history lesson gleaned from the garden.
FP:  Where are All the Bees?


My Garden (Kevin Henkes) 2-5
In a fun departure from her mother's run-of-the-mill garden, a young green thumb imagines some fantastic variations (like a jellybean bush).  After reading this story, have fun planting your own imaginary gardens!  What will you grow in yours?
Song: Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum






Up Down and Around  (Katherine Ayres) 2-4
Rhyming text and colorful, jubilant illustrations help children explore the idea that somethings grow up, some grow down, and others grow....all around, of course!


Glove Finger Play:  Six Bumble Bees
Glove Finger Play:  Five Sunflowers

Felt Board: Five Seed Packets

Other Books:

A Hand Full of Sunshine (Melanie Eclare)

Tops and Bottoms

Lenny in the Garden (Ken Wilson-Max)

Planting a Rainbow (Lois Ehlert)

Turtles

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Up to the Ceiling

Franklin is Messy (Paulette Bourgeois) 4-6
"Why all the fuss about a little mess?" Franklin wonders.  Our green friend learns a hard lesson about not putting things away, and comes away with some pleasant surprises, too!
Finger Play:  Here's a Little Turtle
Felt Board Game: Garbage Truck






Hurry Up and Slow Down (Layn Marlow) 3-5
Just when you think you know all there is to know about speedy hare and pokey turtle, this tale turns things on end when friends share a favorite story...Enjoy soft and detailed watercolor illustrations throughout this book full of natural beauty.
Song:  Dandelion
Finger Play:  Here's a Cup
Song: Walking, Walking





Turtle Splash (Cathryn Falwell) 2-4
Rhyming text and vibrant colors help young children enjoy their numbers while also introducing them to familiar pond life.  One, two, three, four...You'll want to read a little more!
Felt Board Guessing Game:  Who's in the Woods?

Other Books:

Scoot (Cathryn Falwell)
Franklin Books (Bourgeois)
Let's Explore Sea Turtles (O'Neil)
Turtle Moon (Hoffman)
Old Turtle (Douglas Wood)
The Hare and the Tortoise (Aesop)

Earth Day

Opener:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
I am a Tree!

An Egg Is Quiet (Dianna Aston) 
The talents of Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long combine to create a book as visually delightful as it is factual.  A simply beautiful book about the surprising natural variety expressed in the world of eggs...
Finger Play:  Great Big Ball
Song:  Five Little Ducks








Under Ground (Denise Fleming)
Have you ever wondered what is going on UNDER the ground?  Denise Fleming, with warmly colorful pulp paintings takes us on a journey where few ever get to go! Inviting language leads young readers down and down where they can find out just who lives underground and what they're up to.
Song:  The Ants Go Marching
Song:  Sticky, Sticky Bubblegum








Camouflaged Creatures (Marie Racanelli)
Earth's critters have a marvelous way of blending in.  Vivid photographs introduce children to unique creatures that can be cleverly hidden right under their noses!


Felt Board: Earth Family
Closer:  Wave Goodbye Poem (Rob Reid)



More Books:
Leo Lionni
Little Green (Keith Baker)
The Quiet Way Home (Bonnie Becker)

Blue

Opener:  Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Jump!

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (Amy Schertle) 3-5
Sometimes  being small or slow can make us feel, well, blue--if we let it.  Little blue truck sticks it out in the tangle of big city bustle and finds himself coming to the rescue in true Blue style.  Illustrator Jill McElmurry does a great job of capturing city style from the perspective of Little Blue.
Song:  Bumpin' Up and Down
FingerPlay:  Where is Blue Truck? (tune of Where is Thumbkin...include four more different colors of trucks and conclude each with "drive away."  I copied small photos of trucks and glued them to popsicle sticks to bring out from behind my back instead of my fingers.)



It Looked Like Spilt Milk (Charles Shaw)2-4
It looked like Spilt Milk.  Then again, it looked like a mitten and then an ice cream cone.  After a bit it looked like an owl, but wasn't ANY of these things.  The simple question, "What was it?" will keep small children engaged and delightedly guessing throughout this simple book until the answer if finally revealed.
Science Experiment:  Shaving cream rain cloud
http://www.hookedonscience.org/files/2013_Experiment_Archive_Shaving_Cream_Rain.pdf

The Deep Blue Sea (Audrey Wood) 2-4
Repetitive (and colorful!) verse allows children to practice their memory and visual skills while they 'read along' with this story that unfolds one color at a time.  All colors finally come together in a surprising little twist...to a colorful little story...in the middle of The Deep Blue Sea.
Finger Play:  One Little, Two Little, Three Little Fishes (tune of 10 Little Indians)
Felt Board: Blue Car



Closer: Wave Goodbye (Rob Reid)

April Fools!

 Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!


Fox Tails (Amy Lowry) 4-6
Amy Lowry recreates classic tales from Aesop about the famous trickster, Fox.  Four separate fables flow together to culminate in the final trick being on fox....fun!
Finger Play:  Quiet Little Mouse











April Foolishness (Teresa Bateman) 3-5
Grandpa cooly makes breakfast while the grandkids try their very best to fool him about the farm animals.  He's just too tough to trick, though, until Grandma gets involved.
Trick:  Baby in the Envelope






Who ate All the Cookie Dough? (Karen Beaumont) 2-4
Momma kangaroo just can't figure out where all of the cookie dough went.  Rhyme your way through this search for the trickster.  Just where could he be hiding?
Magnet Board: 10 Cookies

Closer:  Wave Goodbye (Rob Reid)

Cows: a story time that mooos...well,sometimes.

 Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Flower Stretch

Prop: 
Milk and Cheese
Highlander photo

Kiss the Cow (Phyllis Root) 4-6
Annalisa WILL NOT kiss the cow.  YUCK!  What happens to her many siblings and mother when the stubborn girl breaks the milky magic of the family cow?  Discover the answer and learn what Annalisa concludes about cow kisses.  --A sweet and fun folk tale highlighting a strong-willed child.

Finger Play:  Pitter Pat Rain
Song:  We're Stomping the the Rain


CLICK, CLACK, MOO  Cows That Type (Doreen Cronin) 3-6
This Caldecott Honor book in the wacky Farmer Brown series is sure to tickle your funny bone.  Farmer Brown's barnyard is always throwing him for a loop, but this time, the cows have gone too far...or have they?  Repetition and a creative, silly story line with lovable characters make Cronin's books a hit.  Be sure find out what FB's animals are up to this time.

Song:  Old Mac Donald (or...for a twist...Farmer Brown--with a click, clack here and a click clack there)


Millie Wants to Play (Janet Pedersen) 2-4
Every child can relate to the difficulty of having to W...A...I...T. Millie greets waking friends as she patiently waits for that special rise-and-shine sound that tells her it's time to PLAY!  Naming who makes familiar barnyard sounds and guessing who will wake next keeps young readers engaged until the special sound appears.  Guess what it is!
Wiggler:  Hokey Pokey

Felt Board: Baa Baa Black Sheep
Closer: Wave Goodbye


 Other Marvelous MOOOOing Books:
The Cow Who Clucked (Denise Fleming)
Cows Going Past (Bruce Balan)
Cock-a-Doodle Quack Quack (Ivor Baddiel, Sophie Jubb, Allie Busby)