Monsters & Aliens Everywhere

Monsters, Aliens and Octopi, Oh My!
Laptime Travels around the World and Beyond
- printable handout -


On you mark! Get set! GO!
Let's go exploring!

The Kids go Marching One by One
I you've just got babies and only a few toddlers, don't actually go marching, just tap you legs to keep the beat. For a Storytime you can use rhythm sticks though!

The kids go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The kids go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The kids go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down around the town
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The kids go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The kids go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The kids go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down around the town
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The kids go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The kids go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The kids go marching three by three,
The little one stops to climb a tree
And they all go marching down around the town
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


Whew, that was some good marching there.
How far do you think we traveled?


I've Been to Harlem
I like to roll my arms for this song ...over, over, over...


I've been to Harlem
I've been to Dover
I've traveled this whole wide world over, over, over
Three times over,
Drink all the lemonade and turn the glasses over.


Well, we've been all over the world, but what about outer space?

Zzzzzrrroooomm! putt-putt-putt-putt CRASH!
What was that?

Did you just see a space ship zoom by?
Let's go investigate.

Oh dear, I think it's a, a, a monster, or a space alien, or maybe it's a, a, a hungry alien monster!

Hungry Monster by Phyllis Root
OPL link
(I just tell this story since the book is too small to read to a group. I use a puppet monster(or dragon or alien) a daisy, a rock and a little tree. I like to have a few older children hold the rock, the flower, the tree and the banana - older kids that will not be scared by the monster)

That was a little scary there.
Glad we were able to be friends with that alien monster.
Do you think he will take us for a trip in his rocket ship?

Take a Trip in my Rocket Ship

Zoom, zoom, zoom, I'm going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
Climb aboard my rocket ship...
step into a ship, crouch down as you countdown

5
4
3
2
1
BLAST-OFF
Jump!


Zoooooom, Vrooooooommmmmm, Zoooooom
fly around, arms out like a plane -have kids do the same it they are old enough.


We're Off to Look for Aliens by Colin McNaughton
OPL link
You can read the book for Storytime, but just sing the Universe verse for Laptime
p.s. this book can be sung to 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush'
...Here we go round the Universe the Universe the Universe...


Here we are! We're on the MOON!
Some important safety notes -
We can't breath on the moon without some special equipment.
Put on your helmet, step into your jumpsuit...
mime putting on a helmet, make breathing sounds, give a thumbs up...


Let's go see what the moon is made of, I hear that it's made of cheese!
Nope, not cheese. Just sandy dust, but let's keep exploring...


Reach for the Stars


 Bend and stretch and reach for the stars
There goes Jupiter, there goes Mars.
Bend and stretch and reach for the sky,
Stand on tip-e-toe, oh so high!Wait a minute? What was THAT?
That was a COW! How did a cow get up here?



Hey Diddle Diddle
I like to have the puppets/stuffed animals for this part - not the dish or spoon though...


Hey diddle diddle,The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon,
The little dog laughed to see such fun,
And the dish ran away with the spoon


Silly old cow.
And where did that dish and spoon get to, I can't seem to find them at all!

Let's keep exploring!
I've also heard that there might be a man that lives here on the moon!

Stomp. Pouf. Stomp. Jump!
ACK!!! I don't see a man, but I DO see a Great Big Green MONSTER!!


Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
OPL link
I use the felt story or the book is large enough and simple enough for a LT - or get creative and make a felt green Alien.and don't come back unless I say so!


Whew! I'm glad that Big Green Monster is gone.
Look, I can see the Earth from here.
If you've got a picture of the Earth, or a globe, use it :)

Is this what the moon sees every night?



What the Sun Sees, What the Moon Sees by Nancy Tafuri
OPL link
I just read the moon part. This book is big enough with short enough text to be a successful read at Laptime


And look all around, look at all these stars...


Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.


Oh dear, I'm starting to get sleepy.
I think it's time to head back home.


Take a Trip in my Rocket Ship


Zoom, zoom, zoom, I'm going to my home.
If you want to take a trip
Climb aboard my rocket ship...
step into a ship, crouch down as you countdown
5 4 3 2 1 BLAST-OFF !
Jump! Now go 'flying' again, invite the kids to join you...


...brace yourselves!
Get ready, were going into the sea,
and just like the old time astronaughts used to do...

aaaaSPLASHAaaaaa

Still got your breathing masks on? Good job!
Let's go swimming!
Down, down, down into the sea.
thumbs up again, start 'swimming'

Bubble Hop Stop
I have a 'bubble gun' that was a big hit- just walk through the crowd shooting bubbles as you repeat the rhyme.

