Jungle

Jumpin' Jammin' Jungle Time Laptime

Note: I've recently discovered that if you hold back some of the display books and as you begin your storytime, start setting the books up with a one-liner comment about how awesome that book is . . . the payoff? All your display books get checked out!

Also -- if you have a partner behind a stage, have a bug pop up behind you, you'll know when. Or have an assistant make chirping sounds at timed intervals. If you are alone, you can just pretend to hear these pesky--silly--bugs

Listen . . .
Do you hear it?


Boom. Boom. 
(Use a drum! Hold each boom for a whole note)

   it's an elephant, in the Jungle. Can you hear it?


Puh, Puh, Puh, Puh
(hold each puh for 2 counts-a 1/2 note)

   A lion, I hear the lion's feet, padding puh, puh... do you hear the lion's feet?


Eee-Eee Eee-Eee, Eee-Eee Eee-Eee
(1/4 note)

   It's the monkeys! I hear monkeys!


Chi-chi-chi-chi,  Chi-chi-chi-chi,  Chi-chi-chi-chi,  Chi-chi-chi-chi,  
(1/8 note)

   the Cicada's have come out, do you hear those big silly bugs?



Do you think there are lots of bugs in the Jungle? 
(shiver) 
 Oh, I do think so! 

What animals do you think live in the Jungle?
(I like to point to the animals I have set up: Oh, the elephant, and the lion! There, there I see a ssssnake. Or, look here, a big old Rhinoceros! Oh, that's not a Rhino, it's a Hippo? Now we are down in the water with the Hippopotamus, I think I see a shark! No? There's no sharks in the Jungle? I think you are right. But, here, here is the alligator and the giraffe and even a bear. Are there bears? Of course there are bears! You've never heard of Baloo from the Jungle Book! ;)



Down in the Jungle 
(Have children slap their knees or clap to the rhythm of the chant)

Down in the jungle
With the beat in your feet
Think of an animal
That you'd like to meet
That you'd like to meet ______!
(point to a child, what animal would they like to meet? A little direction is sometimes needed, ie: point to the Monkey animal/puppet you have there.)

A (Monkey)? A (Monkey). She wants to see a (Monkey)! 
 (Have the children imitate a monkey--vocally and physically. Repeat with different animals. Screech, growl and roar! p.s. this is a great indoor activity for rainy days that teaches not only animal sounds but large motor skills)







What's that? I hear something again . . .
Oooh, it's those noisy bugs again!  
(Said with anticipatory relish, build the tension . . . ) 


No, No. It's not bugs! It's a cranky monkey
(or save this one for when you hear a little one crying or fussing ;)

 What Do You Do with a Cranky Monkey
(I modified the tune What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor for this one)

Oh what do you do with a cranky monkey,
What do you do with cranky monkey,
What do you do with a cranky monkey,
Early in the morning?

Heave Ho and up he rises,
(lift baby up high on the 'Heave Ho')
Heave ho and up he rises,
Heave ho and up he rises,
Early in the morning.

Take him in your arms and tickle him all over,
(tickle!)
Take him in your arms and tickle him all over,
Take him in your arms and tickle him all over,
Early in the morning.

Heave ho and up he rises, 
Heave ho and up he rises,
Heave ho and up he rises,
Early in the morning.

Now what is it I'm hearing this time?
Bugs?
No, no, not yet . . .
It's that Elephant!

Elephant

An elephant goes like this and that,
 (Move arms, wrists together back and forth like an elephant's trunk)
He's terribly big and he's terribly fat!
 (Show just how big he is with your arms on either side of you)
He walks on his fingers, and he walks on his toes,
 (Wiggle those fingers! Point to those toes!)
And goodness gracious, WHAT A NOSE!
 (ASL sign for Elephant)

Whew, I'm glad that Elephant was a friendly ol' chap. He could have squished us like a bug!

What is it with these bugs?!!
You aren't afraid of bugs are you?
You are!??
You say they give you the creepy crawlies?


Criss Cross Applesauce 

Criss cross applesauce
(draw an X on baby's back)
Spiders crawling up my spine
(fingers crawl up baby's spine) 
Cool breeze
(blow on baby's neck) 
Tight squeeze
(give a hug) 
Gives my baby the sillies!
(TICKLE!!)


