Toddler Storytime: Dogs, dogs, dogs!

I'm happy that our Fall storytimes are back in action! We started out this season with a ruff-n-rowdy storytime about DOGS.

We started by all singing "Hands are for clapping" along with Jim Gill, and then did our

Open, shut them rhyme.

Book one: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

This silly book is great for toddlers! They can help you make the barking sounds and tell you what animals make the other assorted noises.

Song: 5 little dogs

For this song, I put out 5 plush dogs on a table, including Clifford, Wishbone, and a few other famous dogs we happen to have on hand.  For each new iteration, I would take one away. Toddlers understand subtraction! As you'll find out, they also know how to growl.

Five Little Dogs
(Tune: "Six Little Ducks")

Six little dogs that I once knew,
fat ones, skinny ones, fair ones too.
But the one little dog with the brown curly fur,
He led the others with a grr, grr, grr.
Grr, grr, grr
Grr, grr, grr
He led the others with a grr, grr, GRR!

Book two: woof! woof! by David A. Carter

This fun, mesmerizing book provides a great opportunity for the kids to imagine what cut-out shapes might form, and has an oh-so-perfect ending.

Song: Shake your sillies out by Raffi
Fingerplay: Where is thumbkin?

Book three: Dog’s colorful day by Emma Dodd

My coworker made a wonderful felt-board story to go along with this book. Practice your counting, colors, and enjoy a silly story. What's not to love?

We also did a super easy craft, using up some of our leagues of colorful label stickers. No mess, easy, and the kids loved it!

*Next time, I might include a segment on doggie moods- playful, sleepy, scared- and sneak in some safety tips on when it is okay to pet dogs.