One bubble, 2 bubbles, 3 bubbles, top.
4 bubbles, 5 bubbles, 6 bubbles, hop
7 bubbles, 8 bubbles, 9 bubbles, pop
10 bubbles floating down, time to stop.


Look around, what do you see?


Baby Octopus
Skip to My Lou tune

Eight long arms and two big eyes
Salty tears when he cries
Lives down deep in the bottom of the sea
Can you guess what he can be?

See him wiggle, see him slide
Try to catch him, he will hide
Give him a kiss so he won't fuss
He's a baby octopus!

Oh no! Here comes his mama!

Mrs. Octopus
This is an altered version of Five Green and Speckled Frogs that a young patron Carly made up

Five little fishies swimming in the sea,
Teasing Mrs. Octopus,
You can’t catch me, you can’t catch me

Along comes Mrs. Octopus, quiet as can be…
And SNAPS that fishie right out of the sea!

Four little fishies swimming in the sea
…repeat until…
No more fishies swimming in the sea
…Mrs. Octopus has a full tummy!


Look up, up, up. There's our boat!
Swim, swim, swim. Hop in and ...


Row Row Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat gently in the sea,
Merrily, merrily, merrily life is fun for me.


Ah, home again.
Thank you all for being such brave travelers.
See you next time!

_____________________________

More - just in case you need it:

All Around the World from the CD Pillow Full of Wishes by Cathy Fink; Marcy Marxer
OPL link

Little Rabbit Foo Foo by Michael Rosen
OPL link

Dance by the Light of the Moon by Joanne Ryder
OPL link
- Can be sung to the tune of Buffalo Gals

Ticklemonster and Me by Max Haynes

My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck
OPL link

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I'm off to the Moon by Dan Yaccarino

Moon Plane by Peter McCarty
OPL link

Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes
OPL link

In the Space of the Sky by Richard Lewis
OPL link

Moonstruck by Gennifer Choldenko

Moongame by Frank Asch
OPL link

Mooncake by Frank Asch
OPL link

And if the Moon Could Talk by Kate Banks
OPL link

I'll Catch the Moon by Nina Crews
OPL link

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
OPL link

Zoom Zoom Zoom  Going to the Moon

(aka: Take a Trip in my Rocket Ship version 2)

Zoom, zoom, zoom,

I'm going to the moon, moon, moon,

You can come too, too, too

Going to the moon, moon, moon.

If you want to take a trip

Climb aboard my rocket ship...

step into a ship, crouch down as you countdown

5

4

3

2

1

BLAST-OFF

Jump!

Jump Jump Jump

Jump - jump – jump –
Jump over the moon;
Jump all the morning
And all the noon.


If You Ever, Ever, Never

If you ever, ever, ever, met a whale, whale, whale
You must never, never, never touch its tail, tail, tail, tail
For if you ever, ever, ever, touch its tail, tail, tail
You will never, never, never, meet another whale, whale, whale


Once I Caught a Fish Alive

1,2,3,4,5!
Once I caught a fish alive
6,7,8,9,10!
Then I let him go again

Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so
Which finger did he bite?
The little finger on the right!


Baby Fish

Baby fish do do do do
Baby fish do do do do

Mommy fish do do do do
Mommy fish do do do do

Daddy fish do do do da da
Daddy fish do do do da da

Giant whale bu bu bu bu
Giant whale bu bu bu bu
Bu da dum!

Sea Shore Laptime Fun

Ocean Adventure Day!

Let's go on an adventure shall we? A pretend, make-believe day at the shore!

Have you got your mommy or daddy with you? This is an adventure for both of you to go on together. Are you holding hands?

Good! Let's go!

Take Me Out to the Ocean 
(Take Me Out to the Ballgame tune)

Take me out to the ocean
Take me out to the sea
There goes a starfish and sand dollar,
I'm having such fun,
I've just got to holler
Oh, it's swim, swim, swim, underwater
Catch a ride on a whale, don't fear,
For the sea animals are our friends,
Let's give a great big cheer!


Mr. Sun
from the Singable Songs Collection by Raffi

Oh, Mr. sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun
Please shine down on me...


Sand Wishes
One of my favorite wishes
Is to play in sand that squishes
To make a sand castle and sand cake
And leave them in the sun to bake
Will it feel good, do you suppose?
To squish the sand between my toes?