Ah, but I LOVE bugs!
...particularly eating them!
(ok, so maybe you don't want to take it THIS far! LOL! Instead of eating them--with relish (pun intended)--just like them ;)

I Like Bugs  
(from Let's Play Music)

I like bugs, every kind of bug I see.
I like the big ones and the bad ones,
And the fuzzy purple fat ones.

People think they are yucky,
But I just don't agree.
No. You can't bug me! 


__________



More Ideas

MONKEYS:

There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog by Jennifer Ward

No More Kissing! by Emma Clark
OPL Link

I'm a Little Monkey
(Sing to I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little monkey in a tree
I swing my tail so merrily
I can leap and fly from tree to tree
Having lots of fun you see.

I'm a little monkey
Watch me play
I munch on bananas every day
Lots of monkey friends to play with me

We all have fun up in the tree.

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree

Five little monkey's swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me. You can't catch me."
Along comes Mr. Alligator, as quiet as can be and...
Snatched that monkey right out of that tree!

Four little monkeys . . .

Banana! by Ed Vere
OPL Link
 
Bananas of the World Unite!

Form banana, form form banana
Form banana, form form banana

Peel banana, peel peel banana
Peel banana, peel peel banana

Shake banana, shake shake banana

Shake banana, shake shake banana

GO BANANAS, GO GO BANANAS!!
GO BANANAS, GO GO BANANAS!!

ELEPHANTS:

I Dream of an Elephant by Ami Rubinger
OPL Link

A Great Big Elephant
(Sing to Itsy Bitsy Spider)

A great big elephant
(walk hunched over with a trunk swinging in front of you)
Went out to play
Down came the rain
(rain fingers)
And then he couldn't stay
But up came the sun
(sun arms)
And dried up all the rain
And the great big elephant
Went out to play again.
(repeat the elephant walk)

One Elephant by Sharon Lois and Bram

One elephant went out to play
On a spider's web one day.
She had such enormous fun,
She called another elephant to come.

Two elephants went out to play . . .

HIPPO or RHINO:

Hippo. No, Rhino! by Jeff Newman
OPL Link


GIRAFFE:

Giraffe's Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
OPL Link

BUGS:

Poor Little Bug on the Wall


Poor little bug on the wall,
No one to love him at all,
No one to blow his nose,
No one to tickle his toes,
Poor little bug on the wall.

OTHER:

Animal Crackers
(sing to 99 bottles of ...on the wall)

Oh once I ate a lion
And then a tall giraffe
But when ate the elephant
He really made me laugh!

Now you might think I'm fooling
But I will tell you true
They were animal crackers
And you can eat them too!
 
I'm So Hungry

I'm so hungry
I'm so hungry
Yes I am
Yes I am

I could eat a lion
Without even tryin'
Yum Yum Yum
(continue with silly suggestions from the kids)
 
Just One Bite by Lola Schaefer
OPL Link

Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter
OPL Link

If You're Happy and You Know It: Jungle Edition by James Warhola
OPL Link

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
OPL Link

Monkeying Around

Opening Music:
I Wan'na Be Like You
from Disney's Jungle Book


What do you do with a Cranky Monkey
by Amy White
(Tune: What do you do with a Drunken Sailor)

What do you do with a cranky monkey
What do you do with a cranky monkey
What do you do with a cranky monkey
Early in the morning

Heave Ho and up he rises
~ lift baby up high
Heave Ho and up he rises
Heave Ho and up he rises
Early in the morning!

Take him in your arms and tickle him all over
~well, what do you think? You TICKLE!
Take him in your arms and tickle him all over
Take him in your arms and tickle him all over
Early in the morning

Heave Ho and up he rises
Heave Ho and up he rises
Heave Ho and up he rises
Early in the morning!



Up in the Treetops
by Michael S.
(Tune: Up on the Housetop)

Up in the tree tops, I swing all day
Swinging here and swinging there
Got to get bugs and bananas too
Got to hurry back and so do you


Swing all day, yes I may
Swing all day, yes I may


Got to get some bugs and bananas too
Got to hurry back and so do you.

There was an Old Monkey who Swallowed a Frog

by Jennifer Ward

OPL Link

On Top of the Treetops

by Michael S.

(Tune: On Top of Old Smokey)

On top of the treetops
All covered with leaves
I lost my banana
When somebody sneezed

It fell off the tree tops
And onto the ground
I have to go get it
Before it gets brown.


Just One Bite by Lola Schaefer
OPL Link


Can't Bug Me
(a slightly altered version from Let's Play Music - they use this one in such a CUTE way to learn notes, not my goal here, but it's an awesome idea they have!)

