Sew Bookish Blog

Family Storytime: Unicorns & Dragons

7/1/2019

Clipart by Krista Wallden of Creative Clips. Graphic designed on PicMonkey.

It's no secret that I'm pretty partial to unicorns, but I think dragons are pretty awesome too.

I decided to try something new for this storytime and for this blog. I tempted the Sprites of Technology and switched between two devices throughout storytime: our ELMO document camera and the laptop that we have hooked up to our projector. I used the document camera to read physical books and I used a Google Slide presentation to project the lyrics to songs or the words to action rhymes.

Since I am working as a full time children's librarian, and because it is summer reading, I decided to start sharing my storytime outline and Google Slide presentation on the blog. It takes me 5 minutes versus 45 to put a post together now. I hope that you enjoy the new format :0)

Outline

Storytime Slides

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January Book & Cookie Club: Phoebe and Her Unicorn

1/28/2019

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I think there needs to be a new weather rule - no inclement weather on the days that children's librarians have programs! The joys of programming during the winter months, amirite? All kidding aside, I would rather my program participants play it safe - especially when it comes to snow and slippery roads!

We had a small Crew today, but there was still fun to be had and cookies to be consumed (Keebler Chips Deluxe #YUM).

The Book
Phoebe and Her Unicorn: A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle by Dana Simpson

Icebreaker: What's Your Unicorn Name?

I *might* have actually paid shipping on Amazon so that I could have unicorn nametags for tonight. I designed a "What's Your Unicorn Name?" chart on PicMonkey with a unicorn illustration that I found on Pixabay.

Discussion Game: UNICORN!

Since we had a late start (thanks to the snowprise), we did not get to do the discussion game. I planned to break everyone into 4 groups. Each group would recieve a question card. They would answer the question and bring the card to me. If the answer was correct, I would give them a part of a unicorn and their next question. I found a neat unicorn puppet printable from Arty Crafty Kids (you have to sign up to get the free unicorn puppet).

Candy Dragon Candy Bowl

My favorite character in the Heavenly Nostrils series is Todd, the candy dragon. I brainstormed several ways to make Todd - at one point I considered a Todd piñata. I eventually figured out this version of Todd and feel pretty pleased with how he turned out.

I purchased mini paper ice cream bowls from Amazon and found a dragon body printable from BakerRoss.

Unicorn Ring Toss

This game is as much fun as it sounds. There was a great deal of giggling, ducking, and fun. The rings are made out of foam, so there isn't any worry of injury from the rings. It's the horn you have to worry about. As they say "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!" No unicorns or humans were injured or harmed during the process of playing this game tonight.

Dakota's New 'Do

Marigold zapped off Dakota's hair which means The Crew has an opportunity to design a new look for Dakota! I tried my best to free-hand Dakota and copied her likeness onto cardstock. The Crew members gave Dakota a Pom Pom hair-do, a Rapunzel inspired hair-do, and a polka dot hair-do.

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Family Storytime: Magical Creatures

12/26/2018

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Graphic created with Picmonkey. Clipart from Krista Wallden of Creative Clips.

How can you top the excitement of the holidays? It's pretty tricky. I decided that today's storytime needed something a little extra special - so I went with my favorite topic: unicorns and dragons.

Click here to see today's outline and plans for storytime.

Letter of the Week: Mm

Books

Recorded Music

Pre-storytime Music:

These are the songs that we listened to before storytime began. If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

Happily Ever After

What a Wonderful World

Storytime Music:

These are the songs that we danced to during storytime. If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

Hands Are for Clapping

Can You Dance?

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

One, Two, Three, Whee!

Post-storytime music:

These are the songs that we listened to after storytime. If you are interested in checking out these songs, the album cover images are linked to Amazon so you can listen to a sample and/or purchase these great songs!

The Unicorn Song

Space Unicorn

Songs

If You're a Unicorn and You Know It
To the tune: If You're Happy and You Know It

If you’re a unicorn and you know it,
Prance around (weeeeee!)
If you’re a unicorn and you know it,
Prance around (weeeeee!)
If you’re a unicorn and you know it,
Your horn will surely show it,
If you’re a unicorn and you know it,
Prance around (weeeeee!)

If you’re a dragon and you know it,
Roar out loud (ROAR!)
If you’re a dragon and you know it,
Roar out loud (ROAR!)
If you’re a dragon and you know it,
Your scales will surely show it,
If you’re a dragon and you know it,
Roar out loud (ROAR!)

If you’re a fairy and you know it,
Fly around (ZOOM! ZOOM!)
If you’re a fairy and you know it,
Fly around (ZOOM! ZOOM!)
If you’re a fairy and you know it,
Your wings will surely show it,
If you’re a fairy and you know it,
Fly around (ZOOM! ZOOM!)

If you’re a mermaid and you know it,
Wiggle your tail (splish, splash)
If you’re a mermaid and you know it,
Wiggle your tail, (splish, splash)
If you’re a mermaid and you know it,
Your tail will surely show it,
If you’re a mermaid and you know it,
Wiggle your tail. (splish, splash)

I Caught Myself a Baby Unicorn
Created by N.Lawton
To the tune of Baby Bumblebee

I caught myself a baby unicorn
She’s so sweet she has a white horn
I caught myself a baby unicorn
Eww! She licked me!