Consider bringing a bucket with a bit of sand in it for the kids to touch and feel. It would be great to have some shells and little plastic crab hidden in the sand for some kids to look for.

I Went to Nantucket
I went to Nantucket,
to fill my bucket with sand
 - mime putting sand in bucket

But a wave came ashore
 - sit back in surprise
Now woe is me,
-shake head, poor me

My bucket's gone off to sea
 - point off in the distance
No sand and no bucket no more 
- wave goodbye


The shore is such a magical place to be don't you think? Do you think magic happens here? Let's read and see...

Cinder-Eyed Cats by Eric Rohmann
OPL Link


Oh, it's HOT out here, let's go play in the water - got your lifejacket on? Good. Let's get in a boat!




Row Row Row Your Boat by Pippa Goodhart
- or just sing it without the book -
There is no copy of this at the Orem Library



 

Row Row Row Your Boat
Row Row Row Your Boat
- pretend oars
Gently out to sea
- keep rowing

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
- more rowing
Life is but a dream
- lay back and say 'ahhhh'(soaking up the sun)


This is the life! Sitting in a boat, rockin' in the waves, the sun is out and it's warm. Ahhhhh.
- lay back and look up, what do you see? Direct kids attention to the sky

  
Clouds


White sheep, white sheep,
On a blue hill,
When the wind stops.
You all stand still.

White sheep, white sheep,
On a blue hill,
When the wind blows, 
You walk away slow

White sheep, white sheep.
On a blue hill,
Oh do tell me,
Where do you go?


What is it that you see? I see, oh, there I think I see...

It Looked Like Spilt Milk  
by Charles Shaw
(I have made a flannel board story out of this book ~ perfect for Laptime or Storytime)

OPL Link






Let's go scuba diving! Got your mask? Got your fins?
(walk like you've got them on)

Got your air?
(noisy breathing, in out in out)

 Ready Set GO!

Splash-Aaaaaaaaa

Down down down... SPLASH-AAAAH


Bubble, Hop and Stop
One bubble, 2 bubbles, 3 bubbles, top.
-fingers count up, tap head once on 'top', pop up to standing

4 bubbles, 5 bubbles, 6 bubbles, hop
-fingers count up, then hop

7 bubbles, 8 bubbles, 9 bubbles, pop
-keep counting, clap hands at 'pop'

10 bubbles floating down, time to stop.
-sit down


Can you hear me?
-Burble burble Burble burble (pointer finger goes up and down rapidly over your lips as you talk - sounds the same as if you were to stand in front of a fan and talk

Wow, things sure sound funny under the water, don't they. This is fishie talk. Look, over there!

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 at utter surprise on your face as you gesture to a child


If You Ever, Ever, Never 
(if you have a whale puppet have a child hold it for the song)

If you ever, ever, ever, met a whale, whale, whale
~ wag your finger back and forth in a no-no signal, while your head turns back and forth the opposite way

You must never, never, never touch its tail, tail, tail, tail

For if you ever, ever, ever, touch its tail, tail, tail
 ~ do the wag thing, but then point to 'tail'

You will never, never, never, meet another whale, whale, whale
 ~ go back to doing the wag thing, then hands out, palms up, shrug - oh well.


Once I Caught a Fish Alive

1,2,3,4,5!
Once I caught a fish alive
6,7,8,9,10!
Then I let him go again

Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so
~shrug shoulders

Which finger did he bite?
The little finger on the right!
~oh dear, show your poor pinky finger

Baby Fish

Baby fish do do do dododo
-pinch fingers, open shut, open shut
Baby fish do do do dododo
-repeat
Mommy fish do do do dododo
-open and shut fingers to thumb
Mommy fish do do do dododo
repeat

Daddy fish do do do daddyda
-open, shut both hands, wrists together
Daddy fish do do do daddyda
-repeat
Giant whale ba ba ba duddyda
-open, shut arms out wide! 
Giant whale ba ba ba duddyda.
Daddadum!


Five Little Fishies
from Carly
 
Five little fishies swimming in the sea 
- fingers swimming like fishies

Teasing Mrs. Octopus,
Can't catch me, can't catch me
- while saying this, make burbling bubble sounds with other hand and mouth

Then along came Mrs. Octopus,
As quiet as can be...
- bring other hand slowly swimming like an octopus from behind back

And SNAPPED that fishie right out of the sea!
- snap at one finger on the fishy hand and then put that finger down

Four little fishies swimming in the sea...