I eat bugs.
Every kind of bug I see!
I like big ones and the bad ones
and the fuzzly purple flat ones!

People think they're yucky.
But I just don't agree!
No you can't bug me!


If All the Raindrops

If all the raindrops
were lemondrops and gum drops
oh what a rain that would be.

I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
ah, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
~head back, mouth open wide, sing 'ah, ah, ah..' to the tune

...if all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes

...if all the sunbeams were bubblegum and icecream

Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter

This comes with a fabulous CD!

OPL Link

If You’re Happy and You Know it: Jungle Edition

by James Warhola

OPL Link

__________________________________________

And even more ideas...

Bananas of the World Unite!
Amy's version / alternate ending

Bananas of the world unite!
~clap at 'unite'

Form banana, form form banana
Form banana, form form banana
~clasp hands together above your head

Peel banana, peel peel banana
Peel banana, peel peel banana~arms peel down from above your head

Shake banana, shake shake banana
Shake banana, shake shake banana~shake yourself
Go bananas, go go bananas
Go bananas, go go bananas
~go Crazy!!! Think like a 60's go go dancer, arms up and down, oh yeah baby!

Now, all my bananas...

SPLIT!
~at midline, hands go from together, fast to out to sides - think an umpire signaling 'safe' - unless you can do the splits, if you can, do the splits - wow, kudos to you!


Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off an bonked his head
Mama called the dr. and the dr. said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed,

       Four little monkeys…



Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree

Five little monkeys swinging in the tree
~fingers swing back and forth like monkeys in tree

Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can't catch me, no, you can't catch me
~thumbs to sides of your head, waggle fingers in a 'nana na na na'

Then along came Mr. Alligator
~bring a hand from behind your back, sneaky, slithery, silently...

As quiet as quiet can be
And... SNAPPED
~'nab' one of your monkey fingers with the sneaky alligator

that monkey right out of that tree!

     Four little monkeys swinging in a tree...
     Three little...
     Two little...
     One little...
No more monkeys
(Mr. Alligator has a FULL tummy!)


Down In The Jungle
(chant)
Have children slap their hands on their knees and then clap them together to set the rhythm of the chant.

Down in the jungle
With the beat in your feet,
Think of an animal
That you'd like to meet.
That you'd like to meet ________!
(Call out a child's name and have them name a jungle animal)

A (Monkey), A (Monkey) She wants to see a (Monkey)!

Then have all of the children imitate a monkey. Keep repeating and naming different animals for the children to imitate and don't forget the growls, screeches, and roars! This is also great for large motor indoors on rainy days.


The Monkeys in the Jungle
(To the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)

The monkeys in the jungle say
ooh, ooh, aah, ooh, ooh, aah, ooh, ooh, aah,
The monkeys in the jungle say
ooh, ooh, aah, all day long.

Continue with parrots say squawk tigers say grrr ...


I'm a Little Monkey
(Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little monkey in the tree
Swinging by my tail so merrily
I can leap and fly from tree to tree
have lots of fun you see.

I'm a little monkey watch me play
Munching on bananas every day
Lots of monkey friends to play with me
We have fun up in the tree.

Monkey Fingerplay

The monkey claps, claps, claps his hands
( clap hands)
The monkey claps, claps, claps his hands (
 clap hands)
Monkey see, monkey do

The monkey does the same as you!
(point to children)

Repeat, changing motions (monkey stomps his feet, covers his eyes, sits down, stands up, etc)


Monkey See, Monkey Do
(Tune: This Old Man)
perform the motions as you sing about them

If you raise your arms,
I will, too—
Monkey see, monkey do!

Chorus:
Whatever you do,
I’ll do it too—

Monkey see, monkey do!
If you clap your hands,

I will, too—
Monkey see, monkey do!

If you scratch your head...
If you stamp your feet...
If you hop around...


