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.

Trucks

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Tree Stretch


Isaac the Ice Cream Truck (Scott Santoro) 3-5
It's awfully tempting to think that we're not as special as those around us.  Isacc the Ice Cream Truck struggles with this too, and shares with us just how he realizes how important he really is.

Song:  Sticky, Sticky Ice Cream

Duck in the Truck (Jez Alborough) 2-5

With a rollicking, rhyming cadence that sweeps us right through this sticky story, we find out just what happens when duck gets his truck stuck in the muck...

Felt Board: Duck in the Muck







Matthew's Truck (Katherine Ayres) 2-3
This sweet story rolls us through a boy's imaginative play with is favorite toy.

 Felt Board: Blue Car, Blue Car

Take Home:
Letter Tracks truck/car activity

More Books! (from Story Time Source Page)
Toddler Read Alouds

Baby Goes Beep by Rebecca O'Connell

Boy On the Bus by Penny Dale

Bridge is Up! by Babs Bell

Bus for Us by Suzanna Bloom

Clip Clop by Nicola Smee

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

Duck’s Key, Where Can It Be? by Jan Alborough

Giddy-Up! Let’s Ride! by Flora McDonnell

How will You Get There, Maisy? by Lucy Cousins

My Big Rig by Jonathan London

My Car by Byron Barton

Old MacDonald Drives A Tractor by Don Carter

Sputter, Sputter, Sput! by Babs Bell

Preschool Read Alouds

Beep Beep by Anne Miranda

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen

Hush Little Digger by Ellen Olson-Brown

In the Driver’s Seat by Max Haynes

Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car by John Burningham

Night Light by Nicholas Blechman

Pete the Cat: The Wheels On the Bus by James Dean

Pugs in a Bug by Carolyn Crimi -- rhythmic and fun! 

Scrubbly Bubbly Car Wash by Irene O'Garden

Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

Sheep in A Jeep by Nancy Shaw

Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London

Trucks Roll by George Ella Lyon

Vroomaloom Zoom by John Coy

Vroom! Vroom! by Steve Augarde

What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince

Wheels on the Race Car by Alex Zane

Who Is Driving? by Leo Timmers

School Age Read Alouds

All Aboard! by Susan Kuklin

Cows Going Past by Bruce Balan

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

From Kalamazoo to Timbuktu! by Harriet Ziefert

Hansel and Diesel by David Gordon

Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord

On the Go by Ann Morris

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root

Sakes Alive, A Cattle Drive by Karma Wilson

Smash! Mash! Crash! by Barbara Odanaka

Ugly Truckling by David Gordon

Beautiful Butterflies

 Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Story Time Stretch Cube

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Carle) 1-4
Whether this is your first reading of the classic Carle story or your 100th, this caterpillar is sure to please as he counts and eats his way through a week until...SURPRISE..something very special happens!

Felt Activity: The Very Hungry Caterpillar



Waiting for Wings (Lois Ehlert) 2-4
With pages as full and vibrant as the butterflies they are about, Ehlert takes young readers through perhaps their first exploration of the life cycle of a butterfly--in a memorable way!
Finger Play:  A Caterpillar Crawled
Song: Bumpin' Up and Down (In my little cute crysalis)

Don't Worry ( Bear Foley ) 2-4
We all know what caterpillar goes through as he waits to become a butterfly, but how does his friend, Bear, wait?  A touching story with a cheerful ending!

Felt Board Story: B is for Butterfly
Closer: Wave Goodbye


More Books!

The caterpillar and the Polliwog (Jack Kent)

Waiting for Wings (Ehlert)

In the Tall, Tall Grass (Fleming)

The Hungry Caterpillar (Carle)

Caterpillar's Wish (Murphy)

The Butterfly Garden (Minarik)

Clara Caterpillar (Edwards)

Butterfly Butterfly (Horacek)

Arabella Miller's Tiny Caterpillar (Jarrett)

Butterfly Suits/Little Einsteins ((Kelman)

Bob and Otto (Bruel)

Uniquely You

Opener:  
Toss Opener Stretch Cube




The Ugly Truckling (David Gordon) 2-4
Based on the classic tale of The Ugly Duckling, this dear and creative book follows the ugly truckling as she finds her true place in the world.  David Gordon has created similar stories alluding to the classics that are well worth checking out!

Song:  If You're Happy and You Know It
Song:  Bumpin' Up and Down (in my little yellow airplane)







No Two Alike (Keith Baker) 2-4
In this lovely celebration of the unique quality of each of us, author/illustrator, Keith Baker has created a colorful, sweet story of two small birds who flit through their natural landscape. Together, they grow to appreciate that no two beautiful things are exactly alike--including themselves!

Finger Play: Ten Little Fingers
Song:  My Thumbs are Starting to Wiggle













The OK Book (Rosenthal and Lichtenheld) 2-4
The simplicity of this book supports the enormity of its message:  It's an adventure to find out what we're REALLY good at.  And in the mean time, it's okay, even fun, to be 'just' okay.

Felt Board: Five Little Birdies

Closer:  Wave Goodbye
Take-Home:  Thumbprint art ideas

Burrow Into a Good Book

Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!

The Mitten (Jan Brett) 3-5
Jan's wonderful story of winter critters as they burrow into a mitten left behind be young Nikki.  (With illustrations unique to Jan Brett (you just have to experience them for yourself!), this story is sure to please adults and children alike.

Play Acting: Mitten Characters

Diary of a Wombat (Jackie French) 2-5
A week in the life of this oh-so-adorable wombat proves that he's a bit more clever than his 'family.'  Somehow, even though he's rather destructive, we're left really liking him anyway...A delight for those of us in North America, the habits of this Australian native will tickle your funny bone.

Song:  Wombat Digs with One Paw (from:  Jenny Works With One Hammer)

Underground (Denise Fleming) 2-4
You can't miss with this latest book by Denise Fleming.  She has a unique way of revealing the wonder of youth and rekindling it even in adults. Explore underground critters with strong, simple language and vibrant pictures.

Finger Play:  There Once Was a Little Mouse

Craft:  Toilet Tube Wombat/Carrot
Take Home:  Coloring Page

BIG Machines DIG!

 Openers:
Oh Hey, Oh Hi!
Steam Shovel Stretch

The Three Little Rigs (David Gordon) 3-5
Song:  The Wheels on the Truck (The Wheels on the Bus)

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site ((Rinker & Lichenheld) 3-5

Job Site (Clement) 2-4 or
Dig It, Dump It, Push It (Karapetkova) 2-4

Felt Board:
Blue Car, Blue Car

Take Home:
CLSP Which Truck is Different

Craft:  Big Rig Shape Craft w/ Moveable Parts

Other Books!
The Three Little Trucklings (Gordon)
Truck Trouble (Royston) DK Readers
Tough Trucks (Mitton)
If I Could Have a Dump Truck (Teitelbaum)
My Truck Is Stuck (Lewis)
See How They Go Trucks! (DK Publishing)