Toddler Storytime: Peace & Quiet

I used these same books for a parachute storytime this week as well and I have to share an adorable story.  The group ranges from early 2s to 5 year olds so it can be a challenge to engage everyone, but lately I’ve only had 6-8 kids which makes for a lot of one-on-one interaction that I don’t normally get in a group of 25.  I asked the kids if they knew what peace was before we read Karen Katz’s book and a little boy raised his finger to his lips and said, “Shhhh….”  which was definitely a giggle for the adults in the room!
Books:

• Say Hello! by Linda Davick
• Hush!: A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho
• Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz

Fingerplays, Flannelboards, Rhymes & Songs:

• Song: “Put Your Hands Up In the Air”
• Fingerplay/Flannelboard: 5 Little Monkeys “No More Monkeys” by Asheba, Putumayo Kids Presents: Animal Playground
  
• Flannel Board/Movement Song: “A Yellow Squash” based on “A Douglas Fir”

A yellow squash, a yellow squash (hold hands together above your head to create the neck of a gourd)
An orange jack-o’-lantern (draw a large circle using both your arms to create a pumpkin shape) and a yellow squash
A yellow squash, a yellow squash
An orange jack-o’-lantern and a yellow squash
Red oak leaf (flutter hands down to the ground as if leaves are falling), red oak leaf,
An orange jack-o’-lantern and a yellow squash
Red oak leaf, red oak leaf,
An orange jack-o’-lantern and a yellow squash

• Song:“Happy” by Pharrell 
• Rhyme: “Two Little Blackbirds”

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill.
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, flay away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Two little blackbirds flying in the sky.
One named Low and one named High…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole.
One named Fast and one named Slow…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a gate.
One named Early and one named Late…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a car
One named Near and the other named Far…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a cloud
One named Quiet and the other named Loud…

Two little blackbirds sitting on a mast
One named Slow and the other named Fast…

• Song: “Sandy River Belle” by Sharon Shannon, Putumayo Kids Present: European Playground (with bubbles)
  
• Puppet Show: “Shake Your Sillies Out”