Jungle Sounds
Let's Play Music

Divide into 4 groups. This side, you are all the Elephants, next to you are the Lions. This other half, let's split you into the last 2 groups, Monkeys and Cicadas. Now here are your parts:

Elephants
- boom

Lions
- puh, puh

Monkeys
- eee, eee, eee, eee, eee,

Cicadas
- chi chi chi chi, chi chi chi chi



Books:


Banana! Ed Vere
OPL Link

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
OPL Link

Jungle Boogie by Sally Crabtree

No More Kissing by Emma Clark
OPL Link

Sitting Down to Eat by Bill Harley
MP3 download   OPL Link

Mommy, Carry Me Please! by Jane Cabrera
OPL Link


Monkey Face by Frank Asch / felt story
Out of print

Zoo Day

Zoo (Who Said Moo?) Day!
A Storytime for Preschool age and up

(Laptime version, click here)

Elephants, Hippos, Monkeys and More! Oh dear! Elephants, Hippos, Monkeys and More! Oh dear!

Yeah! The Zoo!

I LOVE the Zoo! Zebras, Peacocks, Penguins, Bears, Monkeys, Oh what else? What is your favorite?
~ask for kids to toss in some suggestions

Oh We're On The Way
Sing to 'On the Way to Grandpa's Farm' tune
Thanks Sheila N. for getting me started on this one!

~Bump up and down to the beat
Oh we're on the way, we're on the way
On the way to Hogle Zoo

Oh we're on the way, we're on the way
On the way to Hogle Zoo!
Down at the zoo
We'll see some big giant elephants
Down at the zoo
We'll see some big giant elephants
The elephants will go a lot like this:
~trumpet like an elephantThe elephants will go a lot like this:~trumpet like an elephant
Oh we're on the way, we're on the way
On the way to Hogle Zoo...

repeat with more made up verses:
The lions will go a lot like this:
~Rrraaaarrrrrr

The Monkeys will go a lot like this:
~eee eee eee eee

The whales will go a lot like this:
~Whale sounds

never mind that there isn't a whale at Hogle Zoo, we are suspending belief here for a few minutes it is STORY telling after all ;)


Listen.
Can you hear it?

It's the sound of the jungle!
It's animal music!


Jungle Sounds
Let's Play Music

Divide into 4 groups. This side, you are all the Elephants, next to you are the Lions. This other half, let's split you into the last 2 groups, Monkeys and Cicadas. Now here are your parts:

Elephants
- boom
Lions
- puh, puh
Monkeys
- eee, eee, eee, eee, eee,
Cicadas
- chi chi chi chi, chi chi chi chi


You've got the rhythm! Now go with it!

Aaa Eeee, Eeeea EeeeeEeeeaa Ma Ma, Ma Weh...


In the Jungle/
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
In the Jungle the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight.
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight.

A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh
A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh
A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A weema-weh
A-weema-weh A-weema weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh

Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight

A-weema-weh A-weema-weh....


Hmf, didn't I say HOGLE ZOO?
Did I say Disneyland? No? I thought not ;)
Back to our regular programming:

Now, at the HOGLE Zoo, I think there is a brand new elephant habitat! Let's go visit the elephants.


Elephant
Chant this or sing to the tune of  Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush

An elephant goes like this and that
~swing arms like an elephant trunk

He's terribly big, and he's terribly fat
~round arms into 'big' and bigger

He walks on his fingers, and he walks on his toes
~ point to fingers and toes

And goodness gracious, what a NOSE!
~point to your nose then do the ASL sign for elephant


Your Nose by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book CD)


Speaking of how perfect each and everyone of you are...


Monkey Face by Frank Asch
..unfortunately the book is out of print - see my somewhat altered Flannel story version


oooh, I hear thunder, is it going to rain??


Rain Song by Lezlie Evans


A Great Big Elephant
sing to the 'itsy bitsy spider' tune

A great big elephant~bend over walking and swinging arm for the elephant's trunk

Went out to play
Down came the rain
~flutter fingers down for rain

and then he couldn't stay
But up came the sun
~arms up, circle overhead for 'sun'

And dried up all the rain
And the great big elephant

Went out to play again
~bend over walking and swinging arm for the elephant's trunk


Did you see that big elephant?
It was squirting water out of it's nose!
Talk about making it rain!


One Elephant
By Sharon Lois and Bram
~this is a fun one to do a walking elephant chain - hold hands, pick up additional players as you count up
One elephant went out to play
On a spider's web one day
She had such enormous fun
That she called on another elephant to come

Two elephants went out to play
On a spider's web one day

Three elephants

Four elephants

Five elephants


Oh, look, it's a Hippo! Or is it a Rhino?


Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? by Shel Silverstein


Hippo! No Rhino! by Jeff Newman


A Hippopotamus

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got up, got up, got up on a bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Oh, you're squishing me"

A cow, a cow, got up on the bus
A cow, a cow, got up on the bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Mooooooove over."