I caught myself a baby unicorn
He’s so sweet he has a white horn
I caught myself a baby unicorn
Eww! He licked me!

Goodbye Song
by Carole Peterson
adapted by N. Lawton
To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb

Now it’s time to touch your toes
Touch your toes, touch your toes.
Now it’s time to touch your toes
Touch them now.

Now it’s time to touch your nose,
Touch your nose, touch your nose.
Now it’s time to touch your nose.
Touch it now.

Now it’s time to touch your head,
Touch your head, touch your head.
Now it’s time to touch your head.
Touch it now.

Now it’s time to wave goodbye,
Wave goodbye, wave goodbye.
Now it’s time to wave goodbye.
I’ll see you all next time.

Action Rhymes

Little Dragon
Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara

Little dragon counts to three,
Little dragon bends one knee.
Little dragon touches his toes,
Little dragon touches his nose.
Little dragon makes a funny face,
Little dragon runs in place.
Little dragon lays on the floor,
Little dragon starts to snore.

In the Castle
Credit: Storytime Bandit

Fierce is the dragon          (hold up hands like claws)
Brave is the knight            (hands on hips)
Poised is the royal court (bow)
Tiny is the sprite              (crouch down small)
Tall is the giant                (hands up high)
Quiet is the queen          (put a finger to your lips)

Flannels

Unicorn What Do You See?
by Nicole Lawton

Red unicorn, red unicorn, what do you see?
I see an orange unicorn looking at me.

Orange unicorn, orange unicorn, what do you see?
I see a green unicorn looking at me.

Green unicorn, green unicorn, what do you see?
I see a blue unicorn looking at me.

Blue unicorn, blue unicorn, what do you see?
I see a purple unicorn looking at me.

Purple unicorn, purple unicorn, what do you see?
I see children looking at me!

5 Magical Dragons
From NPL Flannel Collection

5 magical dragons making such a roar,
1 danced away and then there were 4.

4 magical dragons dancing around a tree,
1 danced away and then there were 3.

3 magical dragons dancing around you,
1 danced away and then there were 2.

2 magical dragons dancing in the sun,
1 danced away and then there was 1.

1 magical dragon having lots of fun,
She danced away and then there was none.

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Family Storytime: Unicorns

12/23/2017

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#Unicorns, April 20, 2017

I love that 2017 has been the year of the unicorn. Throughout the years, unicorns have always been my favorite mythical creature. Needless to say, I am thrilled that there are so many great unicorn picture books out there in the world.

I had a blast putting together this storytime. I would love to hear what books, songs, or flannels you have used if you have done your own unicorn storytime!

Books

A funny book that tries to talk the reader out of wanting a pet unicorn. As if!

Two "frenemies" that find a common ground and become the best of friends.

Octicorn thinks of some reasons why they are pretty awesome. A great self-acceptance story!

Song - "There's a Unicorn on Your Head!"

This song was a spur of the moment creation that I wrote down and saved for the day that I planned for a unicorn storytime! This song is great with a unicorn puppet!

There's a Unicorn on Your Head!
to the tune of: If You're Happy & You Know It

There's a unicorn on your head on your head.
There's a unicorn on your head on your head.
There's a unicorn on your head,
there's a unicorn on your head.
There's a unicorn on your head on your head!

There's a unicorn on your shoe on your shoe.
There's a unicorn on your shoe on your shoe.
Whatcha gonna do?
There's a unicorn on your shoe.
There's a unicorn on your shoe on your shoe!

There's a unicorn on your ear on your ear.
There's a unicorn on your ear on your ear.
It's really hard to head,
when there's a unicorn on your ear.
There's a unicorn on your ear on your ear!

There's a unicorn on your nose on your nose.
There's a unicorn on your nose on your nose.
Oh goodness knows,
there's a unicorn on your nose.
There's a unicorn on your nose on your nose!

There's a unicorn on your hand on your hand.
There's a unicorn on your hand on your hand.
Isn't it real grand,
when there's a unicorn on your hand?
There's a unicorn on your hand on your hand.

Recorded Music

These are the songs that we listened or danced to in storytime. If you are interested in checking out these songs, there are links to Amazon where you can listen to a sample and purchase these great songs!

Pre-storytime song: Uni the Unicorn

Hello song: Hola, Hello

Danced to "Everybody is Jumping"

Danced to "Let's Dance"

Danced to "Jump, Jump!"

Danced to "I Really Love to Dance (Remix)"

Post-storytime song: "Space Unicorn"

Other Activities

I started doing a "pre-storytime" activity to incorporate Every Child Ready to Read skills and a little pre-storytime fun. This activity is self-guided and gives caregivers and their kiddos something fun to do while they wait for storytime to begin. For this storytime, I projected a really cute unicorn themed I-Spy page from from And Next Comes L Blog. Caregivers and kiddos enjoyed looking for the different unicorns!

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