How many books are on your shelf?

For this rhyme, the books are the props!

How many books are on your shelf?
by Shawn Wolf
(give the clue, then ask the kids if they know what book it might be)

Five favorite books sitting on a shelf,
It wouldn’t be right to keep them all to myself.
I’ll take one down and give you a book,
About a big red dog. Won’t you take a look? (Clifford)

Four favorite books sitting on a shelf,
It wouldn’t be right to keep them all to myself.
I’ll take one down and give you a book,
About a cat in a hat. Won’t you take a look? (seuss)

Three favorite books sitting on a shelf,
It wouldn’t be right to keep them all to myself.
I’ll take one down and give you a book,
About letters in a tree. Won’t you take a look? (chicka)

Two favorite books sitting on a shelf,
It wouldn’t be right to keep them all to myself.
I’ll take one down and give you a book,
About a hungry caterpillar. Won’t you take a look? (carle)

One favorite books sitting on a shelf,
It wouldn’t be right to keep it to myself.
I’ll take it down and give it to you,
It’s about a room and the moon. Now we’re all through. (goodnight moon)



Five Brave Firefighters

I can't wait to do this with the kids. This is based on the rhyme widely available on the web. I shortened it (a) to turn it into a counting rhyme (who wants to ring a bell once?) (b) I do toddler storytime and shorter is always better and (c) shorter and repetitive means I can memorize it easily.

This was so easy to make. Cut slits in top and bottom. Slide one end of pipe cleaner into top slit. Slide on bell and five red beads. Ring the bell and slide one bead down each time you repeat the verse.

When I do this in storytime, we have some larger foam firefighters we slide down the long pole that pulls down our screen. I got the bead idea from a homemade abacus I saw.

Five brave firefighters 
Sleeping in a row
Ring goes the bell
And down one goes....

My Friend Sonny

A few props from a novelty store make this a crowd-pleasing audience participation story!

My friend Sonny is very, very funny.
I know that you would love her!
But before you reach out,
Make sure that you doubt,
And check her hand for a buzzer! (hand buzzer)

My friend Sonny is very, very funny.
Look at her lovely flower!
If she asks you to smell it,
Make sure you can tell if,
You are about to take a shower! (spray water)

 My friend Sonny is very, very funny.
But watch out if you sit in her chair.
You might hear a sound,
That will make you frown,
With Sonny you must always beware. (whoopee cushion)

(Hold up "pie". I piled up facial tissue in a pie tin.)

My friend Sonny is very, very funny.
But she’s never thrown a pie in the face.
Jokes should be fun, And not hurt anyone,
That would not be in good taste!