A snake, a snake, got up on the bus
A snake, a snake got up on the bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Ssssssssit down"

A sheep, a sheep, got up on the bus
A sheep, a sheep, got up on the bus
And all the people on the bus said;
"Baaaaack up"


Enough with the elephants already. And HOW, may I ask, did we get a cow?
In any case, it's the monkeys I want to see now:

Shall be zookeepers and feed all the monkeys?

What do you think monkeys eat?
Hmmmm...

Bananas? Are you sure?

You really do think so?
But I thought bananas for were for kids!
No?



Bananas of the World Unite!
Amy's version / alternate ending

Bananas of the world unite!
~clap at 'unite'

Form banana, form form banana
Form banana, form form banana
~clasp hands together above your head

Peel banana, peel peel banana
Peel banana, peel peel banana~arms peel down from above your head

Shake banana, shake shake banana
Shake banana, shake shake banana~shake yourself
Go bananas, go go bananas
Go bananas, go go bananas
~go Crazy!!! Think like a 60's go go dancer, arms up and down, oh yeah baby!

Now, all my bananas...

SPLIT!
~at midline, hands go from together, fast to out to sides - think an umpire signaling 'safe' - unless you can do the splits, if you can, do the splits - wow, kudos to you!


Where did all our bananas go?

Those monkeys are sure putting up a racket, they sound pretty hungry.

(kids, I want you to pretend you are monkeys - eeh, eeh, eeh -scratch under arms, hop around)

Wow, really really hungry!

(thanks you all, you did that great!)

Hmm, we need some help or these monkeys will never get fed, come help me load some bananas...


Day O'
Banana Boat Loader's Song
Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home
I work all night from a quarter to one
Stack'n bananas 'till the mornin' come

Come Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

One han' two han' three han' bunch
Four han' five han' six han' bunch
Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

A lovely bunch o' ripe bananas
Hide the deadly black tarantula

So check them, check them, check them with caution
My back is breaking from pure exhaust'n

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Six han' seven han' eight han' bunch
Nine han' ten han' eleven han' bunch
Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home

Day-O, me say day-O
Daylight come and me wanna go home!


Whew, what a lot of work, getting those bananas!

(kids, time to act like you are monkeys again!)

Okay okay, monkeys, hold yer shorts, we're a-comin' with yer bananas!

Oh boy, these are some demandin' monkeys.
You would think they didn't have any manners at all.
(wink)


Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys swinging in the tree
~fingers swing back and forth like monkeys in tree

Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can't catch me, no, you can't catch me
~thumbs to sides of your head, waggle fingers in a 'nana na na na'

Then along came Mr. Alligator
~bring a hand from behind your back, sneaky, slithery, silently...

As quiet as quiet can be
And... SNAPPED
~'nab' one of your monkey fingers with the sneaky alligator

that monkey right out of that tree!

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree...

Three little

Two little

One little

No more monkeys
(Mr. Alligator has a FULL tummy!)

Now you see what happens to bad teasing little monkeys. Aha!
I know none of you would ever be so foolish though.

Whew, getting all those bananas, thinking of all that eating, it sure has made me hungry. Shall we sit down to eat? Come on everybody, it's eatin' time!


Sitting Down to Eat by Bill Harley
(check out the CD)


Did you get enough to eat?
Everything kind of blew up before I got a chance to take a single bite.

Hmm, where should we go now? Did I see an aquarium?

Back there, on the other side of the elephants, on the way to the food court? Why don't we start walking over there, check out the fish and then grab a bite to eat afterwards, sound good? Great!

Slippery Fish

Slippery fish, slippery fish
- Slide palms backwards and forwards - slipping

Swimming through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO! I've been eaten by an...

Octopus, Octopus,
- arms out and slowly waving up and down like an octopus

Swimming in the water,
Oh, Octopus, Octopus...
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO! I've been eaten by a...

Great big shark, great big shark
-arms open and shut from the elbow to the hands, fingers interlock when they meet for sharp teeth.

Swimming in the water
Great big shark, great big shark
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO! I've been eaten by a ...

Humongous whale, humongous whale
-arms open and shut in a huge 'whale-mouth' motion

Swimming in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
-hands to face, dismay, surprise, shock

Oh, NO!!! Oh ..
-look around, look...who ate it...