Three Little Fishies
Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Swam two little fishies and a mama fishy too
Swim, said the mama fishy,
Swim if you can
And they swam and they swam all over the dam

Boop Boop Dittem Dattem Wat-tem Choo!
- repeat 2x

And they swam and they swam all over the dam
Stop, said the mama fishy,
Or you will get lost
The two little fishies didn't want to be bossed
The two little fishies went off on a spree
They swam & they swam right out to the sea

Boop Boop Dittem Dattem Wat-tem Choo!
- repeat 2x

Whee! yelled the little fishies,
Here's a lot of fun,
We'll swim in the sea till the day is done
They swam & they swam, it was a lark,
Til all of a sudden they saw a shark!

Boop Boop Dittem Dattem Wat-tem Choo!
- repeat 2x

Help! cried the little fishies,
Gee, look at all the whales!
And quick as they could, they turned on their tails
And back to the pool in the meadow they swam,
And they swam & they swam back over the dam

Boop Boop Dittem Dattem Wat-tem Choo!
- repeat 2x


Have you ever wondered what all those fishies do besides swim and eat?
They dance! What kind of dance do you ask? Let's see...

WHEW! Time to go home and go to bed, but first, a bedtime story:



Rub a Dub Sub by Linda Ashman
(this book ends perfectly for bringing everyone back 'home' from our adventure)
OPL Link





What an adventure! Oh my, I think you left something in the tub!




I Had a Little Turtle
I had a little Turtle
- one hand on top of other, thumbs out and wiggling for legs
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub
 - hand turtle swims up and down
To see if he could swim

He drank up all the water
- ASL sign for water - 3 fingers tap chin

He ate up all the soap
- head to hand, testing forehead for temperature
And now he's sick in bed with a bubble in his throat!
 - point to throat

hiccup!
- oops, surprised look

Big- hands form a bubble in front of mouth

Bigger
- bubble grows

Biggest....
- bubble is HUGE now.... anticipate it, turn your head, eyes dart to the bubble, it's gonna...

POP!
- clap hands together


We Clap Our Hands
We clap our hands and wave good bye, bye bye
-clap and wave as directed

We clap our hands and wave bye bye

Bye bye

Goodbye for now kiddos and remember to be safe!

_____________________

Need to extend this Laptime into a Storytime?

More Ideas Books & Links to explore this theme:

The Waves on the Sea
 ~to the tune 'The Wheels on the Bus'

(Using a blue blanket, have all the kids hold the edges and wave it up and down. Toss in a puppet or stuffed animal as you sing until you have a 'sea' of creatures! )
BIG thanks go to Danielle for finding this one!

The Waves on the Sea splash up and down
Up and down, up and down
The Waves on the Sea go up and down
All along the shore

... the fish in the sea go up and down
...repeat for other sea creatures like whale, dolphin, octopus, jellyfish etc.

Wading Song
(Battle Hymn of the Republic tune)

She waded in the water and she got her feet all wet,
-where are your feet kids?

She waded in the water and she got her feet all wet,
She waded in the water and she got her feet all wet,
But she didn't get her bathing suit wet, yet!

-She waded in the water and she got her knees all wet,
-pointing to knees -
She waded in the water and she got her legs all wet,
-tap thighs -
She waded in the water and she finally got her bathing suit wet!
Time to go out in the water, but I really don't want to get completely wet yet, either!


Fishin' Song
 this is a physically challenging game; a tongue twister for the body!

Have you ever gone fishin' 
-cast a fishing pole
On a bright 'n sunny day
-arms up in a circle for the sun
With all the little fishies
swimmin' up and down the bay 
- put hands together and move like fish
With your hands in your pockets
- hands to your pockets
And your pockets in your pants
- hands slap your hips
All the little fishies do the hoochy coochy dance
- arms up, fingers point to the sky, pump arms up and down as you turn in a circle

BaDa DaDa Da BaDa DaDa
 - keep dancing
BaDa DaDa Da BaDa DaDa
With your hands in your pockets
- hands to your pockets  
And your pockets in your pants
-hands slap your hips 
All the little fishies do the hoochy coochy dance
-repeat dance moves


To the Beach by Linda Ashman
OPL Link








 
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
OPL Link

 
Big Al by Andrew Clements
OPL Link







Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist
 (I LOVE doing the shark with Bruce's voice - from Finding Nemo)
Not available at Orem Library






 

There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Trout by Teri Sloat
OPL Link

 




 
Mermaid Dreams by Mark Sperring
Not available at OPL
 






Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck
OPL Link





also, check out the Kindernature site for even MORE ideas!


Ocean Fun printable handout, click here

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