Storytime: Horses

The day of storytime for horses, it was Levi Strauss Day. Cowboys wear jeans and most cowboys wear jeans while riding horses, so let's go with horses. (I also previously hosted a Cowboy storytime for National Cowboy Day. I like to experiment with new themes, rather than repeat old ones.)

The librarians at Neenah Public Library shared an awesome puppet prop at the Wisconsin Library Association conference several years ago. They created barn doors from a red paper box cover. Unfortunately, our paper box covers were black and I didn't want to waste my time covering them with paper or painting them. I explained my dilemma to my amazing co-workers and they helped to create barn doors from bookends and file folders. I secured the doors to the storytime cart and gleefully sang ...

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had a POLAR BEAR!
No?

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had a MONKEY!
No?

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had an OCTOPUS!
No? Okay, that's try one more time.

Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o!
And on that farm he had a HORSE!
Yes? Yes! Let's sing the rest of the verse ...

It was a great puppet surprise element for the audience that provided a unique introduction to the theme of storytime. We jumped right into the usually storytime agenda...


Hello SONG from Dragon Tales: Dragon Tunes
Are You a Horse? by Andy Rash
Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee
In My Barn by Sara Gillingham (This book has a built in finger puppet!)
Let's Sings a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas 

Announcements
Good-bye, So Long, Farewell, Toodle-oo SONG from Hap Palmer: Two Little Sounds Fun with Phonics and Numbers 



Craft Project from Banta friends: Humpty Dumpty coloring page with ... horses! We also recited the nursery rhyme together before leaving the story room.