YOU ate it!
-look of utter surpise on your face as you gesture to a child


Oh, they were animal crackers! I get it! Phew!
For a minute there I thought that you were just too hungry to wait!


Animal Crackers
sing to the tune of 99 bottles

Oh once I ate lion
And then a tall giraffe

But when I ate the elephant
He really made me laugh!

Now you might think I'm fooling
But I will tell you true

That they were animal crackers
And you can eat them too!


I'm so Hungry

I'm so hungry
I'm so hungry

Yes I am
Yes I am

I could eat a lion
Without even tryin'

Yum Yum Yum

(now continue, have kids suggest an animal and make up a rhyme to fit,
ie: horse, oh of course! giraffe, don't make me laugh! )

Time to say goodbye and good night, don't let the bed bugs bite!

__________________________

Need to convert this Storytime to a Laptime?
Use the fingerplays and songs, then add one of these books:

Banana! Ed Vere
OPL Link


Mommy, Carry Me Please! by Jane Cabrera
Animals sure have a lot of ways to carry their babies!
I know I wish I were a Kangaroo momma at times!

Are you getting tired? Is it naptime?

Quiet! by Paul BrightFrom Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
_____________________________

Need more? Try some more of my storytime favorites:


Edward the Emu by Sheena KnowlesEdwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles
Eeek!Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy RathmannGiraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Can You Teach a Hippo to Dance by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book and CD)


Pssst! by Adam RexWild About Books by Judy SierraHippo-NOT-amus by Tony Payne


I Want to Be Your Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book and CD)
_________________________________

OLDER ELEMENTARY & TEEN


Wolves by Emily Gravett


Rabbit Tango by Sandra Boynton
(Blue Moo book and CD)

Monster in the House!

I LOVE doing MONSTER themes! Is it because I love a good fright or that I relish the opportunity to give children empowerment over their fears. A bit of both I think. My Monster Laptime is always evolving and even metamorphs (is that a word?) into a whole new beast for the month of October. Here is my standard, plain clothes, version of

There is a Great BIG HUGE TreMendoUS HOrRiBlE Monster in my House!

First Lets start with a little monster, a terrible monster, a horrible monster, a monster who was, well, not scary at all, in other words, a terrible monster…


Leonardo, The Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
OPL Link


Do you not have friendly monsters at your house? Do you have some of the scaaarier kind? Let’s get rid of those monsters!


Go Away, Big Green Monster by Edward Emberley
OPL Link
( I have made this little book into one of the funnest, and easiest to make, flannel stories of all time! It’s a complete joy to perform this in Laptime and Storytime. Felt Monster to make - PRINT IN LANDSCAPE, enlarge as needed)













and now whisk off that green face and end just like the book:

"And don't come back unless I say so!"

Whew, chased away that monster!

Hmmm, but sometimes the monster doesn’t look like a monster, sometimes it just ACTS like a monster. Little Bunny Foo Foo by Paul Johnson / Little Rabbit Foo Foo by Michael Rosen

Goon Puppet for the big end reveal

Little Bunny Foo Foo by Paul Johnson
OPL Link
(I heard a storyteller change the fairy’s line a bit and I really like it better: ‘Little Bunny Foo Foo, I don’t like your attitude…’)


Put your fingers up in the air like rabbit ears and let’s do all the actions!
(Really ham this one up as no matter HOW many times Little Bunny Foo Foo is told by the good fairy the he needs to behave, he STILL keeps doing what he should not be doing! Funny, I think I’ve got a little rabbit foo foo at MY house! You’ve got to finish the story with the moral of the story: Hare today, Goon tomorrow. After all, the parents have to have some fun at Laptime too after all!)

I see something, something big, something huge, something monstrously large… Let’s see what they could be, and just maybe, let’s see if you’ve know any of these monsters already…


We’re going on a Dinomonster Hunt!
(I have drawings of a 'close relative', at least in the looks department, of these dinos, ie; yellingdactyl - pterodactyl etc. I found this idea in a copyshop’s files. I’ve not been able to track down any name or source to credit with this idea I’ve adopted. If you know, do let me know! ALSO... you will really want to abridge this if you've got a very young crowd)

Oh, first, who do we have… we have oh, could it be…


A Stingystegosaurus

Wow, this dino thinks he is the most important dinosaur in the world. He always wants everything and will never ever share. Why Stingystegosaurus is so mean he won’t even say thank you. As a matter of fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say much more than ‘I want it, I wantit, I WANTITNOW’! He is no fun to play with either; he only ever wants to play his favorite games, never what anyone else likes at all. Have you seen this monster roaming around?

