This was probably the first week this summer that went really well in terms of storytime. We cut our storytime schedule down during summer and I’ve had over 30 kids on average for toddler storytime. I know that for some libraries this is all in a day’s work, but I was frazzled, so most of my storytimes this summer have been reading aloud one book and adding a lot of movement, motor activity, music to the program. And when you’re using manipulatives – like shaker eggs and rhythm sticks, it takes a lot of time handing these out and cleaning them up! But this week, I had a small crowd and was able to read two out of my three books, but by and large the kids absolutely love the Fruit Salad song and our Butterfly Flannel Board rhyme the best. You should see the little ones rock out when we get to “Fruit Salad” – it’s adorable! Balloon Storytime Opening: “Put Your Hands Up In the Air” Puppet Meet & Greet: Meet Woolly (monkey puppet) Early Literacy Tip: “Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time.” – Mem Fox Resource Share: Launchpads are great choices for those patrons who want to expose their children to technology, but not break the expensive technology at home! Book 1: Balloons Balloons Balloons by Dee Lillegard Transition: “Butterfly Flannel Board”The first to come to the garden bedis a lovely butterfly of brilliant REDThen in comes another and that makes twoFly right in, my friend of BLUEThis garden is fine, the best I’ve seensays the butterfly of the softest GREENOur garden needs a sunny fellowFly in butterfly, with wings of yellowLittle friend of PURPLE, fly in toothe garden is waiting for a color like youHello ORANGE, we’ve waited so longfly in, right where you belongButterflies, Butterflies, you’re such a sightFlying together with such delight! Flannelboard Rhyme: “Find the Caterpillar”Knock, Knock, KnockLittle caterpillar, little caterpillarAre you behind the ______ Butterfly? Book 2: Perfectly Percy by Paul Schmid Transition: “Where Do They Make Balloons?” They Might Be Giants, No! (with shaker eggs) Wiggle Song: “Fruit Salad”Watermelon, Watermelon, (big circle with hands)Pa-pay-a, pap-ay-a, (chop air in front of body on each syllable)Ba-a-a-a-nana, Ba-a-a-a-nana, (swing arms down like rocking a baby)Fruuuuit Salad, fruuuuit salad! (dance it out!)Pomegranate, Pomegranate, PomegranateCle-men-tine, Cle-men-tine, Cle-men-tinePineapple, pineappleFruit salad, fruit salad Book 3: Brown Rabbit’s Shape Book by Alan Baker Closing: “Shake My Sillies Out” Puppet Show Additional Choices: Pop! Went Another Balloon Can You See the Red Balloon? A Balloon for Isabel Emily’s Balloon Sebastian and the Balloon Curious George and the Hot Air Balloon