I spy, oh be careful…

It’s an Angryosaurus!

This one is okay to be around if it’s in a good mood, but watch out if he gets angry or pouts, he can get pretty scary then. Just the littlest things will set this dinomonster off, things like when he thinks his mother is picking on him, or making him actually clean his room before he can go out and play! The angryosaurus doesn’t ever have much fun, he’s too busy complaining. Do you know this dinosaur monster? Have you seen him?

Oh, dear… I see another dinomonster...

It’s the Tattleochtodon

Better known as the Whineosaurus, this dinomonster is always pulling on her mother’s sleeve trying to tell her all about how all the other dinos are misbehaving or getting into trouble, they won’t share, they are calling me names, he hit me, or just telling everyone around how no one wants to play with her. Well, no wonder. Do you know a Tattleochtodon?

Duck everyone! There she goes, oh, now she’s gone again, but you can still hear her for miles and miles it’s the…

Yellingdactyl!

You almost always know where a yellingdactyl is, she flies in and out and in and out, around and around, always yelling. It’s easy to find this dinomonster, never a quiet moment, well until she gets in trouble. A yellingdactyl is known for it’s ability to wreck havoc on fragile lamps and other breakables that it bumps when it’s flying around and not paying attention to where it’s going.

Oh, what,
(someone is tugging on your sleeve for your attention)
please wait. Yes, I know, but it’s just not your turn yet. Hm? You don’t care whose turn it is? Oh folks, we have a slight interruption. I think we have found the…

But-inbrontosaurus

I better hurry and tell you about this dino, he tends to interrupt a lot. Whenever this bronto’s parents are on the phone, it’s just too much, this monster insists on butting in and talking so loud that no one else can be heard. It’s been known to take over whole conversations. You know, tt makes you wish that but-inbrontosaurus would just butt out.

Excuse me, please, I know you had to wait, but…. what, why, I never…Here we go, yet another terrible dinomonster, here, let me introduce you to…

Rudeosaurus Rex

This guy always wants to be the center of attention. A lot like our last dinomonster. The Rudeosaurus Rex never asks for permission, never says please or thank you. As a matter of fact, rudeosaurus pushes and shoves. He even burps real loud and he thinks it’s funny. There are no manners to be found in this monster. He better be careful or he will find that he has no friends at all. Have you seen Rudeosaurus Rex around your house?

Shhh, be careful what you say around our next dinomonster, this is the…

Poutasaurus

The poutasuarus gets her feelings hurt at every turn. She feels bad because she thinks she can’t draw very well. She is always discouraged and blue about something. No fun to be around at all. Poor poutasaurus, she’s not looking too well, such a sad frowning face she has. I don’t think she is ever happy. Have you seen a poutasaurus?

Hmm, where could this next dinomonster be? I wonder where she is? Hmm, must be running late again. Oh, finally, here she is…

Oh, dear, it’s Pokeyceratops

What a slowpoke! Always late, always making people wait. Pokeyceratops is so slow that she is always behind. She likes to sleep late, ‘just one more minute mom, please’. She is the last one to breakfast, the last one out the door, and even then, she has to go back in while everyone waits because she forgot to brush her teeth. Poor pkeyceratops, we almost missed her on our hunt she was so slow.

Wow, what a sorry lot of dinomonsters today! Oh, look, there’s one last one, oh this one does not look like the others at all. Wow, this one is looking pretty good, I don’t know that I can even call it a monster, this one is, well too happy…


It’s a Happyosaurus!

Wow, this is the best dinosaur anyone could possibly meet. This Happyosaurus has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen, never greedy, always courteous and sociable. This is the kind of dino you want for a friend. Even when this dino is happy and loud, Happyosaurus is always thinking of others that are around, never whiny never stingy or pouty. The Happyosaurus is so much fun to be with that I think we might just have to keep him around.

(a coloring handout is a great way to keep the Happyosaurus with you all day)



Let's read some stories!


Ticklemonster and Me: A Play-Along Book by Max Haynes
OPL Link

Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton

OPL Link

Zrroooooom, zshzsHSHZHSZzhshzshZHSHSZzhhshz. SWOOSH. Beep.

Oh, wow, I think – shhh, I see something, it’s landed, over there, under the tree. Look, over there. Be careful, what is it… uh-oh it’s looking kind of hungry…


Hungry Monster by Phyllis Root
(I really growl and roar as I read Hungry Monster – I just wish the book was bigger. This is a good one to memorize, add a few props and just act out instead of reading. A little note, have you ever eaten a banana peel? You should either try it or just put a dab of Alum on your tongue, same effect – illustrate what I call the ‘banana peel effect’ for your audience as a great humorous tidbit)


Speaking of eating and hungry monsters… let me introduce you to one hungry greedy creepy damsel of the sea – first, I need some fishies. Fishies live in the water, so I need you all to learn fishie talk. Put your pointer finger against your lips, now move your finger up and down while you talk. Practice by going ‘bubble, bubble, bubble’ good job. Now back to our greedy one…


Mrs. Octopus
This altered version of Five Green and Speckled Frogs is thanks to a wonderful volunteer storyteller's daughter - thanks Dorothy and Carly!

Five little fishies swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mrs. Octopus,
~wag finger in a no-no

‘You can’t catch me, you can’t catch me’
~have the audience all join in – in fishie talk

Along comes Mrs. Octopus, quiet as can be…
~I like to build tension here and really draw it out, nice and slow…

And SNAPS that fishie right out the sea!
~if you’ve built a trusting relationship with you can walk among the kids and gently ‘snap’ a pretend fishie from the kids laps

Four little fishies swimming in the sea…
~repeat until…

No more fishies swimming in the sea
Teasing Mrs. Octopus, you can’t catch me, you can’t catch me.
Mrs. Octopus has a full tummy!


I have a Folkmanis octopus puppet, but a wiggling, crawling hand is just as effective



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Sometimes scary stuff is just too much for the more sensitive listeners. If Go Away, Big Green Monster has not been enough to scare away those niggling fears, I know that we are probably over the time limit now, but I want to introduce you to a few more ideas to add a little bit more variety to your Laptime repertoire and to maybe give you a few new avenues to pursue, here are a few things I like to use as alternates to end with…

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When I get scared I like to scare those fears away with a good fit of the giggles!

Ready, set go!

Boom Boom Ain’t it great to be Crazy!

Boom Boom Ain’t it great to be Crazy!
Boom Boom Ain’t it great to be Crazy!
Giddy and foolish the whole day through,
Boom Boom Ain’t it great to be Crazy!
~sing it out loud and get down and crazy when you get ‘giddy and foolish the whole day through’ the sillier you, as the adult, are, the better


Now that we are all good and crazy, let the crazy...Banana’s of the world UNITE!


Banana’s of the World Unite
(go into this one right after 'Hungry Monster' by Root)

Form Banana, form form banana
~hands clasped overhead, bend at waist to form a banana
Form Banana, form form banana

Peel Banana, peel peel banana
~arms come down in a peeling banana motion
Peel Banana, peel peel banana

Eat banana, eat eat banana
~eat banana
Eat banana, eat eat banana

Go Bananas, go go bananas
~GO CRAZY!
Go Bananas, go go bananas


So, next time you get all scared, remember that the easiest way to chase away those monsters is to tell them to ‘GO AWAY, and DON’T come back, unless, I SAY SO’ then get a little crazy and a LOT silly!



Bye for now kiddos!

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Additional Ideas...

Riding Around on my Big Blue Dinosaur

Sing to the tune of Bumpin' Up and Down in my Little Red Wagon

Thanks Karin for the inspiration!

Ridin' around on my big blue* din-o-saur

Ridin' around on my big blue din-o-saur

Stomp, stomping around all day

One fell off and his tail is wagging . . .

Danny's gonna join him, whoops he's sliding . . .

Another's off and the kids are laughin' . . .

* Or ...add in color changes as suggested by your audience :)

Flapdoodle Dinosaurs (Pop-up) by David Carter

OPL Link

My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck
OPL Link


Gorilla Gorilla by Jeanne Willis
OPL Link
~ a mama mouse has lost her baby mouse and just when she thinks things can't get worse, along comes a big bellowing gorilla yelling 'STOP!"


Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming! by Jez Alborough
OPL Link

and... remember BILL HARLEY - he does some awesome fun Monster songs and stories on his CD's -

Monsters in the Bathroom from the CD Monsters in the Bathroom / OPL Link

Alicia and the Little Monster (story) and I'm Busy (yes, it's a monster song) both on the CD One More Time  / OPL Link